The upper level of my two-level layout is all narrow gauge, depicting a portion of the former Denver & Rio Grande Western’s Fourth Division line in southwestern Colorado and northern New Mexico.
My HOn3 Modules
In the 1980s, I joined the Mudhens, a St Louis-based modular club modeling in in narrow gauge, HO scale (HOn3). I built three modules, based on favorite locations on the Denver & Rio Grande Western narrow gauge – Chama in New Mexico and Lake Junction/Sapinero in Colorado, at the upper end of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison. These photos were taken years ago, usually at public shows and conventions.
Since these photos were taken, Chama has been permanently incorporated into my home layout and has been reworked and improved. The Lake Junction and Sapinero tables have been retired and scrapped. A new, improved Lake Junction has been included in the new addition to the Mudhens layout.
Go to the bottom of the page for additional information.
Click on the image for details.
The Mudhens originated as a St Louis-based club in the early 1980s, but now has members across four states. Our goal was to model narrow gauge as closely as possible, with a single track mainline and exceptional scenery. While the club set up the portable layout at many shows in the St Louis area, the “main events” were appearances at National Narrow Gauge Conventions in St Louis, Cincinnati, Dearborn MI, Denver, Kansas City, and Minneapolis. In 2008 we upgraded our standards to make transport easier, to reduce layout set-up time and to make train operations simpler. The club has transitioned to Digital Command Control (DCC) electrical control on its newer modules from the original DC block-cab control. With DCC, we now have excellent locomotive sound capability with our K-27 Blackstone engines.
Today, Chama NM is a “living museum”, as the western terminus of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic RR. Compared to photos taken in the 1930s or 1950s, when it was on the narrow gauge line from Alamosa to Durango and Silverton, it has changed little from its days as a helper terminal on a steam railroad. I’ve taken some “artist’s liberties” in my re-creation of Chama, but I’ve tried to capture the essence of this vibrant little railroad town.
Unlike Chama, one cannot visit Lake Junction or the original Sapinero when traveling west from Gunnison, unless you are a scuba diver – the locations are now submerged below Blue Mesa Reservoir on the Gunnison River. However, it lives on in photographs as the junction between the D&RG’s “narrow gauge transcontinental railroad” and the branch line up the Lake Fork to the mining community of Lake City, CO. This compact location, interesting with the two railroad bridges, the narrow highway bridge and the tight canyon walls, seemed to scream “module” to me. Sapinero, just upstream from Lake Junction, was the nearest passenger stop.
I have additional images of the Mudhens modules. Contact me if you are interested, or visit the club website at www.themudhens.org.