Sandy Ridge and Clear Lake Railway
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Battle Creek, Michigan |
| Locale | Michigan |
| Dates of operation | 1996– |
| Technical | |
| Track gauge | 7+1⁄2 in (190.5 mm) |
| Length | Total Length: ~7000 feet Mainline Length: ~5400 feet |
Sandy Ridge & Clear Lake Railway is a private, 7+1⁄2 in (190.5 mm) gauge ridable miniature railway located on 29 acres (120,000 m2) of mostly wooded hills near Battle Creek in the state of Michigan. The railroad was built and owned by John "Jack" Ozanich, who was a retired locomotive engineer of the Grand Trunk Railroad. Jack died on May 29, 2020.
The railroad runs through rolling landscape, with grades of up to 5.2% on the mainline and 75ft minimum radius curves. The branch lines have switch backs and even steeper grades to change elevation rapidly. If the mainline is extended to completion, the railroad should have approximately 7,000 feet (2,100 m) of track. The railroad does not form a loop, since the ends of the line are separated vertically by nearly 90 feet (27 m).
The rolling stock used on the railroad is modelled in 3+3⁄4 inches per foot (5:16) scale to resemble the 2 ft (610 mm) narrow gauge locomotives, freight cars, coaches, and cabooses used by the Sandy River & Rangeley Lakes Railroad in the state of Maine.
Rolling Stock
| Number | Builder | Type | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | John Korstange | 2-axle Rail Bus | Lettered for the SR&CL. 5hp Honda gasoline. | |
| 4 | Allen | 2-Truck Shay | Lettered for the Clear Lake Logging Co. (CLL). 3-Cylinder 4 inch scale. Originally burned wood but now burns coal. | |
| 7 | Jim Small | 2-4-4T | Lettered for the SR&CL. Patterned after B&SR #7. Burns coal. | |
| 10 | Marty Knox
http://www.ridgeboiler.com/ |
2-4-4T | 2005 | Lettered for the SR&CL. Patterned after SR&RL #10. Originally was an oil burner but now burns coal. |
| 24 | Started - Jim Small
Finishing - Marty Knox http://www.ridgeboiler.com/ |
2-6-2 Prairie | Under construction | Lettered for the SR&CL. Patterned after SR&RL #24. Burns coal. |
| 25 | John Korstange | B-B | Lettered for the SR&CL. Loosely resembles GE 70-ton. 18hp gasoline engine. |
| Number/Name | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 437 | Flat Car | Lettered for the SR&CL |
| 438 | Flat Car | Lettered for the SR&CL |
| 439 | Flat Car | Lettered for the SR&CL |
| 440 | Flat Car | Lettered for the SR&CL |
| 12 | Flat Car | Lettered for the CB&E |
| 158 | Box Car | Lettered for the SR&CL |
| 501 | Gondola | Lettered for the SR&CL. Carries snow plow in the winter |
| 521 | Gondola | Lettered for the SR&CL |
| 559 | Caboose | Lettered for the SR&CL. Based on SR&RL style caboose |
| 560 | Caboose | Lettered for the SR&CL. Four wheeler renumbered from C-1 |
| Ailina | Coach |
External links
- Sandy Ridge & Clear Lake Railway Website
- Images from the SR&CL Railway