Cliff, thank you for having us down today What an amazing difference seeing this in person.As I have no doubt pics will be posted of the visit.I’ll let the pictures reveal the tale. Amazing piece.
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I would have hoped a plane there if I could have done it! Will look for the museum and next chance definitely go visit it!
Wayne, that’s super cool of you, thanks, I don’t know what to say!
Yes, I’m taking a plane to meet it there, and will spend a week assembling.
oh, you bet, photos will be forth coming!
Thanks again,
Cliff
Thanks Pete!!
As things stand now, it’s not generally open to the public. That’s because the State of NV only recently got control of the site, and the “Friends” organization is tasked with cleaning up, killing weeds, unearthing artifacts, overseeing the tunnel mouth restoration, and – in their free time – hosting visitors. But each month that goes by, things are amping up a bit more.
It’ll be a couple years till things go fully public but in the meantime, if you’re in the area, contact them for when the next event or open house is. They hold big bashes now, I wish I could head out there for the next one on September 20! Special Events
Hollywood, it was so great to have you, Rooster, Bruce and Jean over.
What an honor that you all would spend the time and gas driving all that way to come see the model. Thank you all, from the bottom of my heart.
My layout is wonky, a sort of roundy-roundy but in the shape of a Y, with a loop at each end. And my switch system isn’t complete… But it was awesome seeing battery guys running on my tracks, first time. I was happy to see the DCC system still controlling the three wye-loop turnouts for them.
Bruce brought his brass boxcab, and Rooster his Amtrak diesel AB units (carefully disguised as a beautiful steam loco and tender).
And, thankfully, Grover also made the gig:
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It’s been awhile since I’ve been to Cliff’s…it was really cool to see some of my old stufff on the layout as well as inside.
We started with running some trains.
It was SO cool to see both Davids there.
Here my Boxcab runs by Cliff’s fabulous mill…
My old coal shed…
The block of 3 buildings from Burke…
Rooster’s train goes behind the coal shed.
There’s just a LOT to see outside, including the lanterns that Cliff had worked on…
BUT, the main attraction is seeing old friends like Hollywood and Cliff (yeah, Rooster, too!)
I DO have a picture of Rooster (coming up), but here’s what HE was running. That’s Ralphie the Rail Scale…and Crew!
But, the REAL reason we were all there remained inside:
You have seen some really GREAT pictures here, but believe me - it looks a whole lot better in person! (Even without Grover 
)
Cliff was patient with our ogling - but did open it up so we could take some pictures!
MANY pictures were taken!
And there’s still more to be added!
And, perhaps, painted?
There’s also some cool stuff around the rooms (though I AM a BIT prejudiced!)
my “old” coach - the interior lights pop on as you pass.
Plus a fancy bathroom!
A cool train!
Other stuff, special to ME! (My “viaduct” - the blue lights come on as you walk past this)
A LOT of FUN with some VERY weird folks:
Plus our host consented to join us weirdos…
(Still the cleanest workshop that I’ve EVER seen!)
Many, many thanks to Cliff for allowing us to visit. What fun!
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So this day started with Hollywood asking me Thursday if I would like to ride down to Cliffs as he had some things to drop off to him and we could inspect his incredible diorama so I agreed. Besides Cliff said I could be the button tester if I wanted to!
So I arrive at Hollywoods thinking he was driving however he said " Am I driving or are you driving" I said " Well I guess it doesn’t matter" so he immediately starting walking to my truck and gets in? Ok well I guess I’m driving!
Got to test the buttons!!!
The CVRR visted the Virginia Truckee (?) with Kens old #20 that was acquired by the CVRR…However the Heavyweights got snagged on the on tunnel curve so I had to change up the consist.
The new consist with the crew and Ralphie the rail scale.
Got more pics and still going through them as I had an hour drive from Hollywoods.
Cliff,
Thank you for opening up your place and I’m not commenting on anything anymore as there is NOTHING else to be said that wasn’t said in this thread already. JUST AMAZING !!!
It was fantastic seeing Jean Chandler again oh and you guys as well but at least she is nice to me and doesn’t swear at and say mean things to me! Cliff I tallied up what I spent on gas and time then mailing you and Hollywood the invoice it’s up to you guys how you decide to split it but I will take a personal check from either of you!
Seriously it was an EXCELLENT day !!!
Thank you Cliff ,Dave, Bruce/ Jean
Cliff asked me to bring Grover along with his stripper pole and I was honored to do such !
Bruce is absorbing the event as it happens!!
It’s not about the camera it’s all about the documentation, timing and angle as I believe Cliff was answering Bruce’s questions as he silently placed Grover !
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Yep - fascinated by Grover!
And for those of you wondering about that shirt…
here’s what it says:
So much fun! Thanks again to Cliff for putting up with us all!
Wait??
Pluto’s dead man???
She says she could if you really wanted her to…(but I doubt it! )
(I’m in BIG trouble. NOW she states “I’m just joking!”)
Rooster, where have you been? Pluto turned to dust 17 years ago, people smarter than me said so.
I’ve just spent the last hour binging the dude, whadda great comedian!
Me I tried to capture the impact the 1mm slivers of contouring made to the scene.If you note the shades in the first pic some of the are the deviation from those slivers
Edited to add a shutout to BD and the pic editing software he chose which converted my 5.x images to site size automatically 
Cliff, is you like Nate Bargatze, check out Jim Gaffigan as well. Both funny!
Though I should be starting the breakdown for shipping, I’ve been doing more on the detailing today… just cuz I couldn’t stop myself. Clockwise from the top: the mule corral, hay bales, stagecoach, timber & lumber stacks, and racks of pipes.
Also finishing the “vehicle fleet.” The mules have been problematic, I’ve had to give them tree trunk legs to make them print and they’re still super fragile.
The drivers’ heads are the first thing to break off though, I hope no one notices.
My advice to the Sutro folks will be, when all the mules or horses snap off a wagon or coach, we should just call the vehicle a horseless carriage… the other kind. And when all the driver heads are gone, and someone asks why, we should just say: “You’ve not heard of the headless coachmen of Sutro?!?” And within a year it’ll be a thing!! I should start printing t-shirts now…
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Holy moly, Cliff! Just when I THOUGHT I had an idea going on about this, you post THIS.
Wonderful work. (I will NEVER notice anything)
Cliff,
This project transcends all that have come before it on this site and all that are likely to follow. You have a created a true masterwork that passes beyond the bounds of model building to high art.
I doff my hat, Maestro!
Eric
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Cliff is Devoning this build so he doesn’t have to build his trestle …
Is it done yet ?
It looks great so far … 
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