A new start.

[Fritz 52]

Hi Everyone
It has been quite a while  since I posted.
To begin with I lost my wife in August so I am slowly recovering.
I am still going to build my Ohio Creek extension. Albeit smaller since i only have a 10 x10 bedroom to construct it in. Here's my question to the foruml.
Should I with my limited space consider changing to Sn3?

Fred Cotterell

[Darel Leedy]

Sorry for your loss Fred. Thankfully you have great hobby to help you through this difficult time.
Of course I'm going to suggest Sn3 for your space. In fact I came across a plan just this morning that I drew many years ago for an 12'x12' room which included Black Hawk and Forks Creek.
Be prepared though that Sn3 is going to be more expensive than your previous exploits in On3/On30. C&S equipment similar to the Bachman offerings do not exist. But you can certainly build just about anything in S scale.

[Jeff Young]

Very sorry to hear about your wife, Fred.

What scale are you in now?  Do you do operations, or just like building stuff?

Personally I think a model of Pitkin on one side of the room swinging around one end of the room to the Ohio Pass Palisades on the other side would be great (maybe with one of the Baldwin coal mines in between?)  That could easily be done in Sn3, but you could convey a better impression of the wide-open spaces in HOn3.

Cheers,
Jeff.

[NarrowTracks]

Fred, so sorry to hear about your wife.

Not quite C&S, but the early D&RG surveys into Gothic above Crested Butte always seem like they’d be interesting to model. Each of the survey lines look like they could fit well into a small space with rivers and mountains along the route. Towns could be freelanced some as a railroad would have developed the area differently. I believe the South Park had thought about building into Crested Butte and beyond as well...?

The DPL has a few neat old maps online of the surveys – http://digital.denverlibrary.org/cdm/fullbrowser/collection/p16079coll39/id/300/rv/compoundobject/cpd/304/rec/16

With all the recent Blackstone Models, Shapeways kits and others in HOn3, it’s tempting to think about modeling the '20s–30s. And maybe a bit easier on the bank.

[Fritz 52]

Thanks guys. I most likely will go to Sn3. At 10x10 i think maybe a slight change of locale might be in order. I have both volumes of Harry Brunk's book covering The Clear Creek line. Maybe that plan for Blackhawk down to Forks Creek might just be the ticket.
I plan on one level shelf style layout as the room will also be my bedroom. (A futon) and a tool bench.
A neighbor was using old pallets and has lots of 8' 1x4s left over.
So here's hoping that work can start soon.
Fred Cotterell

[Jim Courtney]

Hi Fred,

So sorry for your loss.

Like you, I will likely be relocating to smaller quarters in a couple of years.

If you are contemplating Sn3 for a small layout, another shelf layout possibility would be Alma Jct. (London Junction). The prototype was compact with a passing track, a long spur, depot, wye, water tank and a couple of warehouses. At one time there was an engine house, later converted to a warehouse. Mostly, ore from Alma proper was loaded into freight cars from wagons or trucks on the house track spur. Great mountain ranges in the distance (Mosquito range) for a backdrop.

You could get by with a single locomotive and a combine for the mixed train (before 1930) -- departing in the morning for Como, returning in the afternoon, switching before and after.  In later years a locomotive and caboose would make an Alma turn from Como every few days.

http://digital.denverlibrary.org/cdm/fullbrowser/collection/p15330coll22/id/43653/rv/singleitem



But heed Darel's point -- C&Sng in Sn3 means Overland locomotives and cabooses. There are some available from time to time, prices vary ($400-$500 per unpainted locomotive is an average). Most all are unpainted, often have challenges to running well and will have to be painted and sound equipped. The same challenges are there with C&Sng in HOn3 (unpainted Key and old PFM locomotives and cars), only smaller.

If I were to start over in a smaller space, I might consider "ready to run" narrow gauge, using Blackstone locomotives and cars in HOn3. Nothing available in C&S but lots of small D&RGW and RGS locations to model in a small 10'x10' space. But if vision is an issue, they are definitely "small."

Good luck,

Jim

[Darel Leedy]

Fred asked for a copy of the 12'x12' sketch I mentioned. So here it is. It's already tightly compressed, so I think it would be difficult to squeeze it down to 10'x10' unless the scale was changed to HOn3. That said, I do have a #70, a caboose and several freight car kits available if you desire to go the Sn3 route Fred.

[Mike Trent]

So sorry to hear this, Fred. As Darel said, at least you have a great hobby and a good number of pals here who will be with you through the process. Thanks for the update, sad though it is.

[Tore]

Hello, I have been following this site for some time and really enjoy the content.

I also have a similar approximate 10’ x 10’ room and have developed the attached plan. Conceptually it is Chalk Creek with the great many compromises required by a small space. Track has been completed on the left (“Buena Vista”) section except for the sector plate/wye. So far I have been able to keep track radius in a 28” to 30” range. Will see if I can keep the “Romley” section to similar standards. I think that in a small space, a staging track area is important. Hopefully, the plan offers some Sn3 ideas for a small space.
Tore Lydersen
Bothell, WA

[Jeff Young]

Looks good, Tore.  It’s nice to see folks doing some of the “less common” areas.

[Fritz 52]

Hey guys.

The room is actually a 10x12 space. The one caveat is that one section will have to only be 8' long due to the door.
But I can do a second level if I go Hon3. Maybe do a reverse where the C&S buys RGS equipment. And keep an eye out for those old Key and PFM locos and an odd caboose or two.
There is some things on ebay I've found.
Thanks for your advice and Darel maybe I'll try to adapt your plan to.my room..
Fred

[Robert McFarland]

Why not United/PFM HOn3 2-6-0s and 2-8-0s from the 60s?I think there were other HOn3 C&S imports too.Or you could take a Blackstone and do a "Harry Brunk" conversion(maybe somebody could 3D print some C&S loco superstructures)Stick a Ridgeway stack on a C19 for one of the leased D&RGW engines.

[Jeff Young]

Tore's branch is also ripe for HOn3 RTR as BV was a D&RGW interchange.

Same for Pitkin, which was run by the D&RWG late in life.  (Although if you also did Ohio Creek that sort of presumes that the C&S kept the tunnel open.)

[Darel Leedy]

Fred,

For reference; The top and left side of plan are 12'. The right side of plan is 8'.  This plan was meant as a display. Not for operations.

[Fritz 52]

Robert:
I was over on ebay and there is a lot of Hon3 locos at fairly reasonable prices.i saw one or two nice C-19's that cosmetically could be used as C&S B-4-b class connies with a bit of work. I had planned on doing a Broadway C-19 but when I moved back to Alabama lovely Greyhound lost my trunk containing all my locos and cars.
One good thing though about our  mobile home, once the frame work is up there wont be any need rip it out. Kind of a "mini little Colorado". That is until we move onto our land inthree years because then I'll have a dedicated 14x30 cabin exclusively for my trains.
Tore: that layout will work for me! Thanks!
Fred

[Ken Martin]

Stick a Ridgeway stack on a C19 for one of the leased D&RGW engines.

I did that with a Blackstone 343. It helped save the top hardware when the engine took a high dive off the NCNG trestle at the club.
I still have to do it to the 346.

Ken Martin

[Darel Leedy]

Welcome Tore. Nice plan. I assume your layout is Sn3?

[Tore]

Yes, this is Sn3 and is built on dominos previously used for an HO layout.

[Fritz 52]

Well i have an update. My son told me that i can access the living room to add to the layout through my bedroom wall. Lol. So instead of just that 10x11 bedroom. I can add a 2'x12' extension. Lol. We are staying with On30 for this and with the additional trackage it still willbe a basic point to point but with mote running room..
Fred.

[snapped_bolt]

  Hi,

    I find On3 to be the most satisfying, from building models to operation. At times, it can even seem to have the actual mass of the prototype as it goes down the track!

    Have fun!

       Stan