D&RGW • C&S • CB&Q • UP • AT&SF • CRI&P + SP • MP • WP

D&RGW

Recording the progress of building the Denver’s RailRoads N Scale layout

All genuine posts are welcomed and will be acknowledged. Please submit your first post by email to: dennis@denversrailroads.com

Ongoing Progress:

Actioned since May 24, 2023:

  1. Laid NO-OX on PD2 & PD5 track.
  2. Applied CRC Di-electric grease to track just in front of every new Locomotive added to the layout. The Locos are held on the grease for 30 seconds or so, so that the Loco wheels get a good grounding.
  3. Successfully test run a number of locomotives pulling trains.
  4. Laid feeder wires to T424 to T427 on PD4.
  5. Connected BUS wires to G001 to G008 Gore Canyon track. Successful without any real dramas, including on the ballasted track.
  6. Locos can run on T428 & T429, meaning that the connection to the Grand Jct. loop is achieved. However specific feeder wires must be connected to the BD-20s on the control panel.
  7. Maybe found a couple of people to install decoders for me and to troubleshoot problem Locomotives.
  8. Purchased a Kato double crossover for DUSTY and two Kato single crossovers for yard planning.

Immediate Action:

  1. Finish connecting feeder wires to PD4 control panel.
  2. Cut gaps in PD4 white track as they currently light up for multiple blocks
  3. Test run a train over PD3 & PD4, returning to North Yard over PD2 & PD5 track.

Big Picture Tasks for Action — once the immediate tasks have been actioned:

  1. Install the Kato double crossover and industry tracks on the DUSTY small loop and then . . .
    • Build the DUSTY kits — its time for a change — and the South Denver kits.
    • Install all PD7 tackage and activate the control panel.
  2. Install the 7 loop tracks at Grand Jct . . .
    • Install BD-20s connecting to the UP/CBQ main line and the 7 staging tracks.
  3. Lay Craig Branch trackage and wiring and then . . .
    • Build the Craig Branch kits
    • Activate the two PD4 control panels.
    • Build the Flatirons scenery on the PD5 module.
    • Build the Winter Park/Moffat Tunnel scenery on the PD4 module.
  4. Lay the North Yard and CBQ Yard trackage.

Change of Direction . . . Let’s get something finished!

Rather than continue “putting the layout back together” which really means lots more carpenter jobs I have decided to start to build the entire layout starting with Module 1, which already has 5 loops of track installed for the Joint Line return loop.

I have already started to lay new roadbed. I prefer cork but I found that I had a lot of Woodland Scenics foam trackbed left over and as it had already been used in this module I have used both foam and cork.

To be continued . . .

Phase III Update

Thanks to the hard work of Rod and John all of the Denver Union Terminal (DUT) tracks have been laid and SEEP turnout motors have been installed – wired and tested – under the baseboard. Now onto the laying of the tracks for C&S’s Rice Yard and the passenger coach yards.

Phase II and Phase IV combined into Phase II; Phase V becomes Phase IV

The main line between Glenwood Springs and the Wye at Denver Union Terminal (DUT) is almost complete. I just have to install the Wye track to the north of DUT, (the connection to the east is already laid), and relay two or three turnouts on the main at the Prospect Junction end of North Yard. Then I can connect the remainder of the Kato extender tracks across the module 6 & 7 divide, patch up a couple of broken tracks and start making connections to the control panels, starting back at Black Hawk. Once all of the feeders are connected to the BUS it should be possible to run a train around the loop.

The changes to the Phase numbers will be reflected in the main web site pages in the fullness of time. Reducing the number of Phases to four will align with the planned N-Scale magazine articles.

Phases 1 to 5 November 2018 update

I am not sure anyone reads this Blog except of course the Web Robots.  If you do read the blog please register and make a comment, or send me an email. However the blog was started as a useful place to record the progress on my layout, so I will keep updating every so often.

Phase 1 – the Clear Creek RR continues to progress. All track is laid. All turnout motors are installed. By the end of today all of the BUS wiring will be complete. Golden Station building is complete and five other kits have been completed. In addition the scenery work and ballasting has been completed on the canyons west of Golden. The scene is ready for photographs to be taken for an upcoming magazine article, except for the addition of some model people. This will happen once they arrive by mail from the USA in about 3 weeks time.  Two new control panels for Black Hawk (Power District 2c) and Idaho Springs (Power District 2b) are ready and awaiting artwork and connections. Golden is in Power District (PD) 2a, Glenwood Springs in PD2 and the Grand Jct Loop in PD1.

Work will shortly commence on adding the industries  and rolling stock into the “Ship It” Prototypical Switch List Generator program.

Phase II – the Main Line from Grand Jct Loop to D&RGW North Yard. All track laying and BUS wiring is complete, and in the process of being tested. The point motors have been  installed and are currently being connected to the Power District 2 & 3 control panel and to Relay switches which will change the lights on the control panel to indicate direction. 30 NCE BD-20 track detectors have been purchased for installation in the return loop and the main line. An NCE AIU01 Auxiliary Input Unit has been purchased to link the track detectors with the Railway & Co “Train Controller” computer system.

East Denver Belt Line – all track has been laid and most of the turnouts will be controlled by Caboose Industries ground throws.

Phase III – Denver Union Terminal (DUT). Rod has finished laying track in the main station complex. Installation of the point motors has commenced. This is expected to take some considerable time. When the track BUS and point motors have been tested we will carry on installing the C&S/CB&Q Rice Yard, the coach yards and industrial branches.

Phase IV – D&RGW North Yard and industries and the UP 36th Yard. All work is on hold pending the completion of the work on Phase II as above.

Phase V – the D&RGW Main Line from Denver to Glenwood Springs and a branch line to Craig.  Peter has laid all of the cork roadbed for this phase and I have finished the Gore Canyon scenery for the time being. Track laying for this phase will begin after phases 3 and 4 are complete.

Phases 1 to 5 July 2018 update

Phase 1 – the Clear Creek RR is progressing very well. All track is laid. All turnout motors are installed. Golden branch is completely wired. Scenery work has started on the canyons west of Golden. Ballasting of Golden yard is about to commence. Golden Station building is complete and two other kits have been painted and are ready for gluing. Two new control panels for Black Hawk and Idaho Springs are ready and awaiting artwork.

Phase II – the Main Line from Grand Jct Loop to D&RGW North Yard. All track laying and BUS wiring is complete, and ready for testing. Main line point motors are yet to be installed. East Denver Belt Line – all track has been laid and most of the turnouts will be controlled by Caboose Industries ground throws.

Phase III – Denver Union Terminal (DUT). Rod continues to lay track. Both of the scissors crossings are installed and most of the main tracks. It is beginning to look very impressive due to the length of station trackage.

The following sections are now part of Phase III:

(1) UP/CB&Q 23rd St Shops & D&RGW/CB&Q Coach Yards – connects with the Denver Union Terminal. Work will be started once the DUT trackage is complete.

(2) C&S Rice Yard – connects with the Denver Union Terminal. Work will be started once the DUT trackage is complete.

(3) UP Wynkoop St Branch – Gary has stated both the cork roadbed and the track laying at the North end of the Denver Union Terminal.

4) D&RGW Burnham Shops – this section will not be started until phase 4 and the rest of Phase 3 has been completed.

Major surgery to Phase 3 & 4 Benchwork modules:

Most of module 5 (the corner section with the passenger Y and loop trackage and industries within the loop) has been bolted onto module 6, which is now a little too heavy for one man to lift. The ends of the D&RGW and C&BQ coach yards, which commenced in module 4 and ends on module 5 have now been cut away and bolted onto modules 2, 3 & 4. This is a two man lift.

Phase IV – is now divided into the following sections:

(1) D&RGW North Yard – most of the North Yard track has been laid. As this module bridges the Phase II and East Denver Belt Line track with the Phase III Denver Union Terminal trackage, special trackwork for bridging the gaps will be required.  Kato extended track pieces are currently favoured as the solution between:

  • Modules 8 & 9 (Phases 1 & 2)
  • Modules 6 & 7 (Phases 2 & 4)
  • Modules 4 & 5 (Phases 3 & 4)
  • Modules 1 & 2 (Phase 3)

(2) D&RGW North Yard Industries and trackside buildings.

(3) UP 36th Yard – adjacent to the D&RGW North Yard.

Phase V – the D&RGW Main Line from Denver to Glenwood Springs and a branch line to Craig.  Peter has laid all of the cork roadbed for this phase and I have almost finished the Gore Canyon scenery (see an earlier blog). Track laying for this phase will begin after phases 1 and 4 are complete.