Now a visit to Curt & Cheryle Ehrlich’s Never Come, Never Go Railroad. Fans of Western Narrow Gauge will recognize that phrase as an aphorism for the Nevada County Narrow Gauge, which serves as the Erlich’s inspiration.

This layout would be remarkable for any number of reasons -- terrific modeling, luscious gardening.and great fake rock work all come to mind -- but it’s even more remarkable for being packed into a small space -- a raised island immediately behind a small patio, maybe 20’ wide by 8’ deep? When the layout couldn’t go any further horizontally, the Erlich’s built it up, against their back yard wall!

Here, I’ll show you what I’m talking about. Carla calls this her ‘giant in the layout’ picture, and was a bit surprised that I should select it.

The ‘giant’ is our own MLSer, Rick Quevedo, who pitched in as an open house assistant. The perspective here serves to illustrate the size and scope of the NCNG. Almost the entire layout is hidden somewhere in this picture! That white upright on the left supports the patio awning; it rises from a retaining wall about 3 or 3 1/2 feet high. The layout rises up a slope of molded rock landscaping, maybe another 6 feet high, to the back wall. In the foreground, hidden in shadow, is a magnificently modelled Grass Valley Depot. Up the hill, behind the ‘giant’, you can see the roof lines of Nevada City.

We’ll go in a bit closer now, so you can see what you’re looking at!



Two obvious points of reference to keep in mind as we navigate through the rest of these pix -- the mill with its corrugated metal roof and slash-burner; and the city up on the hill. Here’s a quick glimpse at the city Most, if not all, of the buildings were scratch built with a Nevada City prototype in mind.


Detail and character work abound, as in this view of the Nevada City Methodist Church.


But underneath the city, (and only visible from a portion of the patio!) somebody has to keep the mines working, whether it’s Sunday or any other day of the week!




Work also continues at the Brunswick Sawmill. Note the steam donkey which makes up a flatcar load.


And it looks like they’re milling down a load of finished lumber.


Meanwhile, from the far right end of the layout, a lumber drag comes out of a tunnel and onto some trestlework.


This part of the pike is at the middle level of the layout; the track passes above and behind the Grass Valley depot.


And continues, as straight as it can through these rocky hills, across trestle and bridge.


But it catches the switch to the right and disappears into another tunnel. You can never quite tell whereanything ends up on the NCNG!


Okay, let’s back up a bit so you can see how many levels there are to the NCNG. How many tunnels are there, anyway? (Actually, that one smack in the middle collapsed, wrecking and capturing an engine forever. But it looks like a nice place to graze your lambs and have a picnic!)




Out of the high tunnel comes this industrial ore hauler. I think Curt ‘bashed it from an LGB Stainz.


On the hill above, an old washer-woman has apparently set herself up as a laundry service.


The ore hauler continues on for a few feet; I think it’s set up as a point-to-point line, to be fed by the tipple arrangement behind it.


Besides the city buildings, there are a number of small cabins or sheds out in the woods, each exquisitely detailed. Here are a couple of them.


Notice the little creek running next to this one.


Gosh, I haven’t even talked about the water features! There are several different streams trickling through the layout, you almost have to find them by sound! And there’s a small log pond by the mill. Somebody asked Curt how many water features he had in the layout. He thought for a second and said “Five. Or six.”

Here’s the turntable and two levels of ‘fiddle yard’, tucked into the corner of the patio -- right next to the mines below Nevada City.


Last but not least? Here’s the switching panel.


The Never Come, Never Go is a great example of how to go vertical in a small space. Its different levels remind me a lot of Alan Olsen’s “Hard Rock and Dynamite” in Colorado, except it’s cuter! Pat, are you out there? Go tell Marc this layout needs to be in the pages of GR!