Narrow gauge railroading in the Colorado mountians!!!
Jul 9, 2021 18:20:58 GMT -7
starcruiser likes this
Post by cowboy40 on Jul 9, 2021 18:20:58 GMT -7
In my train sim hobby, I have developed a fascination with the narrow gauge (3 foot between the insides of the rails) railroads of Colorado. Well also even the standard gauge (4 foot, 8 1/2 inch between inside of the rails) roads that played in them there hills. These roads had a hell of a job to do. They were facing grades of up to 4.5%.
Narrow gauge was best for this type of work. They were quicker to build, easier to lay on these grades, cheaper to maintain, and they could navigate the hills better: even though they had these advantages, they also required lighter equipment and that equipment had to move at slower speeds compared to the standard grade. Roads like the Colorado & Southern, Rio Grande Southern, Denver, Rio Grand & Western, and a few others choose the narrow gauge because they needed to build quick in hard spots. Some roads though saw that narrow gauge would be limited and short on time for the most part, and went with the standard gauge:roads like the Colorado Midland and the Santa Fe held up better then the narrow gauge roads. One narrow gauge road compromised though and built most of there ng track on road beds that were wide enough and strong enough to be re-gauged; the DRG&W played it smart because they were one of the few to sevive the collapse or the railroads in Colorado.
Narrow gauge was best for this type of work. They were quicker to build, easier to lay on these grades, cheaper to maintain, and they could navigate the hills better: even though they had these advantages, they also required lighter equipment and that equipment had to move at slower speeds compared to the standard grade. Roads like the Colorado & Southern, Rio Grande Southern, Denver, Rio Grand & Western, and a few others choose the narrow gauge because they needed to build quick in hard spots. Some roads though saw that narrow gauge would be limited and short on time for the most part, and went with the standard gauge:roads like the Colorado Midland and the Santa Fe held up better then the narrow gauge roads. One narrow gauge road compromised though and built most of there ng track on road beds that were wide enough and strong enough to be re-gauged; the DRG&W played it smart because they were one of the few to sevive the collapse or the railroads in Colorado.