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An offshoot of another project - an "interpretation" of the D&RGW in Denver Colorado, and heading West into the FrontRange, and South toward Colorado Springs, with a connection East through the plains of Colorado toward Nebraska.   Perhaps 1890-1920 time frame.

Just less than a 4% grade up and down the mountains to 8" in elevation.   Around Denver there is a passing track and reverse loop connections, allowing a train to head out of the yard turning south, then into the mountains, climbing up and down, then back toward Denver.   I imagine a couple of times around, then taking the reverse loop to change direction while passing the Denver yard, then a couple times around again in the opposite direction, and heading back into the Denver yard, where a turntable allows steamers to be turned and serviced.   

M1115_D&RGW_V4f

The mainline is O-48 minimum diameter with O-60 turnouts.   The yard has O-36 turnouts.

At about 14" in elevation is an On30 line, a figure-8 with spurs serving a couple of mines.

At the left there is a bridge for the Lionel Extended Truss Bridge.   There is also a 10" Lionel Plate Girder Bridge, and a couple of scratch-built short bridges, and a nice curved bridge or tall trestle.

6-82110-Bridge

There are three of Lionel's animated cattle pens, the yard tower, work-house with sound, and the barrel loader.   Then some OGR buildings including "Dot's Store".   And some Menards buildings re-purposed.   The mines are scratch-built, perhaps I will come across a kit or building that can be used.

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Last edited by Ken-Oscale
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Thanks, Peter, it is interesting to see how these ideas play out.   Fastrack has a pretty decent selection of pieces to work with (no flextrack of course), but I wish Lionel would add a #5 or #6 turnout, and O-84 1/3 section (7.5 degrees). 

For this design, I had to ensure that there was sufficient vertical clearance for the hidden track in the tunnels.  So I placed the hidden track so that it would NOT be directly beneath the lines running above.   Then, I only had to make sure there was sufficient vertical clearance where the lines crossed (including the spur at the bottom which crosses over the mainline beneath).   I added elevation and grade markers to this image:

M1115_D&RGW_V5a

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Last edited by Ken-Oscale

The latest versions of AnyRail are doing a better job with 3D.   Seems to be a few places where it picks up errors, and I will need to do my surfaces a bit different to pick up the canyon with the river running through the mountains.   I may work with this some more, but at least its getting usable.   I would be nice if the 3D picked-up the different colors of my terrain surfaces, that would be a big help.

M1115_D&RGW_V5a_3D

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Last edited by Ken-Oscale

I really like this design!

On30/O 3R designs are an interest of mine.  My own layout--though much more compact--makes use of similar elements.  I wish I had the room for something more like this one, for the routes are much more interesting than mine. 

I am eager to see this design translated into reality.  I would use Atlas O or Grargraves/Ross instead of FT because I prefer their look, but that's in NO way a criticism of the design.

Last edited by palallin

This looks really cool.

I'd love to get into O narrow gauge but coming from O standard gauge I expect steam engines to make smoke (and, of course, sound).  I've never seen an On30 model engine that has a smoke unit.  Has anybody ever seen that?  There are HO models that have smoke units so I don't see why one couldn't put a smoke unit in an On30 locomotive (should have even more room, right?).  But I've never seen it done.  Otherwise I'd gladly get a Bachmann On30 to start out.

BC1989:   I agree with you, On30 can be found with sound and DCC, and if smoke can fit in HO, why not On30?   Seems like a market/business opportunity for someone!   If I could have a wish, I would wish for Lionel to introduce On30 with LionChief+ sound/smoke/speed-control/bluetooth.   Perhaps they could partner with Bachmann to keep development costs down.   

Bachmann's On30 line is beautiful, well-detailed, and very smooth running!   My previous layout had a small On30 line in the mountains, and my enthusiasm persuaded my brother in Denver to change from N-gauge to On30.  He now has done a couple layouts in On30, including one on display and operating for the public at the "Big-Time" adult amusement/play center in Denver (adult-size activities including adult-size "Big-Wheel" trikes, trampolines and etc.).

I would have thought On30 would be a natural fit with O-gauge rather than Lionel's re-entrance into HO. --Ken

Last edited by Ken-Oscale

I worked on the grades and minimum vertical clearance in this revision.   Grades are now consistent at either 4% or 3%, which makes it easy to build smooth and consistent grades with Woodland Scenics risers and inclines.   The crest is now at 8.25" on the Fastrack mainline, just north of the curved trestle, which should give a nice scenic view.  Minimum vertical clearance is now 6", which will be just fine for this layout of traditional and Lionchief type locos.

I have considered making the On30 an "up and over" rather than figure-8, but the grades will be quite steep.   I may work on it to see.

M1115_D&RGW_V5c

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So I tried the On30 as an "up and over" rather than figure-8, and the slope turned out to be 4.2%, reasonable for On30 trains and locomotives, so I did this new version.   The On30 crest is at 17", for a vertical clearance of 5" from the lowest point at 12".  A greater height is possible, as is a flat stretch at both the underpass and overpass, and still have a grade of around 5%.

M1115_D&RGW_V5e

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Last edited by Ken-Oscale

Ken,

How about an ore transfer facility to transfer ore from the On30 line to the standard gauge line for transport to a smelter?  This would be a gravity-feed holding bin that dumps into your standard gauge ore cars.

I was thinking that a Plasticville coaling tower could be cut down and modified to receive ore at the top.

Jan

Last edited by Jan

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