The In-ko-pah Railroad

MY 1/24th SCALE, OUTDOOR MODEL RAILROAD

I began work on this project in January 2006. The railroad is situated on steep slope behind our house. It represents a fictional, narrow gauge railroad in a rugged, rocky desert environment.

After nearly two and half years of labor, the mainline of the railroad was completed and a train made the first complete lap around the layout on May 21, 2008!

There is roughly 300 feet of track, with numerous trestles, bridges and tunnels. All were scratch-built. Several structures are in place, also scratch-built.

There is still much work to be done. One passing siding and a couple of spurs remain unfinished. At two locations on the mainline, temporary plank bridges fill in until permanent structures can be built. Some of the wiring for low-voltage structure lighting has not yet been installed. Only a small percentage of plants are in place, and there are many mines and structures to be built.

In the spring of 2009 I began work on the town of Dos Manos, laying down a concrete foundation for a row of buildings. The first structure was a small, two-story house. A rock shop was next. As of August 2010 there are now four buildings in this town. Eventually several more structures will be added. Other towns are planned.

I’ve also begun sculpting my own scale figures, patterned after friends and family members.