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Home   Forums   Events Calendar   Sponsors   Support the RRLine   Guestbook   FAQ     Register Active Topics | Active Polls | Resources | Members | Online Users | Live Chat | Avatar Legend | Search | Statistics Photo Album | File Lister | File Library [ Active Members: 2 | Anonymous Members: 0 | Guests: 106 ]  [ Total: 108 ]  [ Newest Member: Midwest Mark ]  All Forums  Model Railroad Forums  HOn30 and HOn3 Forum  Building the HOn3 Maverick Canyon Branch Next Page  New Topic |   Reply to Topic |  Author Topic Page: 1 2 3 4 of 4 MinerFortyNiner Fireman Premium Member Posted - 08/20/2015 :  02:52:07 AM       Here I'll be sharing progress on my HOn3 Maverick Canyon Branch, a freelanced extension of the Rio Grande Southern into the red cliffs of the scenic Dolores River Canyon north of Placerville. For info on the proposed layout, including its location, theme and map, see my website. I'll also be blogging on this subject rather frequently: http://sonoragrandeenterprises.com I will share periodic updates here as planning is wrapped up in the late summer and early fall, and construction begins in November. Climb aboard, this should be fun! Edited by - MinerFortyNiner on 08/20/2015 03:47:34 AM Country: USA | Posts: 2793 kirk Fireman Posted - 08/20/2015 :  05:56:58 AM     Looking forward to this one! Troels Kirk Näsum, Sweden Country: Sweden | Posts: 4890 Bill Gill Fireman Posted - 08/20/2015 :  06:34:12 AM     Yes, it does look like fun, Verne, will be watching along. Country: USA | Posts: 2171 TRAINS1941 Engineer Premium Member Posted - 08/20/2015 :  07:23:11 AM     Should be a good one Verne. Love the scenery already. Jerry "And in the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years." A. Lincoln Country: USA | Posts: 10355 Dave D Fireman Posted - 08/20/2015 :  08:12:32 AM       Great teaser photo Vern. Country: USA | Posts: 1055 Dutchman Administrator Premium Member Posted - 08/20/2015 :  08:47:23 AM     That looks like a great setting for the Maverick Canyon Branch, Verne. Country: USA | Posts: 30594 MinerFortyNiner Fireman Premium Member Posted - 08/20/2015 :  10:56:03 AM       Thank you all, I feel like a kid with his first train set...can't wait to get started! Country: USA | Posts: 2793 railman28 Fireman Posted - 08/20/2015 :  12:24:29 PM     I'll be following this happy trail too. Country: USA | Posts: 4518 BBLmber Fireman Posted - 08/20/2015 :  12:29:50 PM     Verne, I'll be watching your progress and waiting for the stories you will tell about this tale. Mark W,L,&E Country: USA | Posts: 6381 Frederic Testard Engineer Premium Member Posted - 08/20/2015 :  6:55:03 PM     Looks like a great project. I'll be happy too, to see it unfold. Country: France | Posts: 17643 Hopeless Fireman Posted - 08/20/2015 :  7:03:03 PM     Looking forward to this new adventure, but I'm still going to miss the old one. Roland Country: USA | Posts: 1803 Tom Coletti Engine Wiper Posted - 08/20/2015 :  7:18:39 PM     Can't wait to see it built! I've traced the proposed route through Google Maps up highway 141, and found a wide variety of scenery for you to model: === The southern terminus of Placerville, a snowy little riverside town with lots of evergreens on the hills. https://www.google.com/maps/@38.0156401,-108.052993,3a,75y,340.94h,80.73t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s1m7KEQ7hEaZws5PnWUhvNg!2e0!7i3328!8i1664 === Up between Norwood and Redvale, the terrain gives way to open, golden fields. https://www.google.com/maps/@38.1597432,-108.3468323,3a,75y,93.3h,88.42t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s0fAMhg2c8XoCV2lD-vA97g!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo3.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3D0fAMhg2c8XoCV2lD-vA97g%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D100%26h%3D80%26yaw%3D179.19911%26pitch%3D0!7i3328!8i1664 === Between Redvale and Nulca, it retains some of the golden field grass, but with scattered desert scrub. https://www.google.com/maps/@38.2188993,-108.4690449,3a,75y,70.24h,76.4t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sjuqUeljP6E4jX1jIFE4qrA!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo1.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DjuqUeljP6E4jX1jIFE4qrA%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D100%26h%3D80%26yaw%3D207.86852%26pitch%3D0!7i3328!8i1664 === Past Nulca, the land gets rougher and dryer. https://www.google.com/maps/@38.2253553,-108.5064862,3a,75y,267.28h,80.07t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sc2K-i-JSwJERQpFTnjq3Pg!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo1.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3Dc2K-i-JSwJERQpFTnjq3Pg%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D100%26h%3D80%26yaw%3D196.96129%26pitch%3D0!7i3328!8i1664 === The place listed as "Lone Tree" is a box canyon with a sharp horseshoe curve: https://www.google.com/maps/@38.4550966,-108.8795803,3a,75y,268.18h,93.47t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sAbNyVr8LVUsL64FjM4aV5g!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo2.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DAbNyVr8LVUsL64FjM4aV5g%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D100%26h%3D80%26yaw%3D133.35846%26pitch%3D0!7i13312!8i6656 === Just south of Gateway, in the location that you have listed as "Maverick," the route opens up into the large canyons and mesas in the mock-up photos on your website: https://www.google.com/maps/@38.6393754,-108.9521375,3a,75y,4.63h,90.08t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sXT0tIMm-kWBW35j2LTiLVw!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo3.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DXT0tIMm-kWBW35j2LTiLVw%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D100%26h%3D80%26yaw%3D123.52091%26pitch%3D0!7i13312!8i6656 === And finally, the extension up to "Maverick Mine" would be near this location: https://www.google.com/maps/@38.7387006,-108.9031949,3a,75y,331.19h,98.35t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sugO1RPAroPxr7XIXPSPtQg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656 Hope these street views will be useful in your planning. Country: | Posts: 146 MinerFortyNiner Fireman Premium Member Posted - 08/21/2015 :  3:42:54 PM       Thank you, gents. Roland, I will miss it too...I am getting ready to dismantle the old layout, which is always a bit emotional for me. The benchwork and masonite backdrop go back to 1996, when I started my N scale layout the preceded the E&SG/AV&W. Everything will come out this time, down to the bare walls. The walls will be patched, and get a new coat of paint. The room will get new carpeting, so for a brief time there won't be little train parts in the nap of the carpeting! Tom, thanks for the info...Maverick Canyon is on the map, about six miles south of Gateway on the east side of the Dolores. My wife and I spent an enjoyable day in July visiting the area, and were impressed by the scenery. Here's the mouth of Maverick Canyon: The area surrounding Maverick Canyon along the Dolores River has spectacular scenery: Here is the satellite view of the mouth of Maverick Canyon: The dirt road following the canyon east of the river would be the approximate location of the line as it heads up the canyon to the mines. There were several mines in the area, and even a primitive landing strip nearby. The greener area at the mouth of the canyon next to the river is where the small yard, loco service facility and townsite will be located. I am considering building the line to the mine at a 4% grade, and could double-head C-19s to switch the mine. The sound of a double-header working a steep grade puts a smile on my face! Here is a map of the line: In researching the area, I was delighted to discover the the D&RGW actually considered building a line north from Placerville to reach the mines in the Paradox, Uravan and Maverick Canyon mining districts. The mining in this region was unique, as it concentrated on vanadium, radium and uranium ore. More on the history later, but let's just say during the period I am modeling in 1942, the mining of uranium in the region was a closely held national secret...and the little RGS was hauling the most strategic, top secret cargo imaginable. Edited by - MinerFortyNiner on 08/21/2015 4:48:17 PM Country: USA | Posts: 2793 dallas_m Fireman Premium Member Posted - 08/22/2015 :  9:36:19 PM     Beautimous! What are the elevations in these parts? Cheers, Dallas Chambers Gas & Oil -- structure build Quality craftsmanship with a sense of humor! Country: USA | Posts: 4674 MinerFortyNiner Fireman Premium Member Posted - 08/22/2015 :  11:28:25 PM       Dallas, Gateway (iust to the north) is at 4,593 feet elevation. It's high enough for some snow in the winter, but well below the high passes that the RGS crosses. Country: USA | Posts: 2793 dallas_m Fireman Premium Member Posted - 08/23/2015 :  12:04:15 AM     Cool! I was wondering about snow ... Santa Fe (7200') is gorgeous in the winter ... doesn't have the same dramatic rock formations (though there are cliff dwellings at nearby Bandelier) ... but some similar "high desert" growth. Anyhoo, no doubt your project will be a beauty! Not expecting any winter scenery, but those photos got my imagination going there ... suppose that's what they're supposed ta do! Cheers, Dallas Chambers Gas & Oil -- structure build Quality craftsmanship with a sense of humor! 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