Happy Thanksgiving from us at Trackside Model Railroading

Trains entering this tunnel by the Cascade River on Mike McGinley's layout will emerge from the other side 200 miles to the east in Paseo.

The snow generated in this model railroad video was created using Red Giant and Avid Media Composer.

The layout is of Mike McGinley’s Southwestern Pacific and it operates in multiple different time frames between 1951 and 2006 in the Southwestern United States, including California, New Mexico, Arizona, and Colorado. Trackside Model Railroading photographed the SWP operating in 2006, so all of Mike’s Southern Pacific units are under Union Pacific ownership. Mike painted the Cascade River after rivers he observed in Colorado. His layout is beautifully scenicked with high backgrounds and many detailed scenes of the American Southwest. These include the mountains, the red rocks and high deserts, and scenes along the river. On our tour of the SWP, you will see mostly patched SP units and some UP power in action.

Mike worked for the railroad and retired after 20 years working with the SP, 14 years with the Metrolink commuter line in Los Angeles, and 12 years as a consulting engineer with the railroad. To bring back his memories of working on the railroad he sometimes steps the model railroad back to 2001, 1996, 1991, 1986, 1971, 1966, or 1951. This way, he can run BNSF, Santa Fe, Union Pacific, Southern Pacific, and Amtrak on the layout. He changes out the vehicles, buildings and railroad related power and cars to further enhance the year he wants to visit. This is an amazing layout that is truly impressive as the painted backdrops go all the way up to the 12 foot ceiling. At first glance when you enter the room you are completely blown away at the impressive scenes and art that has been put into this railroad.

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