What should we name our railroad??? SEE SAD PLEA ON P2

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by espeefoamer

In the railroad building era, just about every railroad had to have "and Pacific" in its name. So I propose Crescent Pass & Pacific[:)].

"Crescent Pass & Pacific" is good because as well as having "Pacific" in the name it starts with a "C"... which became a problem in the railroad building era... I've seen an article of the 1880s or 90s (from a US RR Journal) both listing and complaining about the number of road starting with "C".

You could go one better and use "Orient" instead of Pacific as in the Kansas City, Mexico and Orient... which got a few miles down it's planned route and ran out of cash... I believe...

[twhite]

Hm, I thought we'd all decided on the Platte Canyon Sub. Are we still thinking that? Because if not, how about this:
The railroad was originally built by the Santa Fe as part of their Denver extension, but the Rio Grande has never forgiven that rival for commandeering Raton Pass in the 1870's. So, just before your modeling era, the Rio Grande counterfieted a telegram to the Santa Fe saying that Aliens from Roswell had abducted every Santa Fe locomotive in New Mexico from Raton Pass south. The Santa Fe pulled all of their locomotives from their Platte Canyon Sub and sent them south to replace the abducted motive power, the Rio Grande sneaked in during the night, and when morning came, informed the Santa Fe that neener, neener, it now owned the trackage. So what we have now, is the DENVER AND RIO GRANDE WESTERN RETALIATION RAILROAD, (PLATTE CANYON SUB).
How's that, LOL?
Tom [:P][:P][alien]

[grandeman]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Texas Zepher

Calling up an old thread because I can't e-mail Grand Man!

Grand Man ---

I went to a swap meet today and found a book called "Tracking Ghost Railroads in Colorado" by Robert Ormes.

Guess what it shows! In 1883-1890 the Rio Grande had a two mile branch south west of Salida. It is called the Lehigh Branch. It followed Indian Creek to Lehigh Gulch and served the Lehigh Coal Mine.

Wow, talk about thread revival! That's some cool info, TZ. We're so set into calling the RR the Platte Canyon Sub that I'm not sure we could change now. I apprieciate all your input on this. I did alot of research on the USGS map site after a few of your posts. We named several places on the RR after actual places I found on topo maps. Once again, Thanks!

[Texas Zepher]

Calling up an old thread because I can't e-mail Grand Man!

Grand Man ---

I went to a swap meet today and found a book called "Tracking Ghost Railroads in Colorado" by Robert Ormes.

Guess what it shows! In 1883-1890 the Rio Grande had a two mile branch south west of Salida. It is called the Lehigh Branch. It followed Indian Creek to Lehigh Gulch and served the Lehigh Coal Mine.

[grandeman]

QUOTE: Originally posted by SpaceMouse



Put the lake either just touching the layout or painted into the backdrop.

I'll look this afternoon while I'm workin on the railroad...

[SpaceMouse]

QUOTE: Originally posted by grande man

QUOTE: Originally posted by Texas Zepher

Here is a comment from one of the "Rio Grande" experts I sent your question to:

Based on the info you provided I would say call it the Palmer Lake
Subdivision. The DRGW and ATSF went around the west side of Palmer Lake in a crescent shaped curved. Of course it follows the double track jointline
south from Denver to Pueblo. On the real railroad it is called the
Colorado Springs Subdivision on the DRGW side and the Pikes Peak Sub on the ATSF side.

That sounds good but I'd feel compelled to model the lake and I'm out of room...

Put the lake either just touching the layout or painted into the backdrop.

[grandeman]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Texas Zepher

Here is a comment from one of the "Rio Grande" experts I sent your question to:

Based on the info you provided I would say call it the Palmer Lake
Subdivision. The DRGW and ATSF went around the west side of Palmer Lake in a crescent shaped curved. Of course it follows the double track jointline
south from Denver to Pueblo. On the real railroad it is called the
Colorado Springs Subdivision on the DRGW side and the Pikes Peak Sub on the ATSF side.

That sounds good but I'd feel compelled to model the lake and I'm out of room...

[grandeman]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Texas Zepher
there were three tracks through that area as Santa Fe, Rio Grande, and Colorado Southern all ran along the front range there.

D&RGW Front Range & Platte Canyon???

A fictional westerly coal mine spur off the Joint Line just south of Sedalia, Colo.

BTW, I like the sound of Split Rock Mine.

[SpaceMouse]

I couldn't read your map (you could post a link) But I like the name:

Devil's Head and Monument Railroad

[Texas Zepher]

I had another idea you might want to think about. Instead of modeling a branch of the Rio Grande you could model a short line or regional that is either wholly owned by the D&RGW or that leases all their equipment from them. That way your railroad would be more independent but could still run/use all your Rio Grande equipment. In that context the Wigwam & Western sounds much better. You could still use all the C&S & Sante Fe stuff on the part of your layout where your railroad had running rights on the joint track to Pueblo.

Sedelia & Rio Grande Iron Range
Sedelia Iron Range & Rio Grande
Hauling ore out of the mountains west of Colo Springs to CF&I in Pueblo.

From all the names you've been throwing around I like the "Split Rock Mine CO" sounds like a great name for an industry on your line. Possibly worth a few hopper cars of their own too!

[Texas Zepher]

Here is a comment from one of the "Rio Grande" experts I sent your question to:

Based on the info you provided I would say call it the Palmer Lake
Subdivision. The DRGW and ATSF went around the west side of Palmer Lake in a crescent shaped curved. Of course it follows the double track jointline
south from Denver to Pueblo. On the real railroad it is called the
Colorado Springs Subdivision on the DRGW side and the Pikes Peak Sub on the ATSF side.

[Fergmiester]

How about the RG&P (Rio Grande & Platte)

Just a thought

Fergie

[Texas Zepher]

QUOTE: Originally posted by grande man
He [Texas Zepher] was good enough to drive thru Wigwam and wasn't impressed! PLEASE HELP!!! The poll has been edited. Thanks!*****

I didn't say I wasn't impressed. I think the area has tons of potential. I just don't want you to regret a name a few years down the road when it is harder to change. Is there any reason to rush? Choose one and use it for a bit. Say it over and over. Listen to other people say it. Use it in a railroady sentence. Ask other people what they think of when they hear it.

I'll send a note to some of the Rio Grand modeler's in the area and see if they come up with anything.

[Texas Zepher]

QUOTE: Originally posted by grande man
Thanks for the input and for driving thru Wigwam. What's in Wigwam? Not much I'm guessing. I'm going to get the map out again and take another look.

It appears to be mainly a resort on the river. It had its own little water tower (no name or anything). There was some sort of general store for the resort not open to the general public, and an open air road maintenance of way facility.

http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?lat=39.2396&lon=-105.2543&s=50&size=s&symshow=n&datum=nad83&layer=DRG25
Here is the topo map of Wigwam.

[selector]

Cherokee Central? Okay, I'm tapped out.

[Texas Zepher]

QUOTE: Originally posted by grande man

QUOTE: Originally posted by grande man

Texas Zepher, where are the towns you mentioned in relation to the towns on the map?

I found them farther north.

Good. Oh yeah, the area you were looking at on the map (Between Colorado Springs and Pueblo) is a real desert. Cactus, cactus, and more cactus. The mountains are WAY off to the west there. Of course if you back off a few years, there were three tracks through that area as Santa Fe, Rio Grande, and Colorado Southern all ran along the front range there.

[grandeman]

QUOTE: Originally posted by grande man

Texas Zepher, where are the towns you mentioned in relation to the towns on the map?

I found them farther north.

I'm thinking Sedalia might be a possibility for the town. The Joint Line ran close together south of town and Cherokee Mt is NW of it and this would all jive with the layout scenery. (talk about reverse engineering!) To the west are Crooked Top Mtn, Lehigh Gulch, Platte Canyon, and Split Rock to name a few.

Any catchy names popping into anyone's head from the above info?

Here's a map of Sedalia.

http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?z=13&n=4365115.00011326&e=503947.000000001&datum=nad83

*****Guys, I'm really running up against a wall on this. All ideas are apprieciated. Thanks for the help so far but Texas Zepher is a native and he wasn't happy with the Cresent Pass Sub so I'm looking for something better. He was good enough to drive thru Wigwam and wasn't impressed! PLEASE HELP!!! The poll has been edited. Thanks!*****

[grandeman]

Guys, here's the map I've been working from. I'd like to have my imaginary branch line to be west of the Joint Line between Pueblo and Colorado Springs. Texas Zepher, where are the towns you mentioned in relation to the towns on the map? I'm going to get a highway atlas and take a look. A real mountain range west of the town would be a great starting point to name the line after, I agree wholeheartedly.

[grandeman]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Texas Zepher

You've got a lot of good ideas from the other posters and a lot to think about, but I thought I would throw in my two cents. I live in the area and drive along that streach all the time. I really hate it that they tore up the original Santa Fe line from Colorado Springs to Lake Palmer, and I puzzel why they haven't double tracked the the other to make it double track all the way from Denver to the Springs.?!?

Anway on with the name comments. I think anything with "Wigwam" in it is going to get old after just a short time. Almost in the too cute category. Crescent Pass doesn't have any ring or flavor of Colorado or the Rio Grande. My mind would put a "crescent pass" in the middle of the Utah or Nevada desert somewhere. I guess the Grand does pass through that type of territory around Helper, Price, and Sunnyside... Just nowhere close to what you're planning.

Were you actually going to model a part of the joint line or were you just going to have that as the take off point for your branch, as the third name suggests? The foot hills just to the west of this area is "Rampart Range", the tallest hill in the set is called "Devil's Head". You could invent a coal, gold, gravel, clay, uranium, mine up there as an excuse to run a branch to. There is a Topaz point, that might not make a good piece of a railroad name but might score as a passenger train name. So if you are going with the branch concept I guess I am suggesting using some real name on the joint line as a connection point for your free lance. Monument, Pine Crest, Spruce, Larkspur, Tomah, Orsa, Sedalia are possiblities.

So how about -> Rio Grande Cresent Valley Branch? If there were a prototype it would be Rio Grande Hidden Valley Branch see
http://maps.yahoo.com/maps_result?zoomin=yes&name=&addr=&state=CO&csz=Denver%2C+CO&ds=n&uzip=80203&mag=3&desc=&country=US&dma=751&cat=ent&resize=l&trf=0&lat=39.739109&lon=-104.983917&mlt=39.22327116217&mln=-104.94054508287&rezoom=0&.intl=us&addrtype=3&compass=&pan_x=0&pan_y=0&panable=1

I have a freelance short line based in this area. It's primary purpose is serving the ficticious Tesla Wireless Power station since 1899. It is the "Pikes Peak, Fossil Creek, and Tesla. Perhaps I could make an interchange with your railroad.

You bring up some good points. Thanks for the input and for driving thru Wigwam. What's in Wigwam? Not much I'm guessing. I'm going to get the map out again and take another look.

[selector]

I share Joe's sentiments. My one large mountain stands like a sentinel, so I gave it that very name. Sentinel Coal is the mine perched halfway down its front slope, with both overlooking the town of Emerald Creek. The railway is Sentinel Mountain Rail Road.

My wife and I dscussed this subject on the 90 minute drive from Comox, where I live, to the ferry in Nanaimo a couple of months ago. We both became quite animated, then agitated, and then both realized that this really was much ado about nothing. I solved it on my own by the time we drove through the ticket booths. Big sigh from the right seat.

[Anonymous]

I would suggest "something" sub or subdivision since you are modelling a real railroad in a fictional area. My railroad is the Southcross & Western Railway. It is a fake railroad in a fake place. Its set somewhere in the northeast US running west from the city of Southcross (makes sense right[:D]) Its called southcross because it contains the southern most crossing of the Ganton River which originates just north of the small town of Ganton which is also served by the S&W. Now you may be wondering why I described the setting of my railroad... My point is, get a starting point and just build around it. I started with Ganton, added the ganton river, decided the southernmost crossing would be the big city on the layout and decided to name the city Southcross. As for the Western part, I just liked the way it sounded. So, get a mental map of your setting and then pick a RR name based on where the railroad is. Thats my method anyway.

[exPalaceDog]

Cute and/or funny names are fun in the beginning, but ware old after well. John Allen came to regert his G&D name.

The Old Dog would suggest avoiding the first entry.

Have fun

[Texas Zepher]

Just because of your post, I drove the back way through Wigwam the other day. I didn't realize that Wigwam isn't a normal town but private! Anyway here are another couple of interesting names in the area that I had forgotten about - Skraggy Mountain, and Sugar Loaf.

[Texas Zepher]

You've got a lot of good ideas from the other posters and a lot to think about, but I thought I would throw in my two cents. I live in the area and drive along that streach all the time. I really hate it that they tore up the original Santa Fe line from Colorado Springs to Lake Palmer, and I puzzel why they haven't double tracked the the other to make it double track all the way from Denver to the Springs.?!?

Anway on with the name comments. I think anything with "Wigwam" in it is going to get old after just a short time. Almost in the too cute category. Crescent Pass doesn't have any ring or flavor of Colorado or the Rio Grande. My mind would put a "crescent pass" in the middle of the Utah or Nevada desert somewhere. I guess the Grand does pass through that type of territory around Helper, Price, and Sunnyside... Just nowhere close to what you're planning.

Were you actually going to model a part of the joint line or were you just going to have that as the take off point for your branch, as the third name suggests? The foot hills just to the west of this area is "Rampart Range", the tallest hill in the set is called "Devil's Head". You could invent a coal, gold, gravel, clay, uranium, mine up there as an excuse to run a branch to. There is a Topaz point, that might not make a good piece of a railroad name but might score as a passenger train name. So if you are going with the branch concept I guess I am suggesting using some real name on the joint line as a connection point for your free lance. Monument, Pine Crest, Spruce, Larkspur, Tomah, Orsa, Sedalia are possiblities.

So how about -> Rio Grande Cresent Valley Branch? If there were a prototype it would be Rio Grande Hidden Valley Branch see:
I removed the map link because it came out pathetic.

I have a freelance short line based in this area. It's primary purpose is serving the ficticious Tesla Wireless Power station since 1899. It is the "Pikes Peak, Fossil Creek, and Tesla. Perhaps I could make an interchange with your railroad.

[Anonymous]

I voted "other", and feel that you should call it Wigwam Pass...

On my own layout, I've got a depot with a sign that says Pike's Junction on one side and Pine Mountain on the other. If I want to change the town name, I just turn the depot around... My whole layout is changable this way.

trainluver1

[grandeman]

QUOTE: Originally posted by george745

I voted for 3. To me it sounds like a real subdivision on the Rio Grande.
Andrew

Yeah, I think that's it, pending the approval of the railroad's 10 year old CEO of course. [:D]

[Anonymous]

I voted for 3. To me it sounds like a real subdivision on the Rio Grande.
Andrew

[cwclark]

I like to name my stuff from prototype operations...you might want to get your hands on an old DRG&W railroad rule book and name it for a depot, , spur, branch line, division, or subdivision named in the rule book...chuck

[twhite]

Grande Man: D&RGW Crescent Pass Sub? GO FOR IT!
Tom [^][:D][bow]