The Dilemma

July 22, 2024

The actual distance between Ridgway and Placerville is about 26 miles and includes a nearly two thousand foot climb up and over Dallas Divide. On the layout, I have about 36" between the south end of Ridgway yard and the oil depot and stock pens at Placerville. And, the 36 inches included a junction (turnout) that led to the Montrose staging track behind the scenery at Old Placerville.

Here is the area in question. In addition, this is the only section of the layout that lacks a backdrop. The south end of the Ridgway yard is on the left, old Placerville is on the right. Note that when this photo was taken, the junction that previously led to Montrose (staging) has been removed. I decided to use a track in the Ridgway yard to stage Montrose traffic.

Dallas

July 23, 2024

The now extinct town of Dallas was located about 3 miles north of Ridgway. Founded in 1880, it was originally a stage stop on a toll road between Montrose and Ouray. The D&RGW arrived in 1887 and the town was incorporated in 1889. By 1890, the town of Ridgway became the prominent town in the area and by 1899, with the closing of the post office, Dallas had all but disappeared.

Main Street, Dallas, CO

Since I didn't have the room to replicate the town of Ridgway, I decided use some modeler's license to revive Dallas and incorporate it into the layout using the limited space between the Ridgway yard and Old Placerville. To that end, I started laying out the town with some buildings I had sitting around. The layout included a spur and warehouse.

The Milling Company

July 24, 2024

Using a bit of modeler's license, I think a better alternative is shown in the following photos. The structure, that was included in the wharf scene on my old Sn3 Alaska Pacific, was originally located on Paul Scoles' Pelican Bay Railway & Navigation Company.

Sn2 Modeler Photo

Here it is sitting in "Dallas". I think the complex lends itself to a conversion from a fish canning operation into a a wood products milling operation.

The pink foam sheet in the background represents a view block that separates Dallas from Old Placerville. The plan here is to wrap the backdrop around the back and right side of the structure with the mainline passing through the backdrop obscured by a cut and/or trees.

Raw materials are received at the loading dock on the near side of the complex.

Finished products are shipped on the inner track.

A Depot for Dallas

July 25, 2024

Here's another one of those cool little structure I got from Bruce Hanley. It fits nicely into the limited amount of space between the mainline and the future backdrop. It does need a new sign.

Structures in need of a new Home

The first three structures were built for my short lived Sn3 Arroyo Lobo Branch and since I can't use them on the RGS First District they need a new home. I am open to any reasonable offer to include cash or trade to anyone who has an interest. sdepolo@outlook.com Upon request, I can provide additional photos.

This depot was inspired by the RGS depot at Vance Junction. It was built into a hillside diorama that can be easily set into the layout. It is scratch built, wood over styrene, using Grandt Line doors and windows. The roof is removable. The wood shingles are from Builders in Scale.

This depot was inspired by the D&RGW depot at Cumbres. It is scratch built, wood over styrene, using Grandt Line doors and windows. The roof is removable. The wood shingles are from Builders in Scale.

The Chama Lube House was built from a P-B-L kit. Both the roof and the loading dock are removable.

This is the barn at the end of the wye on the RGS at Placerville. I built it from a McCarville Studios kit. I had planned to use it on the 1st District but I don't have the room for it.