Opening Picture
Joshua Lionel Cowen started the "Lionel Manufacturing Company" in 1900, or 1901 as some historians would contest, in lower Manhatten, New York. The "Look Out For The Third Rail" opening picture is a modification of a black and white drawing that appeared in the 1906 Lionel Catalog. This was also the year that Lionel changed its track design to that of three rails measuring 2-1/8 inches between the rails which was called "Standard Gauge" which was esentially phased out after 1936 due to its large size (homes were getting smaller, and Standard Gauge takes up a lot of space) and of course to reduce manufacturing cost. Standard Gauge track and trains are being remanufactured today for mostly collectors and operators so they can enjoy the early design of Lionel, Ives, and American Flyer's three rail large gauge trains. 1906 was also when Lionel introduced a series of Trolley Cars that were prevalent in the big cities. There are still some elevated railways that use the third rail for the power to run the trolly or engine, but this way of big city transportaion was replaced mostly by taxis and busses starting in the early twenties. You may see one of Joshua's Trolley Cars, a number 8, "Pay as you go", circa 1913, in one of the pictures if you browse the "GREAT TRAIN ROOM" page.
Pacific Coast Rail Road Pictures
The San Luis Obispo Rail Road which later changed its name to the Pacifc Coast Rail Road essentially started in 1873 and saw its last action of removing the rails in 1942. Ken Kelley, Owner of THE THIRD RAIL, commissioned railroad artist Wayne Scarpaci to make several paintings depicting the history of the Pacific Coast Rail Road from Avila to San Luis Obispo and Los Olivos. Those interested in reprints may contact Wayne Scarpaci through THE THIRD RAIL. For further reference material, here are two of the best books detailing the Pacific Coast Rail Road: "Ships and Narrow Gauge Rails" by Gerald M. Best (hard to find a copy as it has been out of print for some time) and "Rails across the Ranchos" by Loren Nicholson.
Southern Pacific in Santa Barbara Pictures
As a youngster growing up in Santa Barbara, Ken Kelley spent many hours hanging around the rail yards waiting for a steam engine to find its stall in the roundhouse. One of the joys of the early acquaintance with railroading was a short ride on the Coast Daylight. I can't even remember if it was Southbound out of Santa Barbara to Carpinteria or Ventura, or if it was Northbound to San Luis Obispo. In any case, it was aboard one of Southern Pacific's best and I've never gotten over trains as a major interest in my life since. These memories are now preserved in several pictures done by Wayne Scarpaci whose talents are shared with viewers of this website.
The Great Train Room Pictures
All of the pictures represent scenes depicted on Ken Kelley's "THE GREAT TRAIN ROOM" layouts. Several of these scenes have been published in Kalbach Publications: "Classic Toy Trains" and/or "Collecting Toys". The train room is open to the public on the first (or second) Sunday in December sponsored by the Santa Ynez Humane Society who charge a small donation. Members of TCA, TTOS, Antique Collecting Clubs, or Antique Car Clubs should contact Ken Kelley if your group is interested in a private showing when your club is visiting the Santa Ynez Valley.