We finally made it up to
Arroyo Grande, where my high-school friend Karen H.’s brother-in-law Karl owns
and manages the Bitter Creek Western Railroad, ten
acres of private property where train buffs can work on and ride their
narrow-gauge model trains. Several times a year Karl hosts organized “runs,”
where train owners and their fans are welcome to camp on the grounds and
operate their trains. The 4th of July run is one of the largest, attracting
model railroad folks from around the world.
Bitter Creek Western,
which is maintained by Karl and a group of volunteer train aficionados,
features more than a mile of track that takes riders over and through three
bridges, three trestles, and four tunnels. Riders catch trains as they pass a
small station, located at the foot of a short hill where Karl lives. Passengers
are invited aboard depending on how many seats are available. Some trains can
accommodate several riders, while others offer just one or two seats. Trains
run all day long, so there are lots of opportunities to ride. We had a ton of
fun looking at the various types of trains—steam, electric, lawnmower motor!—and
taking leisurely rides. It’s easy to see how people can become so addicted to
railroading.
Karen H. and a train
Readying a train to run
Karen's husband Eric getting ready to take us on a ride
Trains running
The grounds
Riding over a trestle
Engine detail: When asked if everything worked or was
just decoration, the engineer replied, "Nothing here is 'just decoration.'"
Karen H., Eric, Stephanie, and Karl
