4K Sn3 Layout Tour - Doug and Tifini Jolley's D&RGW Third Division

Our first attempt at a 4K layout tour! Doug and Tifini Jolley's HUGE 18'X43' Sn3 D&RGW Third Division - As seen at the 2019 NMRA National Convention.
D&RGW Third Division Sn3 Doug and Tifini Jolley
The D&RGW's Third division is represented on this double deck 18' x 43' Sn3 layout. The line between Gunnison and Ridgway, Colorado is included with a freelance connection of the San Migual and Southern, on the Ridgway branch, and a connection with the Timber Creek Railway near Gunnison. These connections were added to generate a bit more operating fun on a line that seen very little traffic in the 50's, the era modeled. Operation on the D&RGW is basically done in a chronological order using car cards. Include is a daily passenger run, a daily freight, a coal run, and a stock extra. Several locals are included, as well. The Timber Creek operation incorporates a run to the tipple for live loads of ore and then a run to the smelter for dumping in the rotory dumper. The coal tipple along the D&RGW line is also a live load operation. Operation on this railroad is brand new, and still undergoing refinements.
Size: 18 X 43 Double Deck
Scale: Sn3
Era: 1950's
Control system: Lenz DCC
D&RGW THIRD DIVISION / TIMBER CREEK RAILWAY
DRGW
The DRGW 3rd Division encompassed the line west from Salida to Ouray, Colo. The portion we have chosen to model is between Gunnison and Ridgway. In the era that we model, there was very little traffic on the narrow gauge west of Gunnison. In order to make this portion bit more interesting to operate we have added a couple of key elements. The first being the addition of a connection with two freelanced railroads to increase traffic. The first being the Timber Creek Railway in the Gothic area northwest of Gunnison. While in reality, no town was ever erected there, in our world, it was, as a coal seam of extraordinary quality was discovered very near there. Gothic soon became one of the largest settlements in the area.
The second connection was at Cow Creek on the Oray Branch. Here we connect with the San Miquel and Southern, a freelanced road operated by our good friend Bill Adkins. SM&S traffic comes on line here from a point in the San Miquels, and is delivered to the RGS at Ridgway for a connection with the SM&S near Placerville to continue it's journey west into Utah.
Because of this "extra" business we have added, our second key element was added. The line east of Montrose traversed an area on the west approach to Cerro Summit that was a continual problem for the railroad. The ground was very unstable here, and the grade tended to slip down the hillside on occasion. One such occasion occurred in 1949. Traffic was sparse, so the railroad chose to abandon the section between Sapinero and Fairview, and rails were pulled up.
But, in our world, because of the extra traffic of the other two railroads, the decision was made to repair it, one more time. The RGS is still clinging, as well...a bit past their expected abandonment in 1951. Thus, here we are in 1954-5, still struggling along. Is the end near? Probably. But not yet.
TIMBER CREEK RAILWAY
The Timber Creek Railway began life in the hills above Crested Butte, Colo hauling timber from the Gothic area to the DRGW for ties. With the mining boom came even more demand on the railroad for timber. But timber was diminishing, as was the equipment for the TCR. It was just plain wore out. When silver and gold were discovered in the Poverty area and a new purpose was discovered for the Timber Creek Railway, they were in dire need of equipment. A Shay was purchased from a shortline in California, a Consolidation was discovered in Alaska at a price that was low enough it was worth shipping to Colo. A couple of other ex-C&S consolidations were picked up from a dealer in Denver and they were back in business.
Traffic now consists of a mine run to the Poverty Mining District to load ore with a return to the railroad's headquarters in Gothic. It is then hauled up to the old town of Smelter Hill, were the Concentrator turns it into boxcar loads of concentrates that can now be shipped out to smelters on the DRGW.
The Layout
The double-deck layout occupies an area of approximately 18' X 43' in a basement room. The mainline and branch lines compromise about 300 feet of operation. Gunnison is a staging yard. A helix connects the two levels. Construction was started about 2003, but it has only been the last couple of years that it has really progressed in earnest. The last bit of roadbed and track are yet to be completed in the Gothic engine facilities.
Control is DCC using the Lenz System. Coal loading facilities are very near completion. while the Ore tipple at Poverty is getting there...But the Rotary Dump at Smelter hill is yet to take shape. These will be "live load" operations.
Thanks for stopping by! Be sure to check on us later for progress!
Doug & Tifini Jolley

[@LMR78]

What a beautiful railroad! And yes I have to agree it looks exactly like the real montrose!

[@ToyManTelevision]

We ate back soon. So much has been added.

[@robertemmons2260]

I still become amazed at how detailed some model railroads can get. Hats off to those who can do it. Thanks for another fine video!

[@ToyManTelevision]

Thank you for watching

[@bradleyogden5688]

How could someone put a dislike on a video of this quality and a layout that has been built to perfection. Something wrong here. Amazing layout and a video too! I've also know Doug for atleast 40 years. Great work people.

[@jeffbangkok]

This one reminds me of the 60's and 70's when everything came to town in a box car or flat..Hanging at the feed mill and helping unload bag and bulk feed and fertilizer..Early 60's my dad even talked with a neighbor about buying our own box car to bring feed to our dairy..Thank you 2 for always brightening my day

[@OtterCreek]

Thanks so much for sharing this, I don't know how I missed this one!

[@jonathanjones35]

A beautiful layout and a wonderful video presentation. thank you for sharing. By the way, someone’s missing 3-point track gauge can be found at 13:40 at the base of the trestle bent under the locomotive.

[@dougjolley4892]

Thanks, Johnathan! Been looking for that...lol

[@milepost3926]

Always love your videos your editing and your sound is just fantastic just a beautiful layout you guys have a great day thank you

[@ToyManTelevision]

Thanks!!!

[@krissfemmpaws1029]

Is an incredible layout. That's far beyond my skill and patience level for sure. Thank you for bringing us along that was great.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Naw you can do it if you want. Just a learning curve. But as long as your having fun you’re getting it right.

[@krissfemmpaws1029]

@@ToyManTelevision right now I'm working on a homebuild aircraft design of my own design. Doing all the engineering and number crunching makes me appreciate all the designing and engineering that was done before spreadsheets! Then will come the fun of building it... all things I have done before. Maybe when it's done bring it down to the Rat Fink convention on a trailer being pulled by a Boonie Bug that is sitting in storage, at this time.

[@albertofranchi6408]

Super beautiful layout

[@JerkRice]

It's beautiful. So much fun to watch it run.

[@Mike-tg7dj]

I think Shay's are quite possibly the coolest locomotives of all time or at least for me.The way power is transferred through three pistons down the road, through the crank to the three truck. In my humble opinion it is simply the coolest object made for the railroad. That particular Shay looked to being an oil fired Shay because I didn't see any fuel in the form of wood or coal.

[@ToyManTelevision]

And they look great! Love the proportions! Kind of short kind of tall. Just plain neat looking

[@JustinD912]

I'm so glad I made the switch to Sn3!

[@ToyManTelevision]

It’s great.

[@jamesf791]

Great layout and wonderful video. Thank you very much for showing

[@ToyManTelevision]

Thanks for watching. Really a great layout

[@charlesmcclure5994]

All I can say is WOW, your friend does awesome work. 👍👍

[@ToyManTelevision]

Right?? Amazing

[@FastSports-ScaleCarGarage]

What an amazing layout!!! Thanks so much for posting this!!!

[@ToyManTelevision]

Thanks for watching!

[@JD_79]

Fantastic!

[@sexmoochogranday]

I fell in love with his #12 "Whiskey Creek Short Line" engine! All those tiny moving parts of the drive gear is absolutely phenomenal. I'm always blown away at the modeling talent these people have; thanks again for taking us along with you and spreading the joy of model railroading!

[@ToyManTelevision]

That’s a great shay! The whole whisky creek like is amazing. The mill at the end of the show is on that line.

[@kevinyoung9557]

Beautiful layout. Some people just have the touch and he certainly does .Awesome video keep the trains coming. Thank you.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Hi. Indeed. He’s so familiar with colorado narrow gauge he’s just nails the look! Robby’s backdrops help too!

[@kenshores9900]

Totally amazed how people do that. I am in awe. Growing up I had a friend who had S gauge trains (during the Lionel vs American Flyer days). S narrow gauge is something else. Never boring always interesting. (Remember Mustang drivers can take on line defensive driving classes to satisfy tickets). Waiting for your next episode. Take care.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Thanks!

[@TouchoftheBrushModelWeathering]

Unbelieveable layout. The carpentry is so well organized and the room is neat and clean. The effect of being in the forest and in Colorado is really present and noticed watching!- Joey

[@ToyManTelevision]

Hi. Right? Love the presentation and the modeling. And operation. 100% realistic

[@upsd402]

Great layout, wonderful video.

[@effenbeezeetravel4474]

S scale is only about 30% larger than HO , your talk makes is sound MASSIVE because you mention O guage which really is GIANT ! Any HO N or Z person will love S scale and have no problem at all and still have plenty of space to do any thing , even is standard gauge !🌼🌷🌻🌺

[@vincentcalvelli6452]

Thanks for another brilliant video!

[@ToyManTelevision]

And thanks for watching!!

[@richwhite4331]

WOW what a Beautiful layout!! and a very nicely done video to boot!! Enjoy you channel a lot!!

[@candleflame4355]

Hope you two are doing well, especially after surgery, thanks for another great video.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Hi. Yup really well. We went out to lunch with Steve and don today. 5 days after hip replacement surgery. Not bad!

[@PanzerDave]

@@ToyManTelevision Congratulations on your successful surgery. My mom just had both hips replaced (not at the same time.) The first was back in April and the other one was in October. Congratulations again.

[@AkRyder68]

He has a pretty interesting nod to Alaska in his layout that you showed. The Copper River and Yukon box car that the Shay was pulling is a nod to the Copper River and Northwestern that ran here in Alaska and the red stamp mill building you showed at the end, look up the Kennecott Mine and you'll see that red stamp which still stands in McCarthy Alaska that was serviced by the CR&NW. I could be totally wrong and just that crazy guy in Alaska, but I'm pretty sure I'm on to something... ;-)

[@spankyham9607]

Beautiful layout. I love the scale.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Really a great size. For narrow gauge I think O or S is best. But S is really the same as Ho standard gauge in terms of curves. So if you can fit HO standard you can fit Sn3. Easy to see why these 2 scales are so popular

[@pbyfr]

Nice layout, thanks for sharing

[@ToyManTelevision]

Thanks for watching. It’s really a great layout right? Wow!

[@NVNRy93]

Love the additional running.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Hi. They running the Santa train there? Bolder? If we were walking better we’d come ride.

[@ioanekirarahu951]

As usual, your background music is really great and interesting. Keep up the good work.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Thanks!!!!

[@MrBillCNW]

Thank you for the video

[@Mike-tg7dj]

Three Truck Shays are cool!

[@ToyManTelevision]

That they are. Well, so are two truck. So there’s that...

[@nathancorcoran5347]

Love there Layout. I do like the Narrow Gauge Railroads. Including the Denver & Rio Grande Western.

[@ToyManTelevision]

My favorite. Usually. Sometimes big class A but narrow gauge is great

[@hydrospeedex]

All I can say is WOW........

[@ToyManTelevision]

One of the best!!!!!! Taken years but now it’s looking amazing

[@crystalrock18]

If a shrink ray was real, I would live on his railroad.

[@ToyManTelevision]

It is real. That’s how he does it. The trick is rebuilding the locomotives before shrinking them. That real work!

[@unclemarksdiyauto]

Very impressive setup!

[@ToyManTelevision]

Hi again! Right? What a basement. And we didn’t even show the bar!

[@unclemarksdiyauto]

Toy Man Television, thats funny! Im not really into the trains, but wow, man! How could you not be impressed!

[@alejandrobarraganlopez3231]

😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱 great layout and the scenery Is amazing

[@ToyManTelevision]

Subtle and realistic. Perfect 👌🏼

[@timothyboles6457]

I have several friends who do narrow gauge and know several more narrow gauge modelers. All of them have said that if they were to do it all over, they would do Sn3!! Paradoxically, Sn3 is one of the most difficult scale/gauge combinations to find. Only in front of Sn2 and On2

[@TristanMorrow]

I really like the shots where you have you filming Karen filming (or vis versa) and then the cut to their camera's view: up close, in the scene, all the detail - really feels like being there! Keep up the great videos, and keep having fun screwing around making them! :-)

[@ToyManTelevision]

Yea we like that too. Thanks!!

[@IowaTrainGay]

Beautiful railroad and amazing video! Love yoir channel, it's truly an inspiration for what I'd like to do with my future partner.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Sn3 is expensive but wonderful. On30 much more affordable and still almost as amazing. Can be just as nice. Depends. Did you Sunday’s show on Steve’s On30?

[@robertlucido3686]

I've got a story for you; we have this guy who brings us firewood to use during winter, I told the guy I was into trains, and when he brought thw last load of firewood for us, he brought me a Lionel O gauge train set, it had a 0-4-0 tank engine, four wheel gondola, dump car and caboose and a box of Lionel tubular track, and I added on to it, I got some Atlas O gauge track (I like the look of it) and I got a Bachmann Williams 4-6-0 and I got some Lionel Polar Express cars (5 total) and I'm going to run that under oir Christmas tree this Christmas as well as an HO scale and N scale train

[@ToyManTelevision]

Geeeeee. Score! I love Atlas O scale. Back in the 60s it was sort of like Lionel only almost no one bought it. Fast forward to today. Still almost no one buys it. Rare! But OMG!!!!!!! Their F9 is to die for! A friend has the entire California Zephyr set from them. All 4 D and RG Locos. And every car. Like 12 or something? And I saw the same set in colorado a year ago. Only 2 I have ever even seen! But at about $3600 easy to see why you don’t see too many.

[@southernrailwayfan1338]

Ah the polar express by Lionel my very first train set

[@SaintCoemgen]

To me how the 2d painted background meshes with the 3d layout matter a lot. And here, I think they got it almost perfect. Well done.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Saint Coemgen that’s Robbie Spangler’s painting! He’s the BEST. We have a video of his layout and a how to paint backdrops with him on the channel. Also he painted the backdrops on Lee Nickolas layout in Corinne. We have 2 vids on that layout. Robbie! Wow!!

[@thenest2]

Great to see a new home layout video! American modelling is very different to here in the UK (mostly due to house sizes...) but just as interesting and well done!

[@ToyManTelevision]

Amazing to see these huge layouts. Really want to hop the pond and see some UK railroads. Mostly prototype narrow gauge but also garden steam. (Sigh)

[@thenest2]

Well there's plenty of that (especially in wales!). Plenty of wonderful home layouts and exhibitions as well, not many on the scale here but still some really wonderful stuff

[@kyleharmer8047]

I always find models of the DRGW kinda funny, in how quirky and slow they run. As someone who grew up in the sunny state of Queensland, Australia. Our mineline is only 6inch wider (when scales done for models its unnoticeable) and our trains run on average around 100km/h and some up to 160km/h. So if your ever in the market for some faster narrow gauge trains I’d definitely recommend you take a look at Queensland Rail!

[@henryostman5740]

DRG used to run mixed trains with 3' and standard in same train, they had cars with offset couplers to transition. Like to see this in model.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Doug is modeling just that! He has a tiny amount of dual gauge at the far end of the rail Road but his hope is to expand a dual gauge railroad over the doorway and down the shelf for about 20 feet so that he could do dual Gage operation

[@dougcostello9064]

The stone work on this layout is phenomenal. He just needs some smoke coming out of the engines.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Years in the making it’s now becoming one of the best anywhere.

[@IronHorsefan1869]

Im gonna miss your youtube channel in 2020! i enjoyed it so much, now it may disappear :(

[@ToyManTelevision]

It’s not going anywhere! If you are referring to COPPA we will be putting up a show after the first of the year about what , if any, Chan owe are planning Not much. Anyway it will be in the show! Watch for that!

[@IronHorsefan1869]

Good to know

[@glendunlap9839]

Could you please tell me everything about the D&RG Stock/Cattle cars. (Manufacturer, year built, did you reproduce some & if so difficult & how many parts). I'm trying to get back into the hobby after too many years. Thanks for the tour and your great contribution to the hobby! Glen

[@ToyManTelevision]

glen dunlap hi. I’m pretty sure d and rg built them almost all wood. I think built in the 20s. Quite a few survive. Mostly in chama. 2 sheep cars on the reservation near chama. I have one in 1:20.5 scale from Accucraft. Bachmann also makes it in that scale. The ones in the show are S scale. 1:64. By PBL. Plastic kit. Several companies make them in O scale. San Juan Car is one. I think And several companies offer kits in HOn3. I have two or three of those. Blackstone models makes a great one. Oddly all are about the same price. 75 to 100 each. So expensive As all of these d and rg cars are the same basic frame and trucks a flat car can be turned into any of them including the stock car. A fun scratch build to build the superstructure out of wood or plastic.

[@awildjared1396]

You should try an get out to Train Mountain in Chiliquin Oregon, it's a truly amazing inch and a half scale railroad.

[@ToyManTelevision]

No kidding! Never been there but we’ve been wanting to go in there for years. Somehow it just has never happened

[@awildjared1396]

@@ToyManTelevision, You should try an catch the train mountain triennial of 2021, I feel like you'd be able to shoot more trains at a triennial since there are likely more trains running during that time frame.

[@iannarita9816]

Thx again 463 had a baaaaad train. 🐑🐑🐑 :-)

[@ToyManTelevision]

Ewe...

[@microbusss]

thought that the "bumblebee" was for the movie Denver & Rio Grande?

[@ToyManTelevision]

Sort of. They did that to just this locomotive (268) in 1939 before sending it to the Chicago Railroad Fair in the spring on 1939. They also added a fake stack and headlight. It and another narrow gauge locomotive from deadwood South Dakota as I recall were used on the “deadwood central” , that ran from one end of the fair to the other for about a mile along Lake Michigan. It was there for 2 years and returned to colorado in service. For the film in 1950 a bunch of locomotives were given the “bumblebee” paint and even given matched numbers as the film needed to have the locomotive available with no down time. At least 2 were numbered 268. No matter. I don’t think it was repainted for the film bet it may have been. Anyway after the film came out in I think 1952 most of the locomotives used were scrapped. Two were wrecked after all! Anyway 268 went right back to work. Still painted bumblebee. Still is! PS 223 now in Ogden was dressed for the rail fair but not painted bumblebee. Given the same fake stack and headlight but stayed black. It was used for publicity photos and then put in Liberty Park. Other locomotives were also used in 39 for the same publicity stuff. All between 1940 and the rail fair and 1952 and the release of the film. With time out for the war.

[@gregbeatty5638]

👍

[@ToyManTelevision]

Hi! And thanks!

[@scottoglesby7590]

How did you make the yellow aspen trees. They are beautiful!

[@ToyManTelevision]

Hi. They are “rabbit brush”. Grows everywhere here. With sagebrush. Anyway makes great trees. Harvest in the fall. Let ‘em dry out. Spray them white. Then black “lines” horizontally up the trunk. Then woodland scenics foam in greens and yellows

[@NicksCollectableCreations]

I thought about SN3 but then I saw the price of the locomotives and wen't ON30 :) SN3 is a nice in between HO and O size. I wish more manufacturers would adopt the scale and bring prices down.

[@lazyrrr2411]

ℹ wish more people would buy in to just-plain S Gauge ... money talks

[@ToyManTelevision]

On30 is great but it’s killing several other great scales - gauges. O two rail, On3. S. Sn3. But they live on. Just few doing them and so expensive

[@caesarillion]

I would love to see a track of Gunnison in it's heyday. Stub switches? Interchange? What was going on? Thanks again, Thailand Paul (meter gauge Thailand et al...)

[@ToyManTelevision]

We need to get back out there!!! New stuff.

[@gmmeier321]

You might like this gathering of Galloping Geese in Ridgeway CO.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Keep trying to get to that. Love geese!!!!!!

[@LMR78]

Did anyone else notice on the bobber that it says Denver & western rio grande?

[@ToyManTelevision]

It did? Didn’t notice

[@billkline4077]

was that a little of chet atkins in background music?

[@ToyManTelevision]

Nope. Sounds like it right? But we buy all our music from generally unknown artists. So far we have spent over 5 grand on music. And I’m glad to see it going where it’s needed.

[@williamdickman7917]

Nice model railroad, but if it's to Gunnison where is the Black Canyon portion?

[@ToyManTelevision]

Must be here somewhere. Needs a bridge with a C16 on it.

[@cambridgeh.lutece6658]

Hold up, Toy Man has a website!? That's it I'm putting a toy man t-shirt on my christmas list.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Hi. I haven’t changed the web site in years. Should though. Anyway we do have shirts here in the channel! From Teespring

[@cambridgeh.lutece6658]

I noticed after the video that was posted is kinda old...

[@ToyManTelevision]

The Vintage Comet hi. New videos. Always! But the website is sort of outta date. Sort of. But this vid is this morning!

[@whirlpool851]

What is the tank on the back of the 268 tender?

[@ToyManTelevision]

whirlpool851 brake air. All locomotives have it somewhere but here it’s rather large and obvious

[@ioanekirarahu951]

I'd love to meet this guy. Where does he live? Go S scale!!

[@ToyManTelevision]

Salt Lake City. He’s on lots of layout tours.

[@lazyrrr2411]

S Gauge ~ the forgotten step-child

[@bubbaskywalker3129]

Are these custom model locomotives or are they commercially available?

[@ToyManTelevision]

PBL brass. As are the cars although the freight cars are plastic. But it’s a fortune in brass. Every locomotive is over a grand as I recall.

[@bryananderson9518]

Where can we get those locomotives?

[@joelvale3887]

PBL is for Sn3

[@ToyManTelevision]

Yup. PBL. Expensive but wonderful. But not a scale for the timid! Every train in the video cost $1500 at least. But dang!!!

[@southernrailwayfan1338]

I would trade any thing for this

[@ToyManTelevision]

He has a Facebook page. The basement chronicles

[@mycrazygrandpa]

When you mentioned watching a well done model railroad is almost like traveling with it, here's a facility giving the residents train excursions without leaving the facility, now Dale, if you had to have that experience, I'm sure in MANY years to come, where would you like to travel through? kzbin.info/www/bejne/pqHQcmtmbt59nrM Inquiring minds want to know :-D

[@Mike-tg7dj]

If that were real life I would have to feel for that second engine crew being stuck in the middle between all those sheep. Now day the locomotive in the middle of the train is computerized taking all the commands via radio from the front cab. The DPU is careless and becoming all the rage with the eastern class one railroads. They say it saves money by eliminating helper engines as well allowing for longer trains and less train crews because of fewer trains. They're always trying to cut human power out of the equation.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Soon there will be no crews or truck drivers. Really. Just a matter of time.

[@lazyrrr2411]

Sheep Cars ⁉ 🚂🐑🐏💨 Wow👍

[@ToyManTelevision]

Baaaaaahhhhhh.Scrooge the sheep: baaaaahhhh hum bug.

[@ohpoleez]

Too bad. Not one pipe gon anywhere to be seen. Considering he's decided to freelance it, I'd think there would be at least a couple of pipe trains somewhere. PBL does them I believe. And I'm sure they are there somewhere, but no 36's or 37's rolling around somewhere...depressing layout....lol

[@ToyManTelevision]

I built about 5 of em with idler flats. In 1/2” scale. Didn’t like how they turned out. Gave em away. Want to do a proper set in 1:20.3 scale.

[@ohpoleez]

@@ToyManTelevision I got bit hard by the narrow gauge bug 20+ years ago. Fell in love with Sn3. Still in love with the scale. But at 1500 to 2000 for some of the PBL locomotives, I just couldn't swing that bat. I'm happy running provolone HO these days, but I loves me some good narrow gauge.

[@wlfent1]

all these steam trains and no steam. why doesn't someone modify a vaping pipe to this and lets have volumes of steam make it real

[@ToyManTelevision]

There have been many attempts to make realistic steam coming out of a locomotive. All seem to fall very short. But the Vape pipe idea has been floated out there for a while. As long as they stay away from the strawberry flavored Vape could work out quite well. I think. Strawberries of course would be right out because yuck that’s completely the wrong smell.

[@wlfent1]

if you can make it smell like strawberry you could make it smell like coal or wood or anything