Denver & Rio Grande

M

Maddox61

New member
I Need some advice.

I am planning on laying routs for the D&RG as found in http://www.ghostdepot.com/ (Greate site, with plenty of layouts and designs.
The era will be 1940a, 1950s steam.

I have searched the entire forum, and can not find a thing. You would think that routs, such as the one through the Royal Gorge, would be pretty popular. Especially after the battle between D&RG and the Santa Fe for the rights to the rout from Pueblo Co, to Canon city. To me, one of the most famous routs in US.

One of the routs is the Moffat Rout. The train climbs over 3,000ft in 40 miles and goes through 27 or 28 tunnels.

Does anyone have any input on this, or how I can come up with assets for that era in the US. I can't even find US vehicles from that era.

If there are none, would it be worth creating. Or would I have to create every asset for the entire layout?

Would also be nice to see some of your steam engines, or any images from this part of the US.
 
That's a good find on Ghost Depot. I am working on the Durango to Silverton narrow gauge. It is difficult to find good information for detail work so alot of fill in the blanks is required. I am trying for a 1940's time period. There are plenty of assets on the DLS for Denver & Rio Grande RR. I have the Durango Depot and roundhouse. I have a couple of the steam loco's too. Automobiles for the 1950's are plentiful on the DLS as well. They might not drive around the roads but are good for static scenery. I just disable the traffic anyway.

I have TransDem and made the map for the area and imported the UTM tiles of Google Earth Ortho Images which are overlayed onto the terrain. Makes for exact placement of the Animas River, the RR tracks and even groups of trees.


At the rate of work being done, I estimate completion of the route in a year from now.

Randy
 
Sek_Hakuna said:
That's a good find on Ghost Depot. I am working on the Durango to Silverton narrow gauge. It is difficult to find good information for detail work so alot of fill in the blanks is required. I am trying for a 1940's time period. There are plenty of assets on the DLS for Denver & Rio Grande RR. I have the Durango Depot and roundhouse. I have a couple of the steam loco's too. Automobiles for the 1950's are plentiful on the DLS as well. They might not drive around the roads but are good for static scenery. I just disable the traffic anyway.

I have TransDem and made the map for the area and imported the UTM tiles of Google Earth Ortho Images which are overlayed onto the terrain. Makes for exact placement of the Animas River, the RR tracks and even groups of trees.


At the rate of work being done, I estimate completion of the route in a year from now.

Randy
Click to expand...

Hey Randy,


As for the info on that site. Here a short on how it works.

1. First go to the large map of the D&RG routs, then click on a grid map.
2 .On the left of the page you will find the name of every city on that rout.
3. Click on one of the cities.
4. If you scroll down on the right, you will find the USGS in 1:24,000 scale of that city that show the grade map, rail yard layouts, streets and what the city looked like during differant time eras, as well as some pics of the area.


The automobiles, I looked and could not find one. Maybe I need to clean my glasses:cool:

You need to post some of your work as you go. Sounds like it is going to be real nice.

Maybe we can get this thread going on the old D&RG. I have tons of info on them. not to mention My little sis lives in Colorado Springs. All the pics I need. LOL.
 
Sek_Hakuna said:
That's a good find on Ghost Depot. I am working on the Durango to Silverton narrow gauge. It is difficult to find good information for detail work so alot of fill in the blanks is required. I am trying for a 1940's time period. There are plenty of assets on the DLS for Denver & Rio Grande RR. I have the Durango Depot and roundhouse. I have a couple of the steam loco's too. Automobiles for the 1950's are plentiful on the DLS as well. They might not drive around the roads but are good for static scenery. I just disable the traffic anyway.

I have TransDem and made the map for the area and imported the UTM tiles of Google Earth Ortho Images which are overlayed onto the terrain. Makes for exact placement of the Animas River, the RR tracks and even groups of trees.


At the rate of work being done, I estimate completion of the route in a year from now.

Randy
Click to expand...

I found those Automobiles on the DLS. I was looking in all the wrong places.

Thanks for the info. I was about to give up hope, or start building a lot of cars. LOL

I'm new, I'm blind, Oh well:hehe:
 
Since i took a holiday a couple of months back to the Denver area, i've also been very keen to model either the Tennessee or moffat passes although maybe in more modern era, but due to a lack of a DEM map and the sheer scale of everything i don't think it will ever happen:( That Canyon in the Royal Gorge NP was wicked, (did you have a look at the pic i put up on my thread?) It would take either a master in texturing or spines to make that look anywhere near realistic...
I wish you luck in you DRGW route.
 
Last edited:
scratchy said:
Since i took a holiday a couple of months back to the Denver area, i've also been very keen to model either the Tennessee or moffat passes although maybe in more modern era, but due to a lack of a DEM map and the sheer scale of everything i don't think it will ever happen:( That Canyon in the Royal Gorge NP was wicked, (did you have a look at the pic i put up on my thread?) It would take either a master in texturing or spines to make that look anywhere near realistic...
I wish you luck in you DRGW route.
Click to expand...

The Arkensas River that runs the Gorge has roughly an elavation of 3,000 ft.
The top of the gorge at the Suspention Bridge is 955ft. above the river. This is the most narrow pass in the conyon, and most of the rock there is very large and can be modeled by scaling up a rough ground textures. Another thing that will help is having the USGS maps that give you all the grade elevations.

The hardest part to model would be the Incline Railway that you can see here http://hawcreekoutdoors.com/colorado/royal_gorge/inclinerailway3.html

I am new to Trainz, and still learning how to model. But, I am getting there. And with a little effort and a lot of help from the forum, I may get it done.

The only problem I may have is getting the elevation in Trainz. But giving that it is a train sim, it should be able to reach an elevation of at least 6,000 ft. or I hope. LOL

It can be done, just will take time. ;)
 
Last edited:
scratchy said:
Since i took a holiday a couple of months back to the Denver area, i've also been very keen to model either the Tennessee or moffat passes although maybe in more modern era, but due to a lack of a DEM map and the sheer scale of everything i don't think it will ever happen:( That Canyon in the Royal Gorge NP was wicked, (did you have a look at the pic i put up on my thread?) It would take either a master in texturing or spines to make that look anywhere near realistic...
I wish you luck in you DRGW route.
Click to expand...

I can't find the pic you are referring to. Maybe you can direct me to it. Seen some nice stuff though. I am new to trainz myself, but willing to learn. Everything I have ever done has been HO scale.

Boy what a twist!;)
 
Last edited:
Heres a link for the pic mate.
http://img813.imageshack.us/img813/7416/p5021932.jpg
Walking over that suspension bridge was definitely an awesome experience.:) And also that A frame bridge is the only one of its type so you would need to ask around to see if anyone is willing to give it a go for you.:)
Not sure whether you know this or not, but to solve your elevation issue you can get a DEM map of the area, (for some examples type fishlipatwork into the Author tab on the DLS) its basically a road and rail map, with the right terrain as well, very handy and a must if you want your route to be prototypical.

Edit; don't think the link works for some reason...
 
scratchy said:
Heres a link for the pic mate.
http://img813.imageshack.us/img813/7416/p5021932.jpg
Walking over that suspension bridge was definitely an awesome experience.:) And also that A frame bridge is the only one of its type so you would need to ask around to see if anyone is willing to give it a go for you.:)
Not sure whether you know this or not, but to solve your elevation issue you can get a DEM map of the area, (for some examples type fishlipatwork into the Author tab on the DLS) its basically a road and rail map, with the right terrain as well, very handy and a must if you want your route to be prototypical.

Edit; don't think the link works for some reason...
Click to expand...

Nope, Don't work. :(

I am goin to check out the fishlipatwork though.
 
scratchy said:
Heres a link for the pic mate.
http://img813.imageshack.us/img813/7416/p5021932.jpg
Walking over that suspension bridge was definitely an awesome experience.:) And also that A frame bridge is the only one of its type so you would need to ask around to see if anyone is willing to give it a go for you.:)
Not sure whether you know this or not, but to solve your elevation issue you can get a DEM map of the area, (for some examples type fishlipatwork into the Author tab on the DLS) its basically a road and rail map, with the right terrain as well, very handy and a must if you want your route to be prototypical.

Edit; don't think the link works for some reason...
Click to expand...


OK, I give up, who hid the Authors tab in DLS on my PC?

I told ya I was new. You just didn't know how new, did ya;)

As for the bridge. I would love to try and build that. Thats all the fun.

Oop, found all the content by fishlipsatwork. Well now I don't feel quite as dumb. Dah, Dah, Dah, Dah!
 
Last edited:
Maddox61 said:
OK, I give up, who hid the Authors tab in DLS on my PC?

I told ya I was new. You just didn't know how new, did ya;)

As for the bridge. I would love to try and build that. Thats all the fun.

Oop, found all the content by fishlipsatwork. Well now I don't feel quite as dumb. Dah, Dah, Dah, Dah!
Click to expand...


Is this going to be another one of those Denver and Rio Grande threads, were we say were going to make the route and they once again just give up again?
 
If thats the Royal Gorge Bridge - I made it. kuid2:210518:7679:1.

I also made the high line bridge on the Durango & Silverton where they slow down to 4 MPH so folks can lotsa photos I bet (I did, lol). I can't offhand remember the kuid tho (sorry).

Ben
 
IamKJVonly2 said:
That site http://www.ghostdepot.com/ is a good find.

I'm thinking of ordering it.

Has anyone ordered the dvd from there?

Since they don't have paypal I was wonder how well their servce worked.

Dave
Click to expand...

Hi Dave,

I can't speak how it is now a days, but I bought the DVD there many years ago and it was a flawless and great experience.
Having many, many, many years before there again already bough two CD's from same fellow after ads in Model Railroader I saw I think in the early 1990's and as soon as I had the ability to earn money and buy abroad those CD's was the very first items ever bought from a foreign Country, for me the DVD was very much the same info but had a few good things and I was happy with the buy.

Sadly, all those are packed away in some boxes waiting for me to save up to a house, like ten, twenty years in the future the way things are now a days...

For research purposes and info, it is a great resource, and I don't think anyone interested in the theme would be sorry to get the DVD. :)

Just my take on it. :)

Linda
 
Hi: The Train Video "Tennessee Pass" has a lot of good scenery shots of the Royal Gorge..This is about the UP Line that was closed, and UP 844 lead the way..
 
Beattie said:
Is this going to be another one of those Denver and Rio Grande threads, were we say were going to make the route and they once again just give up again?
Click to expand...


It may be. It may not. The world may never know. But, we can try.

There are 9 routes, each consisting of 5 to 15 cities. If the people that had an interest in those routes got together creating it, it could happen.

But, with help or alone, I'm going to give it a go.

If I fail, you can always say, I told you so.;)
 
Beattie said:
Is this going to be another one of those Denver and Rio Grande threads, were we say were going to make the route and they once again just give up again?
Click to expand...

Ya know, the difference between me and some others, I am retired, disabled and only 50 years old. And God be willing, I have nothing but time. And I spend nearly 8 to 10 hours a day on my PC. That is how I completed all of Blender 5.7 video tutorials in 3 days.

The modeling is not hard at all. Shoot, the only trouble I'm having is getting the stuff from blender to Trainz. Still aint quite got the config.txt file figured out. But, with a little determination and a lot less negativity from people that have nothing better to do than try and distroy other peoples desires, I should be able to do it.

Therefore, if you don't like the thread, stay off it. It is intended for people with interests in the D&RG. And these are positive people with good input.

Thanks
M.Maddox
 
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Hi Maddox61:

I'm retired, 67, and spend 8 to 12 hours a day on my computer Gmaxing (which is probably why I have over 4000 items on the DLS). Ignore the naysayers and have fun.

Ben
 
Linda

Thanks for the information it confirms what I though and I appricate it.

and Maddox61 I like your attidute and Ben's reply.

I'm 65 and still can't afford to retire but I envy you who can spend so much time with trainz.

Dave
 
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