1,000 Page Views during August
During the month of August the RGS 1st District Blog had just over 1000 views; a first. Most of the views came from the US (855). The other top locations were Australia, Norway, Canada, Brazil, France and the United Kingdom. Interestingly enough there were also views from Russia, Poland, Cambodia and Singapore. Thank you all for taking an interest.
A Photo Tour as of September 1, 2025
We'll be following Train #371 from Ridgway to Lizard Head. Train #371 will be handled by "Goose" or Motor #3. The RGS started using motor cars in the early 1930's. The objective was to save money over the use of a steam powered train to provide passenger, LCL/Freight and mail serices. The basis for #3 was a Pierce Arrow model 33 limousine. The overall length was about 43 feet and could accomodate about 9 passenger. The express box was 24 feet long.
Here is the #3 being readied for service on the shop track.
The trip south will require a quick spin on the Ridgway turntable. Here is #3 on the lead.
Having been turned, the #3 heads towards the Ridgway depot to pick up passengers, freight and mail.
The #3 getting ready to depart the "temporary" Ridgway depot. The proper Ridgway depot is under construction and will, at some point, replace this and the Chama lube house located to the left of the depot.
Passing the Dallas section house. The Dallas scene was a late addition to the plan. There is a mill that was once a fish processing plant on the late Paul Scoles' layout and the section house came off of Brude Hanley's old layout. At one time Dallas was the northern terminus of the RGS. Later the town was abandoned in favor of Ridgway. During the period I model any traces of Dallas were long gone.
Old Placerville was located 26 miles south of Ridgeway (On my layout about 6 feet) The restaurant is on the right and the gas station is in the background. Both were built from kits. (McCarville Studios). The spur in the foreground leads to the stock pens and a fuel oil dealer.
Placerville was a main supply center for miners and farmers living along the San Miguel River. It was home for a number of businesses, a hotel and post office. With the exception of the hotel and small warehouse on the south end of town, the model is a close representation of the prototype. About half the structures were scratch built, including the two large warehouses, the garage, the post office and several houses. The remainder were built from kits, including the store (Monster Model Works), the depot (Rag's... to Riches), the small warehouse (Banta) and the hotel (Bar Mills).
Between Placerville and Wilson, the RGS encountered some pretty impressive geography. Here is the #3 along the banks of the San Miguel near Wilson. The rock work here is carved pink foam colored with washes of inexpensive craft paints
Wilson was located at Milepost 32.6, Wilson was primarily a passing side and I couldn't find any pictures of the actual location. The section house, speeder shed and water tank came off my previous layout.
There was a large mill at Vanadium, Milepost 33, built to process vanadium and uranium from carnotite ore. The mill was very active during the period I model. A few mock ups have been built for the mill but that's about it. Bilk is just to the south of the mill and a relatively small sawmill is planned for a new spur at that location.
Vance Junction, Milepost 37.8, was another key point on the RGS. The branch line to Telluride left the mainline at this location. While all the kits are on hand to build the correct section house, coach body depot and the accessory buildings they are not yet built. The structure shown below was scratch built for my previous layout. The coal dock, out of the picture on the left was built by Bruce Hanley. The small yard here consisted of three tracks. The turnout in the foreground leads to the Telluride Branch (4 car stub end spur).
#3 southbound between Vance Junction and Bridge 45A
Bridge 45A just north of Ophir. The bridge contains over 600 individual pieces of scale lumber. The scenery in this area, to this point, consists of basic ground cover.
Another picture of #3 on the Bridge 45A. The rocks in the background are Cripplebush Valley Models rubber rocks.
Ophir Loop. Still a lot of work to be done around Ophir.
The Ophir Siding. There were several mines on the hills above Ophir and the siding was often used in support of those mining operations.
The cut between Ophir siding and Matterhorn.
Matterhorn, Milepost 46.7. The mine in the background is another build by Bruce Hanley. I built the section house in the foreground from a Buildings & Structure Co kit.
The Montezuma Lumber Company Spur was also located at Matterhorn. I couldn't find a picture of any lumber related activities going on here. The covered platform is used for loading/unloading agricultural goods.
Lizard Head, Milepost 52.6, replaced Trout Lake in the original plan. The switch was made to facilitate the turning of helper locomotives at the summit and add 4 staging tracks to represent Rico and points south. The original plan included a duck under or lift out in front of the entry door with Lizard Head and staging located on a shelf above Ridgway. The duck under/lift out was eliminated with this change.
Here #3 is on the siding while a northbound freight passes by on the main. The wye is in the background. Most of the tracks here were located in snow sheds.
Our tour ends with #3 heading into the summit tunnel and Rico staging. Note: There were no tunnels on the prototype.
Well, that's the 2 year update. Layout construction started in August of 2023.
The Summit Tunnel Portal
August 31, 2025
There were no tunnels on the RGS but I needed a way to disguise the entrance to the Rico staging yard. Originally I thought I could "disappear" the entrance in a cut but given the space that didn't work out. Here is what I came up with. I followed my normal technique of using individual pieces of strip wood backed by styrene and sealed with generous coat of Tamiya TS-80 clear flat.
Since the right-of-way is on a 30" radius curve, I cut the outer base on a 32" arc and the inner base on a 28" arc. The wing walls were built up in in one piece, cut into sections, and glued to the base. All the wood was pre-stained with Builders in Scale Silver Wood. The wood on styrene joints was attached with Zap-A-Gap ACC and the wood on wood joints were attached with Aleen's tacky glue.
Here is the portal placed temporarily on the layout.
Turnouts
Two additional turnouts are needed for the Rico staging yard, one for the mill spur at Birk and one for the north end of Vance Junction. All are #6's built with a Fast Track turnout assembly fixture. Since I am out of new Code 70 rail, I scrounged up some flex track remnants, stripped away the ties, and built the four required turnouts shown below. Once the Quick Sticks laser cut ties are received, the turnouts can be installed on the layout.
Tortoise switch machines are being used to control the turnouts in the Rico staging yard. Since the yard will be hidden from normal viewing, I decided to mount the machines from above for easy access.
