The Southern Pacific unit train of 23,000-gallon tank cars was commonly known to railroad professionals and enthusiasts as the Oil Cans. It was a daily movement between Saco, CA north of Bakersfield to the Shell Oil refinery in Carson, CA south of Dolores Yard. This train operated with 6 sets of 12 or 13 cars making it 72 or 78 cars, respectively. The train averaged between 10,000 and 12,00 tons generally departing Bakersfield in the afternoon.
After the train is assembled it would make the short trek to Bakersfield for a crew change, then off to the Tehachapi Mountains and Mojave Desert.
I scaled down the car count so the train would not look out of proportion to the La Mesa Model Railroad Club exhibit. I assembled sets of 9 cars for a total of 54 cars. Included is a helper set and caboose. With head end, helpers and caboose, the train is just under 48 feet long.
The entire train is by Athearn (Ready to Roll & Genesis locomotives and rolling stock).
Several years ago, Athearn produced these tank cars in their Genesis line with various releases since then. Of the 54 cars, 20 of them were renumbered or did not have numbers already printed.
The motive power decoders are by Sountraxx.
For more information on this train, check out this video:
Vic Yoder:
Vic Yoder Flickr:
Soundtraxx:
Durango DCC:
Pacific Coast Lines:
La Mesa Model Railroad Club:
San Diego Model Railroad Museum: .