Mike, I don’t know if I was in a slump, just other interests superseded my interest in Model Railroading. When the weather gets nice, it will happen again.
Again, thanks Mike!
The websdite I could not find anymore was GhostDepot, like you suggested. If you have the CD, maybe you could look at what ever the guy had about the track layout in Ridgway and explain what it was like. Posting on this website would probably be breaking copyright law.
Again, thanbks for the help, Mike!
It was easy to stay legal.[4:-)] I don’t have the RGS disc, just D&S and C&TS. The images were kind of crude, but it was something like 1998. I suspect they’ve never been revised to current hi-def content expectations, which does leave them looking rather dated.
I’d highly recommend picking up a copy of “The RGS Story Volume 1” which focuses on Ridgway to Telluride. Volumes 2 and 3 would also be useful for you, but they tend to sell for a bit more right now (scarcity, I suppose). But Volume 1 can be found for very reasonable prices - look here: http://www.amazon.com/The-R-G-S-Story-Bridges-Telluride/dp/0913582484
I tried to find a map of Ridgway online and didn’t have much luck. I can say it’s a fairly compact yard and well-suited to modeling. It was actually featured as an layout design element in Tony Koester’s book on LDEs. You can see trackplans and/or photos for a couple people who are modeling it pretty faithfully - Mark Evans in Sn3 here and Craig Symington in HOn3 here.
Hope that helps!
Chris
Chris, Thanks for this information, although not a schematic of how the real Ridgeway tracks where laid, it looks like Mark Evans diagram maybe fairly close. Going to Ridgeway on Google Earth and seeing where the yard and turn table were, can give me a scale of how big it was and where things are located.
I have done enough of the design work to have determined that I lack the room I need to make an Sn3 layout. Jamming Layout Design Elements (LDEs) end to end (in my opinion) would not look right, without a few yards of track in between to give some distance. I could discard a couple LDEs and replace with the few yards of the needed track, however this would be to the jeopardy of the operating fun of the layout! Even using 28 inch curves in the Ophir Loop area only barely makes this element fit into my space for a layout.
Some of you might say, well than why not go with HOn3 then? For me, a change of scale was a part of the attraction of considering a new layout and since my current layout is in HO, I don’t feel this would be enough of a change.
So, at this point, I feel it isn’t very likely that I will tear down my present HO layout to make room for another, newer layout. What you guys who have contributed to this and the other threads I’ve started on this subject have seen, is a person doing the due-diligence I felt necessary to make a decision about making a change.
This decision has not decreased my interest in the Rio Grande Southern and as long as the conversation continues here, at least I am going to go on with this study of this railroad. As I did when I was involved in Model Railroading as a kid, I am considering designing a “someday” layout of the RGS. Since I love engine terminals, instead of Telluride being one end of track plan, I’m going to use Ridgeway. I may; or, may not include the branch to Telluride in the design. However, the southern terminus will still be Lizard Head Pass. Some of the tourist operations of the RGS also ended at Lizard Head. This will only be an exercise in desi
… (see below)
Due to changes which just occured to certain situations in my hobby life, I am going to continue to work on the design of an RGS Sn3 layout which was the impetus for this thread.
A very timely article was in the latest issue of Model Railroader about building a gate to get into an around the walls layout. This would add much needed usable space to the design I had been working on. I’m going to incorporate this feature and see how it works.
[C=:-)]
I’m kinda surprised at myself for not considering an opening gate; or, lift out as opposed to a duck-under, which is what I have now. I want to finish a couple projects before I go back to designing. This does add a dimension of doable-isum to Sn3.
Just got back from the LHS where I purchased Tony Koester’s new book GUIDE TO NARROW GAUGE MODELING. I haven’t had a chance to read it in detail, but it looks like it’s thorough & informative. A narrow gauger like Mike L. would probably be able to evaluate it better than I could.
On page 23, there are 2 photos of Sn3 RGS models on a curve, with this caption: “These overhead photos show how Dale Kreutzer’s Sn3 RGS freight and passenger equipment looks on his 28” minimum radius curves. He notes that he has had no problems operating K-27 Mikados around these curves but recommends a 30" radius if space permits."
Hope this helps in the planning process.
Tom
I had thought about getting this book, the first time I saw it advertized was in the latest Model Railroader. I might just go ahead and order it.
What did you pay for the book Tom? If I was to order from Kalmbach it would be $30.00 for the book with shipping and tax and seems somewhat excessive! I will wait and see what it will cost at a hobby shop, next weekend. This is an item that can be shipped via media mail for $2.-$3.00!
$30.00 does sound excessive. I got my copy at Mainline Hobby Supply in Blue Ridge Summit, PA. It was their last copy. Price printed on the back is $21.99 for the book, but they discounted it to $19.79 plus tax. Eight dollars for tax & shipping seems excessive, but what do I know?
Tony discusses lots of different narrow gauge operations. As I was reading the book, I wondered whether you had considered something like the Quincy & Torch Lake. It certainly didn’t have the scenery and broad appeal of the RGS; but it was narrow gauge, it had some very interesting equipment and operations, the equipment was smaller (which might fit your space better) and it was a lot closer to home for you. Just thinking.
Tom
I’ve seen the ads, but not had a chance to look a copy over yet. Maybe the LHS will get one? I may even buy if there’s enough new material to get me interested. It’s not exactly like I need another book on narrowgauge…[swg]
It was good to see a general interest book on modeling the narrowgauge to hit the market. Narrowgauge offers more great stuff than ever in terms of kits and other materials, plus the fabulous RTR offerings from Blackstone in HOn3 and all the good stuff in the various On gauges. While Sn3 is not as widespread, it retains a devoted group of modelers big enough to support all the essentials.
Narrowgauge is almost a whole 'nother world, a parallel universe to standard gauge. I don’t know if it’s true or not, as I’ve never been to the NMRA National, but I’ve been told that in strong years (when it’s in narrowgauge country) attendance at the National Narrow Gauge Convention can rival the smaller attendance years of the NMRA convention. Since I’ve only been to the NNGC, I’ve got no personal experience. But if you’re looking for that old-time hobby experience of mostly building stuff, rather than simply unboxing it, narrowgauge is the place to be.
Tom, I’ve never even heard of teh Quincy & Torch Lake, so I guess I really couldn’t have considered it. Where was it and what did it do?
My interest in the Rio Grande Southern is from before I even built my present railroad. Although the real RR had a hard difficult life and appears to have been close to forclosure at points in it life span, this doesn’t matter to me to much. When I road the Durango & Silverton last month, my interest in Colorado Narrow Gauge was peaked. I’m hoplessly stuck in S.W. Colorado!
The Q&TL was a 3’ gauge tramway operated on the Keeweenaw Penisula in Michigan’s UP. A little over 6 miles long, it played the difference between being a common carrrier and a private line to its advantage. More info here:
According to Hilton’s book AMERICAN NARROW GAUGE RAILROADS (Stanford University Press, 1990), there were also narrow gauge operations in other parts of the Upper Midwest:
Minnesota:
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Caledonia, Mississippi & Western — Caledonia Jct. (Reno) to Preston, 58 miles. Completed 1879; absorbed by CMStP&P; standard gauged 1901. Last portion abandoned 1976.
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Minneapolis, Lyndale & Minnetonka Railway — Minneapolis to Excelsoir (on Lake Minnetonka), 10.5 miles. Built 1879-1881. Lake Calhoun to Excelsior abandoned 1886. Became a street railway, with the last portion being abandoned 1954.
Wisconsin:
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Fond du Lac, Amboy & Peoria Railroad — Fond du Lac to Iron Ridge, 30 miles. Built 1877. Purchased by CMStP&P in 1883 and converted to standard gauge. Iron Ridge - Mayville now operated as part of Wisconsin & Southern.
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Galena & Southern Wisconsin Railroad/Chicago & Tomah Railroad — Galena to Woodman, 92 miles. Included a 4-mile branch to Platteville and a branch to Lancaster. Built 1872-1880. First operation 1874. Purchased by C&NW 1880. All converted to standard gauge 1882 except 16.4 miles Woodman - Fennimore, which continued to operate as a narrow gauge C&NW branch until abandoned 1926.
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Pine River Valley & Stevens Point Railroad — Lone Rock to Richland Center, 16 miles. Built 1877-76. All but 3 miles constructed of strap iron on maple stringers. Ten miles of strap rail replaced by 1880, leaving only 3 miles of strap rail. Purchased by CMStP&P 1880 and converted to standard gauge. Currently intact but idle, owned by the State of Wisconsin. (Note: This info is over 20 years old & likely not 100% reliable).
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Robbins Railroad and Thunder Lake Lumber Co. — Rhinelander to Robbins, about 12 miles, plus 40+ miles of logging lines.&
Interesting! There is no town of Mason today, nor is there any real evidence of there ever having been one and Quincy must have become Hancock. It might be an interesting line; but, it ain’t Colorado!
I’m sure there were Narrow Gauge lines in many places. Tom, you should build one of them!