The Mission Valley & Pacific Ry.

The Mission Valley & Pacific is a ficticious shortline railroad based in the small central coast city of Arguello, California. The year is approximately 1958. Steam on the Southern Pacific but a recent memory, but the MV&P plans to run their one particular 2-6-0 Mogul into the early 1960's before being sold to an industrial plant, and then to a museum. The MV&P is a little backwards with it's equipment, some dating back before the turn of the century, Notably the ancient wooden combine that sees daily service along the line. Their shops in nearby Orange are quite antiquated as well, and  will not survive a fire on the early morning or August 3rd, 1974. This large shortline, stretching to connect the outskirts of San Jose with Bakersfield, and San Luis Obispo is jointly owned by the Southern Pacific and the Santa Fe as a valuble link between the central coast and the inland empire, the bountiful central valley.

My layout depicts this line in it's transitional period, circa 1958. I can backdate it to as early as 1920 if I wish. I try to get the era to a point in which it's flexible, the rolling stock, locomotives, and automobiles being the only clear clue to the precise era. The architectue is typical of a well-established Califonia Town, with mission style buildings mixed with corrugated metal, brick and clapboard structures.

The track plan was the classic HO 4'X8', but has recently grown to accomidate a 1.5'X6' yard, and yard lead. It's loosely based on the fantastic Alkali Central, with the Produce packing industry in place of the suggested phospate mine for the main industry.   

But enough backround, take a look at the layout!!!