McCloud River Railroad Models

 Ryan Bates's Second McCloud River Layout

It's been a lot of years since Ryan Bates sent photos of his first McCloud River 4- by 8- foot layout. In the years since Ryan has built a slightly larger layout, this one measuring out at 6- by 11- feet. Like the first layout Ryan's efforts are to capture the look and feel of the railroad, and he's used the additional space to replicate specific photos and scenes. Ryan indicates he is currently working on an 11- by 15- foot layout, but it won't be done anytime soon.


The left side of the layout, which occupies a "U" shaped space.

The right side of the layout.

The railroaders on Ryan's version of the McCloud River posing with some of their equipment for a publicity photo shoot.

A banner welcoming people to the McCloud depot during the Lumberjack Fiesta Days.

A train departing the Burney end of the layout.

Ryan writes "Despite our best efforts and intentions, this is an "Operating" railroad, so accidents do happen. (Poor Chico almost got squished. He was Not Happy about this).

Ryan continues with "But The McCloud River Lads with The Hook can handle any recovery to get the railroad open again... back to the business of making money.

Ryan closes this story with "... and Al's Shop Crew makes things right with Chico, repairing his caboose to get back on the road the next day.

As noted, Ryan has spent some time with this layout recreating some of his favorite photos of the people and events he grew up knowing. Following are some of those photos.
In the middle 1970s U.S. Plywood bought a Washington Iron Works model 217D yarder specifically to log some of the extremely steep country south of McCloud reservoir and west of Grizzly Peak. The giant machine arrived in McCloud on four flatcars. Ryan describes in this picture what he used to build the model of the yarder.
Ryan's model of the yarder being winched off a flatcar in the McCloud yard.
The yarder model set up and ready to make money.
A shot of the railroad's section gang at work on a bridge.
Ryan's model of the scene.

Three more photos along with Ryan's models of the same scene.