Hi Everybody--
Regarding my late grandfather, Victor T. Shattock:
This is the first live steam railroad built in the United States (outdoors) by Victor Shattock, shortly after moving to California from Alberta, BC. in the mid-1920's. L to R: Ron Shattock (Vic's eldest Son); unknown friend; Vic Shattock himself. This was in the Suisun--Fairfield area of Northern California, about 45 miles South of Sacramento.
When the World War I ended Vic came back to his family in Canada but began to hear of greater job opportunities, and possibly a better life, in California from his longtime friend Walter Melvin. The family made the decision to move in 1923 and they settled in the Suisun-Fairfield area of California, several miles southwest of Sacramento. Once there, Vic started working for the Southern Pacific Railroad as a “Water Service Helper” (a glorified name for a “railroad plumber") and was required to travel in an “Outfit Car” around parts of the railroad’s Western Division, fixing most anything requiring the services of a plumber, tinsmith or HVAC repairman. While living in the Outfit Car (SPMW #417), Vic built a 2 ½” gauge live steam railroad that ran up and down on a piece of track inside his Outfit Car. When the car was set out on a siding in various towns that it visited, Vic would have guests over to see the wonders of steam railroading in action as he demonstrated what his models could do when put to the test. My grandmother was jealous because the ladies in the various towns would bring him cakes and pies! In the late twenties the family was stationed at Niles in what today is a historic district of Fremont, California. About 1930, the State of California put on a big Agricultural Show at Davis, California and set up a large display tent for exhibits. S.P. carpenters were used to lay a runway on which Vic built a track for demonstration purposes. This display was a great success and was seen by an estimated 10,000 people during the course of the event.
When Vic first moved to Oakland, CA he built a steam railroad along the backyard fence. This was a few years before he had the elaborate empire in his basement in East Oakland.
Photos courtesy of KRK Archives.
Cheers.
KRK
