PHOTOS BY THE AUTHOR Colorado RGS narrow gauge An HOn3 Rio Grande Southern layout/David Thompson


a chance purchase of Narrow Gauge in the Rockies by Beebe and Clegg, and a truly agonizing decision to acquire a brass Rio Grande Southern No. 20 for $40.00 just prior to my marriage in 1966. Well, I still have the book, the lo- comotive (now on its third prime mover–a cab-mounted micro-motor), and my very understanding wife who encouraged inclusion of a large ob- struction-free layout space in our new house. While this layout was started in 1998 and has grown to over 500 feet of main and branch line, some structures, rolling stock, and sections of scenery and trackwork date back several decades. Though I will continue to im- prove and update as the urge hits me, this layout is now visually complete, including the scenery.


A


My original design had Durango, Colorado, as a focal point with the Rio Grande Southern terminating in a hid- den return loop at Lizard Head Pass


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A stock train (top) crosses the Animas River on its way to Durango. In the background the Durango smelter can be seen. The entrance to the layout room (above) allows a view of Durango on the left, Ophir on the right and Lizard Pass directly above Ophir.


SEPTEMBER 2013


lthough this is my fourth HOn3 layout, it really had its genesis almost half a century ago with


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