I originally posted these pictures on my old website on August 1, 2008.
(NOTE: This website is NOT affiliated with the museum or Clamshell Railroad Days; click here for current info)
The Columbia Pacific Heritage Museum in Ilwaco, Washington hosts a model train show and swap meet during Ilwaco's annual Clamshell Railroad Days in July. The show is organized by the Peninsula Model Railroad Club, which built the museum's permanent model railroad display depicting the historic Long Beach Peninsula. The show includes layouts displayed by the club and visiting layouts and vendors. In 2008, the show was held on Saturday, July 19 and Sunday, July 20.
The Ilwaco Railway & Navigation Company's 1880's 3-foot-gauge passenger car N10 Nachotta is part of the Columbia Pacific Heritage Museum's permanent collection.
These connected N-Scale small layouts were on display.
This Large-Scale display included scratchbuilt buildings by Ron Biggs of Oysterville, Washington depicting historic Oysterville in the late 1800s.
Here is another view of the Large-Scale display including scratchbuilt buildings by Ron Biggs depicting historic Oysterville, Washington, in the late 1800s.
Here is another view of the Large-Scale display including scratchbuilt buildings by Ron Biggs depicting historic Oysterville, Washington, in the late 1800s.
This Lego layout was also on display and could be operated by children.
Southwest Washington Model Railroaders
The Southwest Washington Model Railroaders' HO-Scale layout was located in the Clark County Historical Society Museum in Vancouver, Washington from the early 1980s until 2006, when it was removed so the museum could be renovated. A new display will take its place. The layout is divided into four scenes depicting the Washington side of the Columbia River Gorge.
One end of the layout depicts Vancouver, Washington, including the area around the railroad depot and the railroad bridge over the Columbia River to Portland.
Spokane, Portland & Seattle Alco RS3 #68 and Bay Window Caboose #790 are in front of the Vancouver depot.
Here is another view of Spokane, Portland & Seattle Alco RS3 #68 and Bay Window Caboose #790 in front of the Vancouver depot.
This is the layout's depiction of The Crossing Restaurant, a Vancouver restaurant that included old railroad cars, and is no longer there.
This warehouse represents an actual building near the depot in Vancouver with a curved wall that follows the tracks.
This scene depicts Beacon Rock and the surrounding area.
Here is a closeup of Beacon Rock, which includes the bridges that make up the switchbacking hiking trail to the top, and hikers on the trail.
Here is a closeup of the highway and snowshed in the Beacon Rock scene.
This scene depicts some of highway and railroad tunnels found on the Washington side of the Columbia River Gorge.
This scene represents the area of Maryhill, Washington. On top of the ridge are small-scale miniatures of the Maryhill Museum of Art and the Maryhill Stonehenge replica, creating a forced perspective.
The following video shows some of the above layouts in action.
Layouts at Clamshell Railroad Days in Ilwaco, WA, in 2008
Longview, Kelso & Rainier Model Railroad Club
The Longview, Kelso & Rainier Model Railroad Club traded some freight cars with Portland's Mount Hood Model Engineers. Here are Mount Hood Railroad 40-foot boxcars #15213 and #15223.
On Saturday morning the LK&R layout had a Burlington Northern theme.
Burlington Northern F7A #722 is inside the LK&R enginehouse.
Burlington Northern caboose #10415 and SW1500 #317 are in the LK&R yard.
At one point there was a derailment inside a tunnel. Here is a rare view inside a tunnel on the layout.
The following video shows a Burlington Northern grain train and freight train running on the LK&R layout.
LK&R Layout at Clamshell Railroad Days in Ilwaco, WA, in 2008
Saturday afternoon, the LK&R layout was switched to my Union Pacific steam.
Union Pacific FEF-3 4-8-4 #844 is near the LK&R enginehouse.
Union Pacific 4-6-6-4 Challenger #3985 is in the LK&R yard.
Union Pacific FEF-3 4-8-4 #844 and Union Pacific 4-6-6-4 Challenger #3985 are in the LK&R yard.
Here is another view of Union Pacific FEF-3 4-8-4 #844 and Union Pacific 4-6-6-4 Challenger #3985 in the LK&R yard.
Union Pacific cabooses CA-3 #3771 and CA-1 #3232 are in the LK&R yard.
The following video shows a Union Pacific 4-8-8-4 Big Boy with a freight train and my Union Pacific streamlined passenger train on the LK&R layout.
LK&R Layout at Clamshell Railroad Days in Ilwaco, WA, in 2008
On Sunday, the LK&R layout operated with Southern Pacific steam & early diesel power for most of the day.
Southern Pacific GS-4 Daylight 4-8-4 #4452 is on the LK&R mainline.
Southern Pacific TR6A #4601 and TR6B #4701 are in the LK&R yard.
The following video shows Southern Pacific steam locomotives and Great Northern's streamlined Empire Builder running on the LK&R layout.
LK&R Layout at Clamshell Railroad Days in Ilwaco, WA, in 2008
I also took pictures of some of the club’s more interesting freight cars.
Mount Hood woodchip car #42526
Mount Hood 40-foot boxcar #15213
Mount Hood 40-foot boxcar #15223
Columbia Gorge Express (CGEX) woodchip car #1994
LK&R 50-foot double-door boxcar #38279
LK&R 50-foot plug-door boxcar #79418
LK&R 50-foot tank car #27941
Roundhouse Products 50-foot boxcar #1994
LK&R hopper car #35827
LK&R hopper car #35824
Olympia Beer refrigerator car #5108
LK&R covered hopper MW124
LK&R covered hopper MW123
LK&R 40-foot tank car MW240
LK&R 40-foot tank car MW240
