Locomotives

Locomotives are primarily Athearn, though I also have some Bachmann Spectrum, Atlas, Kato, RPP shells, and various combinations of shells and chassis.  All have been detailed and weathered to look more realistic. I take pains to ensure that distinctive features are accurate, to render a convincing appearance of the real thing,  so long as the details do not interfere with operations. Sometimes I avoid extremely delicate features. I have a hard enough time just keeping sunshades on locomotives!

More than anything else, weathering is key to realism.  Clean units are rare in this environment, and I try hard to make the appearance of my fleet reflect  reality.  I usually use the drybrush method, with a thin overspray of grimy black or flat clear paint to blend and tone down the colors.

As to my choices of locomotives: the key word is TYPICAL.  I fully realize that I will never have the funds or space to have much more than a fraction of the D&RGW fleet (or Southern Pacific, or UP, or BNSF...).  The goal is to have a representative sampling of the various classes operated from circa 1970 forward.  My SP units appear as they would in the timeframe 1988-1996.  UP-era power is dominated by modern GE AC4400's and similar offerings from EMD.

Here's the current locomotive roster, by road and type (quantities in parentheses).  Not all units are completed at this time.

   

Rio Grande	SOUTHERN PACIFIC	Amtrak
(1) F9A A modified Bachmann shell on an Athearn drive.  I built this long before the commercial F9 was available.  Absolutely essential unit for a Rio Grande layout between 1971 - 1983! OK, technically it's only one F9, but I also built a post-1980 version.  Note the unique pilot design.  This is a highly-detailed Stewart unit. I described this process in an article for the Prospector magazine.	(1) GP38-2 No. 4823 in as-built configuration, before all the distinctive SP lights were removed.  My first SP unit...  Not beefy enough for most mainline trains, it's handy for locals and yard jobs.	(2) P40 [AMD-103] These arrived circa 1993, but were by no means the sole CZ power. They match well with my Phase IV Superliner cars, though. (2) P42 [AMD-103] These units are in Phase V, the "Shamu" scheme worn by all present-day power..  See this photo on the Photo Tour page.
(2) F9B See the photos above.  One is a Stewart dummy, and the other an Athearn F7 shell, modified to be an F9 with a Bachmann Spectrum mechanism to replace the ancient Athearn guts.	(1) GP40M These speed-lettered GP40M's appeared around 1992, and many can be found in Colorado to this day (albeit patched with UP numbers...).	(2) F40PH One from Walthers, one from Life-Like.  Typical Amtrak power from the late 1970's into the mid-1990's.  They also work for the Ski Train in 1997-1999.
(3) GP30   GP30 No. 3015, a Phase II unit (note the longer cab on this side). It's a project using a repainted & detailed Bachmann shell over an Athearn frame with Atlas trucks and a can motor.  I acquired the shell and chassis separately on e-bay.	(1) SD40An older IHC model (I think), acquired on E-bay.  It's pretty beat-up and needs a lot of work. Beware those low-resolution photos-- you never know what you might be getting!	Union Pacific The UP era commenced in 1996, so I only include power that worked this division after that time. Switch power: A GP39-2 and a GP15-1 (in UPY lettering) work at North Yard.  Model Photo coming soon.
(1) GP35  A Bachmann Spectrum model that I repainted and detailed.  GP35's cannot lead trains in my era, so it introduces realistic operating issues.	(1)  B40-8 From Atlas, a typical late-date Cotton Belt four-motor that has wandered into the Rockies.  Sweet-running unit!	(1)  SD90/43MAC From Kato, my most expensive locomotive to date.  These units are well-represented from the 1996 merger through the present, though always outnumbered by C44AC's.  Huge locomotives.
(2) GP40 No. 3080, the highest-numbered GP40 with the small herald. Another GP40 (Atlas) is awaiting time in the paint shop.	(2) SD40T-2 Photo: detailed Athearn model of snoot No. 8322, as it would appear in 1994 or later.  It has working ditch lights.	(6)  C44AC The most numerous loco type on the UP, they exist in many variants, including the original version, the later C44AC-CTE, and patched / repainted merger units.
(3) GP40-2 No. 3099, my first acquisition of this type, wears the stock Athearn number.  It's more heavily weathered than No. 3109 below. No. 3109 here is a fave of mine; I've seen the prototype unit several times.  It's still running today, though sadly as a full UP repaint... The newest one is No. 3126.  I've begun the weathering process.	(5) AC4400   I now have enough of these to call them a "fleet"!  These arrived in 1995, very late for my layout's era, so most will stay pretty clean.  This shot shows Nos. 263 and 144 leading an eastbound EYCKC train at West Portal. This photo demonstrates that little oddity of remote-control units: it really doesn't matter which way they face!  It just looks wrong, but the railroads run them in strange configurations all the time. I have four blue-box units and two of the newer, ready-to-run kind.  I added a number of details to the blue-box ones to enhance the realism.  Did you know that there are 13 grab irons on just the cab of these units?	C44AC photos A patched SP AC4400, originally number 328 and now UP 6374.  I did my best to replicate it as it appeared in September 2008.  I really enjoyed this project!  Note the extra cab roof detail. Three UP AC4400s are seen in North Yard. The closer two are in the basic Armour Yellow scheme, and the right-hand one sports the Operation Lifesaver logo. All three are Athearn blue-box units with additional details. I also have a few of the newer Athearn types.
(2) SD45 No. 5319 is a new Athearn unit.  No. 5320 is my oldest detailing project, an old-style Athearn model with the too-wide hood.	(3) GP60 Pictured are Nos. 9738 and 9794.  These are Athearn blue-box models, and receive the usual detail treatment.  They power RODVT / DVROT trains as well as the Ski Train on occasion.	(2) SD70M These are Athearn Genesis units, for ZRODV/ZDVRO trains, general freight service, MOW trains... in other words, anything not coal.
(7) SD40T-2 One can never have too many tunnel motors.  I have seven at present.  This is the signature locomotive of the latter-day Rio Grande.  Nos. 5348, 5376, and 5362 are seen at Winter Park.  The two end units are new-style Athearn models; the one in the middle is a detailed blue-box  version.   Nos. 5390, 5411, and 5378 in North Yard.  All three are blue-box models, detailed and weathered.  No. 5390 is the most extensively-modified, with the fuel tank shortened to the correct length, and the pilot face opening is filled in.  Also note the distinctive low-nose headlight mounted in an external box on this unit.	(4) SD45T-2  SSW No. 9264 is an extensive kitbash. I'm very proud of this unit! No. 9192 is an SPSF merger scheme unit.  You need at least one Kodachrome for those post-1988 operations!  Since this photo was taken, I've weathered it for realism. SP 9342.    It's a recent Athearn release, but I repainted and lettered it, then heavily weathered it. The fourth SD45T-2 is a speed-lettered unit.	BNSF Post-1996 BNSF trackage rights trains are now a reality on the line.  I have four C44-9W's for power, in three different BNSF schemes.  Variety is fun... BNSF C44-9W No. 701, one of the earliest deliveries after the merger, which explains the red/silver Warbonnet paint scheme.  This is a detailed Athearn unit. Also on the roster are an H1 (seen at top) and a couple of H2 units.
(2) SD50 No. 5507 has an RPP shell on an Athearn drive.  She runs sweet, and looks great.  Hopefully my last major locomotive-building project!  Many, many hours of work... No. 5503 is a newer Athearn RTR unit.	(1) SD45R  A Spectrum unit  renumbered to 7504, so it represents a unit rebuilt in the early 1980's.  I saw a lot of these in Colorado in the Nineties.  It's weathered but needs a few more details.	BN   For those BNSF trackage-rights trains between 1996 and ~2005, we now have the occasional Cascade Green unit. The roster consists of one SD40-2 and one C30-7 (Athearn and Atlas, respectively).
(2) GP60 No. 3155, as she appeared after addition of ditch lights (which work, by the way).  I painted/decaled/detailed this unit.  The last power painted for the D&RGW... The other unit, No. 3156, needs to be detailed, but at least it's painted.	(1) SW-1500   No. 2578 is a nicely-detailed Athearn model that I picked up second-hand.  This unit is for yard duty in post-1988 operations.
(1) SW-1000    This unit resides at North Yard, handling most switching chores.
(1) KM ML-4000 A Rivarossi model, for those early-Sixties operating sessions.

 I have installed homemade constant-intensity directional lighting circuits in a few locomotives, and more will receive these as time permits.   Five units are (or will be) dummies.   In one of these, the Cotton Belt SD45T-2, I installed a battery-powered headlight system that allows it to lead trains.

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Passenger Equipment

I'm a huge fan of passenger trains.  The Rio Grande ran them right up the the end, so it's a great opportunity to model several. Additionally, this route hosts passenger trains right up to the present time.
 

Rio Grande Zephyr

The Rio Grande Zephyr is definitely the premier train of my era.  The prototype ended operations in 1983, so it features prominently in earlier-era operating sessions.  My RGZ cars started out mostly as modified Con-Cor kits. However, I now have several BLI cars. 

(I have not been happy with the unforgiving operating characteristics of the Broadway Limited cars, even though they are gorgeous.  If your track has a combination of sharp curvature and gradient, which I have, they may not reliably stay on the rails.   I had one that could not be made to operate, so I  disposed of [sold] it.  However, I do have a diner and a dome/observation that operate OK.)

Two Con-Cor dome cars have been EXTENSIVELY reworked to have accurate windows, domes, and interiors.   In this shot, the westbound CZ is at Hideaway park.  On the to-do list: fill in the truck cutouts in the skirts.
 

This is combine No. 1231, which I kitbashed from Con-Cor components and scratch-made sides.  The prototype car arrived in 1950 for service on the Prospector, and later saw service on every passenger train on the Rio Grande roster, right up through the contemporary Ski Train.  This car (or sister 1230) is indispensable for a proper Rio Grande Zephyr.  I also have an NKP kit for 1230, which is awaiting assembly.

I built a steam generator car for the Rio Grande Zephyr many years ago, but the detailing and paint weren't up to current standards, so it's in the shop getting a makeover.  I'm also working on a post-1987 version, as the power car for the Ski Train.

Ski Train

I'm working on building a roster for both the old and new Ski Trains.   For the older (pre-1988) version, I am using Walthers paired-window coaches.  They're not perfectly accurate, but will do for now.  Eventually I may "adjust" them to be more prototypical.  The combine car above is also used on this train.

I built this model of steam generator car No. 251, largely from scratch.  There are a few kitbashed components too.  Doing a unique car such as this is a great challenge, and gives a great sense of satisfaction-- one of the reasons I enjoy this hobby so much.  This car sees service on my pre-1988 Ski Train.

The contemporary Ski Train (1988 - 2009) is a much bigger project, since there's no commercial kits on the market that even come close. I had to scratch-build the whole thing. Click here to learn more about how it was done, and see the results. [Use the browser's BACK button to return here].  By the way, the real train has seventeen cars, but I'll probably end up at either six or seven.  Try scratch-building some yourself, and you'll see why.  I also have built an accurate Power Car for this period, but it is not quite complete yet.

Amtrak

Amtrak has been running trains on this route since April 1983.  I have enough Superliner cars to operate an Amtrak California Zephyr, for any period up through 2006.  I painted and decaled several Walthers Superliner 2 cars.  I also made the decals for an AHM baggage car and a Hi-Level transition Coach Dorm.  I added partitions to the sleepers so you can't see clear through them, and built a full interior for my S2 Lounge (see below).

  In this view, it's 1986 and the westbound CZ is passing through Tunnel 29. Note the S1 lounge in Phase III, and the S1 diner in Phase II stripes.  Paint schemes remained mixed through most of the decade.
 

One of my better moments: I scratch-built a complete interior for the Amtrak Sightseer Lounge car, including passengers.  This is a good way to kill free time on a week-long business trip!
 

I have several projects pending, and will post updates as I complete them.  Most imminent is Ski Train power car No. 253 (used 1988 - 2000). It is under construction and nearly completed, so watch for photos by end of 2010 (with luck).

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Rolling Stock- Freight

I have a growing roster of freight equipment, and I've been trying harder to make it realistic (i.e. use cars that actually existed on the Rio Grande and successor roads). 

I run a mix of freight cars from all the major manufacturers.  There's enough cars to represent the typical Moffat traffic between the '70s and the present.  I have four unit coal trains, including a 27-car CSDU/CSUX  train, a PSCX unit coal train (Public Service of Colorado), a fleet of mostly-D&RGW steel cars, and a train of aluminum cars for UP-era operations.

I do keep a few older cars for 1960's operations, but don't really have enough equipment to support that time frame.  Frankly, it's mostly an unwillingness to part with some old favorites...

(By the way, a 27-car coal train with a few locomotives and a caboose make for a HUGE train on a garage-sized HO layout!  Hee hee...)

	Here's a Thrall coal gondola from Roundhouse, lettered for PSCX.  I created the artwork for the decals and had them custom-printed.  The coal load is also homemade, using real coal.  I did these cars before the factory-lettered cars were available.  I'm also modifying some Walthers Bethgons for the same purpose.
	My pride and joy-- this totally-scratchbuilt model of caboose No. 01489.  It's a welded-seam car that has had the side windows plated in.  There is no accurate commercially-available version of this car.
	Here's a wide-vision Athearn hack that I detailed.  I realize that it's too short for a proper DRGW caboose, but it'll do for a stand-in.
	I scratch-built this lumber load for a UP bulkhead flatcar.
	One of my Rio Grande quad hoppers from Walthers.   This class of car was the signature coal hopper in the last decades of the Rio Grande.  I've been changing the factory numbers on my growing fleet so they're not all the same, and have repainted/decaled several others.  I also cast coal loads for these, decorated with real crushed coal.
	UTLX tank car from Walthers.  I have several similar cars, and they're a pain to build.  It's even more of a pain trying to keep the parts attached!  Sure look nice, though.  Thankfully they now make these ready-to-run.
	Front Runner spine car, from Front Range.  I have several of these two-axle cars, to support my mid-1980s piggyback operations.  The Preferred Pool trailer is from Con-Cor, with added paint.
	Insulated 62' boxcar (beer car), an Eel River kit.  These are my most detailed models-- I now have five.  The Grande ran many of these cars on the Moffat in the 1980's and 1990's, hauling beer from Coors to the western market.

In the 1970's and 1980's, the Rio Grande offered trailer-on-flatcar service for the City Market grocery chain on the western slope.  I've kitbashed a couple of trailers to represent these, creating the artwork myself and printing the decals.

	First variation: aluminum sheathing, curb door, slanted lettering on the trailer body.  It has a roll-up door on the rear-- see below.
	Second variation: white siding, no curb door, yellow sill stripe, logo on bolt-on signboard.   It's sitting on an Accurail WTTX twin-45 flat.  Note the roll-up rear door (scratch-built).

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