The Railroad
As you look around our facility, most everything you see, including the trains, were built by members of the Los Angeles Live Steamers Railroad Museum. We even planted the trees and the grass. The money to pay for the materials came from donations and through fund raising from our members and local businesses. The railroad is constantly being improved and enlarged.
Here are the things that comprise our railroad.
- Locomotives
- Rolling Stock
- Scale
- Track
- Switches
- Signals
- Bridges & Tunnels
- Buildings
Locomotives
You'll be riding behind a 1/8th scale miniature steam, diesel or electric locomotive.
- Steam
- Diesel
- Electric
If a steam locomotive is pulling your train, you will notice that the
engine has a fire, smoke, and is actually running on steam. Our steam
locomotives may be burning coal, fuel oil, or propane. The typical
locomotive operates with about 100 pounds of steam pressure. Just like the
full-sized engines, our steamers use lots of water and require constant
maintenance and attention. The water used in the steam engines is specially
treated by our water treatment system.
If a diesel-type locomotive is pulling your train, it is probably
powered by a gasoline engine that is coupled to a transmission with a
hydraulic drive. Some of our diesels are powered by electric motors,
just like the real locomotives. These engines are very quiet and smooth
running.
You may also see electric locomotives on the railroad. Most often,
these engines are generally powered by storage batteries. Just like electric
automobiles, they must be recharged when the batteries wear down. Our
electrics may be models of trains operated years ago by Pacific Electric
in Los Angeles, engines operated by major railroads, and even some that
probably never ran at all!
The rolling stock that we use for your train trip is probably center bench cars or gondolas, both with a caboose. All of the cars use machined wheels that have flanges and tire profiles just like real trains. Trucks are made up of the wheels, axles, side frames and bolster. Most of the trucks on our rolling stock have ball bearings and functioning springs that carry the loaded cars.
1/8th scale or 1½" to the foot scale or 7½" gauge between the rails is what you are riding on today. You will also see 1" scale or 4¾" gauge between the rails, and ¾" scale or 3½" gauge between the rails. Members use three different riding scales in enjoying their hobby. The newest scale at the Museum is "G" gauge. This is large outdoor garden railway equipment that members run just across from New Sherwood Station.
Our railroad's main line is about 1½ miles long. We have built and
installed over 23,000 feet of track. We use steel rails. The ties we use
are made from recycled plastic. Each section of track takes many hours to
construct. Before the track is installed, the ground must be carefully
prepared so that the track is level and straight. In addition to the track,
we have two turntables, 44 steaming bays for engine preparation and
maintenance, and two power hoists to raise and lower trains for storage
or transit by car or truck.
A switch or turnout is a specially designed track that allows a train
to move from one track to another track. On our railroad, there are over
80 switches and many of them are electrically operated. Our members build
these switches using the same techniques used by full-size railroads.
For safety and efficiency, our railroad is controlled by a fully
automatic, electronic signal system. The signal system detects the location
of all trains and automatically controls the red, yellow, and green
electric signals. Over 80 electric signals are installed throughout the
railroad. The railroad is divided into areas or "blocks". Each block is
controlled by the nearby signals. Building and maintaining the signal
system is a full-time job. We also have a restored railroad "high-ball"
signal located near the Sutchville Station, and an operating semaphore
signal located near the water tower along Zoo Drive.
The railroad has over 395 feet of steel and concrete bridges. The
216-foot steel and truss bridge (O'Brien-Moore Bridge) located at the
west end of the track was built with over 16 tons of steel. The center
section of the bridge was constructed off site and transported to Griffith
ark by truck. A crane was used to place the bridge on its concrete piers.
The three concrete tunnels measure about 112 feet combined.
As you enjoy your ride through the park, you'll notice 3 miniature towns,
2 water towers, a roundhouse, 3 train stations, a coal tipple (loading
facility), 2 control towers and many other buildings and displays.
Copyright © 1999-2007 Los Angeles Live Steamers Railroad Museum