The First Train From Ridgway!

Trackwork in Durango is now complete, and the first train, powered by Rio Grande Southern C-19 No. 40, has successfully run from the connection to Ridgway through the reverse loop in Durango and back!  The following photos show this train, and a K-27 and Galloping Goose, at a few locations within Durango.

Rio Grande Southern No. 40 at the end-of-track, which will eventually connect Durango to Ridgway.  The train is traveling Eastbound from Ridgway.

Rio Grande Southern No. 40 has arrived at the Durango Depot in time to meet Goose 7.

Overall view of the Durango yard.  The connection to the Rio Grande Southern is the track on the far left, with RGS No. 40 and its train approaching Durango.

Rio Grande Southern K-27 No. 461 is turned on the turntable in Durango.  A New York Railway Supply turntable controller, relocated from my previous layout, will be used to power and index the turntable.

Rio Grande Southern No. 461, a Blackstone Models K-27, is coaling up at the Durango Coal Tower.  The loco is positioned on the scratchbuilt ashpit.

A pair of Drop Bottom Gondolas deliver coal to the coaling tower in Durango.  The gondolas were built from R Robb and Grandt Line kits several years ago.

Wiring of Durango has been completed, and will be the subject of an upcoming post.  As with the previous layout, this layout is operated by DCC, and will utilize stationary decoders for turnout control.

Track Laying Begins!

I have begun laying track on the new layout. On my previous layout, I hand laid the track using MicroEngineering Code 55 rail, on Kappler wood ties using MicroEngineering Small spikes.  However, I decided to use MicroEngineering Code 55 flex track on this layout for a couple of reasons.  First, the new layout is approximately four times larger than the last layout.  Second, I spent 25 years (part time) building the last layout and since I am now 62 years old, I decided that a more rapid rate of construction would be beneficial.  Therefore, I am building the layout using flex track, but I am building the turnouts using FastTracks assembly fixtures and supplies.


 The following materials are being used for track laying:

1. MicroEngineering
1.  Code 55 rail for turnouts
2. Code 55 Flex Track
3.  Micro spikes
4.  Code 55 rail joiners
2. FastTracks
1. #6 Turnout Assembly Fixtures 
2.  24" and 30" radius Sweepsticks
3. PC board ties
3. Aleene's Original Tacky Glue
4. Chalk
5. Pushpins
6. Straightedge
7. Radius tool

Overview of the Durango Yard.  Note the installation of Flex Track and turnouts.  All trackwork is secured using Aleene's Original Tacky glue.

Closeup view of the yard tracks in front of the Raggs...to Riches Durango Depot.  Note that the yard tracks are curved, similar to the prototype, and that the Durango Roundhouse is now permanently mounted in the layout.

View of the major Durango Yard facilities.  The Car Repair Shops, in the foreground, has now been permanently installed into the layout.  Tracks have been laid up to, and through, the Car Repair Shops.

A view looking toward Durango, and the connection to the Rio Grande Southern Railroad on the left.  The track is slightly elevated on Homabed roadbed to provide separation from the Durango yard tracks.

The Coaling Tower, relocated from my previous layout, is in place, but not permanently installed.  Permanent installation awaits excavation for the ashpit, located on the left side of the coaling track located to the left of the coaling tower.  The track to the right of the tower is the receiving track for coal, and will be elevated.

A Rio Grande Southern stock train arriving in Durango.  This is the slightly elevated track that serves as the connection to Ridgway, Colorado.  The locomotive is a Blackstone Models C-19, while the stock cars are Grandt Line kits built be the author.

Aleene's Original Tacky Glue, used for track laying.

The Phoenix Arises

I have, at last, begun construction of my new HOn3 layout.  The past several months have been spent in finishing the basement, including the addition of an HVAC system, bathroom, workshop, utility room, and layout room.  The layout room itself is approximately 22' by 45', with an additional 4.5' by 9' area which will house my version of Ridgway, Colorado.  As with the previous layout, this layout will be built in HOn3, will include Durango, Colorado, and will be set in approximately 1948.

I have received track planning help from several friends, particularly Steve King and Larry Nyce.  Thanks, guys!  Although the total plan is not finalized, I completed the area that will be occupied by Durango.  I added a line to represent Silverton, which will be mostly staging, but there is enough space to allow for switching activity.

I began, of course, with construction of the benchwork using standard 1x4 lumber.  Normally, I would cover the Durango Yard with plywood and Homasote.  Unfortunately, in the part of North Carolina where I live (Western NC mountains), the standard response at every lumber yard I visited to the question "Do you carry Homasote?" was "Hunh?  What's Homasote?"  Obviously, if I was to build this layout, an alternative needed to be found.

A friend on the Southeast side of Charlotte recommended a product available at Home Depot called Quietbrace.  This is a 1/2" fiber panel that is covered with a very fine layer of asphalt.  I ordered several sheets of Quietbrace and 1/2" Sandeply plywood, and the benchwork for the Durango Yard, and the Silverton staging area was constructed.

Benchwork for the Durango Yard.  The black material is 1/2" Quietbrace.  The white lines are track centerlines drawn on the Quietbrace using white chalk.  The loop is the track used by the prototype to turn the San Juan passenger train.  The white track centerline exiting the photo to the right leads to Silverton staging.

Once all of the benchwork for Durango and the Silverton Branch was completed, I began transferring the track centerlines from the track plan to the railroad.  I found that I needed to make some changes to the track plan as I proceeded, mostly to more accurately represent the prototype track arrangement in Durango.  By the way, I made extensive use of the Durango Workbook published by Mike Blazek  (http://blazeksplan.com/). 

Durango yard track centerlines in front of the Durango Depot.  The depot was built from a Raggs...to Riches kit.  The roundhouse in the foreground was scratchbuilt by the author and moved from his previous layout.  The line to Silverton can be seen in the background in front of (and blocking!) two sliding glass doors.

The Durango Yard showing track centerlines, the scratchbuilt roundhouse, and Depot.  The scratchbuilt car repair shops are located on the left.  It is attached to a base, which will be recessed into the yard, and tracks will be laid up to it.

An overall view of the Durango Yard.  The loop in the foreground is not the loop for turning the San Juan, but, rather, is the Eastbound track out of Durango.  It had to be looped because of space limitations.  At the far left rear of the photo, the track will continue to the left onto the Rio Grande Southern, and eventually to Ridgway.

Looking from the Rio Grande Southern connection into the Durango Car Shops.

Installing the trackwork is next!  I will be using Flex track, but will be building my switches using Fast Tracks fixtures (http://www.handlaidtrack.com/).

Narrow Gauge Convention, 2014

I attended the National Narrow Gauge Convention held in Overland Park, Kansas from September 3 through September 6.  I was inspired to enter models in the model contest, which provided a needed incentive to complete several projects.  I entered a scratchbuilt diorama of the Pro Patria Mill as it existed in Rico, Colorado in the late 1940's; a model of the Ridgway Sandhouse in a new category called the Square Footer; a scratchbuilt model of the Durango Car Repair Shops into the Structure category; and, finally, a model of the Alamosa Wrecker work train in the Favorite Train category.  I was pleased that the Alamosa Wrecker won Second Place in the Favorite Train category.  The competition, particularly in the Diorama category, was intense.  All of these models have a specific location planned on the new layout.

The Scratchbuilt HOn3 Pro Patria Mill. 

The Durango Car Repair Shop

The Alamosa Wrecker, Second Place winner for Favorite Train.

The Ridgway Sandhouse from the Rio Grande Southern Railroad.

Naturally, the Vendor's Room was an important reason for attending the Convention.  After all, we get to see all of the new goodies!  I was surprised to note that there was not the intensive "feeding frenzy"  that I have observed in previous conventions.  I don't know whether that is a function of the still-struggling economy, but unlike some Narrow Gauge Conventions, it was possible to spend quality time with vendors.  One standout was Heartland Models (www.heartlandrailway.com).  They have introduced a series of laser-cut passenger car kits for D&RGW Pagosa Springs Combine, and C&S passenger cars.  These are complete kits - you just supply paint and glue.  And, of course, modeling skill!  I purchased one of the Pagosa Springs Combine kits, and am looking forward to assembling it.

I was able to visit several layouts in the Kansas City area, and some in Columbia and Jefferson City Missouri.  Visiting layouts is always a good time, and one can learn something from every layout.  I know that I am inspired to get started on my layout!