Overview and Historical Context
The Pacific Desert Lines (PDL) stands as one of the world’s largest permanent N-scale model railroad layouts, representing the creative vision and technical craftsmanship of the San Diego Society of N Scale (SDSoNS). This impressive layout recreates a fascinating historical “what-if” scenario, depicting a route that might have existed had history taken a slightly different turn.
The PDL operates along a meticulously modeled route connecting San Diego to El Centro, California, featuring strategic interchanges with the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway (ATSF) in San Diego and the Southern Pacific (SP) in El Centro. What makes this railroad particularly intriguing is its historical foundation—the layout is based on an actual 1855 survey conducted by the San Diego and Arizona Eastern Railroad (SD&AE).
This early survey explored the possibility of maintaining the entire route within United States territory, despite the engineering advantages of crossing into Mexican valleys with their more favorable grades. Ultimately, history took a different course, and when the actual railroad was constructed following a later 1906 survey, the line did indeed cross international boundaries into Mexico several times. The PDL thus preserves an alternate historical vision of what might have been—a completely American route that never materialized in the real world.
The PDL Corporate Identity
The Pacific Desert Lines has developed a distinctive visual identity that immediately identifies its equipment across the layout. The railroad’s official colors—maroon and gray—adorn the entire locomotive fleet, from yard switchers to road freight locomotives and passenger engines. This consistent color scheme extends to all passenger equipment as well, creating a cohesive corporate appearance.
Freight cars follow more traditional standards, primarily appearing in standard boxcar red with crisp white lettering—a practical choice that reflects common railroad practice while still maintaining brand consistency. The railroad’s cabooses stand out in the signature maroon color, providing a distinctive visual punctuation at the end of freight consists.
In a thoughtful nod to prototype railroading history, the PDL’s passenger locomotives feature decorative white “lightning stripes” inspired by the iconic New York Central Railroad design. This historical borrowing adds an extra layer of visual interest and connects the fictional PDL to the broader tapestry of American railroad heritage.
Locomotive Fleet and Operations
The PDL’s motive power roster remains dynamic, as club members continually contribute their personally painted locomotives in the club’s color scheme. However, the core fleet typically includes a diverse range of diesel-electric locomotives that remain on the layout for regular operation, including:
- E-8/9 passenger diesels for priority service
- SD-7/9 road switchers
- U-30C and U-25B General Electric locomotives
- C30-7 and DASH 9 modern GE power
- SD40-2 EMD workhorses
These club-owned locomotives form the backbone of computerized operations that entertain museum visitors during public hours.
The PDL’s operations are further enhanced by “leased” or “borrowed” power from connecting railroads, primarily representing the ATSF, SP, and Union Pacific (UP)—accurately reflecting how prototype railroads often share motive power through trackage rights and interchange agreements.
While steam locomotives have officially disappeared from PDL operations—mirroring the historical transition to diesel power in American railroading—weekend visitors might be pleasantly surprised by the occasional appearance of steam power. Club members often bring their personal steam locomotives to operate during weekend sessions, adding unexpected variety and historical depth to the layout’s operations.
Though the layout technically encompasses a broad timeframe from the early 1920s through the present day, the primary focus centers on the early 1960s through modern times. This period represents the transition from first-generation to second-generation diesel power and beyond, offering a rich variety of equipment and operating patterns that provide endless fascination for both operators and spectators alike.