Seymour F. Johnson

Dr. Seymour Johnson was the founder and chairman of Johnson Controls.

For many years the late Dr. Seymour Johnson owned and operated a huge Live Steam miniature railroad in the Montecito hills of California. His club was the Goleta Valley Live Steamers (GVLS). He operated both 1 1/2" scale, 7 1/2" gauge rolling stock and locomotives as well as much larger 3" scale, 15" gauge rolling stock and locomotives.

Linn H. Westcott Pays a Visit
Linn H. Westcott, then editor of Model Railroader magazine, paid a visit to Dr. Seymour Johnson at this Goleta Valley Western R.R. in 1969. Westcott wrote an extensive article on the operation which was published in the September 1969 edition of Model Railroader.

What Happened to the GVWRR?
The club and layout were built on Dr. Seymour Johnson's private estate. Seymour was born on May 7, 1901. Unfortunately, he died on April 4, 1992 at the grand old age of 90 years. The club continued to meet at his track until shortly after his death. Eventually, all track was removed. Most of the 15" gauge went to the San Diego area and is at Glen Bell's "Bell Gardens" Farm. Some of the 7.5" live steamers negotiated land in Ventura and built a new livesteamer facility. However, this club property was eventually vacated and the railroad that was built on it no longer exists.