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Let's kick an idea around. Imagine a layout with the line from Leadville to Basalt modeled in detail, including the trestles and Hagerman Tunnel. Leadville would be, of course, included. A center isle that represented the mines at Cripple Creek might be possible. On the main line, I could see open staging representing Colorado Springs (or Pueblo) with Grand Junction at the far end. Sounds interesting to me!
Let's kick an idea around. Imagine a layout with the line from Leadville to Basalt modeled in detail, including the trestles and Hagerman Tunnel. Leadville would be, of course, included. A center isle that represented the mines at Cripple Creek might be possible. On the main line, I could see open staging representing Colorado Springs (or Pueblo) with Grand Junction at the far end. Sounds interesting to me!
2018 Great Model Railroader had a layout of the Midland.
I can see that consuming a massive amount of space, as neither Leadville nor Cripple Creek are on the main.
How many crossings of other railroads were there.
In making a list of must haves and wants:
1. Divide - must - junction to Cripple Creek
2. Arkansas Junction - must - southern junction to Leadville
Outline the track arrangements and industries for each:
Basalt
West Sulpher Springs
Peach Blow
Slousa
Lime Creek
Hopkins
Ruedi
Meredith
Thomasville
Norrei
Steller
Hell Gate (actually a 20 minute stop on the schedule)
Ivanhoe
Hagerman
Busk
Crystal Lake
Arkansas Junction
Let's kick an idea around. Imagine a layout with the line from Leadville to Basalt modeled in detail, including the trestles and Hagerman Tunnel. Leadville would be, of course, included. A center isle that represented the mines at Cripple Creek might be possible. On the main line, I could see open staging representing Colorado Springs (or Pueblo) with Grand Junction at the far end. Sounds interesting to me!
2018 Great Model Railroader had a layout of the Midland.
I can see that consuming a massive amount of space, as neither Leadville nor Cripple Creek are on the main.
How many crossings of other railroads were there.
In making a list of must haves and wants:
1. Divide - must - junction to Cripple Creek
2. Arkansas Junction - must - southern junction to Leadville
Outline the track arrangements and industries for each:
Basalt
West Sulpher Springs
Peach Blow
Slousa
Lime Creek
Hopkins
Ruedi
Meredith
Thomasville
Norrei
Steller
Hell Gate (actually a 20 minute stop on the schedule)
Ivanhoe
Hagerman
Busk
Crystal Lake
Arkansas Junction
As Iron Horseman indicated, it would be an ambitious project. It could be scaled down if needed to meet space limitations. As for me, the idea is on a fairly short list if I get around to building another railroad. Problem is, I'd have a hard time not doing another D&RGW themed layout.
As Iron Horseman indicated, it would be an ambitious project. It could be scaled down if needed to meet space limitations. As for me, the idea is on a fairly short list if I get around to building another railroad. Problem is, I'd have a hard time not doing another D&RGW themed layout.
That's why I think track plans for all the towns is important. One could choose the more interesting ones.
Interchanges with the Rio Grande would be something to note. I would guess even though the lines cross three times from eleven mile to Leadvillle they only actually interchange cars in Leadville.
That's why I think track plans for all the towns is important. One could choose the more interesting ones.
Interchanges with the Rio Grande would be something to note. I would guess even though the lines cross three times from eleven mile to Leadvillle they only actually interchange cars in Leadville.
Even though I modeled my layout as a fictionalized merger of the CM with the Midland Terminal and the Colorado Springs and Cripple Creek District Railway (The Short Line) that survived to become a present day museum and tourist line, I have covered a few areas of potential interest to varying degrees of detail. The areas I've covered or will cover on the CM section of my layout are the Old Colorado City roundhouse and yards, (it is all selectively compressed, of course) which includes the machine shop and office, (both the real roundhouse and machine shop still survive, the office burned down in the 1950s) the Golden Cycle ore mill, (only the tall smelter smokestack remains) a tiny section of Manitou Springs, (planned but not built yet) most of the Ute Pass tunnels, and a tiny fragment of the town of Divide. There is also an interchange track on the OCC end near the mill that would/could connect with what was once the D&RGW, but is now the UP/BNSF joint line. The areas on the MT section are where it starts in Divide, Waters Tunnel, which is about halfway between Divide and Cripple Creek and can be seen from Highway 67, parts of Cripple Creek itself and Victor, and some of the mining areas. (Not yet built.) The Short Line section doesn't really have anything noteworthy on it, mostly because there never really was much on it between Colorado Springs and Cripple Creek. I have a rough sketch of the track plan, but I'll see if I can draw a more accurate (and legible) track plan that I can post on here.
