As its name indicates, the G-Scale Finger Lake Railroad operates in the region of lakes and vineyards in central upstate New York.
The FLRR has a run of track of more than 500 feet along a small lake, or perhaps you could call it a big pond. Until last year (2010), the track ran under big, tall pine trees between the house and the pond, but the leaves and other material that fell from the trees forced a change of right of way. Then the train was known as Bear Creek R.R. & Black Rock Lines.
Except for a wye to be installed at one of the ends, everything is complete and operating on the FLRR, which has a crew of just three people. My wife, Angelica, my son, Herman Jr., and myself. My daughter, Jennifer, has cooperated with the purchasing of buildings, track and locomotives. My son Carlos lives in Chicago; his children enjoy the FLRR when they come to visit.
The help from Angelica, with plants and flowers, and from Herman Jr. with the solution of technical and logistical problems has been terrific. He also constructed the 24 foot-long double bridge over the southwestern tip of the lake.
There is a real short line called “Finger Lakes Railway,” but our FLRR is just a product of the imagination.
The crew hopes to offer a more detailed version of the layout in future installments, but for the time being here are some pictures:
New bridge will be painted next spring (2012)
17 years old Jose the Cat inspecting the tracks
Jose follows the LGB track cleaning locomotive
Crew members make sure that there are no problems with the tracks on the bridge
The Uintah 50, one of the favorites on the FLRR, with caboose
Over the bridge after the first light snow of Fall, 2011
RS3 leased from the original railroad, the Bear Creek and Black Rock Lines
The last car of a freight train, A Pan Am box car, leaving Mills Station
The CT16 passing thru ivy, as the Uintah 50 speeds by in the background.
Freight train over pond in the old BC&BR Lines (Photo by Gary A. Cameron)
Another nice image by professional photographer and friend Gary A. Cameron
Flowers by the track seem to be waiting for a train
Grandchildren playing by the tracks
Grandson Paul, too small to walk, but crawling over the track is OK
Carlos, oldest brother of Paul, helping his grandfather
The gravel has to be smoothed around the tracks
More help from Carlos
The gravel bags are heavy!
