Like the title says - where are they? The only really good layout I’ve seen that captures the DRGW in modern days (1986 - 1988) is Doug Tagsold’s Denver Front Range & Western which is now dismantled and relocated to the past. All I see that pertains to DRGW nowadays is narrow gauge and 50’s and 60’s era layouts. I want to see Tunnel Motors and SD50s hauling 100 long coal trains. I’ve gotten so bored of seeing 2 locomotives pulling a 15 car freight train. I want to see something that captures the muscle and feeling of mountain railroading.
The one layout that captures the look and feel of what you’re describing would be Eric Brooman’s Utah Belt Railroad.
It has the flavor of the DRG&W and he models primarily coal unit train operation.
I don’t know specifically of any modern era HO scale DRG&W MRR that are well known.
Hope this helps.
HF1
I love Eric Brooman’s layout. It is pretty close to what I like to see in a layout.
My layout is based on modern D&RGW 1989-Present, but I’m not well known… [:'(]
Heck, I’m still considered a newbie…
I’ve got the Rocky Mountains, Colorado plains, and downtown Denver.
Pictures? Photobucket? Details of layout?
Here you go Keith…
The layout plan (extension room upper right has not been built yet)
Denver Union Station
Rocky Mountains
Rail Yard based on BNSF Yard on 22nd Ave. Denver. Intermodal yard based on the UP North Yard formerly D&RGW.
I am attempting something like that. Approximately 1980 but only using GP 35’s, GP 40’s, SD 45’s, and an occasional F unit for D&RG power. Since I live in Helper, Utah my railroad will be a knock off of the line through Price canyon so I can run Utah Railway SD 40’s also. The premise is that somebody in the D&RG management saw the coming building boom in St. George, Utah, Las Vegas, Nevada, and southern California. The main line was split at about Green River, Utah and traveled south west to St. George. The Marysvale branch was also extended to connect to this line. Now the Grande has an East-West line from Grand Junction to Las Vegas, and a North-South connection from Vegas to Salt Lake City. The Utah Railway was already in the area hauling coal to a power plant so this trackage became part of the line. I did not want to do the Price Canyon line because a friend had already started this and I had no intention of copying or competing, plus by freelancing I can steal/borrow all of the highlights I want to. Sorry there won’t be any 100 car coal drags because of the obvious space needed but 20 cars, 2 SD’s and a caboose will probably the norm. It is double deck and approximately 24 x 30, with 2 track main and 10 track staging at both ends.
I hope to come close to Eric B’s excellent rock making and backdrop painting talents, but that remains to be seen. Another reason for freelancing is that I can put a line through the Virgin River Gorge and lots of red rock mountain/cliff desert scenery. Any one who has been to Lake Powell, Moab, or Arches National Park will know what I am talking about.
I’m not a computer ace so the photobucket/pictures will have to wait until I get some help with that. All of the main line, staging, and yard is laid. NCE radio system is hooked up. Scenery to start in the near future. Wish me luck.
Not too bad Michael. One hell of a modeling effort thus far. My only gripe is there seems to be to much “spaghetti”. I know that having too little space almost forces a person to want to cram more into the space that they do have. To each his own though. Again, nice job. 
While I am not nearly as far along as Michael on my layout, I do model the modern Rio Grande (1985). My layout is based on the Denver metro area and the foothills. the layout extends from Commerce City out to Golden and up to Leyden and Rocky Flats. While the beer line is actually served by the BN in 1985 I have taken some “creative license” to serve the line.
The layout is two levels, in a 16x 19 room. the lower level serves an interchange yard, the Burnham shops, Commerce city, and the local industries around North Yard. The helix connecting the two levels represents Arvada. The upper level has Golden, Leyden, and the Rocky Flats branch. The upper staging yard is where the Big Ten Curve would connect if I ever expand the layout into the dining room (fat chance of that happening though). I do not have the space to produce a model of the moffat line or the Tennessee pass line so I thought I would narrow my scope to the local traffic of Denver.
Here are some photos of it so far.
The Interchange yard
Purina plant. The slaughterhouse will be on the two track behind it.
Leyden Siding and the two staging yards ( the backdrop is removable to be able access the yard if a derail is to occur.
The Conoco Refinery.
More of the Refinery
I forget the track plans. Here is the lower level.
Here is the upper level;
Wow, awesome layout so far Renegade!! Very nice. You did a great job with the Conaco Oil Refinery, I’m modeling that as well in my extension room. Can you tell me what you used and how you built it? Specifically the piping. Man that is cool.
We are neighbors, I actually live in Broomfield. Right near the BNSF mainline on 108th & Wads.
PM me so we can hook up and check out each other’s layouts?
Really nice Renegade. I like it when one focuses on a certain local if they don’t have the room to accurately model a more vast area. Your modeling skills are of a high caliber. I’m anxious to see finished product.
The refinery is the North Island kit by Walther’s. I think it is currently out of production. All the piping either came with the kit or the supplemental piping kit I also got from Walther’s. The front furnace was scratchbuilt as no one I know of produces a can furnace. I need to finish up the berms around the tanks and add all the piping to the tanks still.
Congratulations Motley, very nice work indeed. The photo of the loco coming out of the tunnel with the snow and the fir trees would make an absolutely outstanding Christmas card.
Wish there was more for everyone to share. I can’t get enough DRGW. Can’t wait to start building my dream layout here in the next 5 years. I’m going to model the line from Denver (which will be my staging area) to Axial Mine (on the Craig Branch). Total emphasis on coal, coal and more coal. Long heavy coal drags with 2% grade, manned helpers and helper districts. Epitome of rocky mountain railroading.
I’ve always told myself that I would model that Spanish Fork/Pri
Mike Danneman did great work. I also liked Rand Hood’s work.
Just a few months ago someone posted a thread about a guy who built a scratch built scale to scale replica of Denver Union Station. It was absolutely stunning, and huge!
Edit: It was on another forum, his name is Don Meeker. Here’s the thread.
I would like to see.
