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Gilpin District Tramway

 

Contents
Track Plan
Locomotives
Rolling Stock
Layout Photos
Gilpin RR HS
Sn2 Home Page
Sn2 SR&RL

Gilpin Notes
First Shay Complete
Modified Benson (5/30/00)
Layout Photos
Progress of the layout (3/25/00)
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NEWS FLASH!
Jim Key has aquired the benchwork for the Gilpin District Tram and is rebuilding it!  click here to see the renewal process!

Sn2 GILPIN TRAM CIRCA 1910

Welcome to my Sn2 "Gilpin District Tramway" layout. My name is Darel Leedy. I live in Arvada, Colorado. My interest in the Gilpin Tramway goes back to when, as a senior in high school, Don De Vere's prize winning layout plan first appeared in the April 1983 Model Railroader magazine. Thereafter, Mal Ferrall's book was a mainstay of my personal library. It was not until recently that, after many trips to measure and document various structures and remains of the area, the urge to actually model the Gilpin Tram was realized.   Below is a table of the key elements, track plan, and photo's of my layout. I will update the photo's as progress on the layout continues. As scenery is completed, I will replace the sepia photo's with color ones( Color photo's of bare benchwork do not turn out very well. ).  I want to thank Don Peterson, Doug Heitkamp, David Keith for hosting this web page, and Joe Crea for his encouragement.

At a Glance
Scale:  Sn2 ( S scale using 10.5mm, HOn3 track gauge )
Prototype: Gilpin Tramway / Gilpin Railroad 
Local: Black Hawk & Central City area of Colorado
Time Frame: 1908 - 1912
Layout Size: 12x12'
Construction: Open grid benchwork, Homosote on plywood roadbed
Track: Handlaid code 55 on HO standard gauge ties, scratch-built turnouts
Construction: Open grid, roadbed Homosote on plywood 
Minimum Radius: 22"
Turnout Size: #6
Turnout Control: Tortoise slow motion switch machines
Control: DCC
Locomotives: Modified PFM HOn3 Benson Shays
Rolling stock: Grandt Line On2 Gilpin small( early ) ore cars

 

 

 

 

Track Plan


Click on plan for larger image

Current State

After six months of construction, the benchwork and roadbed are complete. Track is about 75% finished. Mock-ups are in place for every structure.  Take a look at the photos by clicking here (3/25/00)


Gilpin Railroad Historical Society

The first meet of the Gilpin Railroad Historical Society is July 28, 29, 30 2000.

Concept and Operations

Black Hawk is the home of the Gilpin Tramway engine house, and the transfer facilities to the Colorado and Southern Railroad. Modeled also is the large Polar Star Mill, which is the main destination of the loaded ore cars from the mines. Central City is represented by Eureka Street, and the Tramway water tank located near the crossing. All four mines( Grand Central, Gold Collar, Whiting & Grand Army ) are modeled after real mines located in Prosser Gulch, just above Central City. All are placed in their correct locations as viewed from the Gulch below.

Operation will be very authentic and simple. Trains will depart Black Hawk with empty ore cars, and perhaps coal, water or mining equipment for the mines as needed. Returning to Black Hawk, the trains will bring back loaded ore cars for either the Polar Star Mill or transfer to the C&S for delivery to the smelters in Denver.