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The Shasta Pacific RR is an imaginary subsidiary of the Southern Pacific RR that a STB ruling protected from being swallowed up by the yellow peril meger.  It is predominantly the SP Shasta Division in western USA but stretches from Portland to Bakersfield & Mojave via Tehachapi loop & covers a loose time frame 1940 - 1996. [Modeling license].  The Shasta Pacific uses mainly leased SP locos, plus a few from other RR's, but repainting of some of the equipment in its own colors is progressing as time & traffic permit.  Some locos that didn't require full painting were patched.  Shasta Pacific CEO, Ken Leitch, is a long time SP fan, so several  of SP’s famous  “Name Trains” are operated in authentic colors as tourist operations on the layout.
        The HO scale layout is housed in a 2-car garage (6M x 6M) in the backyard at Beerwah (near Australia Zoo)(formally part of Landsborough) & is the 4th layout built.  A decision was made about 1980 to go with DCC for my control system. A Lenz system was obtained & was great to operate.  In 2000, an NCE system was purchased to take advantage of later technology with easier operation, & 4 radio throttles were added in 2009.  Using additional DCC Boosters (NCE), the layout is divided into 4 power districts.
Loco decoders are Lenz, NCE, TCS & Digitrax, plus Soundtrax, LokSound & QSI sound decoders.  Servos (Tam Valley) or slow motion switch machines (Switchmaster, Cobalt or Tortise)  power all mainline & yard turnouts, & are controlled by DCC accessory decoders (NCE, Cobalt,Tam Valley & EasyDCC), some with push buttons also.  Using the easy programable macro feature built into the NCE system, route selection of the 9 tracks of the main yard, passing loops at Tehachapi, Summit, North Staging, 5 track East Staging & 4 Bayshore/Portside Loops can be simply achieved from any throttle even those without accessory decoder access.
Due to  my deteriorating health & mobility, I can no longer follow trains around the layout.  Although built for operation sessions, I now just run trains over various routes from a bar stool with backrest near the main yard.  A total of 18 trains reside on the layout at present - 2 railcars, 4 passenger & 12 freight trains.  Some trains have 2, 3 or 4 locomotives & can be swapped with locos stored in the loco depot off the main yard.  Also due to poor health, roster has been reduced from 276 locos & 1400 roling stock to 56 locos & about 600 rollingstock
        Minimum radius is 28.5” with most mainline curves 33” radius, some super-elevated.  Early construction was code 100, but later additions are code 83.  Height of the layout is designed to assist my aching back.  Lower level is 48”, & upper level is 54”.  A hidden 4-track staging yard has been built below track level on the northern wall.  A DC point to point section with automatic reversing was laid to model the operations of SP subsidiary, Pacific Electric – great for running in a loco. This section has now (2023) been converted to DCC as access to new 5 track eastern staging below main yard.
        A narrow gauge section (HOn3) depicting Southern Pacific 3 foot gauge operations in Death Valley was started but has been abandoned due to limited availability of SP narrow guage equipment & standard guaging of portion of former narrow guage trackage.
All types of scenery construction are utilized with plaster covering chicken wire, polystyrene, calico, or cardboard.  Some sections have only base scenery & will have more detail added in due course.  Rock mould details, scenery, buildings, trees/shrubs & bridge abutments are being added as time permits. This is a work in progress, helped along in 2020 due to the COVID-19 lockdowns.

        The Shasta Pacific CEO started modeling in 1951 with Hornby O guage on hand laid track then progressed to Hornby Dublo 3 rail trains and has had an interest in Southern Pacific since 1957 when he purchased his first HO rolling stock – SP ‘Golden State’ passenger coaches made by Rivarossi (from Athearn moulds) & Athearn rubber band drive F7A & RDC units plus a Lionel (HO) GP-9 unit.  
        Ken is also active on the exhibition scene, having exhibited various layouts in South-East Qld over the last 54 years. (Missed only 5 years.)
Current exhibition layout is a N Scale layoutcalled Shasta Crossing, built to Australian T-Track standards, but with individual modules combined into 3 large modules for ease of transport and set up.  A 4th large module is under construction to give alternate viewing. All train shows were cancelled in 2020 due to the Covid-19 lockdowns, plus I could not go to shows in 2021 due to my wife's tumor, 2 cancers, & kidney shutdown treatment which took her life in August, 2021.  RIP Renee, 53 years together.
        In late 2015, a 7.25" guage 0-6-0 diesel ride-on loco, Jumbuck #4, was obtained & gives rides to young & old at Nambour Model Railway Park every 4th Sunday of the year.
 Ken joined the National Model Railroad Assn (NMRA) in 1963 & is now a Life Member of NMRA, honorary life member of Gold Coast Model Railway Club (Foundation member),& currently a member of Sunshine Coast Model Railway Club (formerly CDMRA) & Sunshine Coast  Railway Modellers Society (Nambour, Queensland).