Sandy Ridge and Clear Lake Railway explained

Railroad Name:Sandy Ridge & Clear Lake Railway
Start Year:1996
Length:Total Length: ~7000 feetMainline Length: ~5400 feet
Hq City:Battle Creek, Michigan
Locale:Michigan

Sandy Ridge & Clear Lake Railway is a private, gauge ridable miniature railway located on 29acres 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 7000feet of track. The railroad does not form a loop, since the ends of the line are separated vertically by nearly 90feet.

The rolling stock used on the railroad is modelled in inches per foot (5:16) scale to resemble the narrow gauge locomotives, freight cars, coaches, and cabooses used by the Sandy River & Rangeley Lakes Railroad in the state of Maine.

Rolling Stock

Locomotives!Number!Builder!Type!Date!Notes
3John Korstange2-axle Rail BusLettered for the SR&CL. 5hp Honda gasoline.
4Allen2-Truck ShayLettered for the Clear Lake Logging Co. (CLL). 3-Cylinder 4 inch scale. Originally burned wood but now burns coal.
7Jim Small

Forney locomotive

Lettered for the SR&CL. Patterned after B&SR #7. Burns coal.
10Marty Knoxhttp://www.ridgeboiler.com/

Forney locomotive

2005Lettered for the SR&CL. Patterned after SR&RL #10. Originally was an oil burner but now burns coal.
24Started - Jim SmallFinishing - Marty Knox

http://www.ridgeboiler.com/

2-6-2 PrairieUnder constructionLettered for the SR&CL. Patterned after SR&RL #24. Burns coal.
25John KorstangeB-BLettered for the SR&CL. Loosely resembles GE 70-ton. 18hp gasoline engine.
Freight Cars, Coach,and Cabooses!Number/Name!Type!Notes
437Flat CarLettered for the SR&CL
438Flat CarLettered for the SR&CL
439Flat CarLettered for the SR&CL
440Flat CarLettered for the SR&CL
12Flat CarLettered for the CB&E
158Box CarLettered for the SR&CL
501GondolaLettered for the SR&CL. Carries snow plow in the winter
521GondolaLettered for the SR&CL
559CabooseLettered for the SR&CL. Based on SR&RL style caboose
560CabooseLettered for the SR&CL. Four wheeler renumbered from C-1
AilinaCoach

External links