McCloud River Railroad Models

 Charlie Joslin's McCloud River Layout

Charlie Joslin is a prolific model railroader and a good friend of the site. He has invested several years working as he can on a large basement layout that he intends to include sections representing portions of the McCloud River, Northwestern Pacific, California Western, California Northern, and a couple other western railroads, plus a section featuring the iron ore roads of the Great Lake states. Charlie has largely completed most of the McCloud portion of his layout, and it features a really well done residential section that definitely captures the look and feel of the town. These photos are from one of my visits to his railroad, which is still very much a work in progress.

Part of the residential section, with the railroad yard visible in the background. Key buildings in this scene include the Catholic church to the right and the Sprint Reload building in the background.

Charlie has taken some liberties with his layout, such as this playground behind the Catholic Church.

A McCloud Gas Company propane truck in between deliveries in town.

The view looking north up the McCloud yard. Charlie has spent considerable time assembling an impressive collection of Incentive Per Diem boxcars.

Propane tank cars spotted at the McCloud Gas Company spur near the bottom end of the yard.

The square footprint of the future location of the McCloud shop building.

An overview of the work and passenger equipment in the McCloud yard. Highlights include the wreck damaged woodchip hopper on the hospital flat in the left background and the brass model of the Sierra 2-6-6-2 #38 on the flatcar to the right of the fuel tanks.

Some of the McCloud caboose models Charlie has acquired.

Charlie also has included the McCloud sawmill on his layout.

Another view of the sawmill and town.

Charlie has included many details on his layout, such as this family of bears climbing on the lumber stacks at the mill.

A family picnic in progress in a back yard.


Examples of Charlie's rolling stock work include this model of MR 1748, with the prototype photo in the background for comparrison.


One last "before and after" project photo, this one of a stock Atlas Seattle & North Coast boxcar and then Charlie's finished model converting one to a McCloud River car.