Colorado Midland Railway Engineering Report

[Dave V]

Dave,
you strung wire on the Juniata

Is that in the plans on the CM?

Probably not as a show layout.  We'll have to see.  There's one spot where the terrain is in the way.

[Dave V]

It's probably good that I timed my switch to HOn3 when I did. I'm starting to have issues with fine motor control again.  The CMRy is most likely my last N scale project.  The Juniata Division isn't going anywhere any time soon but I also have no plans for it.  Going back to a neurologist next month but it's clear that my peripheral neurological problems were not resolved fully by last year's brain surgery.  I expect that when my most recent Medical Evaluation Board is complete I'll be asked to retire.

[Dave V]

Ok @seusscaboose, I reconsidered and when I came home I started stringing telegraph wire.  Looks good and not in the way.  I'm planning a work blitz on the Midland tomorrow and will take pics then.

[seusscaboose]

Sweet!

[casmmr]

Dave, sorry to hear about the return of your medical problems.  I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers for everything to work out the best as possible for you.  You do great work and I enjoy seeing your pictures and following your progress on the various layouts.  His Peace be with you, later, Craig

[Dave V]

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[wcfn100]

Looks awesome Dave. I'm hoping to see it end of Oct.

Jason

[Chris333]

Hell yeah! 

[nkalanaga]

I assume you know that D&RG 3224 was a narrow gauge car.  In fact, it might still be around, although that's statistically unlikely

[seusscaboose]

Oh hell yeah!

[Dave V]

I assume you know that D&RG 3224 was a narrow gauge car.  In fact, it might still be around, although that's statistically unlikely

Yes I do, thanks.  The Athearn versions of the car have more correct standard gauge number series.  But this doesn't keep me up at night; this isn't mean to be a balls-deep proto project.

[Dave V]

Today's planned work session was called off...too tired and too much nerve pain.  Oh well...I still have a month to get ready.  At this point my remaining project goals are:

1)  Finish the Wild West Scale Models Miner's Supply building (and adjacent ground cover).

2)  Finish locomotive #51 (needs Dullcote!).

3)  Build one or two more CMRy cars (another boxcar and a flat).

4)  Light weathering on equipment.

And, if there's time, I need to correct the pinch point at the passing siding in Basalt (at the front of the layout in the overall picture).  I laid the track based on the geometry of sectional Atlas code 55, but it turns out that a full passenger car won't clear a car or locomotive on the adjacent track.

[GaryHinshaw]

Looking great Dave!  Nothing like a deadline and a list to spur progress.  That was my MO for nearly a year.

I hope the pain subsides quickly.

[nkalanaga]

D&RG numbers:  Most people who see the layout won't know the difference anyway.  And, when the D&RG/RGW standard gauged the lines west of Grand Junction, they put narrow gauge cars on standard gauge trucks while waiting for new cars.   It would at least be possible for the CM to have a D&RG narrow gauge car online, although all of the early regauged cars should have been long gone by 1900.

[Dave V]

D&RG numbers:  Most people who see the layout won't know the difference anyway.  And, when the D&RG/RGW standard gauged the lines west of Grand Junction, they put narrow gauge cars on standard gauge trucks while waiting for new cars.   It would at least be possible for the CM to have a D&RG narrow gauge car online, although all of the early regauged cars should have been long gone by 1900.

The difference between the Athearn cars and the MDC car (Athearn on left):

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As a 36' car it would not be a re-gauged narrow gauge car.  But as you mention, few folks would know.  I'm being very deliberate with my RGS HOn3 stuff but the Midland is meant to be a low-stress "model railroady" project.  I'm more worried about the local CMRy experts taking umbrage with some of my CMRy equipment than the D&RGW stuff.  But I also don't know of anyone else attempting to do the Midland in N. I'm sure they exist, but there isn't a single piece of RTR equipment (CMRy or D&RG) in N scale that is even approximately correct for my layout so I'm sort of proto-lancing.