Its been quite a few months now since I finished my first release of the Timber Ridge Line. The route consists of about 12-15 miles of Main line Narrow gauge track. Quite a far cry from the first version of the route, which was lost due to a corrupt config file. That route was over 30 miles long. I spent 4 months laying the track, and was very upset when I lost it. so I went back to work, down sizing the route quite a bit, and I changed the layout a lot as well.
But, I still had 12 miles of track. And now I can happily say that it will reach 30 miles once again. I am currently working on an expansion of the route, based off of Colorado Narrow gauge operations out of Antanito and Alamosa. I decided that if I wanted to double the size of the layout, that making it a plains setting was the easiest and most logical way to double the size of the route. I have already added some 5 miles of track, including 2 half mile long grades, one of which is a constant 3.5% (make sure you build up a good head of steam before taking it on).
And something else that will exist in this new expanded route will have over the first version. a 10 mile long dual gauge line. I already have 5 miles of track, so I figured this last bit should be dual gauge. I am working on 2 custom signs for the route, which say "End of Narrow Gauge" and "End of Standard Gauge" based on signs used on the D&RGW in Alamosa, and a sign that is currently at the Colorado Railroad museum.
On the Dual Gauge portion I plan on adding 3 stations. The run from Timber Ridge to Red Valley is around 7 miles, so these 3 stations will be much closer together. I may also end up expanding the route beyond 40 miles in this expansion, since grassy plains are quite easy to build compared to my mountain terrain seen in the rest of the route. We will see what I feel like. I have to provide a nice running ground for Todd's "Sports Model" K-28 locomotives
But, I still had 12 miles of track. And now I can happily say that it will reach 30 miles once again. I am currently working on an expansion of the route, based off of Colorado Narrow gauge operations out of Antanito and Alamosa. I decided that if I wanted to double the size of the layout, that making it a plains setting was the easiest and most logical way to double the size of the route. I have already added some 5 miles of track, including 2 half mile long grades, one of which is a constant 3.5% (make sure you build up a good head of steam before taking it on).
And something else that will exist in this new expanded route will have over the first version. a 10 mile long dual gauge line. I already have 5 miles of track, so I figured this last bit should be dual gauge. I am working on 2 custom signs for the route, which say "End of Narrow Gauge" and "End of Standard Gauge" based on signs used on the D&RGW in Alamosa, and a sign that is currently at the Colorado Railroad museum.
On the Dual Gauge portion I plan on adding 3 stations. The run from Timber Ridge to Red Valley is around 7 miles, so these 3 stations will be much closer together. I may also end up expanding the route beyond 40 miles in this expansion, since grassy plains are quite easy to build compared to my mountain terrain seen in the rest of the route. We will see what I feel like. I have to provide a nice running ground for Todd's "Sports Model" K-28 locomotives
