HOn3 RGS First District Layout Tour - May 2024

Take a tour of my HOn3 Rio Grande Southern First District model railroad! I've tried to faithfully model selected scenes from the first 66 miles (First District) of the real Rio Grande Southern as it looked between the years 1938 to 1947. I did take a few liberties because of the limited space, including leaving out some great locations on the real RGS and a lot of selective compression. As noted, I did move some of the businesses from Glasgow Ave in Rico from the hill behind the depot to the front of the layout for viewers to be able to see them. But otherwise I really tried to be as accurate as I could in just 12 by 14 feet.
Please excuse my hand-drawn trackplan. I'm still a bit of a Luddite when it comes to trackplanning software. It's crude, but it's pretty close to being to scale. And every structure--save for a few outhouses--is depicted.

[@SantaFeBob]

Very nice layout setup. Excellent scenery.

[@JackRobertsUK]

Very nice work indeed!!

[@acsxfan1]

Great video Dave -- it really showcases your work .. JB

[@Lakeside1943]

The ultimate HOn3 layout! Perfect scenery, no hassle with grades or tunnels. Railroading "in between" the mountains, and everything within reach !

[@vollmerdp]

Thanks! It's not all that, LOL... The lack of tunnels__BTW--is purely prototypical; somehow the real RGS did what it did for 162 miles with zero tunnels!

[@markthomas6436]

Just superb model work!

[@ohpoleez]

I LOVE THIS LAYOUT!! Dave this is just a gorgeous well thought out beautiful layout...congrats sir on a truly remarkable depiction of the late great RGS....

[@royroberts5333]

Really fabulous scenery and backdrops. Wow

[@torehjellset]

Perfect! The best looking HOn3 layout out there. Your colours and textures are spot on 👌

[@vollmerdp]

Thanks! Although I cheated on the colors...that's dirt from the real locations modeled,.

[@johnbanicki7232]

Very nice! Thanks for sharing.

[@dkstudioart]

I really like the format of this layout tour video. I'm not a model railroader but appreciate the craftsmanship, creativity and artistry of a well built layout. Beautiful model railroad, nicely done.

[@johnfisherjr.5911]

Everything about this layout is amazing!Great work!

[@marklewis298]

WOW, Dave!! Your RGS layout, viewed detailed scene by detailed scene, measures 20'x30'....not the actual 12'x14'. Kudos to your excellent modeling and execution! 👏

[@RamseysTrains]

Narrow gauge is fascinating… that mill is spectacular!

[@billbeverly2864]

Very well done !!

[@aarosandeinosmodelrailway3818]

Oh wow. This is amazing layout and you’ve really made the scenes look interesting.

[@Jeff-fx1zy]

Very, very impressive.

[@SteveBull-tg8mi]

Excellent track plan and beautifully done RGS.

[@StevesTrains]

Looks amazing Dave!

[@N-Scale]

Nice work Dave !!!

[@jamesherring4480]

Fantastic modelling !

[@cowboyvalley]

Love it, Dave!!

[@derekalexander4030]

You have built a fascinating layout. The track work, rock work and buildings are incredible and the way you tied the layout into the backdrops is amazing. Did you photograph the backdrops or are they available commercially and if so, from where? I can’t wait to watch these videos. I have subscribed and look forward to catching up on your beautiful layout.

[@seventhcircleracing3012]

I was Thumbs Up 325. Impressive.

[@cagorrie]

Incredible work

[@shadowfaxx5]

Very Nice!! I always enjoy your creations!!

[@ThatBIGTRAINGuy]

A beautiful representation of the RGS. Beautiful scenes. I visited all these places last July (from the UK!) so it was nice for me to relate your scenes to what I saw in person. Excellent work! Simon

[@vollmerdp]

Better than I've done. I live on the Colorado Front Range and haven't visited RGS country since 2018!

[@ThatBIGTRAINGuy]

@@vollmerdp It's such a beautiful area. I love it.

[@Nate-sy1vf]

Looks great Dave, my layout is slowly coming together the Caribou Northern and Pacific on the logging branch. Thanks for the great videos and inspiration

[@OtterCreek]

A great production for a fantastic layout Dave! I personally love the hand drawn track plan, I would prefer to do that my self if I had any skill with a pencil or pen! just out of curiosity how wide is Ridgway at it's widest point?

[@Glenn_AE6YT]

Beautiful!

[@rodneycody8746]

Nice

[@everywherewestmodels]

What a cool layout!

[@therandoms8102]

Great video and great layout mate👌

[@CharlieKrampitz]

Magnificent

[@Keith80027]

You have created a very beautiful model RR of the area. I am a front range guy too who is looking at finally building his layout. Your HOn3 engines and cars run very nicely. I was going to do HOn3 before my eyes went bad and bought both Sn3 and Fn3. Now that my eyesight has been restored with contracts and now trying to decide which gauge to go with. It likely will be HOn3 or Sn3. I had a friend that has a operating layout that has HOn3 and I never seen it operate because he says it is too hard to maintain compared to his HO layout. There is a lot more stuff for HOn3 than Sn3. If you had the room to build this layout again in Sn3 would you do it?

[@ohpoleez]

You know I HATE to nitpick because I love this layout and your modeling style so much sir....but steam engines look so strange with no crews in them...to me, they need a couple guys up front. It's already a perfect layout (we'll, a K37 wouldn't hurt, lol) but this thing with the engine crews won't leave my poor semi functioning brain...best to you sir...

[@vollmerdp]

You didn't nitpcik hard enough...check out the missing whistle on 455's steam dome! I didn't notice it until after the video was published.

[@ohpoleez]

@vollmerdp I saw it, but thought I'm headed downstairs for a beer and no time to mention it. My priorities are intact....lol