Colorado Midland Railway Engineering Report

[Chris333]

I wonder if that Virginian 4x8 MR did would work.

LOL I also have this layout (downsized to N scale) in my basement 

[Dave V]

Chris,

I love what you did with that plan...  What size did it end up?

[Chris333]

Chris,

I love what you did with that plan...  What size did it end up?

Mine was 48x27" I believe the extra 3" width was so I could use 12" curves on the mainline.

You could dip the creek down lower to get those high bridge scenes

[wazzou]

I remember that layout Chris.  It's only like 5-6 of them ago.   

[Dave V]

Mine was 48x27" I believe the extra 3" width was so I could use 12" curves on the mainline.

You could dip the creek down lower to get those high bridge scenes

If you're willing to share the plan, I may take you up on it.

In the meantime, in what can only be described as a Festivus miracle, on a whim I called my former LHS--House of Trains in Omaha--remembering that he had an extensive collection of Athearn N scale.  Sure enough, he had cabooses (cabeese?) in both Colorado Midland road numbers, so I snatched them up!

Next I need to consider motive power.  The Midland used 4-6-0s and 2-8-0s.  They pretty much all had wagon-top boilers.  In N my choices are essentially the Athearn/Roundhouse 2-8-0 and the Bachmann 4-6-0.  The Midland 4-6-0s started looking like the Bachmann toward the end of operations (the USRA shut the Midland down in late 1917), but that tender...  Ouch.  The 2-8-0 has a straight boiler and its own tender problems.  However, I've heard great things about the 2-8-0 and its pulling power.

[C855B]

... In the meantime, in what can only be described as a Festivus miracle, on a whim I called my former LHS--House of Trains in Omaha--remembering that he had an extensive collection of Athearn N scale. ...

Ha! So somebody else here knows Dave "buy me a vowel" Mrzny! Great guy, great shop - always a highlight of my work trips to Omaha. Certainly would make sense you'd know Dave if you were stationed at Offutt. Glad he was able to come through for you.

[Chris333]

Here is my old plan 

The grade was 2.5%. The small yard on the right was about 1/2" lower than the mainline. It was supposed to be an Erie coal mine branch in PA. But for the CM the stock trackplan probably fits better. If anyone can figure it out here is my old photo site:
https://web.archive.org/web/*/http://community.webshots.com/user/chris333333

[Chris333]

Oh yeah and that B-mann 4-6-0 tender problem. I used a cut down Model Power 2-6-0/4-4-0 tender:
https://picasaweb.google.com/ErieChris333/Bachmann460#5812844659831775330

[OldEastRR]

So is this where your turn from the JD to HO narrow-gauge Colorado railroad modeling went? 
I thought Micro-Ace or  somebody made narrow-gauge K-27s in N? I know I saw one in person at a trainshow once.

[Chris333]

Someone reversed the plan here:
http://www.railroad-line.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=26845

[Dave V]

So is this where your turn from the JD to HO narrow-gauge Colorado railroad modeling went? 
I thought Micro-Ace or  somebody made narrow-gauge K-27s in N? I know I saw one in person at a trainshow once.

This is the compromise, yes...  Although the Midland was laid to 4' 8.5" gauge it was otherwise in every way like the narrow gauge.  My hands aren't what they used to be, so Nn3 seemed a bit too finicky for me.  They do make just about any Colorado narrow gauge engine in Nn3 if you're willing to invest big bucks and time.  I have that with Pennsy, so this is more of a fun diversion.

[Dave V]

Chris, thanks!  That all looks great, including the ten wheeler.

[conrail98]

Working with 2.5' x 5'...

DKS did a rework of my plan in roughly that space for a member of here in that space, don't know if it's still online or not,

Phil

[eric220]

Dave, what's your opinion on the turning wye at the end of the branch line? Personally, I think it's a very Colorado-narrow-gauge-y feature, and although it eats up space, I'd try to keep it.

[Dave V]

I like the wye, but it will force a DC versus DCC decision pretty quick, LOL.