Re-Viewing Plain

I had previously arrived at the siding of Plain on the earlier plan. However, once I realized that the location of Plain would be directly above the Chem Spur area on Deck 1, and right behind Plain on the opposite side of the aisle would be C&S Junction on the lower deck, and Pinecliffe would be directly above Plain. In addition, the support post in the area complicates the aisle size. In short, I could envision that there was going to be a problem in that aisle.

Original Plain Siding Track Plan.

The reconfigured benchwork footprint, places Plain in a different configuration on a shorter peninsula. To maintain the relative length of Plain siding, the siding will need to be a lot less linear. This is not all bad. Plain is fairly linear on the east end, but the west end does curve around a bit as the line approaches Tunnel 2. With the new benchwork configuration, I was able to arrive at this track configuration.

Revised Plain LDE.

The resulting plan for Plain siding is fairly linear on the east end (near Tunnel 1), but not quite as much as is the prototype. Still, it is fairly reasonable.

WB Train at the east end of Plain siding.

Towards the bottom left hand corner of the plan, the siding will bend around to penetrate Rainbow Cut, a very colorful rock cut in the area. This curve is a bit more extreme than the real location, but again, it is necessary and an acceptable compromise.

DRGW5390 Eastbound out of Rainbow Cut.

UP5675 WB into Rainbow Cut. Photo by Erik Lindgren.

The line continues to wrap around the peninsula, before reaching the west end of Plain siding. A short stretch of single track leads the main line into the bore of Tunnel 2. This single track stretch between the west end of Plain siding and Tunnel 2 was a notable feature of the area.

Plain siding ends up being very similar in length to the previous siding (143.7" versus 142.4") so the siding remains proportional to those in the layout to this point. In terms of obscuring a turnback curve, I think the large blob at the end of this peninsula works well. Think about the description above. The train rounds the end of Plain siding and wiggles through Rainbow Cut before bending around the hillside further to enter into Tunnel 2. The scenic interruption caused by Rainbow cut effectively makes this two curves, rather than one continuous curve. The slight reverse curve further breaks the turnback curve visually.

The new location of Plain is opposite Arvada in the aisle, but I do not expect Arvada to be as busy of a location as C&S Junction. Chem Spur is now on the opposite side of the peninsula, and I believe that Pinecliffe will be more or less over Leyden. With C&S junction on the opposite side of the first peninsula from Arvada, there should be very limited overlap of the switching areas. Rollinsville may fall over Arvada, but if I can keep the house track further to the bottom of the peninsula, that should not add too much traffic above Arvada.

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Cameron Turner

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