VISITING WITH HUELL HOWSER IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM... [CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY KCET PUBLIC TELEVISION AND FRIENDS OF NCI] Huell: WELL, HELLO, EVERYBODY, I'M HUELL HOWSER.
AND HERE WE ARE AT THE L.A. COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS, FAIRPLEX, HERE IN POMONA.
OBVIOUSLY, THE FAIR IS NOT GOING ON NOW.
BUT SOMETHING ELSE VERY INTERESTING IS GOING ON OVER HERE AT THE FAIRGROUNDS.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE TO INVESTIGATE.
WE'RE GONNA SPEND THE WHOLE AFTERNOON HERE.
HERE'S OUR TOUR GUIDE RIGHT HERE.
INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO EVERYBODY, BOB.
I'M BOB TOOHEY.
I'M THE COORDINATOR FOR THE FAIRPLEX GARDEN RAILROAD VOLUNTEERS.
Huell: THE GARDEN RAILROAD.
THE GARDEN RAILROAD.
IT'S A HISTORICAL RAILROAD THAT'S BEEN HERE SINCE 1924, HUELL, AND AT THIS PRESENT LOCATION SINCE 1935.
Huell: NOW, LOOK AT THIS.
BECAUSE I'VE ALWAYS HEARD ABOUT GARDEN RAILROADS.
THIS IS THE FIRST ONE I'VE EVER SEEN.
YOU SAY IT'S BEEN HERE SINCE 1924.
WHAT'S THE HISTORY OF THIS ONE?
WELL, THE HISTORY STARTS WITH--REALLY STARTING IN 1924 IN A TENT.
UH, FROM WHAT WE UNDERSTAND, THERE WAS A REQUEST FROM THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS FOR A HIGH-SCHOOL TEACHER TO DEVELOP A REPLICA OF THE PUDDINGSTONE DAM ALONG WITH PACIFIC ELECTRIC RAILROAD FOR THEIR VENTURE OUT HERE TO SEE IF PEOPLE FROM LOS ANGELES WOULD COME OUT HERE AND USE THE DAM AREA.
THEY DID THAT FOR THE 1924 FAIR.
THE CRITICISM THEY GOT WAS THAT THE TRAIN, THE LITTLE TROLLEY THEY BUILT, DIDN'T RUN.
FROM THAT POINT ON, HE WENT BACK TO THE SCHOOLTEACHERS AND THEY STARTED WORKING TOGETHER.
THE ORIGINAL TRAINS WERE BUILT BY THE STUDENTS IN THE DIFFERENT SHOPS IN THOSE DAYS, AND THEY DEVELOPED A RAILROAD.
Huell: NOW, DID YOU TELL ME THAT THIS WAS THE FIRST GARDEN RAILROAD IN THE UNITED STATES?
WELL, WE'RE NOT SURE IT'S THE FIRST, BUT WE'RE QUITE ACCURATE ON KNOWING THAT IT'S THE OLDEST AND THE LARGEST GARDEN RAILROAD IN THE UNITED STATES AND POSSIBLY IN THE WORLD.
Huell: WELL, WAIT A MINUTE.
HERE COMES AN AMTRAK RIGHT HERE, RIGHT THROUGH THE GARDEN.
NOW, WHERE DID--CAN WE WALK RIGHT THROUGH THE-- YES, YOU SURE CAN.
Huell: WHERE DID THEY GET THE NAME GARDEN RAILROAD?
WELL-- Huell: NOW, WAIT A MINUTE.
WE HAVE TO STEP RIGHT OVER THE-- THAT'S RIGHT.
YOU CAN WALK RIGHT ON THEM.
Huell: YOU CAN WALK ON THE TRACKS.
WOW.
OH, LOOK DOWN HERE.
OH, THIS IS GREAT!
WE GOT THE GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE DOWN THERE, ONLY IT'S GREEN.
IT'S GREEN, AND IT'S ALSO GOT A TRAIN RUNNING OVER IT.
SO, IT'S A LITTLE UNUSUAL.
BUT IT WAS A DONATED BRIDGE, AND WE ACCEPTED IT.
Huell: AND HERE COMES ONE OF THE TRAINS RIGHT HERE, RIGHT DOWN THE TRACK.
[TRAIN CHUGGING] Huell: WOW.
THIS IS--OH, AND HERE'S ANOTHER ONE OVER HERE.
LOOK OVER HERE, CAMERON.
HERE COMES ANOTHER ONE.
THAT LOOKS LIKE THE OLD ZEPHYR.
THAT'S THE OLD ZEPHYR.
[TRAIN WHISTLE BLOWING] Huell: LOOK AT THIS.
THIS IS AMAZING.
AND IT'S ALL KIND OF... LOOK.
YOU'VE GOT A RIVER RUNNING THROUGH HERE...TRESTELS.
IT LOOKS TO ME LIKE YOU'VE ALMOST GOT LITTLE BONSAI TREES OUT HERE.
YES.
THEY'RE NOT REALLY BONSAI.
WE HAVE WOMEN AND MEN THAT WORK REAL HARD ON KEEPING THEM SHAPED DOWN AND INTO TREES.
THEY'D BE A REGULAR TALL BUSH OR TREE IF THEY DIDN'T DO THAT.
Huell: LOOK AT THIS.
THERE IS SO MUCH GOING ON OUT HERE.
IT'S SO NEAT TO JUST LOOK OUT HERE AND SEE THIS WHOLE SITUATION.
THIS IS A HUGE AREA YOU'VE GOT HERE.
THAT IT IS.
THAT IT IS.
WE--IF I MAY, I'D LIKE TO JUST DRAW YOUR ATTENTION OVER HERE TO BEHIND YOU.
WE HAVE A THEME HERE THAT'S CALLED "CALIFORNIA DISCOVERED."
AND THE ROLE THE RAILROADS HAVE PLAYED.
AND OUR PURPOSE IS NOT ONLY FOR THE PUBLIC EDUCATION, BUT TO DEVELOP A PROGRAM FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS TO HAVE A VALUE TO COME OUT HERE AND LEARN ABOUT CALIFORNIA HISTORY.
THE MOUNTAIN, AS YOU LOOK AT IT CLOSER, HAS ALL MINING AND LOGGING OPERATIONS.
Huell: THERE'S A LITTLE LEAD CAR GOING RIGHT HERE, ISN'T IT?
WE ALSO REPRESENT THE PACIFIC ELECTRIC RAILROAD HERE, BECAUSE THEY PLAYED A VERY IMPORTANT ROLE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.
SO, WE HAVE A PACIFIC ELECTRIC RAILROAD THAT IS SERVING THE PIER IN LONG BEACH.
AND WE ALSO HAVE THE PACIFIC ELECTRIC, WHICH SERVES THE ENTIRE RAILROAD WHICH RUNS ACROSS.
YOU'LL SEE THE OTHER CARS RUNNING OUT HERE.
Huell: NOW, ARE WE STUCK?
ARE WE AT THE END OF A LINE?
NO, NOT AT ALL.
WE CAN WALK RIGHT ACROSS HERE IF YOU'D LIKE.
Huell: WELL, I FEEL LIKE I'M GONNA BE STEPPING ON SOMETHING HERE.
BUT YOU SAY IT'S OK TO STEP RIGHT ON THE TRACKS.
IT'S OK. Huell: CAN WE WALK DOWN THIS WAY?
YOU CERTAINLY CAN.
Huell: BOY, THIS IS--I DON'T KNOW WHAT I WAS EXPECTING, BUT THIS IS A HUGE OPERATION YOU'VE GOT GOING HERE.
IT'S THE SIZE OF A FOOTBALL FIELD.
IT'S 100 BY 300 FEET.
Huell: PLUS, IT ALSO LOOKS LIKE SOMETHING THAT REQUIRES A LOT OF WORK.
WE HAVE 80 VOLUNTEERS, AND WE PUT IN ABOUT 1,200 HOURS-- 12,000 HOURS A YEAR--VOLUNTEER HELP OUT HERE.
Huell: LET ME TALK TO THIS LADY OVER HERE.
SHE'S WORKING IN THE GARDEN.
HOW ARE YOU DOING?
I'M DOING JUST FINE, THANK YOU.
Huell: INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO EVERYBODY.
I'M MICKEY TOOHEY.
Huell: AND YOU'RE TRIMMING THE TREES.
YEAH, THEY LOOK LIKE A BUSH IF YOU DON'T TRIM THEM.
SO, THEY GOTTA BE A TREE.
Huell: SO, YOU TAKE A BUSH AND TURN IT INTO A TREE.
THAT'S RIGHT.
DID THOSE YESTERDAY AND THESE TODAY.
Huell: HOW DID YOU GET HOOKED ON THIS GARDEN RAILROAD THING?
HEH.
WELL, WE HAD A RAILROAD AT HOME, AND THEN STARTED COMING OUT HERE.
AND THIS IS MY HUSBAND.
HE'S THE COORDINATOR, AND I TAG ALONG.
Huell: OH, THIS IS YOUR HUSBAND HERE.
HEH HEH HEH!
Huell: SO, YOU HAD TO GO ALONG WITH THIS THING.
WELL, I ENJOY IT.
I DON'T DO TRAINS, BUT I LIKE THE GARDENING PART, AND I DO SOME OF THE SCENES AND SOME OF THE LITTLE PEOPLE AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
Huell: AND WHO DECIDES WHAT THE NEW SCENE IS GONNA BE?
'CAUSE I'M SURE IT'S CONSTANTLY CHANGING.
IS THERE A BIG DEBATE AND VOTE BY THE BOARD TO DECIDE WHAT'S GONNA BE ADDED AND WHAT'S GONNA BE CHANGED AND-- YEAH, SOMEWHAT.
WE HAVE SORT OF A COMMITTEE.
AND THERE'S A PLAN.
YOU KNOW, IT HAS TO BE CALIFORNIA.
AND IT HAS TO FIT INTO THE SCENE.
SO, WE BUILT ON A 3-YEAR PLAN.
WE'VE PASSED THAT, AND NOW WE'RE ON ANOTHER 3-YEAR PLAN.
Huell: WOW.
SO, WE'RE JUST ADDING-- HOPEFULLY MORE INDUSTRY AND MORE BIG BUILDINGS NOW.
SO-- Huell: GREAT.
WELL, NICE TO MEET YOU.
KEEP WORKING ON YOUR TREE THERE.
THAT'S LOOKING GOOD.
THANK YOU.
HEH.
Huell: BOY, THIS IS--LOOK AT THIS ONE GOING RIGHT THROUGH... OVER THE BRIDGE HERE.
THIS IS-- THIS IS SO MUCH FUN.
NOW, I KNOW WE CAN'T--WELL, YEAH.
WE COULD WALK OVER THE DAM.
WE CAN WALK THROUGH THERE IF YOU LIKE.
BEFORE WE DO, I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT PART OF THE SAN LUIS REY MISSION IS HERE.
WE HAVE AN EXACT REPLICA OF THE SAN LUIS REY MISSION.
THAT HAS BEEN AT THIS SITE, THAT WE KNOW OF, SINCE 1972, BECAUSE WE FOUND PICTURES IN THE NEWSPAPER.
THE PROBLEM WAS THAT THE ONE THAT WAS HERE HAS TOTALLY DETERIORATED.
WE HAVE A CRAFTSMAN--YOU'LL MEET HIM IN A LITTLE WHILE, I'M SURE-- THAT HAS BEEN REBUILDING IT.
THESE ARE THE PIECES THAT HAVE BEEN REBUILT.
Huell: AND HERE'S WHAT YOUR WIFE DOES HERE, IS TO MAKE THESE BUSHES INTO TREES.
THAT'S CORRECT.
HUELL, THIS IS OUR--ONE OF THE 2 INTERACTIVE AREAS THAT WE HAVE FOR THE PUBLIC AND CHILDREN OF ALL AGES.
Huell: WHAT DO YOU MEAN "INTERACTIVE"?
BY THE FENCE LINE THERE, THERE ARE 3 CONTROL BUTTONS.
AND 3 OF THESE LOOPS THAT YOU SEE HERE IN THE OLD WESTERN TOWN ACTUALLY ARE OPERATED FROM THE FENCE LINE.
SO, THE PUBLIC CAN ACTUALLY OPERATE THESE TRAINS DURING THE FAIR.
Huell: I DON'T SEE ANY TRAINS.
NO, THEY'RE NOT OUT TODAY BECAUSE IT TAKES US QUITE A WHILE TO SET IT UP, AND WE ONLY SET THIS UP FOR THE FAIR.
Huell: OK.
SO, THIS IS REALLY AT ITS PEAK DURING THE L.A. COUNTY FAIR EVERY YEAR.
THAT IS CORRECT.
THAT'S OUR MAIN SHOW.
AT THAT TIME, WHAT YOU SEE OUT HERE RUNNING TODAY IS JUST A SAMPLE.
WE HAVE 21 DIFFERENT UNITS RUNNING AT ONE TIME DURING THE FAIR.
Huell: OH, MY GOSH.
LOOK AT THIS ONE.
SO, YOU HAVE 21 TRAINS LIKE THIS ONE OPERATING AT ONE TIME DURING THE FAIR.
THAT'S CORRECT--TRAINS OF VARIOUS SIZES AND OF VARIOUS DESCRIPTIONS, 6 OF WHICH ARE OPERATED BY THE PUBLIC.
Huell: WOW.
LOOK AT THIS.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M--LOOK.
I'M JUST--YOU KNOW, I'VE NEVER REALLY THOUGHT I WAS THAT BIG OF A MODEL-TRAIN BUFF.
BUT NOW, THESE AREN'T MODEL TRAINS.
THESE ARE BIGGER THAN MODEL TRAINS.
THIS IS WHAT IS KNOWN AS THE G GAUGE OR THE GARDEN SIZE.
IT'S THE FASTEST-GROWING MODEL RAILROADING IN THE UNITED STATES RIGHT NOW.
Huell: THERE COMES YOUR LOGGING TRAIN RIGHT THERE.
THERE'S THE LOGGING TRAIN, GOING ACROSS OUR MOUNTAINS THROUGH OUR SNOWSHED.
Huell: SORRY I KEEP INTERRUPTING YOU, BUT THIS IS--THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE SEEN THIS.
THIS IS VERY EXCITING.
WELL, WHEN THE FAIR COMES ON, WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IS A LOT OF VACANT AREAS HERE, THAT WE PUT BUILDINGS AND SCENES OUT.
SO, IT'S ENTIRELY MANNED WITH BUILDINGS, SCENES, LIT AT NIGHT.
Huell: OBVIOUSLY, THIS IS YOUR DESERT AREA HERE.
THIS REPRESENTS OUR CALIFORNIA, ARIZONA, NEVADA DESERT BORDERS.
Huell: SO, YOU'VE REALLY GOT THE WHOLE CALIFORNIA THING LAID OUT HERE.
WE DO.
AND WE'RE STILL DEVELOPING THOSE SCENES TO BE REMINISCENT OF THOSE YEARS.
Huell: NOW, THERE'S ANOTHER GUY WORKING UP IN THE--I WAS EXPECTING MORE PEOPLE WORKING ON TRAINS.
SO FAR, ALL I'VE SEEN ARE PEOPLE WORKING DOING LANDSCAPING AROUND HERE.
WELL, WE DO HAVE TO DO A LOT OF LANDSCAPING, BECAUSE THE WEEDS GROW PRETTY FAST AND THE TREES GROW.
SO, IT'S CONSTANT TRIMMING AND WEEDING, REALLY.
Huell: WHERE ARE YOU IN CALIFORNIA RIGHT HERE?
WELL, THIS REALLY DEPICTS THE RAILROAD'S CONTRIBUTION TO THE LOGGING INDUSTRY AND THE MINING INDUSTRY.
SO, IT WOULD BE IN THE NORTHERN CENTRAL PART OF CALIFORNIA.
THE RAILROAD, OF COURSE HELPED BRING THE LOGS TO THE MILL AND THE FINISHED LUMBER TO THE MARKET, AND ALSO SUPPLIES TO THE MINES.
Huell: YOU'RE DEFINITELY IN THE FOREST.
EXACTLY.
EXACTLY.
Huell: AND THIS IS DEFINITELY IN YOUR BLOOD.
WITHOUT A DOUBT.
Huell: HOW OFTEN ARE YOU OUT HERE?
PROBABLY MORE THAN I SHOULD BE, BUT PROBABLY 2 DAYS A WEEK, MAYBE 3 SOMETIMES.
YEAH.
Huell: ALL YEAR ROUND?
ALL YEAR ROUND.
Huell: AND DOES IT BUILD, THE CLOSER YOU GET TO THE FAIR?
YEAH, IT DOES, BECAUSE-- Huell: THAT'S KIND OF YOUR-- THAT'S WHAT YOUR GOAL IS--TO PUT ON A SHOW FOR THE FAIR AND THE PEOPLE FOR THE FAIR, TO SHOW WHAT THIS RAILROAD IS ALL ABOUT.
Huell: WOW.
WELL, NOW, WAIT A MINUTE.
I CAN'T--WELL, I GUESS I CAN JUST STEP RIGHT OVER IT.
NICE TO MEET YOU, SIR.
NICE TO MEET YOU, HUELL.
Huell: YOUR NAME IS-- JOHN COLLINS.
Huell: NICE TO MEET YOU.
JUST WALK RIGHT OVER THE--UHH!
OH, YOU COULD HAVE STEPPED ON THE TRACK, SEE?
Huell: YEAH, BUT THERE'S SOMETHING WEIRD ABOUT STEPPING ON THESE TRACKS.
I'M WORRIED THAT I'M GONNA BREAK THEM OR SOMETHING.
HA HA HA!
NO...THEY'LL WITHSTAND IT.
IT'S DESIGNED TO BE PUT IN A PERSON'S YARD, OF VARIOUS SIZES, AND TO BE OUT ALL YEAR ROUND.
ALL THE BUILDINGS YOU SEE OUT RIGHT NOW, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ONE OR TWO, ARE OUT YEAR-ROUND.
THEN WE PUT THE ADDITIONAL ONES OUT FOR THE FAIR.
Huell: SO, THERE'S YOUR TRAIN HERE AND THEN, HERE'S ANOTHER TRAIN-- [TRAIN BRAKING] WHAT WAS THAT?
YOU HAVE ALL THE SOUND EFFECTS, TOO.
THAT ENGINE HAS THE SOUND EFFECTS IN IT.
Huell: LOOK AT THIS.
IT'S JUST BEAUTIFUL.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
Huell: IT'S JUST SO AESTHETICALLY PLEASING TO LOOK AT IT.
YEAH, WE--WELL, LIKE I SAY, WE TRY TO MAKE THIS A YEAR-ROUND EVENT FOR THE FAIR.
THEY HAVE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF SHOWS HERE FOR THE DIFFERENT SHOWS DURING THE WEEKENDS.
AND WE HAVE IT VERY PLEASING FOR THE PEOPLE.
EVEN IF WE'RE NOT RUNNING, WE WANT THEM TO ENJOY SEEING IT THROUGH THE FENCE.
Huell: THE LITTLE HOUSES, THE LITTLE CARS, ALL THE LITTLE BUILDINGS--NOW, WE'RE WALKING...
I DON'T KNOW--WELL, WAIT A MINUTE.
YOU GOT OIL DERRICKS OVER THERE.
WE GOT OIL DERRICKS.
OIL WAS A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF THE CALIFORNIA HISTORY, AND THAT'S BEING DEVELOPED.
AS YOU CAN TELL, IT'S JUST A SAMPLE THAT'S UP THERE.
WHEN WE GET THAT HILL DEVELOPED, THEY'LL BE ACTUALLY OPERATING OIL WELLS.
WE WON'T BE PULLING ANY OF THAT MAGIC GOLD UP OUT OF THE GROUND, BUT THEY WILL ACTUALLY BE OPERATING, AND THAT WILL BE ALL DONE.
THAT'S HOW WE START.
WE START WITH AN IDEA, AND WE START WITH THE GROUND THE WAY IT IS, AND WE START DEVELOPING FROM THERE.
Huell: OK, WE'VE COME INSIDE WHAT THEY CALL--THIS IS THE CAB, RIGHT?
RIGHT.
Huell: YOUR NAME IS-- ANDY NUIR.
Huell: AND TELL US WHAT IT IS.
THIS LOOKS LIKE ACTION CENTRAL RIGHT HERE.
WELL, IT IS MOST OF THE TIME.
THIS IS WHERE WE CONTROL THE 4 MAIN LOOPS ON THE LAYOUT.
Huell: UH-HUH.
AND WE CAN CONTROL UP TO 8 TRAINS ON THE 4 MAIN LOOPS.
Huell: SO, YOU COULD MESS THINGS UP IF YOU WANTED TO, COULDN'T YOU?
VERY EASILY.
Huell: YOU HAVE TO KEEP YOUR MIND ON WHAT YOU'RE DOING, BECAUSE YOU'RE JUST LIKE A REAL SWITCH HOUSE FOR A REAL RAILROAD.
YOU'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT THINGS ARE GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND THAT THEY'RE NOT HEADING INTO EACH OTHER.
THAT'S...WE DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH HEAD-ON COLLISIONS.
WE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THEM CATCHING UP WITH EACH OTHER AND, UH, TAIL-ENDING EACH OTHER.
Huell: DO YOU CONTROL THE SPEED IN HERE AS WELL?
YES.
WE DO.
Huell: SO, YOU'RE THE GUY.
YEAH.
I'M THE GUY.
Huell: WELL, HERE'S ANOTHER GUY OVER HERE.
YOUR NAME IS-- STEVE.
Huell: AND YOU'RE HERE TO SHOW US WHAT'S IN THIS CABINET.
THIS IS WHAT CONTROLS AND RESPONDS TO ALL THE CONTROLS ON THE PANEL.
THESE ARE-- Huell: OH, MY GOSH!
A COUPLE OF HUNDRED RELAYS AND...OLD TECHNOLOGY, SOME BRAND-NEW TECHNOLOGY FROM THE FIFTIES TO THE NINETIES AND INTO THE TWO-THOUSANDS.
Huell: SO, YOU'RE CONSTANTLY UPDATING IT.
YEAH.
AND, UH, IT WEARS OUT STUFF--WE RUN SO MUCH, IT JUST WEARS OUT.
AND WE HAVE TO REPLACE CERTAIN THINGS.
Huell: SO, ARE YOU THE COMPUTER GUY?
UM, PART OF IT, THE ELECTRONICS, AND OTHERS HELP DO THIS.
BUT WE ALL LEARNED DIFFERENT TRADES.
Huell: SO, THAT'S KIND OF INTERESTING--THERE ARE DIFFERENT NEEDS, THERE ARE DIFFERENT SKILLS THAT DIFFERENT PEOPLE BRING TO THIS.
OH, YEAH.
WE HAVE TELEPHONE PEOPLE.
I'M AN AEROSPACE ENGINEER.
Huell: REALLY?
AND IT TAKES SOME OF ALL OF US TO DO THAT.
SO, THERE'S HALF A DOZEN ELECTRICAL SPECIALISTS HERE.
AND WE DO MOSTLY THIS, BUT WE WATCH THE TRAINS AS WELL.
Huell: LOOK AT THE TRESTLE.
YES.
THIS IS A VERY MAGNIFICENT ONE BUILT BY A COMPANY IN PHOENIX.
THE MAN HAS AN AWNING SHOP.
HE BUILDS METALWORK FOR AWNINGS.
AND HE GOT INTO THIS HOBBY ABOUT 4 YEARS AGO.
HE HEARD ABOUT US UP HERE.
AND HE DIDN'T WANT WOODEN BRIDGES, HE WANTED METAL ONES.
Huell: SO, THIS IS MADE OUT OF METAL.
THIS SUSPENSION BRIDGE IS METAL.
THE OTHERS ARE OUR TYPICAL WOOD TRESTLE-TYPE BRIDGES.
Huell: SO, THAT'S A WOODEN TRESTLE OVER THERE.
THAT'S A WOODEN TRESTLE BRIDGE.
IT'S REPRESENTING MORE OF THE OLDEN PART OF CALIFORNIA HISTORY.
AND, OF COURSE, THE METAL BRIDGE IS COMING INTO MORE MODERN.
Huell: AND HERE'S A GUY WHO'S NOT HAPPY WITH JUST CLEANING OUT HIS POOL AT HOME.
HE HAS TO COME WORK ON THE WEEKENDS HERE AT THE GARDEN RAILROAD.
YOUR NAME IS-- MY NAME IS RICK BREMER.
Huell: AND I GUESS THAT'S PART OF IT, TOO, ISN'T IT?
YOU GOTTA KEEP THE LAKE AND THE RIVER AND THE STREAMS CLEAN HERE.
YEAH, IT IS, HUELL.
WE HAVE 23,000 GALLONS OF WATER, AND ABOUT 5 MAJOR PONDS WITH ABOUT 4 MINOR STREAMS THAT FEED IN AND OUT.
WE HAVE ABOUT 3 DIFFERENT PUMPING SYSTEMS.
SO, IT TAKES QUITE A BIT TO KEEP IT SUPERVISED AND-- Huell: SEE, THIS IS AMAZING, I MEAN, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT ALL THE DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF WHAT IT TAKES TO MAKE THIS THING WHOLE AND COMPLETE AND CONNECT ALL THE DOTS.
AND THAT'S THE NICE THING ABOUT THIS GROUP, TOO--IS THAT EVERYBODY WORKS SO WELL AS A TEAM.
WE'VE GOT A GREAT COORDINATOR, AND WE'VE GOT JUST REALLY GOOD TEAM MEMBERS THAT WORK TOGETHER, AND EVERYBODY GETS ALONG.
WE HAVE A GREAT TIME.
Huell: NOW, TO KEEP YOU MOTIVATED, THOUGH, THEY DO GIVE YOU OTHER THINGS TO DO THAN CLEAN OUT THE WATER, DON'T THEY?
YEAH, I--HEH HEH HEH!
I'M A CABINETMAKING TEACHER, AND I TEACH A FILM AND ANIMATION CLASS AT SAN DIMAS HIGH SCHOOL.
SO, I ALSO DO ALL THE CABINETS AND, YOU KNOW, WORK AND THINGS LIKE THAT FOR THE GROUP THAT WE NEED DONE.
Huell: WOW.
AND DO YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT TRAINS PER SE?
HEH.
YEAH, I'VE PICKED UP A LOT FROM THESE GUYS.
Huell: I MEAN, WHAT GOT YOU STARTED WITH THIS GROUP?
WELL, I MET BOB TOOHEY THROUGH ANOTHER GROUP THAT WE HAVE IN FULLERTON.
AND HE TOOK ME OUT ONE SATURDAY MORNING, TOOK ME ON HIS PERSONAL TOUR, AND THEN THAT WAS IT.
I WAS HOOKED.
Huell: THIS WILL GET YOU HOOKED--JUST COMING OUT HERE AND SEEING THIS.
I'M NOT EVEN REALLY A HARD-CORE TRAIN PERSON.
BUT THIS REALLY GETS YOU EXCITED.
THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT THIS THAT GOES BEYOND IT JUST BEING A MODEL TRAIN GOING AROUND IN A CIRCLE.
YEAH, WELL, IT IS, TOO.
AND WE LIKE TO KEEP IN FOCUS THAT WE'RE A DISPLAY FOR THE FAIR, FOR FAIRPLEX, ALSO.
AND SO...
IT'S MORE THAN JUST A TRAIN SET.
IT'S A DISPLAY THAT WE TRY TO BRING OUR FOCUS THROUGH TO THE COMMUNITY AND SHOW OUR THEME TO THEIR COMMUNITY.
Huell: THERE COMES A COAL TRAIN, UNION PACIFIC, SOUTHERN PACIFIC, GREAT NORTHERN, SANTA FE... COAL TRAIN GOING OVER THE GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE WHICH, AS WE HAVE ALREADY NOTED, IS NOT HISTORICALLY--THAT HAS NEVER HAPPENED.
THERE ARE NO RAILS GOING OVER THE GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE.
BUT THAT'S OK. YOU ALL CAN TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF LICENSE, CAN'T YOU?
WE TAKE A LITTLE LICENSE ON THAT.
WE THOUGHT IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL BRIDGE THAT THE GENTLEMAN WAS BUILDING FOR US, AND HE BUILT IT SPECIAL FOR US.
AND IT IS SPECIAL.
Huell: YOU WEREN'T GONNA TURN IT DOWN.
WE'RE NOT GONNA TURN IT DOWN.
Huell: NICE TO MEET YOU, SIR.
THANK YOU.
THANKS FOR COMING OUT TODAY.
Huell: ALL RIGHT.
LET'S JUST KEEP WALKING, 'CAUSE--NOW, THE DEAL IS, ANYTIME YOU COME OUT HERE TO FAIRPLEX, EVEN IF YOU'RE NOT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, PEOPLE CAN STAND AROUND THE FENCE HERE AND LOOK IN AND SEE ALL OF THIS FROM RIGHT AT THE FENCE.
THEY SURE CAN, IF THEY'RE HERE FOR ANY OTHER SHOW, ANY TYPE OF DISPLAY, OR ANY PROGRAM THAT THE FAIR HAS ON.
AND IF WE'RE HERE WORKING ON THE GARDEN RAILROAD, WE'LL ALWAYS BE HAPPY TO BRING PEOPLE IN WHEN WE HAVE THE TIME TO DO THAT.
TRAINS AREN'T ALWAYS RUNNING.
QUITE OFTEN, WE'LL HAVE MAYBE ONE TRAIN RUNNING BECAUSE IT HELPS THE PEOPLE WORK A LITTLE BETTER.
Huell: YEAH, KIND OF MOTIVATES THEM A LITTLE BIT.
BOY, LOOK AT THIS.
THIS IS AS PRETTY--THIS IS AS PRETTY A VIEW AS I THINK I'VE EVER SEEN.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT?
I'VE BEEN TO THE FAIR A LOT.
AND I DON'T THINK I KNEW THIS WAS HERE.
A LOT OF PEOPLE DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS HERE.
IT HAD DETERIORATED PRETTY BAD BEFORE 1997 WHEN WE CAME IN AS A VOLUNTEER GROUP AND STARTED RENOVATING IT.
AND THEY ALSO, DURING THE FAIR, THEY HAVE A LOT OF FOOD BOOTHS THAT KIND OF BLOCK THE VIEW OF THIS.
SO, IF YOU DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS BACK HERE, IT WOULD BE EASY TO MISS.
BUT IT'S RIGHT IN THE MAIN CENTER OF THE FAIR.
IF THEY LOOK AT THE CLOCK TOWER, WE'RE RIGHT THERE.
Huell: BUT THIS IS GOOD ENOUGH.
LOOK, YOU GOT A LITTLE AIRPORT HERE.
YES.
THIS IS AN AIRPORT.
IN FACT, YOU'RE STANDING ON THE RUNWAY, HUELL.
Huell: OH.
HA!
OH, WELL, YOU HAD TO HAVE A MINI MALL, DIDN'T YOU?
YES, WE SURE DID.
THERE'S THE MINI MALL.
Huell: HA!
I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THAT'S A GREAT ADDITION OR NOT.
BUT IT'S PART OF WHAT'S HAPPENING-- IT'S PART OF CALIFORNIA.
Huell: WHAT'S HAPPENING IN CALIFORNIA-- IT'S PART OF CALIFORNIA HISTORY.
Huell: AND WE GET DOWN HERE AND WE'VE GOT--WELL, WE GOT 2 GUYS STANDING DOWN HERE.
FELLAS, YOU'RE NOT EVEN BREAKING A SWEAT.
YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE WORKING TODAY.
WELL, THIS IS WHAT WE DO, THOUGH.
WE LIKE TO WATCH THE TRAINS WHILE WE SWEAT.
[ALL LAUGH] Huell: WHAT ARE YOUR JOB DESCRIPTIONS TODAY?
WELL, I'M THE MANAGER OF THE SWITCHYARD AREA HERE.
I DESIGNED IT.
AND I MADE THE MISTAKE OF TELLING OUR COORDINATOR, "WE NEED SOMETHING TO SHOW THE GENERAL PUBLIC HOW TRAINS GET SWITCHED IN THE YARD."
HE SAYS, "FINE.
YOU'RE IN CHARGE OF IT."
OPEN MOUTH, INSERT FOOT.
HA HA HA!
Huell: SO, THIS IS YOUR WHOLE-- LOOK AT THIS, CAMERON.
THIS IS FASCINATING.
THIS IS A WHOLE SWITCHING YARD HERE.
AND THERE'S THE ROUNDHOUSE DOWN AT THE END.
DOWN THERE, UH-HUH.
AND I HAVE A--THE ICEHOUSE IS DOWN AT THE FAR END.
IT EXTENDS DOWN.
IN FACT, I HAVE IT AUTOMATED HERE.
THIS YEAR, WE HAVE AN ELECTRONIC GENIUS WITH US.
AND HE AUTOMATED THIS TRACK TO WHERE WE'VE GOT 2 TRAINS RUNNING.
Huell: OK, HERE COMES A TRAIN RIGHT HERE.
HOW DO YOU KNOW-- WATCH IT, CAMERON.
YOU'RE STANDING RIGHT ON THE TRACK.
HA HA HA!
HOW DO YOU KNOW SO MUCH ABOUT TRAINS?
WELL, I SPENT 40 YEARS OF MY LIFE IN THE RAILROAD INDUSTRY-- 29 YEARS WITH SANTA FE, AND I WAS IN ENGINEERING, CONSTRUCTION, AND DESIGN.
DIDN'T GET TO RIDE THE TRAINS.
AND THEN I WORKED FOR A PRIVATE RAILROAD CONTRACTOR FOR 10 YEARS DOING THE SAME THING.
Huell: YOU'RE ONE OF THESE HARD-CORE GUYS.
RIGHT.
HA HA HA!
Huell: AND YOU HADN'T TOLD US WHAT YOU'RE DOING HERE TODAY.
WELL, I'M IN CHARGE OF THIS WHOLE AREA IN FRONT LINE HERE CALLED OUR CENTRAL THEME AREA.
AND THIS IS TO DEPICT SORT OF MAIN STREET U.S.A., IF YOU WILL, AND ALL THE BUILDINGS, THE HOTELS, THEATERS, MINI MALLS, CHURCHES, AND THAT TYPE OF THING.
Huell: SO, THE RESPONSIBILITY IS DIVVIED UP.
CERTAIN PEOPLE ARE IN CHARGE--I KEEP THINKING I'M GONNA DERAIL A TRAIN HERE-- A LOT OF THINGS HAPPENING HERE.
Huell: THERE IS A LOT OF STUFF GOING ON.
IS THERE KIND OF A HIERARCHY, THE LONGER YOU'VE BEEN HERE, THE MORE RESPONSIBILITY YOU GET?
I THINK IT'S LIKE BOB SAID OVER THERE.
YOU OPEN YOUR MOUTH, YOU INSERT FOOT, AND THAT'S WHAT YOU GET TO DO AROUND HERE.
Huell: YEAH.
SO, YOU'RE ONE OF THE BIGWIGS.
WELL, I'M ALSO, UH, HELP-- Huell: HERE'S THE AMTRAK.
YEAH.
I ALSO HELP BOB KEEP TRACK OF OUR BUDGET ALLOCATIONS AND OUR EXPENSES AND ALL THE PROJECTS THAT WE DO THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
EACH YEAR-- Huell: BECAUSE THIS ISN'T CHEAP.
NO, IT'S NOT.
THESE ARE BIG-BOY...BIG-- Huell: LITTLE TOYS FOR BIG BOYS.
THERE YOU GO.
THAT'S WHAT I WAS-- Huell: LITTLE EXPENSIVE TOYS FOR BIG BOYS.
YES.
Huell: YOU KNOW WHAT IS SO INTERESTING ABOUT THIS--WE'RE BACK...WE'RE MAKING A SECOND LOOP HERE, AND YET, I'M SEEING THINGS THAT I DIDN'T SEE THE FIRST TIME.
THERE'S A LOT TO SEE HERE.
YES, THERE IS.
AND KEEP IN MIND THAT THIS IS JUST A FRACTION OF WHAT YOU'LL SEE DURING THE FAIR.
Huell: YEAH, BECAUSE YOU'VE STILL GOT A LOT OF THESE THINGS TO SET UP.
THAT'S CORRECT.
WE HAVE A LOT OF THINGS THAT DON'T COME OUT EXCEPT FOR THE FAIR.
Huell: NOW, WHERE DOES THIS RANK IN THE HIERARCHY OF GARDEN RAILROADS?
HOW GOOD IS THIS ONE?
IF PEOPLE FROM OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY CAME TO VISIT, DO THEY MAKE A PILGRIMAGE TO THIS ONE 'CAUSE IT'S ONE OF THE EARLY ONES AND ONE OF THE GOOD ONES?
YES, THEY REALLY DO.
AND OF COURSE, WE'D LIKE TO THINK IT'S THE BEST IN THE WORLD.
BUT I'M SURE THERE'S OTHER PEOPLE WOULD HAVE OTHER...THOUGHTS ON THAT ALSO.
Huell: BUT THERE ARE GARDEN RAILROADS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.
ALL OVER THE COUNTRY AND ALL OVER THE WORLD.
AND WE ARE KNOWN ALL OVER THE WORLD NOW.
OVER THE LAST 5 YEARS, WE'RE IN NATIONAL PUBLICATIONS.
AND WE DO HAVE PEOPLE THAT CALL FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD--AS WELL AS ALL OVER THE STATES--THAT ARE GONNA BE IN CALIFORNIA, WANNA KNOW IF THEY CAN COME SEE IT.
Huell: AND THE FACT THAT IT'S BEEN HERE IN ONE FORM OR ANOTHER SINCE 1924 MAKES IT A VERY HISTORIC PLACE.
IT CERTAINLY DOES.
AND WE'RE VERY PROUD TO BE PART OF THAT HISTORY.
Huell: WAS IT REVOLUTIONARY IN 1924 WHEN IT OPENED UP?
YES, BECAUSE EVERYTHING IN 1924 WAS ALL HANDMADE.
THIS IS ALL PRODUCT THAT YOU CAN BUY NOW ON THE OPEN MARKET.
BUT IN THE ORIGINAL TRAINS ALL THE WAY UP THROUGH '96, THOSE WERE ALL HANDMADE AND ONE OF A KIND.
Huell: NOW, I DON'T THINK WE'VE REALLY TALKED ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THESE TRAINS AND MODEL TRAINS LIKE YOU WOULD HAVE AT HOME.
BECAUSE THESE ARE A LITTLE BIGGER, AREN'T THEY?
THESE ARE BIGGER FROM WHAT PEOPLE ARE USED TO, WHICH THEY CALL THE H.O., OR EVEN THE OLD LIONEL--UH, OLD GAUGE.
THIS IS THE NEXT SIZE UP COMMERCIALLY FROM THE OLD GAUGE.
AND PEOPLE DO RUN THEM IN THEIR HOUSE.
THEY RUN THEM AROUND THE CEILINGS AND THROUGH WALLS.
Huell: I SEE THEM IN RESTAURANTS SOMETIMES.
YOU SEE THEM IN RESTAURANTS.
SO, THIS IS VERY POPULAR.
AND WE'RE TOLD THAT THIS IS THE FASTEST GROWING OF THE MODEL TRAIN HOBBY.
OF ALL THE MODELS, THIS IS THE FASTEST GROWING.
BUT THESE YOU BUY AS COMPLETED UNITS, AND THEN SOME PEOPLE TAKE AND MODIFY THEM FROM THERE.
Huell: BUT IF SOMEBODY IN YOUR FAMILY STARTS GETTING HOOKED ON THESE LITTLE TRAINS, YOU BETTER BE READY TO SHELL OUT SOME MONEY.
'CAUSE THIS AIN'T CHEAP.
IT'S NOT CHEAP.
YOUR ENGINES RUN ANYWHERE FROM A MINIMUM OF 200, $250, ALL THE WAY UP TO THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS, DEPENDING ON WHAT YOU WANT TO BUY AND WHO YOU WANT TO BUY IT FROM.
ALL THE MANUFACTURERS THAT ARE MAKING THIS TODAY ARE VERY RELIABLE MANUFACTURERS.
Huell: YEAH.
WHAT IS THIS SUPPOSED TO BE OUT IN FRONT HERE?
WELL, THAT'S JUST OUR MAIN LAKE, OUR MAIN RIVER.
WE HAVE AN ISLAND OVER HERE THAT--WE HAVE A YOUNG MAN THAT'S ABOUT 12 YEARS OLD THAT'S GOING TO BE DEVELOPING THAT INTO AN ISLAND RESORT OF SOME SORT.
Huell: SO, YOU GET--YOU FARM THESE THINGS OUT FOR PEOPLE TO DEVELOP.
WE CERTAINLY DO.
AND OF COURSE, WE-- Huell: OH!
HA HA HA!
Huell: WHOA.
NOW, SEE?
I--YOU GOTTA BE ON... AT LEAST I DIDN'T DERAIL A WHOLE TRAIN.
YOU CERTAINLY DIDN'T-- Huell: AND ACTUALLY, I DIDN'T EVEN DERAIL THAT TRUCK.
YOU DIDN'T DERAIL THE TRUCK.
AND IT'S COMING AROUND--THERE'S ANOTHER TRUCK, AS YOU SEE, COMING AROUND NOW ON IT.
AND THESE WILL OPERATE ALL DAY LONG ON THE BATTERY.
THEY DON'T WEAR DOWN.
AND-- Huell: SO, WAIT A MINUTE.
THAT'S A BATTERY-OPERATED-- THAT'S BATTERY-OPERATED.
YES, THAT'S A BATTERY.
Huell: THE TRAINS ARE... ARE TRACK-OPERATED--OFF POWER OFF THE TRACK.
Huell: BOY, YOU GOTTA BE CAREFUL WHEN YOU'RE OUT HERE.
YOU CAN IMAGINE WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE IF EVERYTHING WAS RUNNING.
Huell: WELL, 21 TRAINS AT ONE TIME.
21 DIFFERENT UNITS AT ONE TIME.
Huell: BOY, IT IS JUST A BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL PLACE.
I NEVER KNEW IT WAS HERE.
WELL, WE'RE VERY PLEASED AND PROUD TO HAVE YOU HERE.
AND WE'RE JUST EXCITED ABOUT IT.
WE ALWAYS ARE WITH A LABOR OF LOVE, AS YOU CAN OBVIOUSLY SEE.
AND WE LOVE IT.
AND SOMETIMES WE LOOK AT EACH OTHER AND SAY, "ARE WE REALLY HAVING FUN?"
BUT THAT'S OUR KEY WORD--IS IF WE'RE NOT HAVING FUN, WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE?
Huell: WELL, THIS IS A WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL PLACE.
IT'S BEEN HERE SINCE 1924, BEEN AT THIS LOCATION SINCE 1935.
AND OF COURSE, YOU'RE REAL--YOU ALL KIND OF TOOK IT OVER AND STARTED REALLY REVITALIZING IT IN 1997.
THAT IS CORRECT.
AND WE HAVE A GROUP NOW OF 80 VOLUNTEERS.
AND YOU JUST SEE A FRACTION OF THOSE PEOPLE HERE TODAY.
AND I'M VERY PROUD OF THEM.
I'M VERY PROUD TO BE PART OF THAT GROUP.
Huell: AND A WONDERFUL JOB.
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF YOU.
All: THANK YOU.
Huell: WE'VE SEEN THEM DO EVERYTHING FROM CLEAN THE WATER TO...DO THE LANDSCAPING TO WORKING ON THE TRAINS THEMSELVES.
THERE'S SOMETHING HERE FOR EVERYBODY TO DO.
AND THERE'S SOMETHING HERE FOR EVERYBODY TO SEE, ESPECIALLY DURING THE 3 WEEKS, SEPTEMBER THE-- 13-29 THIS YEAR.
Huell: OK.
BUT IT'S ALWAYS 3 WEEKS IN SEPTEMBER, THE L.A. COUNTY FAIR.
COME OUT HERE.
ASK ANYBODY, THEY CAN DIRECT YOU TO THE PLACE--ACTUALLY, WE'RE VERY CLOSE TO THE GRANDSTAND.
WE SURE ARE.
Huell: AND IT'S HERE FOR PEOPLE TO SEE IN ALL OF ITS GLORY.
AND BOY...THIS WOULD BE A WONDERFUL PLACE TO--I MEAN, HOW MANY PEOPLE SEE THIS EVERY YEAR?
DURING THE FAIR?
WELL, EXIT INTERVIEWS INDICATE THAT BETWEEN 65 AND 80% SEE THIS.
AND THAT'S 1.3 MILLION PEOPLE TOTAL.
Huell: WOW.
AND SEE, I WAS ONE OF THOSE 20% THAT NEVER EVEN-- I DIDN'T HAVE A CLUE THAT THIS WAS HERE.
WELL, WE'RE GONNA TRY AND GET SOME MORE ATTRACTION THINGS UP LIKE FLAGS OR SOMETHING OVER TIME, SO YOU CAN SPOT IT EASIER.
Huell: WELL, IT'S BEEN GREAT.
IT'S CALLED A GARDEN RAILWAY.
IT'S CALLED A GARDEN RAILWAY.
Huell: THE REAL--THE NAME FOR THIS PARTICULAR ONE IS-- FAIRPLEX GARDEN RAILROAD.
Huell: IT'S PRETTY SIMPLE.
PRETTY SIMPLE.
Huell: IT'S A VERY COMPLEX RAILROAD SETUP WITH A VERY SIMPLE NAME.
AND IT'S A WONDERFUL PART OF WHAT'S GOING ON HERE AT THE L.A. COUNTY FAIRGROUND.
THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.
AND THERE IT IS--THIS GARDEN RAILROAD.
COME OUT AND SEE IT DURING THE COUNTY FAIR.
AND OF COURSE, IT'S HERE YEAR-ROUND IF YOU WANNA JUST STAND AND KIND OF PEEK OVER THE FENCE--THIS WONDERFUL LITTLE RAILROAD, THIS GARDEN RAILWAY, IN POMONA.
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