Welcome to my Sn3 Cimarron and Tall Timbers Railroad, a 1950's representation of an imagineered Cimarron Division of the D&RGW railroad. The layout is 17' x 22' and contains over 180' of mainline and about 150' of branch line.
The main support structure is made from 2 x 6" lumber, with 3/4" plywood risers supporting a 5/8" thick Industrial Particle Board sub-roadbed. Beveled 1/2" thick Homasote, along with hand cut and laid basswood ties, Rail Craft Code 70 weathered rail were used throughout and all switches were built in place and powered by Tortoise switch machines.
Two throttles are used on the C&TT RR. One is a PBL FSS-II with a RF hand controller and the other is a home-built Darlington transistor type used in conjunction with a PFM Mini Sound unit. The layout is divided into about 20 blocks with dual cabs on the main line and a choice of either of the main line cabs or a third cab for the Silver King branch.
The photo of caboose 0503 was taken as it crossed a small trestle at the edge of the small mountain community of Tall Timbers, Colorado. A scratch built coaling tower, serving the Cimarron Division helper engine facility, can be seen in the background. The box and tank cars visible in the background are on the 3% graderunning up to Cimarron Summit.
The prime feature of the Cimarron Division, is the helper engine facility located in the community of Tall Timbers, CO. Its prime purpose is to provide helper engine service for trains climbing the 3% grade over Cimarron Summit. The facility features a two stall engine house, coaling tower, one storage track for a rotary snow plow. Adjacent to the engine house is a car repair shed with its associated blacksmith shop.
The community of Tall Timbers features an RGS type depot, similar to the one at Ophir, several stone and timber structures and a turning track for the locomotives.
Trestles are a key feature of the layout. Currently there are a total of eight, but more are planned. The most impressive and the first one seen upon entering the layout room is a combination trestle and open deck truss bridge that places the branch line train at eye level, about 5' above the floor. The construction of this trestle was featured in the Sept 1999 issue of Railroad Model Craftsman magazine.
