After about 50 years in HO I have had a number of layouts and have collected a lot of cars and locos. There was always that desire to have big yards, long consists, Mallets, etc. More track was better. At least, that was the older MR mindset. Larger layouts and craming as much stuff on the smaller 4X8 sheet that you could get on it.
N Gauge gave the 4X8 layout a real shot in the arm, especially after the gauge got some serious manufacturers that took the unfinished toy look out of the rolling stock and locos.
The latest spate of narrow gauge locos with Tsunami sound and rolling stock in all gauges is fabulous and the great part of narrow gauge is that long trains are 5-10 cars. Two or three engines are about all the entire road needs. A narrow gauge empire can involve fewer than 20 revenue cars and maybe 3 MOW items, worked by three engines.
There is rarely a need for what could be called a narrow gauge "yard". Instead, a lot of single and double, well weeded sidings will handle 100% of the traffic, switching tricks and car storage scattered all up and down the line in several small "burgs".
Finally, a large fraction of my old HO gauge structures and people are transferable. A lot of interesting action is possible as double and triple headers of tiny mikes are needed to pull 10 full ore gons, two freight cars and a caboose up the 4-5% grades. Three car passenger trains on the narrow gauge are considered obscenely long and found only on crack named trains run only during the "happy times".
The human form is more "in tune" with the little engines and rolling stock and serve the local needs better.
I include a great narrow gauge video URL of the Durango and Silverton (ex D&RGW). Note the tiny box car compared to the brakeman coupling the little mike. Also note the sloppy, ill aligned track as the train 'rounds the bend. Beautiful scenery and little trains running all year round
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlhY0J5-ftg
This is why I chose narrow gauge and a lot of others are getting into it as well.
Richard Hull
Richard
If I can't fix it, I can fix it so it can't be fixed
narrow gauge nuclear There was always that desire to have big yards,
My first adventure into narrow gauge was not good. At the time allmost all narrow gauge loco's were brass. I soon discovered their tight tollerances and that these small eight coupled locomotives required 24' to 30" radius. Instead of easing the 4x8 blues it made space worse. As such the first narrow gauge loco's I owned have been sitting in their boxes for 25 years or so. I certainly hope the foam hasn't rotted on them. On the other hand I just got a Blackstone C-19 two weekends ago. So my narrow gauge modeling has started again.
If I were to abandon my current S standard guage endevors, no doubt the Lake Tahoe Railway & Navigation would my choice in Sn3, SP aquired control and converted the line in 1927, the exact year I currently model.
Dave
Welcome back to the narrow gauge arena.
How odd, I just ordered my second C-19 with Tsunami sound this morning! You'll love your C-19.
I have an old Westside Brass K-27 and it doesn't like tight radius either. The Blackstones easily cruise over 18 radius and probably would handle a bit tighter track if the gauge was opened ever so slightly. Real narrow gauge engines with their blind drivers were famous for navigating tight turns and less than stellar track work.
Ever see a real live narrow gauge triple header? In this video, the Cumbres and Toltec, (a second hunk of old D&RGW trackage), seems to have all their engines and rolling stock out for a cinder pushin' romp. The little mikes are literally "haulin freight" A triple header and triple cabooser as well! Wow!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIXu702O3bw&feature=related
My timing must just have been right. I started a medium sized layout based on the Rio Grande that is HO/HOn3, with considerable dual-gauge track. In part, I included standard gauge because I like Rio Grande standard gauge, too, but also because of the daunting task of building all the narrowgauge rolling stock I'd need. At least I would be able to run lots of SG while I labor to build a decent inventory of rolling stock.
Then came Blackstone. The superlatives that can be used are nearly endless. They produce absolutely magnificent models at what I consider to be fair prices. Some complain about that, but the fact is if you've spent lots of time building the same kit over and over, you KNOW it's more of a bargain than such discussions indicate. My time is worth a lot, even hobby time, so I appreciate the value that Blackstone offers to those serious about NG.
That said, HOn3 has been a rather clubby scene. At one time, because you had to be pretty adventurous, resourceful, and somewhat well financed when every loco was either brass or something you built yourself and most everything else was scratchbuilt. This is not to say that current HOn3 modelers aren't inventive or resourceful, but the fact of the matter is that by around 1980, a full line of items was available so long as you're willing to devote the time to build kits. Why this image persists is mostly myth, nurtured by certain grumpy old guys who seem more interested in yelling "Get off my lawn!" than being helpful.
It is the case that some are uncomfortable with all the new attention to NG that RTR HOn3 has brought, but they're passing into history. There are some great -- and friendly! -- groups out there, so search around if you don't find the help you need to get started or advance in NG. Good folks are out there who will welcome you, even if you weren't born in baggage care snowed in on Cumbres Pass.
I'd encourage anyone considering narrowgauge to consider it seriously, for all the advantages mentioned above. True, in RTR form it currently concentrates on Colorado prototypes. But there are plenty of other great lines to model and today's resourceful NG modeler has plenty of raw material to work with. I enjoy my K-27s (and Blackstone has made clear that the K-36 is next to be announced) because I I'm a Rio Grande man.
The availability of the C-19 means a wonderful, fine operating little loco is available in a form factor that was used by many other lines far beyond Colorado. Several versions have been released painted but unlettered to make this even easier, with more versions like this scheduled for the next run in 2013.
But Blackstone's work isn't just good for Blackstone. It's also nurtured a much wider general market for all HOn3 items. Sure, I do NOT have to build all those 3000 series boxcars. However, that just frees up time to kitbash or scratchbuild what I want that isn't or won't be offered RTR. Those folks having a conniption fit because they're sure real modelers will die out when they pass away can go back to yelling at the kids on the lawn. HOn3 is growing -- and changing -- so come on in, the water's fine!
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
narrow gauge nuclear The latest spate of narrow gauge locos with Tsunami sound and rolling stock in all gauges is fabulous and the great part of narrow gauge is that long trains are 5-10 cars. Two or three engines are about all the entire road needs. A narrow gauge empire can involve fewer than 20 revenue cars and maybe 3 MOW items, worked by three engines. There is rarely a need for what could be called a narrow gauge "yard". Instead, a lot of single and double, well weeded sidings will handle 100% of the traffic, switching tricks and car storage scattered all up and down the line in several small "burgs". Richard Hull
Before you get too exstatic about your vision of what narrow (i.e., smaller than 4'8.5") gauge is, bear in mind that it might collide head on with a reality check:
As you can see, there's backwoods narrow gauge on a frayed shoestring, and then there's narrow gauge that can put most Class 1 standard gauge railroads to shame. Of course, in Japan, 1067mm gauge IS standard gauge.
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - narrow gauge and narrower gauge)
Mike, Thanks for adding even more fine points to the narrow gauge discussion. As I have noted in my earliest posts, I am here doing what I am doing and back in to MR after a 15 year hiatus solely due to Blackstone and for no other reason at all! The other reasons came after I got my first Blackstone K-27 in early 2011 and spent a few months boning up of Colorado narrow gauge history, spending about $200.00 for Bob Richardson's fabulous trio of "Chasing the Narrow Gauge books and the Denver and South Park book. The hook was set and more than a few bucks later, here I am working on the railroad again.
I considered dual gauge track and bought a bundle at the Timoniumtrain show last year, but ultimately decided to allow full concentration on narrow gauge only. What I did do was make up a 4X8 sheet layout Containing two concentric a simple ovals with dual gauge HO and regular N gauge track to "run-in locos for myself and my friends. This undecorated, raw plywood table lifts into the ceiling for storage in an attached building on my house used for other purposes. It really comes in handy for simply watching trains run while my main narrow gauge layout might remain an unfinished, work in progress for some time.
I look forward to scratchbuilding too.
I am not planning on getting any K-36s if that is truly what is next from Blackstone. However, all the three major Blackstone dealers that I know personally, claim that Blackstone refuses to discuss what is next and may not even know themselves, yet. They throw up their hands in frustration. They could be selling the next Blackstone product, but it ain't there.
I took the Blackstone on-line survey and told them I would buy three "sports models" , (K-28s) at any price they choose the moment they were offered. I consider the K-28 to be the most beautiful of all narrow gauge engines ever built as long as they are in black with the shotgun stacks they came with. No Bumble Bee, green boiler or fake diamond stack stuff on my layout. I want 'em as they were outshopped at the builder. The "Mudhens", (k-27), and the C-19s were hits out of the ball park for Blackstone. The K-28 would be a nice three run play just now, in my opinion. Still, they are starting another run of C-19s and a third run of K-27s having sold out those big hits already. They are in a prime position just now. I hope they take full advantage.
The gauge issue is another point. I do note that I am seeing a ton of On30 stuff clogging the market and if the Narrow Gauge Gazette magazine is any indicator, that might be the narrow gauge of the future. Unfortunately, and very untrue to realism, all the On30 stuff is modeling the D&RGW which never ran that 21/2 foot gauge at all. The fact that it runs on standard gauge HO track is probably the only reason it exists at all.
On3 almost doesn't exist due to the flood of On30. Finally, poor Sn3 while more available than ever is still very much outside any sort of main stream. A lot of narrow gauge stuff is also being produced in G gauge, too, if you have the really big bucks and the room to work it.
As a newcomer to HOn3 and Rio Grande railroading, I truly value the information and great insight expressed in this thread. I had given up on my modeling after approx. 50 years in HO scale, due to health issues and sold my 12 locomotives & rolling stock. Then my health problem improved, and I found myself "trainless", and decided to look at narrow gauge.
I've just purchased 2 C-19's and a K-27 (Blackstone), along with a few start-up passenger & freight cars... and am in the process of re-doing my train room, benchwork, and backdrop areas. I was a bit surprised to see the somewhat limited amount of HOn3 supplies & resources available (I guess HO scale spoiled me...) but I'm adapting quickly.
I'm just glad to find that there are other "narrow minded" forum members out there. 'See you around the train yard!
Bob
I know it is all a bit new to you now, but hang in there and while the sounds, as delivered on the Blackstones is great, make sure to explore the many sounds within the system using the CV values to create your own special sound and reverb capabilities within the on-board audio production mixer.
This will require a good DCC command station. (I chose the Digitrax Zephyr 'extra') and you will need to print out the 100 plus page Tsunami prgrammers guide found on the CD provided with your engines. The guide is the same for all the engines. It took me a full year to learn the ropes. I'm 66 and slow on the uptake, but I am pleased beyond description at the final payoff with my finished sounds.
Spend a lot of time playing with your stuff on a simple loop or oval learning to program, setup and change the CV's. As you get better and better, you will want to get to layout building.
Bob and Richard,
Glad you are both back, just two among a big crowd lined up at the Narrowgauge Station. Look around, but if anyone gets stuck on anything from where to get what to where to find a good place to talk in depth with more narrowgaugers, please just ask. I'd be glad to make a suggestion or offer a link.
Two essentials that haven't been mentioned are the Narrow Gauge and Short Line Gazette (an independently published magazine distributed by Kalmbach) and the HOn3 Annuals (2009, 2010, and 2011 issues so far) published by Carstens. In addition to great articles and fantastic pics, both also carry ads for many vendors that may be less widely advertised, but are well-known in the NG world.
There's also the National Narrow Gauge Convention. It's held yearly at a rotating location, which in 2012 is Seattle. There you'll find the widest selection of narrowgauge products and the latest stuff being announced and produced.
While nothing is official on the K-36, my sources indicate that -- off-the-record -- word is that this is all but certain. But I would not be disappointed to be wrong if it was a K-28. I have a brass Sunset version from the mid-90s that is scheduled to get a Tsunami soon, which will be my second such install, so I may be a little more patient about the wait for a "sports" model. Whatever it is, it'll most likely be announced in Seattle.
One indicator of how Blackstone is growing the market for HOn3 is Peco. Last year, they came out with HOn3 flex track. Apparently they just announced the availability of switches in HOn3 at a European show. Not quite the snap track some are starting to clamor for, but that means Peco joins ME and Shinohara in building widely available track components, in addition to a number of smaller, cottage manufacturers of custom track work.
Thanks, Richard... I still have my Digitrax Super Chief command station & controller set, so I am set in that department. I've settled on ME track & turnouts, as I used ME on my HO layout and was satisfied with it.
I still am a bit confused regarding cork roadbed... as HO looks too large, and N scale too small? Any guideance in that department?
I understand about "the uptake problem" as I'll be 74 in May, and bearing that in mind, I intend to make this my last layout. I only have a small room, formally my home office, before my retirement, but it'll do nicely for my new HOn3 pike.
Thanks again for the input, as I need all of that i can get at this stage of the game!
God bless... Bob
Actually, the advantages you list are true for any shortline railroad that's not too prosperous regardless of gauge.
I think that a lot of folks are into On30 because the cars and engines are a good size - about the size of S standard gauge cars and engines. It's also a bit cheaper with the deep discounts you can get on Bachmann stuff and of course you can use Atlas track to save even more. If I were to do narrow gauge as my primary railroad, On30 is what I would pick.
Enjoy
Paul
Thanks, Mike...
I already have the three Annuals (from Carstens) and have subscribed to the Gazette... the "big show" in Seattle sounds great... as I just attended the Great train Expo here in Kansas City last week and was amazed at the absence of Narrow Gauge items (all scales...) at the show. *One seller had a half dozen Blackstone cars, and that was it!!!
As I mentioned to Richard, my burning question at present concerns the choice of roadbed (HO or N ?) HO looks to wide & too high!
Thanks again... Bob
I use just standard old HO cork roadbed, but hindsight is always 20-20. I now wished I had used nothing at all as narrow gauge lines ran mostly on dirt or rubble fill and were often on no real grade at all! I would have to tear up more track than I am willing to re-work to go flat on my homasote base. Narrow gauge looks best and very natural with just rails and tie tops showing on zero grade elevation beyond the natural terrain. If you model prior to 1890 a lot of track is virtually unballasted on round log ties that were just planed top and bottom, bark still on the sides.
I see nothing wrong with just using standard HO cork roadbed though if you really want roadbed.
Although I model in HO Standard gauge, my layout is more like narrow gauge with tight turn radius, fairly steep grades and mountainous terrain!
I love the narrow gage lines of Colorado and if I were to start over would likely model in Sn3 or On30.
NP 2626 "Northern Pacific, really terrific"
Northern Pacific Railway Historical Association: http://www.nprha.org/
IRONROOSTER Actually, the advantages you list are true for any shortline railroad that's not too prosperous regardless of gauge. I think that a lot of folks are into On30 because the cars and engines are a good size - about the size of S standard gauge cars and engines. It's also a bit cheaper with the deep discounts you can get on Bachmann stuff and of course you can use Atlas track to save even more. If I were to do narrow gauge as my primary railroad, On30 is what I would pick. Enjoy Paul
I have to agree with Paul on both counts. Modeling any shortline, like the Ma & Pa, means short trains, limited trackwork, small rosters, sharp curves, etc, - it need not be narrow gauge.
And, having done some work in HOn3, if I ever went back in that direction, it would have to be in a larger scale than 1/87th.
On3 or On30 really brings home the human interaction of smaller simpler trains.
But my modeling interests are currently firmly rooted in big time 1950's, Class I operations. And, admittedly, I have the space for it.
But I do believe that reguardless of era or railroad type, layouts need not be overly crouded or complex to cover the subject matter. Narrow gauge, shortline or double track mainline Class I, better to model a small portion of it well than a large potion of it poorly.
We should not confuse size with complexity. Just because a layout is large, it need not be complex.
Sheldon
Agree especially with limited space
Cramming sidings etc just creates a cluttered look
Trains with 5 to 10 cars no larger than 40' boxcars look great on 4x8 to 5x12 layouts
You can use 2-8-0s---2-8-2s for short lash ups
Even a Mountain or a Berk doesn't look bad pulling 10 car consists or even 12 if using 50 ton coal hoppers
I have a 6 1/2 x 9 1/2 around the walls and while I have loaded up 24 coal hoppers etc to a Berk for videos I much prefer watching the 5-10 cars
51% share holder in the ME&O ( Wife owns the other 49% )
ME&O
Bob,
As for which roadbed, I used HO for all my track, HO, dual, and HOn3. However, I most likely would use N if I did it again on the narrowgauge side.
I guess I think that putting track down right on the sub-roadbed -- in most cases wood -- is going to be noisy, so my advice is to use something. I do know some are trying foam, like WS?, but I'm not sure about how it'll hold up. Cork does get dry and brittle, so it's pick your poison on that aspect.
As for getting that dirted in look, that's all in how you ballast and how you apply your scenery. I'm happy with mine, although if you didn't use roadbed at all it would be a lot less ballast. But you do need to plan for it or you'll end up with an entirely too neat looking line.
While there are NG lines that resemble mainline action and standard gauge lines that resemble what many HOn3 lines look like, modelling the Rio Grande and its associated connections in Colorado is all about which aspect of NG you want to depict. 70 car freights behind multiple locos? Cumbres Pass. Classy varnish? The San Juan. Logging? Connections at Chama and Dolores, among others, to woods lines and sawmills. Little struggling shortline traffic feeders? If the RGS is too big time, then there are the Three Little Lines that ran north out of Silverton. And plenty of classy short train railroading through just about any Western scenery you can imagine.
Guess I'm unapologetic about being Colorado-centric, but it's one of the realities that the HOn3 modeler contends with. Either love it or do something else, they're both good. And some people are happy to dabble in just about anything HOn3. I like doing freelance things that there may not have been a prototype for, but which could have been.
One of the things I like is not necessarily many NGer's cup of tea, because I like diesels, too. There are a few authentic diesel models available, but there are also a number of good looking conversions to HOn3 that allow a much lower entry cost to the HOn3 market. My current favorite conversion is a Kato NW2, but the Bachman 44- and 70-tonners are also good, cheap locos that can run well in HOn3. Likewise, conversions involving older Athearn chassis are also possible.
So definitely don't worry if you can't afford a K- or C-class loco from Blackstone, there are less costly alternatives. Building from kits bought wisely can also be rather inexpensive.
A Peco update: Was trying to find the note I saw recently about the new turnouts, but no luck so far. A lot of my reading overseas is done through Google translator, which can be a little confusing when backtracking for links. I did find a Jan. 2012 confirmation from a designer who works for Peco confirming the imminent release of the #5 HOn3 turnouts soon. So if they're not being produced for stock yet, they soon will be.
Thanks, Richard and Mike...
I think I'll either go with N scale cork roadbed, or no roadbed at all... I'll have to think that one over a bit. If I do N scale, it looks like I'd have to use the N roadbed supplemented by a center strip or spacer of some sort. (I guess i wonder about the sound without any roadbed present....)
I haven't decided what aspect/era I want to model yet.. I'm sort of like Mike, in that I may do some things that are not verifiable as prototype, but are "probable" or "possible"!
I already have received my two C-19 locomotives, and I'm waiting for the K-27 (#462 weathered, with plow). The performance & appearance of the C-19 is impressive, to say the least.
What people usually do when using the N scale roadbed is let the ties hang out over the edges without any filler strips. That way you can grade the ballast to expose as much or as little of the tie ends as you want. This technique becomes more obvious if you start looking at pics of the Rio Grande right of way and the varied ways in which maintenance, erosion, and weathering affected the track's appearance.
Here's a great site by John West, a a guy who's wasted his life chasing trains, but doesn't seem unhappy about it :
http://lifewastedchasingtrains.com/main.php?g2_itemId=120
Lots of views of the track to help give you some ideas about how you'll want to model it and the interface between track and scenery..
John's site doesn't cover only the Rio Grande or Colorado. However, Colorado and the railroad are attractive targets for railfans, vacationers, and photographers, thus there is plenty of documentation available to model with. While this focus upsets some, it's also a little like the European fascination with Swiss trains (and to a certain extent, Austrian and other NG lines are in similar relationship to the Swiss as the C&S, etc are to the Rio Grande).
Essentially, it's a very similar niche market that is widely accepted and well provided with suitable models and supplies to fans in many countries, whatever their interest in their own national railways of various types. Bemo and the others serving this sub-class of overall model railroading apparently make a profit, as well as providing a market base for even more specialized manufacturers, just as Blackstone has done here in the US.
Your tip on the N scale roadbed is a good one... I'll definately go that way. The site by John West is a great piece of reference material, thanks for that one!
The emphasis on Colorado narrow gauge is, has and always will be, obvious. As Mike noted, there are more miles of track, long lived activity and mountainous documentation on Colorado narrow gauge than anywhere else in the US. Thus, it rules so far as r-t-r and kit based rolling stock and locos are concerned.
No one is bound to Colorado narrow gauge. Fantasy roads, like mine, with reasonable, believable origins are the life blood of narrow gauge in that they avoid your having to follow any rules to produce 100% or even heavy adherance to any real scenery or operational regime. What's more, you can alter extant engines, if that is your bent, so that only vestiges of their origin remain. Narrow gauge is classically tucked away in nooks and crannys of 19th and early 20th century America. Opportunities abound for fantasy shortlines.
In my fantasy road's case, I stayed in Colorado but pushed rail west out of Placerville to Paradox, creating an almost purely mineral hauling road owned by a mining consortium designed to take advantage of the big mineral rushes and mining out to the Paradox valley from 1938 until the PUP closed down in 1952. (Paradox Uravan and Placervile). All of this allowed for rental and purchase of D&RGW and RGS locos that were either spares, too aged or were on their way to the scrappers. Same goes for rolling stock, though the PUP did custom build a few cars in its small Nucla/Naturita shops.
Narrow gauge is to be enjoyed, free of many confines that might be expected in other areas of MR and most Narrow gaugers are far more forgiving of their fellows as there are only a limited number of us. Most anything narrow gauge will "wow" us.
I am prompted to enter this thread for a number of reasons. I have always been a fan of narrow gauge, but never quiet wanted to give up what I had invested in all my HO stuff. My layout that I am currently building has a narrow gauge 1927 theme, but using small HO engines and cars. My engines are 3 Ken Kidder, 2-6-0 Porter Moguls (they have been re-geared and Sagami motors added from Northwest Short Line) and 5 Pacific Fast Mail/United 2-8-0 Ma &Pa Consolidations (the consolidations are modeled after the 1912 Baldwin and according to the PFM catalog can run on a 15" radius), and 1 Roundhouse RTR 2 truck shay. Cars are the smaller Roundhouse Overton passenger cars, the older Mantua 1860 freight cars and some old Bobber type cabooses. I just like the Colorado feel, with the older broken down, well used engines pulling a rather small number of cars. Also, it’s a feel for the scenery. And trying to create a certain atmosphere. Good luck with your narrow gauge project.
With narrow gauge a two car train looks right. You have shorter trains, sharper curves and steeper grades. And it looks good.
Those Blackstone engines are fun to run!
Well, I'm just starting my narrow gauge layout, the Pueblo & Salt Lake RR. There will be quite some dual gauge track.. I like track building. That's another point for this layout.
Wolfgang
Pueblo & Salt Lake RR
Come to us http://www.westportterminal.de my videos my blog
Nice job, Silverton! You may be in standard gauge, but you have the narrow gauge spirit well in hand.
Recently, I have tried to obtain at least one HOn3 K-28, but alas, it is hopeless, I fear, at a price I can handle. I have never modified a loco to any great extent, but such is the urge to run a K-28, I am tempted to use my old lost wax casting setup and do a wax of the smoke box cover of a K-28, cast it in bronze or tin-antimony, add one of my old cal-scale air pumps and put it on one of my Blackstone K-27's! I'll have to re-pipe and re-hand rail it and add the needed number boards and cal-scale Pyle-National headlamp! Then, there is the tender issue...Hmm..
I hate diddlling with one of my k-27's, though any real warranty on them is long gone. I'll have to forget the improper sand and steam domes, but a litle forgiveness might be allowed if I do a creditable job on the thing, otherwise.
To keep the discussion going, I decided to parcel out a tour of my layout I put together for my list buddies at HOn3Chat, a Yahoo groups list that is one of the best groups of folks you can find to hang with in HOn3. I'll do this in installments, maybe when the conversation starts to lag again. So if you're bored with seeing more of my layout, keep on talking
I'm omitting the first part of the slideshow narrative, which shows staging and some SG track, and may omit more at the end for similar reasons. However, all the pics are available at the link just below and if you have questions about anything, just ask.
Here's the link to the slideshow: http://img812.imageshack.us/slideshow/webplayer.php?id=albuquerqueeaststaging0.jpg The layout room is 28 feet at its very longest axis, along the wall where Silverton sits. The room is narrow at the entrance, but then widens out into a space that is 16x16 feet square at the far end, broken up by a curved room divider. Overhead clearance is a bit of an issue, so instead of a double-deck layout, it's sort of a cross between a no-lix and deck-and-a-half. I also wanted to have big mountains that blocked my view. I'm over 6' and the ceiling is about 6'6". To get to Durango, we have to travel over the D&RGW Four Corner Division. It is a standard gauge secondary main that stretches from a connection on the Rio Grande mainline across Utah down to Moab, then across rugged territory like the Paradox Valley, through the small, but industrious town of Dove Creek, Colorado, past Hesperus and on into Durango, the 3rd Rail Hub of the San Juan Mountains. From there, the line proceeds south to Grants, New Mexico, where trackage rights on the Santa Fe allow traffic to proceed to Albuquerque. That's where we'll get aboard the Houston-Portland Zephyr for a fast ride to a slow ride in Durango. Traffic on this little-known line is not busy, but it is profitable. Set sometime between 1960 and 1974, the Atomic Energy Commission has an important, but secret plant at Dove Creek. Some of it's feedstock comes, tight-lipped, from the mines above Silverton. Other traffic, especially in 3rd rail territory, supports the usual needs of a busy, somewhat profitable region rich in mining and other extractive industries.3] Overlooking the station, you can see there is a dual-gauge track in front of the station, along with the standard gauge main and a siding. On the back side of the station is the dual-gauge yard. 4] The overview of the Durango facilities shows the newest loco on the block. Burnham Shops just released a standard gauge 44-tonner modified with dual-gauge couplers that is well-liked by the switch crews, other than they have to be careful not to run off into 3-foot territory with it! 5] This overview of the Durango roundhouse also shows various industries. There's an oil refinery, stockyard, packing plant, and, in the distance, the location of the ASARCO smelter in West Durango, among others. Lots still to build and detail, but I'm not longer embarrassed to take pics of it. 6] At West Durango, one can see, in order, the reversing loop track on the left, the Silverton Branch, the dual gauge main to the RGS and Hesperus, and on the right, the ASARCO smelter site. 7] As the Silverton Branch heads upgrade, the train soon comes to the national forest boundary as it enters the mountains in earnest.8] Our narrowgauge train soon arrives at Rockwood, site of a lumber mill that is slated for massive expansion once the planned extension of the Cascade logging branch is built. It is a source of cut lumber, ties, and box materials.All for now. Keep on having fun!
Mike, Thanks for the slide show tour of your very large layout! It's really nice. I notice that on many large layouts of more modern construction that large sections are "unfinished", in the sense that ballast is not there and in yard and congested areas little finish is done and such assemelages are more often a MR's rolling stock storage area where a lot of switching tricks are done. or simply pass-through areas on the way to more scenic developed areas.
At the same time, such layouts have areas of intense interest and show a great deal of meticulous modeling skill as if being entered in a diorama competition. I guess these are most often finished so well due to the desire to photograph a flawless scene where some cool activity is focused.
I like this idea and it is how I am developing the P.U.P. By building a layout in a series of more or less finished dioramas, you can have a small active area for photography that is fascinating and operational within itself for those important "show-and-tells". You can develop skills and hone technique as you go without making a giant mistake spread over a rapidly assembled complete system. I have already changed my ideas on some track and operational areas based on my first section of the layout.
My initial thought was to just blast down all the track and get something operational and pick up the scenicing part later. I am glad that I started as part of what will be a patchwork quilt of dioramas on my more narrow, narrow gauge shelf layout. I will note that the roof slant backdrop has worked out a bit better. photographically, than I thought it would on such a narrow shelf type layout.
A nice summary, Richard.... and thanks for a great layout tour, Mike!
My K-27 arrived yesterday.... and I thought I'd "play with it a bit" before jumping back into building my layout.....
IronGoat As I mentioned to Richard, my burning question at present concerns the choice of roadbed (HO or N ?) HO looks to wide & too high! Thanks again... Bob
You are not limited to cork for roadbed. The California Roadbed Company (http://www.homabed.com/) sells HOn3 homasote roadbed. It comes in straight lengths as well as curveable lengths.
Thanks, Maxman... I'll check it out.