The Moffat Line

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Rob Biddison’s Moffat Line of the Denver and Rio Grande Western

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The Moffat Line of the Denver and Rio Grande Western represents the Rio Grande’s main yard in North Denver and runs West over the Moffat Line. The Moffat Line is set in the 1960s with first generation diesels providing most of the motive power. The Rio Grande also serves as a bridge rout for other major railroads.

Lots of yard action with trains terminating and originating at North Yard.

Denver Union Station is also bustling with activity. The California Zephyr, The Denver Zephyr, The Prospector, The Yampa Valley and The La Junta Chief, are a few name trains that visit Denver daily. There is plenty of activity at the Railway Express Agency, Commissary, and the Railway Post Office.
 
Operations consist of the following;
Scheduled freights and passenger trains.
Local peddlers, and extras.
Industrial switching.

The railroad is fully signaled with a CTC machine.
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Rob's fine layout was featured on the cover of Railroad Model Craftsman in the October 2023 issue. Photo by Dan Munson.

Layout Accessability Information

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Entrance to the layout is up three steps to the house front door, through the entryway hallway, then down a flight of steps to the basement crew lounge and train room.
Layout at a Glance 
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Layout at a glance
  • Division or location: Moffat Line/ Denver
  • Interchange Railroads: Santa Fe, CB&Q, Missouri Pacific, Rock Island, Union Pacific, C&S.
  • Mainline: 350’
  • Height: 53” to 65”
  • Style: Walk around (Linear)
  • Scenery: Approximately 70% done.  The majority of the structures are in place.
  • Access:  Steps down to basement
  • Car Forwarding: Car cards and Waybills
  • Scale: HO
  • Era: 1960s
  • Control system: Digitrax
  • Scale Clock Speed: 3:1
  • Length of Session: 9 hours (fast clock time)
  • Number of Crew: 11
  • Train Control: The Railroad is fully signaled with a CTC machine
Jobs on the Layout 
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Jobs on the Layout
  • Dispatcher
  • Yard Master plus classification helper.  Yard Master also operates an engine
  • Denver Union Station Master and classification help. Both operate an engine.
  • Freight train pool operators
  • Passenger pool operators
  • Local peddler
  • Belt Line switch job
  • South Denver switch job
 
About the Layout Owner 
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About the Layout Owner
Rob is a real hip daddy-o!

Photo Gallery

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