![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.dailylife.barrowroad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Day2306301-scaled.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nThe Thunder Mesa Railroad is an O Scale (1:48, which is conveniently enough about twice the size of HO, or Half O, scale at 1:87), but it is running on ON30 track, which is HO track which stands in for 30″ narrow gauge track.<\/p>\n
O Scale is great for detail oriented people.\u00a0 1\/4″ is equal to 1′.\u00a0 Easy math, and big enough you can see the fine detail.\u00a0 (Pay no attention to the giant head in the background!)<\/p>\n This end is opposite the town of Thunder Mesa.\u00a0 The general theme is old west with a hint of Disney.\u00a0 The geysers in the Yellowstone-esque pools really spout!<\/p>\n This cavern is patterned after the Rainbow Cavern Mine Ride from when Disneyland first opened.<\/p>\n Most of the locomotives are named for Disney animators.<\/p>\n One of the neat design features is that there are no grades in this layout, solving a host of problems.\u00a0 The upper track is not only completely separate from the main level, it is ON18 (N Scale) track operating as 18″ narrow gauge often used in mining operations, with consequently smaller locomotives and rolling stock (built on top of N Scale locomotive and car frames vs the HO equipment on the main line).\u00a0 You can see the mine train above the main line.<\/p>\n Another view of the main section of Thunder Mesa.\u00a0 The town is one the right end, the track on the left circles around through the arch and into the cavern.<\/p>\n This is the Gruesome Gulch Railroad.\u00a0 It is portable and was made for Halloween.<\/p>\n The maker has literally dozens and dozens of videos on the making of everything, from how he made the coffins in Gruesome Gulch to how he sculpted the red rock scenery.\u00a0 It is all available on YouTube under Thunder Mesa Studio, and at his website: https:\/\/thundermesa.studio<\/a>.<\/p>\n One last view: Day2306312<\/a> (video opens in another window)<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a> <\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n