Mountain Railroading over Tehachapi Pass in HO Scale

Take a look at the La Mesa Model Railroad club's incredible recreation of Union Pacific's Tehachapi pass in HO scale. In this video, we follow a westbound BNSF Manifest, the H-BARRIC, as it descents the Tehachapi Pass. Located at Balboa Park in San Diego, CA, this layout is open to the public on a daily basis. Thanks for watching!
- Josh

[@wmoscati]

That little ittybitty weight car tho...

[@Benjamin_999]

It’s a scale test car I believe

[@KaidsTrains]

That layout is just AMAZING! The amount of detail put into the layout and the models themselves is just crazy. Must’ve taken quite some time to finish it.

[@timothycipolla6816]

I’ve been fortunate enough to see this layout in person. It’s spectacular!

[@MrJuvefrank]

I have loved this layout ever since the first time I saw pictures of it for the first time in Model Railroader Magazine in the summer of 1988.

[@GelFireQueensland]

It takes a certain skill to present & narrate so well. Let alone to also have such great modelling skills, when you're not behind the camera. Model railroading is lucky this man (and his father) found it. Thanks & Cheers from Queensland Australia.

[@nsmodeler24]

Thanks for the kind words! Incredible layout to share with everyone! -Josh

[@Mikey45013]

Glad to see a new video its been a while

[@slvalleyboy]

These model RR's blow my mind. Fantastic!!!

[@wondabiz]

I love that we follow the BARRIC in this, as this train terminates probably 45 minutes (by train) to the west of me and I always see this train and it's counterpart, since it's a daily run both ways. The distinction of the rolling stock in this train are the fact that every BARRIC has a lot of coil cars, lots of autoracks, and lots of tank cars, with other cars thrown in. It's also very overpowered every time, with 3-7 on the head end and 1-3 DPUs on the back, while the actual train is very short in length. The U-BIRPIT terminates in my city, which was kind of confusing to see it be an EB freight, since IRL it's also a WB freight. This train runs at most 2 times a month and they usually fit in the run at any time they can. This train runs to the big steel industry here and a lot of the time it has foreign power. This layout is breathtaking, and I hope to see more videos from here again.

[@em2attic]

The U-BIRPIT will be running the correct direction once it reaches the end of the layout and comes back down the grade.

[@TonisalpenmodellbahnN58]

Die langen Güterzüge in großartiger Landschaft begeistern immer wieder. Herzliche Grüße, Toni

[@m-gleis]

Sehr schöne Anlage mit tollem Fahrbetrieb 👍🙋‍♂️ Gruß vom Michel

[@kcgrailgilbert8466]

Locomotives sound so realistic how is it done the scenery n layout is so amazing

[@shabo857]

Sounds are from real world that he edits in.

[@motorTranz]

Beautiful model! Thanks for sharing!

[@AemJaY]

this layout is just epic!

[@N-Scale]

Beautiful layout and scenery !!!

[@RonsTrainsNThings]

Hey Josh, great to see you. Love this overview of a beautiful layout. 👍🏼👍🏼

[@nsmodeler24]

Hey Ron, thanks! Hope youre doing well!

[@MastinoNapoletano420]

LMMR have one of the best layouts I have ever seen in real life. Thanks for sharing!

[@nsmodeler24]

Agreed. Thanks! Josh

[@ericbarrall5619]

Great video all around! Narration, audio, scenery are top notch … thanks for sharing!

[@nsmodeler24]

Thanks Eric!

[@alanburke717]

Ever since I've seen this model layout in magazines as a kid in the 90s I've always wanted to visit. I finally was in San Diego bout 6 years ago and actually made my trip an extra day longer just so I could take the time to visit and take it all in! It was an awesome time. Hope to someday go back out and do it again someday

[@GreenOverRed]

Awesome video! I grew up in Bakersfield and made regular trips to the Tehachapi Pass with my dad. Last August, I got to go back home on leave to do a lot of railfanning all over SoCal. I even took my girlfriend down to San Diego to the LMMRC while ScaleTrains was there for their Road Trip. It was my first time seeing the layout in person and I was just awestruck with how in-depth the layout is. Once I get out of the Army, I plan on returning to Bakersfield an possibly working for either BNSF or Union Pacific there.

[@em2attic]

You might actually get lucky since they are both hiring depending on when you get out which is hopefully soon so you can catch a bonus too but definitely be prepared to chase your seniority for atleast 2 years with the way things are right now. But hopefully you would get lucky and not have to chase by the time youd get hired and can stay home the whole time.

[@GreenOverRed]

@@em2attic Yeah. Sadly I'm only just now starting my transition process out of the Army. I still have another year and a half before I get out. But I'm doing everything I can to prepare myself.

[@em2attic]

​@GreenOverRed i suggest applying now regaurdless and see what happens.

[@surfliner456]

@@GreenOverRed I wish you the best of luck! I’ve spoken to many of BNSF’s conductors and engineers and I hear frequently that they hire straight out of the military most of the time.

[@cjbeyer8340]

Thanks for sharing this great video! Liked the NS power on lead! Lone the UNION PACIFIC!!!!

[@RFMCabooseNP1713]

Great video. Welcome back.

[@hollispurn]

nice layout. I really like the trains . Blessed are those who have the space for such great cinema. A 👍 for that, of course. You deserve 10 of them. You rightly have the subscription. Greetings Holger 🇺🇲🚂🇺🇲

[@nsmodeler24]

Thanks for the subscription. Means a lot. -Josh

[@janetlewis7145]

I have seen this layout in person in San Diego. In addition I grew up blocks from both SP and Santa Fe yards in Bakersfield. Layout is circa 1950s except locos and rowing stock. The Bealville depot is now located at Kern County Museum in Bakersfield. In 1976 I took pictures inside of the loop. Bill formally from Bakersfield.

[@Railfan_Midwest]

Excellent video! Been waiting for a video for a while now

[@Christiane069]

Excellent Video. Very realistic layout.

[@MyFingerLakesRailwayLayout]

Thanks man, really enjoyed it!

[@rx7sportscar]

Looks real sharp.

[@HillbillyNitroUSA]

Beautiful layout and nice videography as always, Josh! 👍🏻🤙🏻

[@nsmodeler24]

Thank you sir! -Josh

[@shagspasticify]

Thank you !

[@donaldfaris4798]

Awesome Job Josh!

[@nsmodeler24]

Thanks!

[@Longshadowsmodeltrees]

Great video Josh, I love that La Mesa Layout.....Looks just like here. Bob

[@nsmodeler24]

Thanks Bob! Always great to hear from you. Hope all is well with you! -Josh

[@Wolf-rk6jq]

He’s back

[@Pinecone_Railway]

That Norfolk southern is a long way from home.

[@ethanbowles5773]

Okay 7:37 … in you if you could see the heat waves coming off the ground and exhaust from the engines that would be awesome but I thought that was an absolute awesome section of video anyways

[@pm8302]

Where you been? It’s been a while. Hope everything is going well. Loved the video, the coil train with helpers was my favorite.

[@nsmodeler24]

Last year of school and its been a grind..Thankfull things are slowing down and I have time for editing videos again. Thanks! More to come..

[@DPU.proMN.IA.]

'bout time

[@RonStanek]

I thought you might pull out some of that Utah Belt power, for the Loop.

[@timbober1]

Josh, is that one of your locomotives on the point? Cool video as always, great narration too.

[@nsmodeler24]

No, that is one of Austin McAdams. But I wasnt opposed to having NS on the point. Thanks!

[@valchavez9163]

NICE...E-NUFF said...

[@Diesel_Sparks]

Josh thanks for the awesome video. How long ago did you go to California? keep posting and have a great day!!!

[@nsmodeler24]

Thanks! I was there for the month of September. Thanks!

[@codyboose3768]

Where you been lol. I’ve watched many of your videos. Your the reason I got into the hobby and love of northfolk southern lol.

[@nsmodeler24]

Hey Code, life's been a bit crazy this past year but things are slowing down and have time for modeling again. More to come!! Thanks for watching man! -Josh

[@gloria6229]

​@@nsmodeler24Can I model all this on my n scale layout at home?

[@battlehawk77]

Wouldn't that coil train actually be U-PITBIR, since it's heading away from Pittsburg, CA?

[@anthonygermano9363]

👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@kenlynch6332]

🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂

[@Tealo951]

@3:19 is Rowan, not woodford. For clarity. Thanks for the great shots of the layout. Were you able to get to the actual loop, on your recent trip out here?

[@em2attic]

Going Northbound Woodford is the first siding after the loop then Rowen.

[@Tealo951]

@@em2atticthat is correct. However, in this video, there is no shot of woodford. The train going over the bridge is at Rowen. I belong to the club and run the layout many times a month as well as work on it.

[@nsmodeler24]

It was in between the two so I took a guess. haha

[@TobiasL1000]

Hey, In one of your videos, in which you showed all your locomotives, you said that you will make your Costum Soundfiles available via Lombard Hobbies. It’s 2-3 years old I guess. I looked for these files now, but I can’t find them. Are these files anywhere available? I’m from Germany so I can’t make my own because we do not have EMD or GE locomotives here.

[@nsmodeler24]

Hey I did SD45 files for all their new scaletrains locos (optional). I haven't had time to collectively put all of my files together yet, but Im working on it. Shoot me an email at [e-mail] if youre looking for something specific. - Josh

[@taylorowner]

A wide shot of the layout would be appreciated.

[@nsmodeler24]

Check out some of my previous videos. I have an old tour of the entire layout!

[@eeoofantastico]

This layout is amazing. I was a member back in the 90s to early 2000s. Operated and ran trains on this layout for many years. It just saddens me that all everyone runs on this layout are GEVOs now. No more steam? No more 1st generation diesels? No more 2nd generation diesels? No more Espee or Santa Fe? I ran representing the 80s and 90s, both Espee and Santa Fe. Guess those eras are gone now.

[@austin_McAdams]

There is actually a 1950s operating session this upcoming weekend.

[@nsmodeler24]

As Austin said. You can find lots of different eras running the layout depending on the day that you visit.

[@Skywarriorguru]

All GE’s in this video

[@nsmodeler24]

Not sorry ;)

[@bnsffan6584]

on your home layout do you a NS 9880?

[@nsmodeler24]

I dont have that one, but I do have other NS Dash 9s

[@bnsffan6584]

@@nsmodeler24 thank you I saw 9880 and chased it for a little bit a long while ago in WA state so I was just curious

[@richardhunn4298]

The U-BIRPIT is shown running the wrong direction for a WB

[@lennongroover4189]

You need weathering it lks lke i cxuld do it fr ya for a price. I’ve weathered my o scale car carrier using a realistic method tht I could do wth yours

[@LoneRanger5150]

Ugh! Don't like NS units as my leader😅. That unit train normally runs with one on the head end and two on the rear. Hard to run and none of us like to catch it!

[@josephp.elstad4328]

Great video, just loose the "real train" dub over

[@johnnyeveritt5695]

Howzit : Generally; I would agree as most over-dubs sound / * look * fake. In this case; it is indeed a notable exception ... ! 🤙🤟

[@thehigsy]

There must be sound decoder that simulate flange squeal by now

[@beeble2003]

Are the operations really so realistic as to tout it in the video title? The main train is incorrectly formed, with a shiftable load next to the locomotive (the steel beams are loaded higher than the gondola's ends) and, as far as I'm aware, the scale test car should be the last in the train. How can U-BIRPIT be an eastbound train, given that it's going from Alabama to California? The locomotives blow for a non-existent crossing at 7:20. OK, none of those things is a biggie, but if you're going to claim "realistic operations" when it's just a train running through scenery, those sort of details are the only thing that can distinguish between realistic and not-so-realistic.

[@sammym.belfastchild]

Ok Keven... sorry but is a Model train video , plus have you yourself got anything better of your own to show the audience here , easy to be an armchair critic...

[@beeble2003]

@@sammym.belfastchild Wouldn't have said anything if the video wasn't touting its realism. As for the "nothing better to do", argument, you have nothing better to do than respond to comments that you dislike?

[@ntrohed]

@@beeble2003 I agree with you on the BIRPIT, it should be another WB train. Richmond and Pittsburg are straight-line about 30 miles apart. About your crossing comment if you go back to the 7 minute mark when we first see the UP you can see there is a crossing that they are already sitting on top of.

[@beeble2003]

@@ntrohed Good spot on the crossing -- it's almost invisible, but it is there! So, the break with realism is actually that they blew far too early for the crossing. The final blast of the long-long-short-long should continue until the lead locomotive has cleared the crossing, but here it finishes three or four locomotive lengths too soon. Though I suppose that's a sound editing issue, rather than an operations issue _per se._

[@ntrohed]

@@beeble2003 It is a hard to time thing in model railroading, I never get it right