Sep 1, 2025

Nuckolls Packing scratchbuild - a Meat Distributor in Telluride

I've become intrigued with an the Nuckolls Packing outlet / business in Telluride (from 1902-ish to maybe 1950-ish). There was a siding serving this location. The site itself was originally Telluride Bottling.

Anyway - this building stored refrigerated meat, shipped from Nuckolls main plant in Pueblo CO (see Nuckolls building in Pueblo). Here's a photo of a smaller Nuckolls outlet (which is handy for the signage used).

The Telluride location was built of stone, and likely had thick cork insulation on the storage portion of the building. There's very few photos of it (that I could find); just a couple distant shots in a few of the usual RGS books. The building no longer exists, but a now-tavern which was of similar construction right across the street DOES still exist, and gave me some detail on the stonework, as I assume they were probably similar materials - the Stronghouse Brew Pub. Here's a couple other photos of the prototype:


Steve Harris did a version of this building, and published his plans in a couple of articles (one in the NG Gazette and another in Model Railroader). Those include some plans, which gave me a start on the dimensions for my version. I did a lot of digging into the photos I could find, and noticed a couple details different from Steve's model - but only in certain photos! I suspect the building changed somewhat over time, and both his and my version are likely correct for certain years.

I drew plans of my version, and had a friend lasercut some Monster Modelworks Small Mixed Cut Stone walls. I used wood for the lintels, and Monster Modelworks brick sills around my windows. And then picked out a few Tichy windows to match what I saw in the drawings.

Here's the windows I selected:


So here's the beginning - the lasercut stone walls, and my own manually-cut roof ends (you'll need 4, as there are 2 roofs on this building):


The walls go together with 1/4" square stock to brace the corners, and some other bracing on the interior. For lintels, I used thin wood over the windows, and then the Monster sills on the bottom. You'll see I'm also adding the bracing for the porch at one end:


The whole thing is coming together now. To support the roof ends, I've added some bracing on the end walls.


I debated a while about how to paint this, as I wanted to pull out all the amazing stone detail. I ended up doing pretty much what I did for the layout's rockwork - a dark charcoal undercoat, then lighter colors over it - in this case a couple tans / browns (dry-brushed - to preserve the detail between the stones). On top of that, I used colored pencils (from AK I believe), and just scrubbed them over the stones. I'm pretty pleased with the results:


More later!

Dec 3, 2023

A few samples from my last operating session

And some photos:

Nov 20, 2023

RGS #41 - back in operation

RGS #41 - normally based at Knotts Berry Farm, returned to Durango in Feb-2022 for a rebuild. In Nov 2023, she's out for test runs as the rebuild is being completed. Enjoy!

Apr 12, 2022

Town of Rico - including RGS right-of-way and mines - to be sold?

So, anyone got a cool $10M handy? The entire town of Rico, the mines above it apparently, and lots of the area around are up for sale. This realty site has details, lots of maps, etc. Local TV has a report about it as well, which includes some video. That would be a huge loss of some RGS history and ROW, if it goes.

Jan 8, 2022

RGS #20 - travels and operations in 2021

The restored RGS #20 has been making the rounds, operating in a number of places during 2021. The Colorado RR Museum posted a nice video of her travels:

Dec 10, 2021

RGS Story books - new copies up for sale!

Some time back, I purchased an entire 2nd set of the famous RGS Story books, thinking they would eventually be hard to find and that having a 2nd set might be good - for friends, investing, or something. I have started putting these up on eBay. All are brand new, never read. Currently: RGS Story v4 - Ophir Loop to Rico - http://ebay.us/RY42bT?cmpnId=5338273189 RGS Story v5 - Rico and the Mines - http://ebay.us/eCYvZX?cmpnId=5338273189 RGS Story v3 - Vance Jct to Ophir - http://ebay.us/RY42bT?cmpnId=5338273189

May 23, 2021

Major updates to the online Google RGS right-of-way map!

Some years ago, preparing for an RGS exploration trp, I discovered mapping, on Google maps, and started 'drawing' the RGS right-of-way, looking at satellite imagery, and pairing what I found with the old right-of-way maps in various RGS books.

I got a bit carried away, and started adding lumber branches, bridge locations, and other items.  I took the trip, and it was helpful to find the actual locations.  Then life happened and it sat. That was 2007.

Later though, Jim Marlette discovered it, and started filling in more details, and adjusting the accuracy of specific locations, and also filling some of the gaps.  Then more recently, Dog Bergmann discovered it and spent last fall and winter making massive updates, especially by adding icons and photo links.

It's now a rather amazing resource - check it out!

https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1wV0uynA8j_AFx3KCzV-QJKYzEck&ll=37.754695227075736%2C-108.40542691764027&z=9

Feb 21, 2021

Winter 2021 projects

Darn magazines. I read an article in NGSL Gazette about logging turns out of McPhee - the author emulated a prototype practice with 3 loads of logs into McPhee from elsewhere on the layout, and 3 empties back out. 

 
I was inspired, as that scheme would make a nice addition to my op sessions, but now I've got another 6 flatcars on the workbench! I really, honestly, want to finish up my rolling stock projects and get back to structures, especially finishing up the Ridgway depot.
 
But alas, the idea of tweaking the balance and flow of traffic in op sessions keeps leading me to rebuilding used rolling stock I've picked up here and there. For winter, I've got about 15 more wood boxcars, (now) 6 flatcars, and a couple of cabeese for good measure. 
 
Paint, trucks, and re-lettering on nearly all of them is complete; I'm working on trucks & couplers now. Once done, I'll have to wait for warmer weather for dullcote over the decals, and then weathering.

Jan 23, 2021

Layout tour on YouTube!!

Here it is folks - my first YouTube video, giving an overview of the entire layout.

 


Dec 14, 2020

Some great new structure kit options!

 Merry Christmas everyone!!! In case you weren't aware - Raggs is producing the Dolores JJ Harris warehouse in HO (as well as the previous S). He's taking orders now!  

See http://raggstoriches.biz/

 JJHhome2

 

And, Crystal River Products has their kits in production again - on a made-to-order basis.  These include the Vance Jct coal pocket, stockyards and chutes, and water tanks - in several scales.

See https://www.crystalriverproducts.com/cacti?page=2


 


 

 

Aug 11, 2020

Podcast time again! And Trees, lots of trees.

Podcast time

 I had a chance to visit with Brett and Todd Wiley on their BenchTime podcast last week. We had a great chat about trees, structures, and scenery versus operators. :-)

Bench Time #139: Steven Haworth is BACK | Rio Grande Southern Railroad

 

Scenery work

Also, it's been a while and I'm overdue for sharing some photos of the work I've been doing.  I went back to a number of completed structures and 'planted' them finally (which for some reason was intimidating, and I dragged my feet on it).  But I'm happy w/ the results - see this older post - or some updates at Vance Jct after adding some bushes:




Trees

And, with summer weather, I finally pushed myself to tackle tree-building, and ended up making a pile.  Some of these started as unflocked pines / conifers - which I sprayed and then flocked with fine dark green ground foams.

And the I dug into SuperTrees, taking a few steps:

  • Straightening the sticks / trees (I used steam from a teapot, outside so as not to steam up the entire house)
  • Soaking them in very dilute white glue / water (to strengthen the fragile branches)
  • Painting them (just rattle cans of spray paint, in various browns, grays, dark greenish/black)
  • Then spray glue (Gorilla Heavy Duty Spray Adhesive) and flocking with all kinds of things, including:
    • Super Leafs in various greens (nothing too bright)
    • Dark green ground foam (both course and fine)
    • 4mm static grass (in the darkest color I could find)

Painting SuperTree trunks:


 

Trees in progress:



 

Lots of bushes too!



You can judge the results for yourself.  The dark green flocking on the SuperTrees looks like some types of conifer to me (at least for background trees).  And SuperTree material yields all kinds of smaller stuff, so I made a lot of bushes and small trees as well.

Blending trees and photo backdrops:

I'm playing with layers of color and texture here, trying to create depth and blur the distinction between physical models and photos.  And I'm having a blast playing with the effects!



Tracks thru trees:

In these areas, I had to be pretty careful, balancing the look of track running thru dense woods, but also allowing access for my operators, maintenance, track cleaning etc.  The trees also have strategic gaps - not easily noticed I hope - which allow my arm to reach into the scene where needed.  Whenever we can return to operations, we'll see how well it works when people are switching on the branch.