Miniature Railroad Spotlight

Featuring

The Trinity Alps Mountain Railroad

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The Trinity Alps Mountain Railroad, in Northern California

          Located near Trinity Center in Northern California the Trinity Alps Mountain Railroad is a 15" gauge railroad set among tall pine trees. This region of the Klamath Mountains is well known for having the greatest number of conifers any place in the world except the Russian Wilderness Peak which happens to be just north of Trinity Alps. The scenery is simply spectacular.

Trinity Alps Mountain Railroad's right of way"

Beautiful scenery along the right of way

          Russ and Suzie Robinson's railroad is absolutely beautiful. The railroad currently has nearly three quarters of a mile of track laid with much of it at a four percent grade. They've completed rough grading for an additional half mile of track as well. There are two curved trestles, a bridge, a long concrete tunnel and a two stall engine house that serve the railroad. A water tank was currently under construction when we visited in July 2010.

One of two curved trestles on the Trinity Alps Mountain RR		Approaching the bridge
Long concrete tunnel		Two stall engine house with clock tower

          Russ is a highly skilled machinist and built his own beautiful diesel hydraulic engine. He also fabricated each of his cars which include multiple flat cars, a ballast car and a clever backhoe car.

Flatcars hauling logs

Backhoe car

Before our first ride Russ told Zoe "The Wonder Dog" we were going for a ride and she should go pull the whistle. Zoe climbed up into the engine and pulled on a red bandana tied to the whistle cord. She gave it a couple of tugs then hopped out onto the tender ready for our ride.

Zoe blows the engine's whistle

Zoe signals that she's ready to ride

Russ narates along the right of way

Suzie and Russ discuss their beautiful railroad among the trees

Trinity Alps Mountain Railroad