The Opener Weekend

Halloween Weekend has come and gone, the place is ready for the Rudy Run in less then two weeks. We did a little work on the next trestle, even had Allan Ratliff's GE 47 tonner testing the span. Hope to see you out for the meet, till then, enjoy.

Itching for a Trip up the Hill?

Tired of that same old loop? Itching for a trip up the hill? It is getting that time of year again; when the leaves start to turn colors and fall to the ground for some sap to rake up.

That means it is also Joshua Tree and Southern season. The fall brings new life out at the tracks. Renewed enthusiasm, a trip or two turning at the wye below the station and making a run up the grade, waiting for the downward train and then up to the reverse loop where you wait for the uphill train before you make your decent back to the station. Ah!, Railroading on the hill, we'll be waiting for you.

Check the calender or drop me a note at; ratsgarage@yahoo.com

We Are Still Here

We are still here and it has been a busy summer. The Narrow Gauge Meet went well in March. The Road Trip to Maricopa had a couple of JT engines in attendance. Spring Break we did a little work on the next trestle. Fathers Day weekend it was on the road again to PV & A for an invitational run it the hills of Portola Valley, nice. The last weekend in June is was out to the tracks and we welded up three sections of the new trestle and poured three more footings. If this summer stays cool as it has we might squeak in a weekend for more construction. August was the annual Narrow Gauge Meet at Bitter Creek, it is always worth the trek to there. I updated the calendar for next year. Plan ahead. See you soon. Brian

Standard Gauge Meet at JT february, 18-21, 2011

Had a good weekend, weather cooperated to the best it could, eight locomotives graced the rails and plenty of people. See the whole enchilada by sending me a note at ratsgarage@Yahoo.com

Mid January Run and Sun at JT, 1-13-17, 2011

A crew of us spent an enjoyable weekend at the tracks. Got in a little running and a lot of outdoors time. Great weather with us all weekend, with it getting better each day. The #1 spur track at the lift was the major work project; a much needed storage track for big run days.
If you would like to get on the list for knowing more about what is going on send me an E-mail at ratsgarage@yahoo.com. See you at the Standard Gauge Meet, February 18,19 and 20.

Things, They are a Changing

Oh my! an update! As the title says, things will change on the Joshua Tree blogs.

If you want general information, that will still be up here to find. If you want the juicy details then you will have to send me, Brian, an E-mail at ratsgarage@yahoo.com and give me a little information on you and I will send you my updates when they happen.

The Board of Directors has decided to limit the scope of what can be found on the website but it doesn't stop you the interested party from asking for more through our individual accounts. I little more work for me, but a lot more personal contact for you.

We are going to try this and see if it solves the difficulties that had appeared in the past. I welcome your comments and look forward to a few requests for the updates.

The new dates for activities is over there on the right, now you can plan that trip out to see the place.

See you soon, Brian

Storm Watch 2010: January Rains in the Desert

High Definition HD2010 Live Doppler Radar Action News takes us to the railroad and museum in Joshua Tree where massive rains and flooding have decimated the roadbed and embargoed the railroad from the outside world! Film at Eleven!! Oh! that is right, the talking head on the news would not use a word like embargo. Let's try cut off.

Well it is not that bad, but: I got a call from Terry Watson and he said that sometime late last week the rock wall above the turntable collapsed and fell into the turntable pit,the turntable is not functional as the wall fill is in the pit. The high line track would be out of service till we repaired the embankment. I asked if he could take a few pictures and this is what he sent for all to see.

Here is the plan: February 5th, is a Friday and I'm planning on going out and getting ready for a massive dirt moving day on Saturday so that we can utilize the turntable for the Presidents Day Run the next weekend. We can move the fill dirt to the end of the tail track at the steaming bays and the rock can be set aside for rebuilding the wall after things dry out. I've talked to the resident engineer on wall rebuilding and he is seeing these pictures just as you are for the first time. A plan of attack will be formulated and by March for the Narrow Gauge Meet we should see trains again on the High Line.

Rain does not come often in the desert but when it does it can come all at once. No one was around when this happened so we can only guess that the rodent population might of had a helping tunnel in the collapse. Relief efforts are underway to rescue any trapped rodents and reestablish them in a less prone area. Federal Disaster Funding will not be available for this private railroad.

The disaster news team interviewed the division coordinator and he said: that he was increasing the daily 'grog' rations till this catastrophe was alleviated. Come on out and partake in this rarity of Mother Nature. See you next weekend.