HOn3 Rio Grande Southern First District 1938-1945

[Dave V]

Dave, Very nice modeling of the RGS. Now that you are in Colorado hopefully you can answer a question for me. I purchased a DVD titled "Otto Perry's Rio Grande Southern" On the DVD everyone pronounces the name of the railroad as the "Rye-o Grand", they also indicate the nickname of the railroad was "the Southern". I've always heard folks on the D&RGW pronounced the name of that railroad as the "Reo Grand" Did they actually pronounce "Rio" differently on the RGS and D&RGW? The DVD is from Sunday River Productions and although there are some great interviews with people who actually worked on the RGS, in my opinion the DVD leaves you wanting more actual RGS footage.

I have that video and cringe whenever I hear "Rye-oh Grand" also.  I can't say for sure.  I don't hear it that way around the Front Range but next month I'm heading out to RGS country and will find out!

[Cameron_Talley]

Well since "Rio Grande" is just spanish for "Big River," and Rio is pronounced "Ree-O" in spanish, I'd assume that's how it is said.

[Dave V]

Well since "Rio Grande" is just spanish for "Big River," and Rio is pronounced "Ree-O" in spanish, I'd assume that's how it is said.

I would agree, except:

1)  Here in Colorado they pronounce the town of "Salida" (Spanish for "exit," the exit of the Royal Gorge of the Arkansas) as "Sah-LYE-duh" instead of "Sah-LEE-dah."

2)  They also pronounce "Buena Vista" horribly...  "Byoon-uh Viss-tah" instead of the correct "Bway-nah Vee-stah" (Spanish for "beautiful view").  It's often simply called "Byoonie" and we spend enough time out that way that I've found myself saying that too.

3)  Lastly even in "Rio Grande," no one around here pronounces "Grande" with two syllables the Spanish way.

In that context I'm not surprised that some Coloradans might say "Rye-oh."

[Point353]

2)  They also pronounce "Buena Vista" horribly...  "Byoon-uh Viss-tah" instead of the correct "Bway-nah Vee-stah" (Spanish for "beautiful view").

How to correctly pronounce "Buena Vista" according to the executive director of the Buena Vista CO chamber of commerce:

[pjm20]

2)  They also pronounce "Buena Vista" horribly...  "Byoon-uh Viss-tah" instead of the correct "Bway-nah Vee-stah" (Spanish for "beautiful view").  It's often simply called "Byoonie" and we spend enough time out that way that I've found myself saying that too.

Don't worry, Virginians do the same thing.

[eric220]

And don’t ask any French speakers how to pronounce “Berthoud.”

[Dave V]

A milestone!  Fist First train under its own power ran on 8 feet of newly-installed trackage last night.  The first train was pulled by RGS 40 but I didn't photograph her.  The next train was RGS 41, followed by RGS 455 shown here:



In order to start tracklaying I had to install Bridge 57B (which suggested also finishing the adjacent scenery):



Below that bridge will be the headwaters of the Dolores River.

As I worked my way north toward Ophir I had another bridge to install.  While Bridge 57B had wood block mud sill footings, one of the bents on Bridge 45B rested on a poured concrete footing.  Since my 45B is abbreviated anyway I chose to make all of the footings poured concrete (you know, for variety) using carved balsa wood:



Lastly I weathered up RGS 40 using Doc O'Brien's Weathering Powders and copious amounts of Dullcote:



It's actually slightly understated from the prototype (I went subtle on the smokebox rust):

https://ngtrainpics.photoshelter.com/image?&_bqG=0&_bqH=eJxzKzfJKzZKKQ7JTHP0yzd1jojIKHapKIswDi22MjQxtjIyNbAyNAACK894l2Bn26L0Ym0TAzUwJ97Rz8W2BMgODXYNivd0sQ0FKXQ2c81ySakIz85MVot3dA6xLU5NLErOAACXBx_j&GI_ID=

[Mike C]

 The "fist " train ....lol    you really need to get rid of that huge coupler ........

[Dave V]

The "fist " train ....lol    you really need to get rid of that huge coupler ........

Hahahahahahahahaha...  Freudian much?   

[Mike C]

Freudian always ! hehehe

[Mike C]

 And you may want to check out Southwest Narrow Gaugehttps://southwest-narrow-gauge.myshopify.com/ for some good deals .

[Dave V]

And you may want to check out Southwest Narrow Gaugehttps://southwest-narrow-gauge.myshopify.com/ for some good deals .

Wow, thanks for the tip!  They actually have some long OOP Blackstone stuff still in stock.

[Mike C]

They have become my favorite go-to site !

[Dave V]

Also as a nod to Malcom Furlow's San Juan Central, I wanted some of the rock at Windy Point to overhang the fascia for a little extra drama.

[Point353]

Also as a nod to Malcom Furlow's San Juan Central, I wanted some of the rock at Windy Point to overhang the fascia for a little extra drama.

Did you make those rock outcroppings in some sort of flexible material, à la John Armstrong?