Progressing nicely!

Here are a couple of photos of the new mail/baggage car waiting at the transfer dock in San Miguel.

Skidoo California is located in the Panamint Range on the western edge of Death Valley.

On April 19, 1908 Joe "Hooch" Simpson ambushed and gunned down a respected citizen, Jim Arnold, the proprietor of the the Skidoo Trading Company.

Hooch has been described in various stories as a hard luck miner, a penniless bum, a scoundrel, an alcoholic and a no good rascal who was bound to be hanged someday. However, prior to the murder of Arnold, local newspaper accounts described him as a businessman. Hooch was half-owner of the Gold Seal Saloon and involved in several mining ventures. Hooch also had a stable of shady ladies including “Skidoo Babe” and “Blonde Betty.” Somewhere along the way Hooch seems to have acquired a case of syphilis from one of his soiled doves.

Arnold died that evening and three days later a lynch mob hanged Hooch from a telegraph pole. That same telegraph line attached to the pole sent the news to the outside world and a few days later reporter from the Los Angeles Times showed up to take a photograph but by the time he arrived Hooch had been pushing up daisies for several days. That didn’t stop the hospitable locals who obliged him by digging up Hooch, brushing the dirt off and hanging him again.

It was said Hooch was a frequent guest of the red light district in Skidoo prompting the town doctor cut his head off to test it for syphilis, thinking that might be the cause of his sudden madness.

It’s said the twice-hanged, headless Hooch still wanders those lonely hills in Death Valley looking for his missing head.

Hooch any relation to O.J. or Homer Simpson?

Way before their time.

Great story. I see Hooch's final resting place gives him a nice view of the railroad.

George

Micheal,

I like your railroad! Lots of interesting types of rolling stock. Funky but cool setting.

Very nice and some very good looking modeling'..Good job'..

Thank you every one for the kind comments.


Like many small narrow-gauge railways my line does have its own quirky equipment. Often it is a matter of making do with what you got.

It's been a little while since I've posted anything.

Finally got a chance to run a train. Life just keeps getting in the way.




The mail train is getting ready at the transfer dock. The boxcar carries LCL. It will head out to Manly Siding, the farthest point on the line, and return.



At Manly Siding mail and freight will be unloaded for nearby mines. The engine will run-around its train and start the return trip.







At Whiskey Junction the boxcar will get dropped off on the mail line, and the mail car will get pushed to Whiskey Flats stopping in front of Woodie's Cantina. The mail car it fitted with radial couplers to deal with the tight curves.



The mail car and boxcar have been spotted in the yard at San Miguel while #8 awaits its next assignment.

Michael,

Thanks for letting us ride along!

Scott

This is a great little railway! Don't know how I missed this thread, but I'd love to see more!

-Cody

I agree with Cody!