Thanks Bruce!

A sister to #16 and 19 (and essentially a twin of #19) is close to joining the roster.



I still have some work to do - most obviously, the headlight. Right now I'm waiting on some LED components and a new casting to come, but hopefully this project will be complete within the week.

I completed #20 today!









With sister #19:



#20, like sisters 16 and 19, represents an engine built by Baldwin in the mid 1880s to the same plans as the D&RG Class 70 Consolidations. Here in 1907, she retains the closest to an original appearance of any of the SPV engines, with little sign of the modernization that is starting to appear on the roster.

Also like her sister engines, #20 was built from a Blackstone C-19 and modified somewhat significantly to backdate her to 1907.

Lastly, here is a crudely photoshopped image of #20 in her natural habitat, southern Utah - Castle Valley, UT to be exact, along the SPV line between Vina and the RGW mainline at White House.

Great work on modifying that engine, chris!

Thanks Bruce!

This doesn't really have to do with my rolling stock, but I recently started a blog to cover my modeling, which will hopefully soon include a small layout. So far I've written a bit about my concept and the notional history of my freelanced railroads. Check it out if you're interested: http://redrocknarrowgauge.blogspot.com/

Chris,

I've enjoyed following along and enjoy your concept. My story is almost identical, except for the addition of my love for the SP, both narrow and standard gauge lines.

I found a great chapter on the proposed (and surveyed) Arizona & Colorado Railway in the book Railroads of Arizona volume 2. It would have been a subsidiary of the SP that connected Globe Arizona with Durango (through Farmington). I'm sure this was meant to be a standard gauge railroad, but I'm using the rough terrain on the south end to justify the slimmer rails.

The main purpose of this line was to deliver coal from west of Durango to the smelters of Globe, but many other products would have been shipped between these two town as well. The scenery between Globe and the Mogollon Rim is spectacular. It starts in a ponderosa pine forest and traverses down into the lower Salt River Canyon, which are covered in saguaros. The book even mentioned a possible loop to help with the extreme elevation changes in the Salt River Canyon. The SP standard gauge served the mining district of Globe with 2-6-0's and two car passenger trains, so a little dual-gauge is in order.

I figured I could have some equipment labeled for the freelanced A&C, mainly 2-8-0's, but lots of D&RGW equipment as well, to keep up with demand.

The towns along the 408 mile line from north to south would be Durango, Aztec, Farmington, Window Rock, Holbrook, Azpine, Heber, (maybe Canyon Creek) and Globe.

This, like yours seem to lend themselves to some great protolancing possibilities.

Thanks Travis! Your concept sounds really interesting too - I'd definitely like to hear more about it. What time period are you looking to model? Have you started building anything?


Chris

I'd probably model the 1930's or 40's. Haven't started anything yet, still trying to choose a scale and gauge. I've got a ton of Blackstone equipment, but HOn3 is a bit on the small side for me.

I'd probably model the 1930's or 40's. Haven't started anything yet, still trying to choose a scale and gauge. I've got a ton of Blackstone equipment, but HOn3 is a bit on the small side for me.