Iron Gorge Subdivision

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Railroad Details Scale Status Clock Speed none at this time Communication verbal from roving dipatcher Control CVP DCC wireless throttles Crew Size 4 - 6 Dispatching TTTO Era 1938 to 1942 Forwarding Car cards & waybills Interchange Rio Grande Southern RR Layout Size 28'x 45' three decks Listed Jobs Engineers Locale San Juans Mtns of Colorado Subdivision Iron Gorge Subdivision Superintendent Bob Hamm

The Iron Gorge Subdivision
Featuring the Narrow Gauge Denver & Rio Grande Western (D&RGW)
and the Rio Grande Southern (RGS) Railroads

Set in the San Juan Mountains of southwest Colorado operations comprise the IG Subdivision of the D&RGW from Bakersville servicing the remote Silverton, Red Mountain and South Fork mining districts over the RGS line via trackage rights north to through Ridgway to Montrose and its 3rd division standard gauge lines with direct connections to Denver and Salt Lake City. Operations of the RGS extend from Lizard head pass and points south to Telluride and its mining district then north to Ridgway and its connection with the D&RGW.
The railroads were built in the late 1800s to haul out the gold and silver ores, but as time went on timber, oil, livestock and farm produce industries grew and became important shippers as well. But now it’s 1938 to 1942. The price of metals is down and natural resources are largely depleted. Having suffered through the great depression the railroads and industries are just starting to pull themselves up.

Photos from the Iron Gorge Subdivision

Iron Gorge Subdivision

Iron Gorge Subdivision

3 Photos


About Bob Hamm

For some forty five years Bob has passionately modeled the narrow gauge Denver & Rio Grande Western and Rio Grande Southern railroads in the San Juan mountains of southwest Colorado. Having visited and explored the area many times during that period Bob has immersed himself in the local history and the beauty of the mountains scenery. Bob's HOn3 layout, having spanned most of those forty years, is a combination of well known scenes on the Rio Grande Southern and some lesser recognized locations on the Denver & Rio Grande. The railroad, featured in the September 2017 issue of Model Railroader Magazine covers some 1300 square feet with two and three decks, a 400+ foot mainline and includes a large staging yard accessible at end of run. Bob's hobby passion also includes many years of participation and service in the NMRA. He has been active in the NFR, NER and has held division and region level offices in the latter and served as contest chair in the NER for some thirteen years becoming the NMRA national contest chair in 2001, a position held for eleven years. Bob now serves on the National BOD as the Eastern District Director and while continuing as Chief Judge and Contest Chair Emeritus. Bob earned MMR #322 in 2003 and currently has completed ten of the eleven certificates.