An Operating Night on the Narrow Gauge - Chapter 1

Picture #1: This is the computer-generated Yardmasters List for trains departing Gunnison this session. My very good friend Brian Pate wrote a program for his own layout, and graciously offered to modify it for use on my layout as well. However, Brian had an ulterior motive: he was looking for a 'partner-in-crime' that he could while away an evening with, and he was totally successful in this endeavour! This photo tour marks the 100th session that has been run now.

Picture #2: C-25 #375 finishing sanding at the engine servicing facilities, prior to coupling up to its assigned train. The coal tower and sand house were both scratchbuilt.

Picture #4: K-37 #492 heads east from Gunnison, bound for Salida, CO. which is represented by a staging yard. This train will return to Gunnison as a Westbound through freight in the subsequent operating session.

Picture #5: K-28 #476 is returning from Salida, CO. with a through freight and heading for Gunnison.

Picture #6: K-37 #492 heads across a tall steel trestle, between Cimarron and Sapinero. The trestle is the well-known Micro Engineering product, which I felt worked OK in this particular location. Strictly speaking, it is too narrow but this is not readily apparent from a side view.

Picture #7: #492 stops for a drink at the tank, upon arrival at Sapinero. This is the model that was detailed in the 'Operating Water Tank' article, which appears elsewhere on this website.

Picture #8: K-28's #476 and #473 meet at Sapinero. #476 is on its way to Gunnison, and #473 is headed for Montrose, CO which is in staging. #473 is a Sunset model that received a PBL gearbox and motor 'transplant'.

Picture #9: K-28 #473 is headed for Cimarron and then on to Montrose. On the lower track K-36 #483 has left Montrose and will tie up at Gunnison at the end of the day. Once this area is sceniced, the only visible part of the lower track will be the bridge itself and a few inches on either side, before it disappears into tunnels. This lower track leads to one end of the staging tracks.

Picture #10: With the through freights bound for Salida and Montrose now departed, Gunnison looks quite vacant. The two way freights await dispatcher's orders before leaving. Gunnison has a curve through it, which I feel helps to break the eye's perception of its actual limits. Control is by Lenz DCC with Soundtraxx DSD-150 decoders in all locomotives.

Picture #11: K-28 #476 was held up at Sapinero, in order to meet the Gunnison-bound through freight headed by K-36 #483. A RGS Goose is tied up at the Sapinero team track, awaiting some l.c.l. freight to be loaded aboard.

Picture #12: RGS #455 is tied up at the coal tower, while #476 finally brings its train into Gunnison. RGS #455 is a PFM model, with a PBL gearbox and motor installed driving the #2 axle. The turntable in the background is a Diamond Scale Models HO 105' table, which is about the right length in S for the prototype 80' table that was at Gunnison. It is powered by one of New York Railway Systems indexed drives - a great product!

Picture #13: #476 drops off its caboose on the caboose track, prior to spotting its consist on one of the yard tracks, for the eventual attention by the Gunnison yard crew.