Backtracking

I really liked how I worked in the Operational and Scenic LDEs in my Craig Branch concept post. So, I decided to go back to the Moffat Concept Post and do the same.

Operational LDEs:

• Denver's North Yard/Cargill/Utah Junction - Main classification yard for the layout and origin/destination of the locals out of Denver (E);
• Denver Union Station/Prospect Junction - Signature passenger facility (E);
• Leyden Siding - Often used to hold trains until there is space in North Yard. North Yard switch crews can also bring trains in from Leyden (E);
• Rocky Siding - Junction to the Rocky Branch (E)
• Rollins - major siding on the eastern portion of the line (E);
• East Portal - Moffat Tunnel location and railroad operations center (E);
• Winter Park - Ski Train destination (W);
• Fraser - One of the few switching locations on the line (W);
• Tabernash - Turning point for the Ski Train (W);
• Granby - Amtrak stop (W);
• Kremmling - Switching location (W); and
• Bond - Junction with the Craig Branch and crew change point (W).

Scenic LDEs:

• Big 10 curves including Rocky and Clay sidings (E);
• Coal Creek Canyon and Tunnel 1 (E);
• Plain Siding and Rainbow Cut (E);
• Selection of Tunnels 2-8 (the Flatirons Tunnel District) (E);
• Selection of Tunnels 10-18 (Lower South Boulder Creek Tunnel District) (E);
• Crescent Siding (E);
• Selection of Tunnels 19-27, and 29 (Upper South Boulder Creek Tunnel District) (E);
• Cliff Siding (E);
• Tunnel 30 (E);
• Tolland School House (E);
• Fraser Canyon (W);
• Byers Canyon (W);
• Gore Canyon (W);
• Little Gore Canyon (W); and
• Yarmony Tunnel (not actually on the subdivision, but a bridge and tunnel scene just west of Bond)(W).

There are a lot of elements, but if you look at the East versus the Western parts, perhaps a more feasible layout emerges. On the eastern half, preceding the Moffat Tunnel, there are 6 operational LDEs and 10 scenic LDEs. On Mike Danneman's layout, he models 4 of the 6 operational elements, and 8 of the 10 scenic elements. Dropping Leyden simply means that trains hold at Rocky instead, and Rollins, Cliff and East Portal are really rolled together. Thus, Tunnel 30 (between Cliff and Rollins) and the Tolland Schoolhouse (along with its siding) between Rollins and East Portal are dropped as well. Perhaps this is why I really like his plan.

The western half is less extensive - 6 operational LDEs, and 5 scenic LDEs. However, the operational elements are less substantial than those on the eastern end. Nonetheless, it is a little more of the scope of Danneman's beautiful layout.