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Reply to "Sunday Scenic Showcase May 24,2020"

@MELGAR posted:

I built this model of the Ophir (Colorado) Depot from a kit by Banta Modelworks in 2015. The model sits atop a tunnel and hill at the rear corner of my 10’-by-5’ O gauge layout. I added the cupola, which was not on the actual depot, above the freight section of the building. Ophir was an outpost on the Rio Grande Southern 3-foot narrow-gauge railroad, so the scene includes an On30 locomotive on a non-operative section of narrow-gauge track.

MELGAR

MELGAR_06_OPHIR_DEPOT

Melgar,

Beautiful model!

I visited Ophir about 10 years ago. Ophir is one of the towns that is way, way, back in the Colorado mountains.  It is surprising that a railroad could be built to it.  

As I recall, the road between Ophir and Silverton is one of the worst that I have ever driven.  There is a sheer cliff going straight up on one side and a sheer drop off on the other with no guard rails, very winding, and with almost no room for opposing traffic to pass each other.  Your model captures the look of the sheer cliffs extremely well.  

 It is amazing that that people could settle in such places.  Of course, it was all about mining and getting to the mineral wealth.  Ophir is an interesting place to visit if you want to see an authentic Colorado mining town.  The town has a very nice museum depicting its history.   NH Joe  

OGR Publishing, Inc., 1310 Eastside Centre Ct, Suite 6, Mountain Home, AR 72653
800-980-OGRR (6477)
www.ogaugerr.com

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