Edwards Open House – April 2018

09 April 2018

Although seasonal rains delayed our April open house by a day, Mark & Michelle Edwards’ Buena Vista Railroad in Santa Margarita, CA was open and ready for operations. CCCGRS members and guests enjoyed a beautiful spring day among the California wildflowers, with trains operating on a ’grand circle tour’ of the layout. There was even a surprise in the skies from a visiting camera drone chronicling the occasion.

The Buena Vista Railroad has been open for public tours during the 2016 and 2017 Central Coast Railroad Festival and hosted its first CCCGRS Open House November 2017. Since November, Mark and Michelle have been busy adding new features, details and scenes “so that there is always something new for our guests to experience.” A new highline passing siding; detailed rockwork, cribbing and plantings along the western limits of the layout; and scenic Horseshoe Springs were among the new additions presented in early April.

Afternoon light casts long shadows, as two trains pass above and below the recently completed Horseshoe Springs.
Buena Vista Railroad guests said “cheese” for the drone camera hovering above the Buena Vista Railroad. Drone courtesy of, and piloted by, professional videographer Jack Hutchinson (center).
Buena Vista Railroad No. 248 descends the grade while a visitor looks on from below at Horseshoe Springs. This is one the recently completed scenes that guests of the April CCCGRS open house enjoyed.
Buena Vista Railroad No. 251 fills her water tank at the western limits of the line, while the engineer promptly returns to the cab.