Sandy Ridge & Clear Lake Railway
Track Route: the SR&CL operates over 29 acres, with a mainline over 5000 feet, and with 3 branch lines,
total trackage is around 7000 feet. From one end to the other, there is a 90ft change in elevation. This is a
point to point operation, like full size (real) railroads, there is no ‘loop’.
The
main
terminal
and
facilities
for
the
railroad
are
located
at
Phelps,
elevation
880ft.
This
location
includes
a
small
yard
area
and
spurs,
a
turntable
and
roundhouse,
the
shop
and
car
barn.
One
spur
here
is for the sawmill (where logs are up to firewood). The railroad office is located here, in the roundhouse.
Traveling
East,
trains
pass
the
C-B-E
Branch
line
which
features
two
switchbacks
and
a
7%
grade,
going
to
Old
George.
Proceeding
further
on
the
mainline
is
Jack’s
Pit,
with
a
Wye
and
the
connection
for
the
Baurton
Branch.
Continuing
the
trains
cross
the
95ft
long
Nobrook
Trestle
on
their
way
to
Clear
Lake.
Clear
Lake
is
the
lowest
point
on
the
railroad
at
850ft
elevation.
A
passing
siding
and
turntable are here (map is not updated), along with a spur often used to load logs and such. Note, the turntable doubles as the switch on one end of the siding.
Traveling
West,
trains
battle
the
5.2%
grade
on
the
main,
climbing
to
Woodshill
Jct.
A
short
branch
cuts
off
and
goes
to
the
wood
shed
(behind
Jack’s
house).
Lots
of
cut
wood
goes
here.
Further
up
the
line
is
Highpoint,
the
highest
point
on
the
line
at
an
elevation
of
940ft.
There
is
a
long
multi-purpose
spur
here.
Nor
far
past
is
the
end
of
the
line,
where
a
small
turntable
is
located.
The
turntable
is
just
big enough to turn the Railbus.
Trains are normally run on via a Timetable and Train Orders. Many are run as Extras, like the work trains.