HOn3 Rio Grande Southern First District 1938-1945

[Erik W]

The sense of immersion and separation between locales with the pit + peninsula style would be wonderful for this type of layout. Unable to view it all the viewer is forced to see the LDEs and standalone scenes for the most part. I really like that you get your trackwork relatively faithful to the proto if not compressed somewhat. I have absolutely nothing against Furlow or similar types of designs but you posted a handful of wonderful, really proto inspired track plans that had a lot of validity and more importantly your own character and take on the RGS.. I personally am not one for the up and over figure 8 folded dogbone (grades are a plus but railroading sticks as linear in my mind, trains passing through a scene once and all that). The modular pit design as I see checks every requirement you have posted; and should be a blast to build out and operate or sit back and watch narrow gauge in the high country. I will be living my narrow gauge interest vicariously through your build; whatever route you decide to go.

Dave,

I agree with this.  Particularly the part about, "I will be living my narrow gauge interest vicariously through your build."     Being a long time fan of the RGS myself, your ideas mirror my own as far as which parts of the RR to model and what era.  I'll be following this thread closely!

Erik

[Dave V]

Thanks guys. I wonder if it simply took another set of eyes (or two) to help me see that I had the right answer all along.  I have seen far too many narrow gauge railroads that look as busy as Pennsy in Philadelphia, or worse—that look like Disney World rides.   Anyone who has spent any time looking at any of the Colorado narrow gauge lines will immediately resonate with a sense of isolation and loneliness, not multi-track and multilevel craziness.  We as model railroaders typically want to make things more interesting than they really were.   But I think there’s artistry in doing less, but doing it well.  As a kid, I remember pouring over my dad’s book on John Allen’s layout and dreaming that that was what I wanted to do someday.  But I have never seen anything like that in real life.

[Erik W]

Dave,

One of your modeling strengths is scenery.  I think you'll be able to nail the look of the Colorado high country.  I agree with your statement above.  If you design in a spaghetti bowl of track into this layout, it will detract from the wide open look that is representational of the countryside the RGS ran through.  Also, that's a damn pretty area of Colorado to take field trips for research.

Erik

[Dave V]

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[Ed Kapuscinski]

Nailed it.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Ok, before Dave starts cutting wood, I wanted to present one last option.

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[Dave V]

Ok, before Dave starts cutting wood, I wanted to present one last option.

(Attachment Link)

Oh man, that’s it!  Hey DKS, can you AnyRail this awesome “peninsular” plan?

[chicken45]

I would put the Snake Farm on the tip of the penisnsula.

[DKS]

Hey DKS, can you AnyRail this awesome “peninsular” plan?

Man, I ain't touching that with... well... anything.

[Dave V]

Man, I ain't touching that with... well... anything.

I agree...  It is a little hard to swallow.

[nuno81291]

Atleast you aren’t modeling Guilford where they don’t bother to get lube oil..

[Missaberoad]

...and once again a thread is TAINTed by Ed's contributions...

[Ed Kapuscinski]

...and once again a thread is TAINTed by Ed's contributions...

I'm just tryin to be helpful!

Or relive my misspent teenage years.

[Dave V]

In all seriousness guys...

For all of my professional bluster, I am no more mature than Ed.    Besides, I just got my retirement orders approved.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

In all seriousness guys...

For all of my professional bluster, I am no more mature than Ed.    Besides, I just got my retirement orders approved.

As I was telling Terri about this about this thread, I informed her the delight my juvenile humor brought my friend Lt Col. Dr. Vollmer.