Construction Update #53 - Lizard Head Operations, Staging & a Smelter

 

Lizard Head

September 10, 2025  

Here is a overall view of the Lizard Head Scene.  I still need to smooth out the hillsides, behind and to the left of the stock pens, with Sculptamold.   The snow fencing will eventually be placed between the bunk/section houses and the hillside.  

Most of the track here was covered by snow sheds.  I may eventually include a section of snow shed but I don't want to cover the entire wye.  I think the snow sheds will get in the way of operations and I really like to watching the helper locomotives turn on the wye for their return to Ridgway.

Operations at Lizard Head - Stock Extra

September 18, 2021 

There are series of photographs in the RGS Story illustrating how the RGS switched the stock pens at Lizard Head.  Using what could be learned from the photos and captions, I thought I would attempt the same moves on the layout.  The photos aren't great due to the extreme contrast between the white Sculptamold and the locomotive and rolling stock.

RGS #40 arrives in Lizard with a stock extra from Ridgway

The caboose is left on the mainline and the 5 stock cars a set out on the siding.

 

 

The #40 then back around the south leg of the wye. 

 

 

And on to the south leg. 

Now with the #40 faced back to the north towards Ridgway, it backs up the main for the caboose.

After backing up to clear the turnout leading into the siding, the #40 pulls forward into the siding and pulls the sting of stock cars out of the siding and onto the main line.

The cars are then pushed onto the wye were the first two cars can be loaded/unloaded depending upon the season.  The RGS moved livestock to the higher elevations for grazing in the spring and returned them to lower elevations or market in the fall.  I have room to load/unload 2 cars at a time.

The 2 loaded/unloaded cars are returned to the siding.

The process is repeated, 2 cars at a time, until all the cars are loaded/unloaded.  I'm not sure how many cars the prototype could spot at Lizard Head. 

Once all the cars are loaded/unloaded and tucked into the siding, the #40 leaves the caboose on the main line south of the siding and clear of the turnout.

The #40 will run up to the north end of the siding.

And back down the siding to pick up the loaded/unloaded stock cars and caboose

 Northbound at Matterhorn, back to Ridgway, through some actual scenery.

The Rico Staging Yard

September 20, 2021 

What a struggle but it is finally operational.  Access, about 3 feet from the nearest aisle, made for a difficult install.  A turnout that was out of gauge through the diverging route (guard rail and frog), that I didn't discover until after it was installed, added to the difficulty.  And finally, there was a short that developed on the other side of the layout that took me two days to find!

Two north bounds in the Rico staging.  The two far tracks will hold a locomotive 9 or 10 cars and a caboose.  I think the lengths will be limited to about 8 cars providing a bit of a cushion.  The near track holds about 7 cars with a cushion.  I had originally planned on 4 staging tracks but I decided 3 would be more than enough.  A typical day on the RGS, during the time I model, was 1 or 2 trains a day in each direction.  The roadbed is in place so a 4th track can always be added.

The Rico staging yard is controlled by this small panel.  The two toggles on the left control the Tortoise switch machines and the three on the left are on/off toggles for track power.

Here are the two switch machines.  The turnout that was out of gauge was the one on the right; the most difficult to get to of course.  I have decided to install frog juicers on all my turnouts.  One is already installed one on the south leg of the Lizard Head wye and these two are next.  Since all my locomotives have current keepers, I thought I could get away with insulated frogs... Not a great idea!  In the past, I have always used Tam Valley frog juicers.  As an alternative, I ordered a DCC Specialties version for about 1/3 the cost.  I'll let you all know how it works.

A Winter Project - The Rose-Walsh Smelter

I have always loved the Rose-Walsh Smelter kit from Ragg's...to Riches.  Recently a S-Scale version showed up on ebay and when the seller offered me a significant discount I abandoned all sensibilities and bought it.  Then I followed up with the purchase of the Ragg's complementary receiving bins and shed building kit from the same seller.   

The third Ragg's kit for the complex was the office/assay building.  I will probably scratch build this building since I built a near duplicate for my old Alaska Pacific. There is a possibility that I still have this structure packed away somewhere.  Here's a photo; Evergreen siding and metal roofing along with Grandt Line doors and windows.

 

 Here is the kit version.

 

If you are wondering where this structure will fit on the layout... It won't.  According the instructions, the finished complex takes up around 9 square feet.  But, I have never attempted to build a "contest quality" model and an attempt is in order.  It should fit on a 2x5' module that will fit in the back of our SUV or in the back of my full sized crew-cab pickup with the seat folded up.

 

 

 As always, your suggestions, comments and questions are welcome

sdepolo@outlook.com