A Place with a View

After Tunnel 1, the DRGW takes a pause to gather itself for its next assault on the front range. The grade moderates as the main line enters an area known as Plainview where the DRGW located Plain Siding. The scenery however is anything but plain. From this perch, there are extensive views of the plains to the east with Denver in the foreground. To the west of the mainline, numerous homes have been built to enjoy this view. The neighborhood is small, but is well connected to the railroad as many of the families have ties to the DRGW.

This is typical of the views from houses above Plainview.

However, the siding of Plain (MP 24.5) is the center of railroad action. At a length of 6530 feet, Plain is a common meeting point for trains on the Moffat. It has easy access in the event that crews need to be pulled off a train due to service hour rules and helps provide a relief valve for traffic through the Big 10 curves. It is also home to a house track and it is common to see maintenance of way crews using Plain as a location to access the mainline to work between Plain and Crescent siding (MP 31.2).

UP 5613 in Plain Siding. Note the MOW equipment in the house track. Photograph by John Crisanti.

Plain siding has been lengthened over the years, and so at its western end lies Rainbow cut, where the main line passes through a colorful cut of rock as the siding wanders to the west.

DRGW 3121 leads Amtrak's California Zephyr through Rainbow cut on March 4, 1984. Photo by John Benner.

The track plan for Plain siding runs down the opposite side of the peninsula from Tunnel 1. My version of Plain has a little more curvature to it than does the prototype, but like the prototype it serves to have a pause in the climb. The elevation of Plain is +22.5” above the reference elevation (Prospect Junction) and the track below in Barbara Gulch lies at an elevation of about +5”, so the climb has been effective at creating a second deck. Plain siding works out to be about 140”, a bit less than Rocky or Leyden, and in fact a little less than a typical coal train.

Track plan for Plainview including Plain Siding.

 So, while two coal trains would not be able to meet at Plain on my layout, a coal and a general freight train would be able to meet. One thing I have notices studying the Moffat is that some sidings are too short to meet certain trains. In this case, a loaded coal train would be coming down hill, and so it would likely be given preference over a train headed west. Given that Plain is a flat spot, restarting a westbound is not as big of a deal as it might be to stop a load headed down grade. At this point, I am okay with the length, although a bit more might be nice. Rainbow cut is included, and a little bit of single track as the line heads for Tunnel 2. One item that is a bit of a concern still is that annoying support post in the aisle. It does not have a significant effect on the aisle but does create a bit of a view block. Unfortunately, I do not have a good solution for dealing with currently. Moving it would be ideal – but not likely to be approved.

Cameron Turner