Miniature Locomotives
It's Melissa's birthday! As I write this, many months before you are reading it, Melissa has been absent for a while, and we all miss her. I hope that by September of 2025, she will be back with us. In the meantime, Sue B. provided some vintage scans for the occasion. A young girl is having a birthday party at what appears to be a Ferrell's, or something Ferrell's-adjacent, anyway. Straw boaters! Red flocked wallpaper! Leg garters! Etcetera. The birthday girl seems to be very happy to be the center of attention.
I'm guess she is around seven years old, and let's face it, that's right in the sweet spot of maximum birthday fun. The girl is enjoying a Coke, and the sugar and caffeine are kicking in big time. It's like she's touched an electric socket.
It looks like there's a snare drum behind her, just the thing to bang on when the employees wanted to make a scene. Such as when a customer ordered (or consumed?) one of their bigger offerings. I seem to remember one at Farrell's called something like "The Trough", and you would get a certificate verifying that "I made a pig of myself at Ferrell's".
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Little Locomotives! Tiny Trains! Walt Disney liked them, therefore you should too. I have three undated (1970s? 1960s?) slides from an unnamed location, but there are at least some clues to point us in the right direction.
First up is this swell steam loco, the Peshastin Great Western, carrying the brave engineer and three unashamed adult men. And why should they be ashamed, I ask?? No reason at all! I'm sure the aroma of coal exhaust was like Hai Karate to those guys. Peshastin is a small unincorporated community in central Washington, about 80 miles (as the crow flies) east of Seattle.
Next, an even smaller locomotive, belonging to the Spokane Falls Lumber Co. It is hauling logs from grand old trees that were at least 20 feet tall! Spokane? Hey, that's in Washington too.
And finally, another tiny locomotive, it appears to be of the same scale as the previous one, though it sports and old-fashioned diamond stack. It bears the name "Elk River Lumber Company". Well, there are a number of Elk Rivers around the nation, but there is one in Washington State, near the west coast. So I'm assuming that these live steam enthusiasts were located somewhere in the 42nd State of the Union. Beyond that, I have no idea. Perhaps one of you can narrow it down. Follow these exciting clues: houses. A hill. Dirt. Trees. Those should help!
19 comments:
Melissa - Happy Birthday... we miss you so much-!
Major-
Although it is possible this is not a Farrell's, it seems highly unlikely. [Although the positions of the man and woman in the framed picture on the wall in the 2nd image are reversed], that image IS part of their famous logo. And yes, I too "made a pig of myself at Farrell's" and received the infamous blue ribbon to gather dust 'among my souvenirs'; although I'll be damned if I know where it is now.
Now aren't those 'tiny locomotives' just darling-! Perfect for my backyard.
Thanks Sue and The Major.
By golly, it IS Farrell's. I'm now looking more-closely at the pictures and I see "Farrell's" on a couple of the party hats. In the first pic, see the top left hat. In the second pic, see the hat on the right--on the table (to the birthday girl's left).
When I last spoke with Melissa on the phone, she was still having vision problems, but was/is hopeful for the future. If we don't get a comment from her today, on this post, I will call her tonight and share everyone's birthday wishes to her.
Thanks, Major.
Silly me, I forgot the most important part of my comment that I meant to type here....HAPPY BIRTHDAY MELISSA! I hope you're celebrating like the little girl in the birthday pictures today -- with lots of smiles and happiness -- with good friends and lots of ice cream!
A truly happy birthday to you, Melissa. I hope your eye problems continue to improve and that you'll be here with us on GDB again soon!
Yep. It's a Farrell's! (As Sue noted, it says so on the pointy hat in the first pic.) Looks like B-Girl received a strawberry sundae for her special day. Strange how she looks like she's from the 1940s, while the ladies behind her look like they're from the '70s, even with their early 1900s costumes. (The psychedelic hats also say "1970s")
In the second pic, we can see a bouquet(s) of those huge, spiral, all-day-suckers in the background.
Nice, and appropriate pictures, Sue. Thanks!
Tiny Trains #1) What is that red and white thing that Blue-Shirt Guy is holding close to him? It looks like a fire extinguisher... sort of. And what does that switch (sticking out from the track) do? It appears to be some kind of toggle: "Wheels stay on"... "Wheels fall off". Oh wait, I can see the other track now. So it's a track switcher. There's something big and white in the background... with wheels... and a "Big W". A Winnebago?
Tiny Trains #2) Wow, this one is REAL tiny! Doesn't seem like it would support the weight of an adult. It also looks like it could topple over any second! The 'logs' look like they came from the Presto tree, and are available at most grocery stores.
Tiny Trains #3) Evidently, it's required that all miniature train enthusiasts wear one of those 'engineer' hats. Sorry, but to me it looks kind of comical to see an adult precariously sitting atop one of these super-small trains. The larger train in the first pic is OK, but these last two are just too danged small! The train itself looks great though! Major, even with the plethora of clues that you provided, I still can't tell where, in Washington, these were taken. Perhaps that fencing can give us another clue?... Or the grass.
Thank you, Sue and Major.
I DEFINITELY KNOW where that last tiny locomotive is located.....
....the same town that the second tiny locomotive is in!
[JB, I'm really surprised you didn't state this fact, before I did.] :oP
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MELISSA!!! PLEAESE hurry back!!
Like JB , I thought it was odd how the birthday girl is from 1948 while everyone else - as well as Farrell’s is from 1968!! One of those shared moments of dimensional bubble theory. Sad Farrell’s is gone …. Except I think one location remains. At one point from San Diego and through Orange County California there were many locations … then so many closed … then many reopened … then closed …. Then a few again reopened … the outsides looked the same … the interiors were pretty close … but something was just different …. The ice cream wasn’t right . I took my nieces to experience the Farrell’s I knew …. But it had changed …. The food … the ice cream … it was all not right . The whole place was trying to be something that was long gone … I was disappointed but my nieces had nothing to compare it against . I wasn’t the only one who felt it wasn’t the same because they all quickly closed up - for a final time.
Little steamers and little engines “live steamers” train clubs were pretty common all around Southern California in the 50’s through the 1970’s . But you had Hobbiests who had a background or knowledge of machinery and machinest abilities. Very few people have this ability today. I used to love pursuing over the Little Engines live steam catalogs as a kid …. Everything was available as a kit … either pre-machined ( more expensive ) or un machined … for much cheaper … but the work and shop equipment needed was probably pretty extensive. I think the big craze of live steam backyard railroading died out because of the work involved … and space needed …. By the 1980’s G SCALE trains developed in Germany in 1968 had become mega popular around the world by the 1980’s …. And while you couldn’t ride them , you got that large scale backyard feel.
Happy birthday, Melissa! We miss you so much. I pray your vision will continue to improve and hope you are able to join us on your special day.
Nice detail work, JB! I had totally missed that big “W” hidden in the trees. That looks to me like a Winnebago, although I suppose it could be marking the location of a Wally’s…or possibly a buried treasure.
I have always found miniature live steam to be fascinating and even managed to finagle some rides on a backyard layout in NW Ohio, but the cost and mechanical know-how coupled with 44 years of moving every few years made that an unrealistic dream. Note the extended ends on the red boxcar in the second photo, providing something for a 1:1 scale human to use to hang on and ride.
Thanks again, Major (and Sue)!
Happy Birthday Melissa! I hope you are continuing to be on the mend and are back with us again soon. I miss your fashion/history/commentary! This IS Farrells...and I think I DID make a pig of myself at Farrells...I don't have a strong memory of the consuming, but I do remember the receptacle that it was served in: which looked like a trough. I'm remembering even a bigger thing...in a big silver punch bowl thing...I thought it was called the "Matterhorn" but I will have to dig in and find out. Obviously, it was meant to be shared...and perhaps: it wasn't Farrells and was another place. A Farrells knock off opened up near me in the 70's, and was called the "Ice Cream Factory"....it WAS NOT Farrells. I was enamored by the "Candy Palace" inside Farrells with it's giant lolly pops and other Disneyland inspired things. If I remember correctly the food was completely substandard at Farrells...but you went for the experience with these garter belt wearing ladies cheering and dancing about. Mini Trains! I have a lot of affection for mini trains and would like to "Pull a Walt" and have one in the backyard...I mentioned this once out loud, and one of my neighbors said "Well...that's a bit "Michael Jackson"...." In any case, it's pretty funny that the target audience for mini trains is middle age dudes. I'm not sure where Walt found the time to work on and maintain his train...or Ward Kimball for that matter. Such a huge undertaking and when I "run the tape", I lose interest in such a time consuming prospect as a mini train in the backyard: although it would be fun. After I win the lottery, I will reconsider. Happy Birthday Melissa and thanks Major and Sue for the trip to Farrells and the lands of mini trains!
Happy Birthday, Melissa! Yes, we all miss you very much! I hope you are doing much better now.
Nanook, I recognized that Farrell's logo on the wall right away! Also, the trademark candy shop can be seen in the background of all three photos.
Bu, the giant servings brought to the tables in a big silver service thingy, were the "Zoo" and the "Mount Whitney." For the "Zoo", they would stick those tiny multicolored plastic animals all over it. And the "Mount Whitney" had an American Flag stuck in the top of the "pile" of scoops. My dad always ordered that one, but I wasn't too crazy about how all the flavors of ice cream and toppings melted together. I would have been perfectly happy with just one scoop of chocolate or vanilla ice cream in my own bowl. And it would have been a lot cheaper, too. I think he felt like he had to go "all out" when taking us there on our birthdays. And I suppose the employees didn't bang the drum and ring the fire bell, for single scoops of ice cream......or run them around the room on a stretcher, before delivering them to the tables.
Thank you, Major and Sue!
Oh, and I think Farrell's also had a "Pike's Peak," which was a similar "massive" creation. I'm not sure how it compared to the "Mt. Whitney." Maybe the difference was just in size. I believe the "Zoo" was the largest serving of ice cream on the menu.
Happy Birthday, Melissa! It's a Zoo here today. I would try a little verse or rhyme here but I'm not worthy. Come back soon.
The best Farrell's I went to was in San Francisco in Ghirardelli Square. I think they had malts, too.
I had a friend with an out door RR that was constantly being derailed by leaves and once, a snail.
Thanks Major and Sue.
Zach
Happy Birthday Melissa! Many Happy Returns of the Day! Praying your condition improves so you can rejoin the Junior Gorillas online. I wish we could all meet at Farrell’s.
There was a Farrell’s in Fresno we visited occasionally. I remember the menus were like old newspapers and you could get a plain soda water for $0.02. It’s great to see this look back. Later, there was a Northern California knockoff called Leatherby’s, there was one in Redding and another in Santa Rosa, all long gone now. In Hanford, we had the local ice cream parlor, Superior Dairy, which is still in business.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/HDdjK17ByPedQjt59?g_st=ipc
Those train guys look like they are having fun. I love old trains but not to this extent. The last guy should add handlebars and footrests. He could paint them black like the Kabuki stage hands.
Thanks Major, Sue, and Melissa!
JG
Nanook, I have a pinback button from Farrell’s with that very image of the man and woman on it, you’d think I would have remembered. I can’t remember how much ice cream a person received with the “Trough”, but as an ice cream-loving kid, I could not imagine eating that much! But it would have been fun to try.
Lou and Sue, since I can’t read, I would not have picked up on the “Farrell’s” on the hats. I sure hope Melissa’s vision problems can be cured, it must be so frustrating for her.
Lou and Sue, since you provided the Farrell’s photos, I think Melissa will forgive you.
JB, I presume that the little girl’s outfit was chosen by her mother - though perhaps not. My niece, when very young, loved any dress that was super frilly and “girly”. Maybe this young lady was the same way. All day suckers - a fun idea that is not fun in reality. I have no idea what any of that train stuff is; but the track does seem to split off at about that point. What is “the Presto tree”? Is it a gang of killers? A true train lover is happiest when wearing an engineer’s cap, and they don’t care if somebody else thinks it looks silly to them. I kind of like the way they look! I’d want one with a Disneyland Railroad logo on it, of course. Or maybe the Carolwood Pacific.
Lou and Sue, D’OH.
Mike Cozart, it does make me sad that Farrell’s is gone, I guess it’s just a sign of the way things have changed when it comes to kids and parties and socializing. You’d think that there would always be a need for a place for parents to take their kids for a variety of reasons (not just birthdays). I think I only went to the Farrell’s in Huntington Beach two or three times, and I did enjoy it. I wonder what was different about the ice cream after the stores reopened? Was it soy-cream?? I would think that owning a house and having a yard of some size would help with a “live steamer” hobby, and these days many folks can’t afford to own a home… and new houses have minimal yards. No 1/4 acre lots for your tiny train! My grandma and grandpa’s home in Encino had a lot of 1.4 acres, and I always thought it would have been so amazing to have an elaborate train setup that would go through the orange grove, and back by the old horse barn (yes, my mom had a horse), etc!
Chuck, while it’s hard to be certain, that “W” does resemble the one in that Wally’s pic. I’m curious if readers actually enjoy “It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World”? I sort of liked the “bigness” and color, and all of the famous stars, but I never truly loved it. It mostly left me exhausted. I once met a former Imagineer who said he was building a miniature train layout in his backyard, which would eventually include a Rainbow Caverns. Wouldn’t that have been amazing? I believe he moved not long after, so I assume that this never happened.
Bu, I think every kid dreams of having a giant ice cream sundae with 12 scoops and all of the toppings, but I know I would have had to bow out partway through the third scoop. Perhaps these days I could finish the thing! I remember that when we went to Farrell’s for my birthday, I did NOT want the employees to bang the drum and make a scene, but they did it anyway. I’m sure the target audience for mini trains being middle-aged dudes is that they have the income and presumably the free time to devote to such an unusual hobby. Your neighbor is dumb (sorry), comparing one to Michael Jackson because you’d like a train setup is a big leap. I wish I’d had a chance to go to Ward Kimball’s home and see the big trains, when I worked at the studio his son John worked one floor up from me, I always wanted to go and hint that he should invite me!
TokyoMagic!, I truly did not remember that Farrell’s had a “trademark candy shop”. But then again, I was probably seven or eight years old the last time I went. It sounds like Bu might have been referring to the “Mount Whitney”. I love the idea of the little plastic animals! Nowadays that would be a lawsuit waiting to happen. “Billy swallowed a monkey!”. I’m with you, too many flavors melting together does not sound great. MAYBE two flavors is OK, but I really would be happy with just rocky road or mint chocolate chip.
TokyoMagic!, hmmmm, I think I need to look for a vintage Farrell’s menu and see what else they had to offer. Perhaps Bu was thinking of the “Pike’s Peak”!
zach, yes, rhymes and verse are not something I am good at. Instead I write beautiful and thrilling prose about Disneyland! Ha ha, the thought of a railroad being derailed by a snail is somehow awesome.
JG, I can’t imagine ever going to a restaurant that served ice cream and ordering a plain soda water. What’s the point! “Leatherby’s”, well that’s a name. Why do people keep showing up in leather gear and big mustaches? We’ll never know. There’s a drug store in Pasadena that has a genuine old soda fountain, I never went when I lived in that city, and now I almost never go out there. I’m sure someday the drugstore will close and I will complain that I missed out.
Happy birthday Melissa!
J.B., that thing in train pic no. 1 is the switch stand to throw the track switch.
Happy Birthday Melissa. Hope to see you back in the comments soon.
Sue, "[JB, I'm really surprised you didn't state this fact, before I did.] :oP"
[JB's face turns red, and he hides his face in embarrassment], "I'm slipping."
Chuck, Yes, I was thinking of "Mad, Mad,... World".
Major, Presto logs are manufactured 'logs' made from sawdust and stuff (not from Presto trees... I was being funny... or so I thought.) Used in fireplaces, they can (or used to be?) found outside many grocery stores.
“Billy swallowed a monkey!” One of Dr. Seuss's later works.
My favorite thing at FARREL’S was “The Dusty Road” ….it had malt powder sprinkled on top.
I remember ALWAYS getting packs of Candy cigarettes…. Those chalky white sticks with a little pink at the end to look like the cig was lit. Despite my child hood love of candy cigarettes I to this day have never smoked a real cigarette…
There’s a new ice cream parlor like chain called BREWSTERS … the one that opened in Dana Point is packed all the time out front … I see they also have ice cream food trucks. They have milkshakes, malts and ice cream sodas .. and they all seem to be made correctly.
HBD Melissa. Miss your wit.
Even as a kid I knew that all those flavors didn't really taste great together...but who could resist ordering a trough of ice cream with all the attendant hoopla?
If only Farrell's could have managed the 'rainbow caverns' impossible of keeping each melting flow in their own lane.
MS
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