109. Orcutt & Islay Creek Railroad

The Orcutt & Islay Creek Railroad in Santa Maria, California is one of the longest, continuous operating garden railroads on the central coast. This “could have happened” railroad is modeled in the spirit of the Pacific Coast Railway, a 3-ft. narrow gauge railway that connected Port Hartford to Los Olivos via San Luis Obispo and other communities. The railroad is designed specifically to accommodate the unique needs of live steam locomotives and their consists. Thoughtful planning and construction allow easy roadbed and track maintenance, and continuous accessibility to rolling stock in motion. Kit and kit-bashed structures are gradually being replaced with scratch-built features, many of which include lighting and other effects.