You have reached the home page of the Ridge Live Steamers, Inc. This website is provided for the benefit of our members, model railroad and live steam enthusiasts. RLS Corporate property is private and visits are by invitation only. Fellow live steamers and those truly interested in the live steam and model railroading hobby are welcome. RLS is a non-profit organization and will work with other non-profit organizations dedicated to further the awareness of our railroad heritage.

RLS is a 7½" gauge railroad that currently has over 4,200 feet of mainline with an additional 7,300 feet in sidings and yards. We are in the process of extending our mainline by an additional 2,700 feet. We also have a 180 foot, 3 track loop of elevated Gauge 1 and G-Gauge. Stationary and steam traction engines are also welcome.

Please use the contact information provided on this website if you wish to schedule a visit to Ridge Lines Railroad.

---

---

2010 RLS Winter Meet

The Ridge Live Steamers will be hosting our part of the Florida Live Steamers Winter Meet on February 25 – 28, 2010. There will be night running, bi-directional running with signals, and loop running, so please bring your 7 ½” gauge, Gauge One and G-gauge equipment and run as much as you like. A number of live steam vendors will be on site during the meet for your convenience.

An RV parking area, most with water and electricity, is available on a reservation basis. There may be restrictions on awnings and pull-outs if we really get crowded. Use of the RV parking area is by donation and the parking area is available throughout the month of February for those who might want a home base for the other activities in Florida.

A “Diner Car” will be available for noon meals. There will be a covered dish carry-in supper at 6:00 p.m. on Friday evening and the FLS Annual Meeting and Banquet at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday evening.

The weather has gotten cooler, actually it was below freezing for a while, so it must be time for the Florida Live Steamers Annual Winter Meet. Below are the meet dates for the vaious tracks.

Once again the weather cooperated and we had a great Fall Meet. Action on the 7½" gauge track started early and continued well into the evenings with bidirectional running after the sun went down. There were several steam and electric trains on the Gauge One and G-Gauge tracks.

On Saturday, the ladies decided that the men could fend for themselves for lunch and went out for a "ladies only" lunch and shopping trip. Everyone was back in time for the Carry-In Supper which was delicious as usual. To help beat the heat, the dessert table included ice cream.

Click here for pictures from the event.

  

For those interested in the mainline expansion project we've added some pictures that have been taken over the past several months. Click here or visit the main pictures page.

  

The miscellaneous pictures page has doubled in size. Various pictures have been added which include run day pictures, work day pictures, building Foster Bond Station, Progress Energy work and some of the "wildlife" that you might find while visting RLS. Click here for more.

  

Did you miss the last newsletter?

If you missed the last newsletter, it's okay, you won't be left out. You can still catch up on the latest news by reading the newsletter online. RLS is happy to announce that a newsletter section has been added to the site. To read previous issues of the newsletter, click here.

The second phase of the Main Line expansion, running from the crossover to the campground crossover is in, leveled and ballasted. The South Yard tracks are in and will be ballasted before the Winter Meet. Many people have worked diligently on this project. It is impossible to mention all the people who have worked on this, but notably are Tim Meyer, Tom Pfister, Bobby McElroy, “Butch” Trella, Jim Phillips, and Bill Hays.

If you don't remember the last time your boiler was inspected, now is the time to have it done. ALL boilers not inspected in the past 12 months must be inspected before they will be allowed on the track.