The portions of the layout represented on the plan between the Silverton (staging) area, through the Durango Yard, and continuing to the connection with the Rio Grande Southern have been completed, and trains are running. The area shown in red, from Durango through Ridgway, is tentative, and subject to change as the layout progresses.
Stock pens constructed from a Banta Modelworks kit have been recently installed in Durango. The town of Dolores will definitely include the American Model Builders Dolores Depot, and the Raggs... to Riches? Dolores Section House and Conoco Oil Depot. Rico will feature my scratchbuilt model of the Pro Patria Mill. Kits for Vance Junction, Ophir, and Ridgway have been purchased, and some have been completed.
The Rose-Walsh Smelter kit (also from Raggs...to Riches?) is tentatively shown in the first plan outside Durango. My current thinking is that there is no way I can devote space to the ASARCO refinery that was located behind Durango, so the Rose-Walsh Smelter may be a suitable stand-in. The prototype of the Rose-Walsh smelter was located in Silverton, and is MUCH smaller than the ASARCO refinery that was actually located in Durango. The later versions of the plan show the Rose-Walsh Smelter in Silverton, and may change again as the plan progresses!
The spur at the upper left corner of the plan will serve the Mission-style Western Colorado Power plant. My late wife and I were able to take a tour of this plant as a feature of the 26th National Narrow Gauge Convention held in Durango in 2006, so I definitely want to include this building on the layout.
I have decided to include the different versions of the plan as it progresses, as it will show how the plan evolves. I hope that you enjoy seeing the plan unfold!
Note: the newest plan will always be at the top.
 |
| Rio Grande Southern v1.3. The peninsulas containing Dolores and Rico have been extended an additional foot, and Ophir has been moved from a peninsula to the corner of the room. The spur to the stock pens in Durango has been included. |
 |
| Rio Grande Southern v1.2. The track alignment in Dolores has been adjusted for better interest, and the Conoco plant is located in Dolores following relocation of the stock pens to Durango. |
 |
| Rio Grande Southern v1.1. Proposed benchwork is shown in red, with a mainline connecting various locations on the Rio Grande Southern. |
 |
| Rio Grande Southern v1.0. At this point, the section from Durango to Silverton has been constructed, and certain locations on the Rio Grande Southern have been tentatively located. |
