Modeling the Death Valley Railroad in N scale

[vermonter_railfan]

Oooo... Another narrow gauge fan! So, maybe I missed it, but are you doing this in Nn3?

If he is planning on doing it in NN3, there is this available for 3d print. I have one and can post some photos of the print.


https://3dptrain.com/products/tkme-rc2-n

[AndyG71]

If he is planning on doing it in NN3, there is this available for 3d print. I have one and can post some photos of the print.


https://3dptrain.com/products/tkme-rc2-n

I have one on order - going to work it in somehow even though I'm going N scale...

Would love to see pictures of it!

[vermonter_railfan]

I have one on order - going to work it in somehow even though I'm going N scale...

Would love to see pictures of it!

I am usng the suggested chassis for it, I added a resistor between the pickup and motor and it definitely runs pretty smoothly for NN3. Though someday I do wanna upgrade to a 12V motor and add DCC. The model itself did need some cleanup of supports but it's a decent print overall.

[NtheBasement]

FWIW, looked up the RR on wiki which has the map in high res.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_Valley_Railroad  You can see the wye at DV Junction but not at the Lila C mine (old Ryan) or Devair (new Ryan).  The road bed is clearly visible on sat view in google maps despite washouts but alas, I can't make out a wye at any of the three places.

[AndyG71]

I am usng the suggested chassis for it, I added a resistor between the pickup and motor and it definitely runs pretty smoothly for NN3. Though someday I do wanna upgrade to a 12V motor and add DCC. The model itself did need some cleanup of supports but it's a decent print overall.

That’s great, thank you!

[AndyG71]

FWIW, looked up the RR on wiki which has the map in high res.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_Valley_Railroad  You can see the wye at DV Junction but not at the Lila C mine (old Ryan) or Devair (new Ryan).  The road bed is clearly visible on sat view in google maps despite washouts but alas, I can't make out a wye at any of the three places.

I’ve got some great photos of the wye at both ends (DVJ and Ryan). The line at Lila C was a straight spur in, they’d load and then just reverse everything back to DVJ. I’m struggling to post pictures from external sites right now or I’d post them up!

[samusi01]

Fifteen more posts and you'll be good to go. Plus side, you don't need to model any trees... I hope you like rocks.

I took a brief look at Ryan, trying to figure out the wye... the only thing I can come up with is highlighted in green below, bottom left. Is that correct? Also, I've called out a few places in the upper right - were those fills, bridges, or...?

[AndyG71]

Fifteen more posts and you'll be good to go. Plus side, you don't need to model any trees... I hope you like rocks.

I took a brief look at Ryan, trying to figure out the wye... the only thing I can come up with is highlighted in green below, bottom left. Is that correct? Also, I've called out a few places in the upper right - were those fills, bridges, or...?

I LOVE rocks! 

Yes, that is correct. The wye came in as you have highlighted. The straight leg of the wye is one of the areas where the tipple was located.

I do believe the places you identified in the upper right corner of the image are likely trestles over washes/washouts. 

[nkalanaga]

Vermonter_railfan:  I've never done anything with DCC, but would you have to change the motor?  Could you limit the voltage from the decoder to the motor, programatically, and get the same result?

[robert3985]

Right. But he didn't specify in the OP if he's modeling it using N scale standard gauge or N scale narrow gauge. I understand that it's N scale.

True.  I wasn't clear about it being Nn3 or N either.  I wrongly assumed your question concerned whether the OP's preference was HOn3 or Nn3...Nn3 being "N-scale"...

Cheerio!
Bob Gilmore

[Tobynnn]

Vermonter_railfan:  I've never done anything with DCC, but would you have to change the motor?  Could you limit the voltage from the decoder to the motor, programatically, and get the same result?

If you do not feel like messing with DCC for these chassis, you can use a resistor (or multiple) to limit the voltage to the motor.

[AndyG71]

Finally - 25 posts and can add some pictures! I've got SO many to share but wanted to start with these.



Map of the Death Valley Railroad, 1910 to 1930.




DVRR junction with Toponah and Tidewater line.



1915-1925 picture of borax loading at one of the Ryan mines.




Current picture of the same location as previous photo.

[C855B]

Finally - 25 posts and can add some pictures! I've got SO many to share but wanted to start with these.

I think your project is really cool, Andy. I grew up in the Mojave and am enjoying the finer points of your research, and development.

[davefoxx]

Finally - 25 posts and can add some pictures! I've got SO many to share but wanted to start with these.

Congratulations!  Good to see you figured out the not-exactly-intuitive picture posting on TRW.  Keep that research coming, so that TRW collective can help with the layout design.  There’s a lot of smart, talented people here.

DFF

[AndyG71]

I think your project is really cool, Andy. I grew up in the Mojave and am enjoying the finer points of your research, and development.

Thank you - I appreciate that!