Sandy Ridge & Clear Lake Railway
Most
of
the
equipment
is
built
to
3
3/4"
scale
and
patterned
after
the
Maine
Two
Footers.
This
is
1/3
scale
of
the
prototype.
The
locomotives,
cabooses
and
coach
are
scale
plus
some
extra
height,
to
allow
real
scale
people
(like
you
and
me)
to
be
able
to
ride
inside.
The
steam
engines
are
all
coal
fired.
All
rolling
stock
has
working
hand
brakes
and
these are used (needed) for various places we setout cars.
The
railroad
is
built
on
29
acres
of
mostly
sandy,
tree
covered
hills,
in
Michigan.
Most
of
the
railroad
is
on
a
grade
with
the
mainline
as
steep
as
5.2%
and
curves
of
75-foot
minimal
radius
where
necessary.
The
branches
have
switchbacks
with
even
steeper
grades
to
change
elevation
rapidly.
The
track
does
not
form
a
loop
and
the
two
end
points
of
the
main
line
are
separated
by
90
feet
vertically.
We
have
about
5400
feet
of
main
line
track
down
at
this
time
and
hope
to
have
about
6000+
feet
when
it
is
complete.
The
main
line
is
12
lb.
steel
rail
on
3
x
3
oak
ties
about
22"-24"
long.
Sidings
and
the
beginning
of
most
spurs
is
8
lb.
steel
rail
with
the
rest
of
the
spur
track
laid
with
2"
C-
channel to save on the rare 8 lb. rail.
The
mainline
has
stations
with
sidings
and
may
include
one
or
more
spurs
for
loading
and
unloading
freight
(See
Map
page).
We
have
Timetable
and
Train
Order
(TT
&
TO)
operating
sessions
a
couple
times
a
year
where
we
run
passenger
trains
and
freight
trains
together
to
keep
that
heritage
alive.
All
participants
are
expected
to
know
and
follow the railroad's operating rules!
We
use
the
railroad
to
haul
wood
from
the
forests
to
a
mill
site
in
Phelps
to
be
cut
and
split
for
firewood,
and
then
it
is
hauled
to
the
woodshed
or
the
roundhouse.
We
had
a
gravel
pit
at
Jack's
Pit
where
we
got
ballast
and
fill
from
that
was
hauled
on
the
railroad
to
where
needed.
It
has
been
closed
and
a
new
one
opened
on
the
CB&E
branch.
We
haul
stone
to
the
front
of
our
property
to
build
a
rock
fence
like
you
see
in
Maine.
The
winter
is
our
busy
season
as
we
can
run
snow
plow
trains
to
keep
the
line
open
and
then
haul
wood
to
the
woodshed
as
it
needs
a
supply
of
wood
to
keep
the
heat
on.
We
also
collect
wood
for
the
mill
site
and
deliver it for future processing.
A
turntable
was
placed
in
service
in
2008
at
Clear
Lake.
Grading
is
being
worked
on
for
the
West
end
of
the
main
line,
where
the
station
called
Ridgeview,
with
a
turntable,
is
planned.
A
large
trestle
stands
in
the
way
of
completing
to
there.
A
small
turntable
has
been
placed
at
the
end
of
the
existing
track
to
turn
Bus
#3
so
it
doesn't
need
to
back
all
the
way
back
to
Phelps
to
turn.
A
nice
improvement
for the driver!
We
have
three
branch
lines.
The
first
one
built
was
to
Woodshill
off
the
main
at
Woodshill
Jct.
It
provides
access
to
the
woodshed.
This
branch
ends
with
the
spur
on
a
up
slope
for
holding
the
cars
while
switching.
The
second
completed
branch
was
out
of
Kat
Jct.
and
is
called
the
CB&E
(Calhoun,
Barry
&
Eaton)
branch.
It
has
two
switchbacks
with
steep
grades
over
7%,
our
gravel
pit
and
loading
areas
for wood. It ends at Old George with a spur track on a down grade for switching around cars. Gravity and working hand brakes is our best friend when switching cars.
The
third
branch
begins
at
Jack's
Pit
and
is
called
the
Bauerton
branch.
It
extends
through
the
middle
of
the
property
and
gives
access
to
the
forested
areas
near
the
large
trestle.
The
Bauerton
branch
has
a
grade
above
7%
and
a
switchback.
So
far,
there
is
no
spurs
on
it
but
maybe
down
the
road
it
might
get
one
or
two.
The
engineer
must
keep
careful
control
of
his
train
on
the
grades
on
this
railroad
and
its
branch lines! It is easy to get going too fast and lose control if you aren't alert!
The
Sandy
Ridge
&
Clear
Lake
Railway
is
not
a
model
railroad,
and
is
not
like
the
common
ride-on,
live
steam
tracks.
This
is
a
working
railroad
built
to
about
1/3
size
the
equipment
ran
on
the
Maine
Two
Foot
gauge
railroads.
The
trains
are
operated
on
schedule
during
days
the
railroad
is
run
and
they
run
year
round,
which
can
require
snow
plow
extras
in
the
Winter.
The
SR&CL
was
built
and
operates for a reason.
Overview: This is a 1/3 size, operating railroad. Unlike many ride-on railroads, there is no a loop of track.
Jack set out to build a narrow gauge railroad with the rails set 7 1/2" apart, to be 1/3 the size of the real two
foot railroads. The railroad uses 8 and 12 pound rail and switches, often found in mining. The railroad was
built for hauling materials on the property and is operated more like a prototype.
Most of the equipment is built to 3 3/4" scale and patterned after the Maine Two Footers. This is 1/3
scale of the prototype. The locomotives, cabooses and coach are scale plus some extra height, to allow
real scale people (like you and me) to be able to ride inside. The steam engines are all coal fired. All
rolling stock has working hand brakes and these are used (needed) for various places we setout cars.
The railroad is built on 29 acres of mostly sandy, tree covered hills, in Michigan. Most of the railroad is
on a grade with the mainline as steep as 5.2% and curves of 75-foot minimal radius where necessary.
The branches have switchbacks with even steeper grades to change elevation rapidly. The track does
not form a loop and the two end points of the main line are separated by 90 feet vertically. We have
about 5400 feet of main line track down at this time and hope to have about 6000+ feet when it is
complete. The main line is 12 lb. steel rail on 3 x 3 oak ties about 22"-24" long. Sidings and the
beginning of most spurs is 8 lb. steel rail with the rest of the spur track laid with 2" C-channel to save
on the rare 8 lb. rail.
The mainline has stations with sidings and may include one or more spurs for loading and unloading
freight (See Map page). We have Timetable and Train Order (TT & TO) operating sessions a couple
times a year where we run passenger trains and freight trains together to keep that heritage alive. All
participants are expected to know and follow the railroad's operating rules!
We use the railroad to haul wood from the forests to a mill site in Phelps to be cut and split for
firewood, and then it is hauled to the woodshed or the roundhouse. We had a gravel pit at Jack's Pit
where we got ballast and fill from that was hauled on the railroad to where needed. It has been closed
and a new one opened on the CB&E branch. We haul stone to the front of our property to build a rock
fence like you see in Maine. The winter is our busy season as we can run snow plow trains to keep the
line open and then haul wood to the woodshed as it needs a supply of wood to keep the heat on. We
also collect wood for the mill site and deliver it for future processing.
A turntable was placed in service in 2008 at Clear Lake. Grading is being worked on for the West end of
the main line, where the station called Ridgeview, with a turntable, is planned. A large trestle stands in
the way of completing to there. A small turntable has been placed at the end of the existing track to
turn Bus #3 so it doesn't need to back all the way back to Phelps to turn. A nice improvement for the
driver!
We have three branch lines. The first one built was to Woodshill off the main at Woodshill Jct. It
provides access to the woodshed. This branch ends with the spur on a up slope for holding the cars
while switching. The second completed branch was out of Kat Jct. and is called the CB&E (Calhoun,
Barry & Eaton) branch. It has two switchbacks with steep grades over 7%, our gravel pit and loading
areas for wood. It ends at Old George with a spur track on a down grade for switching around cars.
Gravity and working hand brakes is our best friend when switching cars.
The third branch begins at Jack's Pit and is called the Bauerton branch. It extends through the middle of
the property and gives access to the forested areas near the large trestle. The Bauerton branch has a
grade above 7% and a switchback. So far, there is no spurs on it but maybe down the road it might get
one or two. The engineer must keep careful control of his train on the grades on this railroad and its
branch lines! It is easy to get going too fast and lose control if you aren't alert!
The Sandy Ridge & Clear Lake Railway is not a
model railroad, and is not like the common
ride-on, live steam tracks. This is a working
railroad built to about 1/3 size the equipment
ran on the Maine Two Foot gauge railroads.
The trains are operated on schedule during
days the railroad is run and they run year
round, which can require snow plow extras in
the Winter. The SR&CL was built and operates
for a reason.
Overview: This is a 1/3 size, operating railroad. Unlike
many ride-on railroads, there is no a loop of track. Jack set
out to build a narrow gauge railroad with the rails set 7 1/2"
apart, to be 1/3 the size of the real two foot railroads. The
railroad uses 8 and 12 pound rail and switches, often found
in mining. The railroad was built for hauling materials on
the property and is operated more like a prototype.
Sandy Ridge
&
Clear Lake
Railway