Wrong Side Of The Tracks
at Burnstream Court

Update:The railroad is moving to the Libido Lounge camp in 2008

In January 2006, Carmella dreamed of bringing a railroad to Burning Man, so all of us non-Airstreamers at the Burnstream Court would be on The Wrong Side Of The Tracks.

Carmella asked Paul if it was possible. Of course, everything is possible in Paul's world! Ruth and Robin (Carmella's and Paul's partners) gave their blessing, and at Burning Man 2006 the Burnstream railroad was born.


2006: Burnstream Court, viewed from the wrong side of the tracks!      More photos below

The Plan

Paul sketched up a plan for a roughly ¼ scale wood model, using 2x4 lumber for rails and fence planks for the ties. Two small signs would also be made. The track would be built in 5 sections, 4 feet each, for ease of storage and transporting to the playa.

An initial idea to build a working gate that raised and lowered with flashing red lights and bells was regrettably not included in the final plans. But wouldn't that have been fun?


Workin' On The Rail Road

On May 15, 2006, Carmella and Paul went shopping to Home Depot. Carmella still wasn't sure how all this wood could somehow make a railroad, but she went with Paul's vision, strange as it seemed. Carmella paid for all the materials.

When they got all the materials back to Paul's place, Paul quickly cut all the fence planks (the lumber had been cut at the store), and they arranged 3 sections to "see" how the tracks would look.


Carmella laying out some of the just-purchased wood to "see" what the track would look like. May 15, 2006

In the weeks that followed, Paul routed the slots and rounded edges that turned the 2x4 lumber into rail-like shapes. The various parts and pieces of the ramp and sign posts were also cut, routed and drilled.

Ruth picked up all the materials, and then went to work on painting all the track a metallic silver color, and staining the fence planks.


A second pre-burn track setup, after Ruth finished painting. July 24, 2006

Carmella found reflective road sign material and lettering, which she used to turn the wood into the rail road crossing and "right way / wrong way" signs. At Burning Man 2006, her Wrong Side Of The Tracks vision came to life!

In 2007, Ruth & Carmella purchased an Airstream. They still plan to bring the tracks, though they'll no longer be on the wrong side. Paul is planning a new camp for 2007, connected with a much more ambitious art installation.

More Photos


2006: Those big ugly boxes on the wrong side of the tracks


2006: The direction sign clearly shows which is the right side and wrong side of the tracks!


2006: Even at just 20 feet, the track was pretty long.


2007: Last year at Burnstream Court


2007: Last year at Burnstream Court