ATSF - Venta/Irvine Spur

xawery

New member
Hi,
I would like to show you my first attempt at proto route - ATSF Venta/Irvine Spur (also known as the Kathryn Spur). A five mile long line that served several packing houses in Orange County CA. Let's start with some protype info.

A short introduction at abandonedrails.com:
http://www.abandonedrails.com/Venta_Spur

Some info at WCR forums (some great photos at page 2):
http://www.westcoastrailforums.com/thread-1743.html

Don't miss this great article by Steve Donaldson:
http://www.westcoastrailforums.com/attachment.php?aid=21078
http://www.westcoastrailforums.com/attachment.php?aid=21079
http://www.westcoastrailforums.com/attachment.php?aid=21080
http://www.westcoastrailforums.com/attachment.php?aid=21081
http://www.westcoastrailforums.com/attachment.php?aid=21082

another piece of info:
http://coastdaylight.com/ljames1/scph_orange_irvine.html

My version is set in early 80s when the Spur was about to be abandoned. The operational potential is pretty limited (only one customer left). On the other hand that timeframe offers some interesting and varied scenery: suburban sprawl, orchards and fields. That's how this area looks today:
http://goo.gl/maps/DuqBD

Ksawery

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Wonderful work! The houses are spot on for California! They don't look very familiar, is it fair to guess they are your own personal models?
 
Living in Miami for 26 years, I can say that "Miami Switcher" was dead on! Outstanding job on the screenshots..... I can't wait to get my hands on this one too!
 
@pdkoester
The route should be released in a comming weeks.

@NIARTcar
The houses are built-in TS12 assets.
 
hey Xawry if you are ever looking for another spur to model I would recommend the sidewinder spur located off the BNSF Peavine in AZ (Technically it crosses onto the UP Phoenix sub before going into the spur,) lots of industry potential (though it has seen more in other times in history) and it's got one of the only street running sections in the US.
 
Wow! This looks astonishing!

Also, a question of personal inquiry: Was every trail in that area at one time a rail line? If so, then it really is apparent how many rail lines have shut down over the years!
 
Wow! This looks astonishing!

Also, a question of personal inquiry: Was every trail in that area at one time a rail line? If so, then it really is apparent how many rail lines have shut down over the years!

Yep. One needs to have a look at old topo maps to see how many branchlines/spurs have been abandoned over the course of years. There were numerous rail served packing houses it that area. They are all gone today.
 
Two shots of Kathryn packing house (Irvine Valencia Growers). The very end of Venta/Irvine Spur. Still needs some work but i'm getting there. It shouldn't be long before the route is ready for release.

Ksawery,

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