Watco Railroads

[ocalicreek]

Hello everybody!

If you'd like to spend/waste some time exploring real life short lines, here's a neat place to start:

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I found it when I did a google search to find out if there was a real-life company with the name 'Watco', since I wanted to create a H.R. Watco Industries factory on my layout. My Watco is named after Harry R. Watson, my wife's grandfather, who, along with his brothers, has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for their collective contributions as child actors and later photographers in Hollywood. One even developed a microfilm machine of some sort, but sold the invention to a product developer. I imagined, as a tribute, that he hadn't sold the invention and became rich with a line of film machinery factories across the country. One such location where labor and land was cheap turned out to be the aptly named Watson, WVa, served by the Ocali Creek Railway.

Anyway, enjoy the link!

Galen

[ocalicreek]

...for example...

I looked down the list and picked the 'Pacific Sun Railroad' and googled it. Found out they have some GP 35's & 40's painted in a snazzy blue & yellow scheme.

If you google - maps - Stuart Mesa, CA, then stand along the freeway in street view, you can see them in the yard, along with the Coaster commuter equipment. Nice. This would be an interesting line to model as an ISL, especially if you included the commuter, BNSF, UP and Amtrak operations on the trackage rights section of the line.

Anyone looking for inspiration on a modern day shortline can surely find it in one of the railroads listed in the links on the Watco site.

Galen

[ocalicreek]

...and another thing...

Looky what I found!

   

A full sized turnout. I'm guessing, by a quick estimation, that it's a #12. Found it just south of the aforementioned Stuart Mesa yard, just past the I-5 NB underpass.

Neat.

Galen

[mountaingoatgreg]

Hey the name Watco looks familiar....oh yeah its what they have on my paycehcks