My version of Union Pacific's Santa Cruz local

As a tribute to Union Pacific's former Santa Cruz branch line running between Watsonville and Davenport, California, I made my own model railroad version of the Santa Cruz local which once operated on this line. (Also because I was bord sitting around at home doing nothing all summer).
The purpose of the Santa Cruz local was to transfer cement hopper cars to and from the Cemex cement plant in Davenport. My version is complete with a Southern Pacific GP38-2, a Union Pacific GP40-2 and a string of hopper cars. On some occasions, a lumber car would also apper on the local to be transfered to the Santa Cruz, Big Trees & Pacific Ry, were it would be delivered to the lumber mill in Felton to process its load of lumber.
In addition I added 3 tank cars to the consist, a black one which will be transfered along with the lumber car to Felton, were it would be used to refuel the steam locomotives on the Roaring Camp & Big Trees narrow gauge railroad. At the end of the train are 2 more tank cars that will be used to refuel the generators at the Davenport cement plant (Remember, this is my made up version of it. So its not as accurate as the real thing). Recently, UP sold this line to the Santa Cruz, Big Trees & Pacific Ry and there was talk about running dinner trains on this line in the future.
We may never get to see the Santa Cruz local again, but thanks to cameras and great photographer's, and ofcourse creative modelrailroaders like me, The Santa Cruz local will forever live on as a favorite among railfans.
Enjoy the vid.

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• Union
• Pacific
• Santa
• Cruz
• local
• trains
• Beach
• Boardwalk

[Amtrakdavis22]

Nice model. That would have been one of the longer SC locals...

[ThomasRivette]

Arn't they the same?

[Amtrakdavis22]

Well I was talking about just the day to day amount the local would have on it. I watched it via computer for a little and somedays there would have been 2 cars other days 20. That's what I was meaning to say?

[ThomasRivette]

I see. This one has 10 cars though.

[Amtrakdavis22]

Yeah it's just recently before Serra got a hold of it, that line was really quiet. Most only had a few cars. It was a nice model. The scenery looked really good.

[ThomasRivette]

Thanks, glad you liked my layout. Oh by the way its Sierra, not Serra.

[CoastStarlight11]

I used to live in Aptos, California for almost 20 years just south of Santa Cruz along the route of Union Pacific's Santa Cruz Local train. I shot a hand full of videos of that UP Santa Cruz Local train over the years.

[Amtrakdavis22]

Serra is their reporting mark.

[virginiatruckee]

Very cool!

[SCL3618]

Nice.