The Centennial Railway Garden San Diego Model Railroad Museum-1649 El Prado-San Diego,CA 92101 Anthony Ridenhour, Executive Director 619-788-2885 [email protected] 11 Page

Executive Summary "Before you can hope to get people to live anywhere...you must first of all show them that they can get there quickly, comfortably, and above all, cheaply. Transportation determines the flow of population." J.D. Spreckels One of John D. Spreckels' major contributions to the city of San Diego was his commitment to the construction of Balboa Park in preparation of the Panama-California Exposition. As the owner of the San Diego Electric Railway Company, he also developed a unique fleet of special streetcars that could handle the large crowds attending this event. Following the Exposition, the Class 1 streetcars would go on to provide a continuing public transportation service for the city of San Diego over the next 27 years. History, innovation, and environmental sustainability are prevalent themes in the San Diego Model Railroad’s proposed “Miniature Balboa Park” Garden Railway Exhibit. The garden exhibit will transport present day patrons of Balboa Park back to the era of the Class 1 streetcar, developed by John D. Spreckels, to bring visitors of all ages to the 1915 Panama-California Exposition. With the expertise of over 300 model railroad volunteers, collaborations with San Diego Garden Railway Society and the San Diego History Center; the SDMRM proposes to create a 16’x32’ “Miniature Balboa Park” representation in G-scale (1:32) as it appeared in 1915 for the PanamaCalifornia Exposition. Scale light rail streetcars that brought the masses to the exposition will travel along the model representation of Balboa Park just as they did back in 1915. Classic Balboa Park Spanish Colonial architecture will be displayed as it appeared in exquisite miniature detail. Vignettes of exposition events and displays such as concerts held at the organ pavilion, the Santa Fe Indian Village, and California bell tower (complete with working sound) could be displayed alongside operating G-scale streetcars. Scale model figurines in period attire would be spotted throughout the exhibit enjoying the festivities. All of the excitement of this small scale Panama-California Exposition will be displayed in a beautiful garden landscape that emulates the beauty and history of Balboa Park. In addition to exciting streetcar trolley operation and exquisitely modeled buildings, a detailed pictorial history of how San Diego railways contributed to the success of Balboa Park would be displayed in conjunction with the model representation, bringing history to life. Working within the themes of innovation, technology, and creating environmentally sustainable exhibits; the entire garden aspect of the exhibit will be a low-water use garden. A future collaboration with San Diego Bonsai Club would create small scale living trees and shrubs alongside scale faux palm trees. New innovations in low water use irrigation and garden planting will create a spectacular, as well as environmentally conscious garden display. The electrical requirements are also environmentally sustainable; therefore, the entire exhibit is planned to be powered by solar technology. G-Scale garden rail equipment operates on low 18 volt to 24 volt systems. Models of park buildings and rail-crossing signals will be equipped with low energy use LED lighting to add even more realism to the “Miniature Balboa Park” Panama2|P a ge

California Exposition. The exhibit will also feature innovative interactive elements for museum patrons. Visitors of the exhibit will be able to operate model streetcars, exhibit lighting, and sound with various types of “hands on” controls. The prime location for this G-scale exhibit installation will be in an underutilized outdoor space directly behind the San Diego Model Railroad Museum’s facility in the Casa De Balboa Building. The exhibit will beautify an area of the park that is currently lacking in public use and aesthetic. The exhibit will also strengthen the San Diego Model Railroad Museum’s reputation as “Our Nations Showcase for Model Railroading” (Model RR Magazine) and the largest, only accredited rail themed museum in North America. The SDMRM is seeking to collaborate with many local, regional, and national artists and organizations to research and develop this exciting and engaging exhibit. Current and future collaborations include: San Diego History Center, San Diego Bonsai Club, Solar Partner, the San Diego Garden Railway Society, and nationally recognized model railroad artist, Jim Rimpau. This innovative and historical “Miniature Balboa Park” exhibit will be scheduled for a run date of January 1, 2015-2016. This exhibit is proposed as a temporary installation; it will be maintained and displayed as a reminder of the rich cultural history of how John D. Spreckels and the San Diego railways contributed to the creation and success of the Panama-California Exposition in Balboa Park. Plan Detail

The San Diego Model Railroad Museum Centennial Railway Garden exhibit will be a spectacular use of new technology, gardening, and folk art. The exhibit will use traditional model building techniques and also new innovations in 3D and Laser printing. While the main structure of the buildings to be completed will be built out of precision board, the ornamental elements of the 1915 structure will be reproduced in exquisite detail using 3D modeling software. 3D printers will then create most of the molds for reoccurring sculptural detail. Laser cutting technology can duplicate the finest of detail, replicating stucco textures, concrete textures, and other structural details. The detailed elements of Centennial Garden will be as follows: • • • • • • • • • •

The California Tower and Building The Organ Pavilion Botanical Building with reflecting pool (water feature) The Cabrillo Bridge x2 representations The Commerce and Industries Building (Casa De Balboa) Varied Industries and Food Products Building (Casa Del Prado) A miniature Alcazar Garden within the garden The East Gate and historic Trolley Terminal The San Diego Class 1 Streetcar x 4 The Electric Wicker Carts 3|P a ge

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100 Miniature Figurines 24 Street Lamps

All buildings and street lamps will be equipped with LED lighting. The Organ Pavilion and California Building will be fitted with miniature sound equipment. The sound element will be produced by an SD card media player paired with small indoor/outdoor speakers fitted inside of the structures. The main interactive features of the exhibit will unite history on each of the buildings with some sight and sound features. The technology used for the mobile application that controls this aspect will detect smart phones within the exhibit and ask if they would like to “allow” the exhibit app to run. Visitors will be able to control lighting and sound elements. For example: when a visitor interfaces with the Organ Pavilion section of the app the lighting on the structure will light and the sound element of an historic recording of the organ pavilion will play. The visitor will then be able to also read a brief history of this element of the park exhibit. This type of element will be applied each of the structures in the exhibit, essentially combining history and technology. For visitors that lack smart phone technology two iPad stations will also be available to provide greater access to the visitor. Tactile engagement will also be featured in the exhibit with pressure sensitive plates that will operate the streetcars and the wicker “electriquette” carts and create movement along the exhibit. The exhibit itself will not be your typical model railroad experience where typical viewing level is around 42 inches high. The Centennial Garden Railway exhibit viewing level will be no more than 18 to 30 inches so visitors literally get a birds-eye view. Keeping the view level low is also a key element in provide access to all visitors, maintaining compliance with ADA standards. As in previous reports to the 2015 Celebration, Inc., the exhibit will be completely “off grid”. The main power source for all exhibit elements are four large panels that will affix to the roof of the Casa De Balboa building and two smaller panels that will affix to the security gate. SDMRM wants to place importance on the environmental sustainability of the exhibit and educate visitors to this socio-economic issue as well. Garden irrigation is of great importance when addressing sustainability. It has been determined that the water usage for the entire garden will be less than 2 gallons per week and hand watered by volunteers. Landscape Architect, David Reed, who has developed other Balboa Park projects, such as the Old Globe Courtyard, has been instrumental in determining accessibility and fire egress issues as well as creating the plan to excavate the garden area in order to keep the grade from exceeding ADA regulations on viewing areas of the exhibit. These issues were a bit of a challenge, but the current plan meets ADA and emergency safety requirements. Drainage was another concern; however, existing drainage can be tied into in order to meet drainage requirements in order to protect the exterior of the Casa De Balboa building. Great detail has been taken to insure that all security fencing around the exhibit is consistent with the historical fencing around Balboa Park. The safety fencing on the Cabrillo Bridge was used as an example of fencing to replicate that would be historically accurate. Modern materials with a historic design insure minimal maintenance and ultimate durability for the life of the 4|P a ge

exhibit. Security Cameras will be utilized to also deter vandalism and provide extra security in a much needed area of the Casa De Balboa Building. Tourist and Community engagement The Centennial Garden Railway has a scheduled run date beginning January 1st, 2015 to June 30th, 2016 and will be staffed by part-time exhibit operator 20 hours per week. Weekend volunteer community operators will staff the exhibit, assist visitors, and also maintain the gardening element. The exhibit has attracted much attention amongst San Diego’s Garden Railway Society. The exhibit will give people in the community interested in Garden Railroading a place to volunteer and help maintain the exhibit. Garden Railroading is considered to be one of the most expensive forms of Model Railroading. Most Garden Railroaders own their own home and economically have the funds to purchase expensive landscaping materials, purchase all of the model railroad supplies, as well as hire track designers and fund maintenance. We anticipate this program will allow participants, that otherwise lack the space and resources, to learn and experience garden railroading amongst experts in this section of model railroading. The SDMRM will also play host to other organizations in this exhibit, such as the San Diego Bonsai Club. The exhibit will give their members an opportunity to display the art form amongst a unique environment and give the organization greater public exposure. This attraction will give the San Diego Model Railroad the distinction as the only Model Railroad Museum in the United States that features a garden railroad amongst its exhibits. Much more than the former distinction, is this exhibit is the first garden railroad of its kind that draws its power entirely from solar and has interactive elements using mobile technology. This exhibit will not only be extraordinary in the model railroading community, but also break ground on how technology is used to engage the visitor beyond the initial presentation. The Balboa Park Online Collaborative will be an integral part of the mobile application design. It will be designed so that visitors entering the exhibit will automatically receive a “push” notification to accept the app. The app will work on the “hot spot” principle in that it will only work while the visitor is within the perimeter of the exhibit area. This is some of the newest and exciting technology being applied in the museum field, expanding visitor engagement to a youth audience. Time-line of exhibit construction and installation 2012 September-December • • • •

Disbursements to landscape architect, exhibit designer, model builder, and graphic artist Finalize landscape construction plan Meet with City Park and Rec. staff and other city departments to be determined Raise additional funding

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2013 February –April • • • • •

Scale building supplies purchased and structural base construction begins Graphic design of 3-D sculptural aspects begins Laser etching of building facades Completion of 5 Class 1 Trolley Cars Scale structure final assembly completed

June-August • • • • • • •

Research and planning for mobile application Software Build and Testing Hardware installation and testing Solar equipment purchased Build out of power supply and battery array Installation of solar panels Power connection panel to exhibit completed

September- November • • • • • • • •

Removal of small shrub Tree in main planter Removal of concrete walkway to building Excavation of planter New ADA compliant walkway and viewing platforms poured Connection to water drainage installed Purchase of irrigation equipment and installation Surface leveling to prepare for landscaping build out Security fence and gate Installation completed

2014 Mid January- March • • • • • •

Exhibit security system installed and connected to existing museum system Landscape retaining wall installation Boulder delivery and installation Electrical wiring of exhibit and connection to solar array completed and tested Wiring of tactile control for streetcar operation completed Back fill planters and leveling to begin railway installation

April-June • • •

West main rail Installation completed and tested Botanical building model completed and installed Reflecting pond water feature installed and connected to mobile app control to test fountain response 6|P a ge

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Organ Pavilion model completed and SD card sound interactive connected and test with mobile application control

July-September • • • • • • •

California Building and Tower completed and SD card sound interactive connected and tested with mobile app control. Installation of scale street lights completed Cabrillo Bridge model completed in east palm planter East planter rail installation completed and tested Casa De Balboa Building façade completed and installed East Trolley station and platform installed Casa del Prado building facade installed

October • • • •

All plantings purchase and planted around surrounding structures Electric wicker cart x 4 completed and tested with tactile control Printing/mounting of pictorial history of John D. Spreckels contribution to Balboa Park Construction of wall panel display for pictorial history

November • • • • •

Final testing of mobile application control to be connected to all building lighting, SD sound card control, historical content completed for each Structure displayed Initial run of all Streetcar and electric wicker carts to complete final test of pressure sensitive control plate Final exhibit overhead lighting installed and all connections to battery array completed Final solar testing to determine peak efficiency 100 1/32 scale figurines in period attire placed and adhered to exhibit

December • • •

Installation of pictorial history wall Resurface of exterior door to exhibit Final testing of all exhibit operations to insure proper launch

December 31st 2014 Exhibit Preview Opens to members Reception Exhibit Open from January 1, 2015- June 30, 2016 Exhibit de-installation to begin July 1, 2016 and completed by August 30, 2016. Exhibit dismantling plan and redistribution of exhibit elements Most items in the exhibit after its initial run will be used in the museum’s education and outreach department in order to complete a traveling exhibit of the structures and to display new technologies in scale model building construction. The G’ scale Streetcars will remain in the 7|P a ge

Model Railroad Museum’s permanent collection and continue to be used by the education programming to teach about the early history of the park and the San Diego Electric Railway Co. The garden area can be maintained indefinitely by volunteers. If allowed by parks and recreation, the garden planter area could remain as a beautification of Balboa Park. Security lighting would remain to deter transient activity behind the Casa de Balboa building and provide a nicer experience for visitors and staff of the Model Railroad Museum. The Solar power array could possibly be used as Casa de Balboa back up power or tied into the grid to offset the buildings energy consumption. The platform developed to control and engage visitors in the exhibit has many different applications within the museum community and will still be used within the museum for other future exhibits. Exhibit security fencing can be repurposed for other safety rail projects within the museum on various viewing platforms within the SDMRM. San Diego Model Railroad Museum Centennial Garden Railway Exhibit Proposal Attachments: 1. 2. 3. 4.

Concept Current Photo of Exhibit Area Rendering of Proposed Exhibit Space at present and once shrub is removed 3-D Rendering of Exhibit Once Completed

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