Sandy Ridge and Clear Lake Railway

Sandy Ridge & Clear Lake Railway
Overview
HeadquartersBattle Creek, Michigan
LocaleMichigan
Dates of operation1996–
Technical
Track gauge7+12 in (190.5 mm)
LengthTotal Length: ~7000 feet Mainline Length: ~5400 feet

Sandy Ridge & Clear Lake Railway is a private, 7+12 in (190.5 mm) gauge ridable miniature railway located on 29 acres (120,000 m2) 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 7,000 feet (2,100 m) of track. The railroad does not form a loop, since the ends of the line are separated vertically by nearly 90 feet (27 m).

The rolling stock used on the railroad is modelled in 3+34 inches per foot (5:16) scale to resemble the 2 ft (610 mm) 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
3 John Korstange 2-axle Rail Bus Lettered for the SR&CL. 5hp Honda gasoline.
4 Allen 2-Truck Shay Lettered for the Clear Lake Logging Co. (CLL). 3-Cylinder 4 inch scale. Originally burned wood but now burns coal.
7 Jim Small 2-4-4T

Forney locomotive

Lettered for the SR&CL. Patterned after B&SR #7. Burns coal.
10 Marty Knox

http://www.ridgeboiler.com/

2-4-4T

Forney locomotive

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

Finishing - Marty Knox

http://www.ridgeboiler.com/

2-6-2 Prairie Under construction Lettered for the SR&CL. Patterned after SR&RL #24. Burns coal.
25 John Korstange B-B Lettered for the SR&CL. Loosely resembles GE 70-ton. 18hp gasoline engine.
Freight Cars, Coach, and Cabooses
Number/Name Type Notes
437 Flat Car Lettered for the SR&CL
438 Flat Car Lettered for the SR&CL
439 Flat Car Lettered for the SR&CL
440 Flat Car Lettered for the SR&CL
12 Flat Car Lettered for the CB&E
158 Box Car Lettered for the SR&CL
501 Gondola Lettered for the SR&CL. Carries snow plow in the winter
521 Gondola Lettered for the SR&CL
559 Caboose Lettered for the SR&CL. Based on SR&RL style caboose
560 Caboose Lettered for the SR&CL. Four wheeler renumbered from C-1
Ailina Coach