Rio Grande Southern RR - Workbooks & Modeling Resources
This section lists books, videos and other references for the RGS. Many of these items are out-of-print
or otherwise hard-to-find, so to help locate them (in case you'd like to own them yourself), I've
included links to places where they can be found. Categories include:
Master Model Railroading books:
An amazing set of books by the producer of the QuickPic books (see below), this new series covers
3 areas - Electronics and Animation (2 books), Towns, Cities, Structures (2 books) and
Scenery (2 books). These are unlike most other modelng books, and feature extensive photography and very
detailed step-by-step instructions on the topics covered. The first scenry book, on rushing rapids, is
something I've never seen anywhere else. Check 'em out!
Find this book at:
BHI Publications
The Scratchbuilders, Craftsman and Narrow Gauge Buyers Guide:
2003, Light Iron Digest, Washingtonville, OH, 80+ pages (softcover).
A listing of manufacturers, vendors, dealers and suppliers catering to model railroaders. Each full page
listing will have the manufactures name, product line or list, photos, and/or diagrams of select products.
Name, address, phone number, email and/or fax numbers, web site and payment options. This is a "first" for
the scratchbuilder/craftsman hobbyist. Find this book at:
Light Iron Digest
RGS Freight Car Modeling Guide:
Ron Rudnick, 2003, (self published), Phoenix, AZ, 25+ pages (softcover)
Another new book on the RGS! This is a guide including plans, histories, rosters and other surprises. Plans
include 24 and 27 foot box cars, coal cars, flat cars and work cars. Also includes drawings for Silverton
Northern and Silverton box cars and Montezuma Lumber Co coal car. Surprises include the RGS 300 series coal
cars. Contrary to popular myth, they were not D&RG 8300 coal cars with the eight painted over. Only about a
dozen of them were former 8300 series cars, the rest were from D&RG 6800 flat cars up, and included several
RGS coal and flat cars. Available directly from the author for $15 plus $1.50 postage. Write to:
Ron Rudnick, 2050 W. Dunlap D-34, Phoenix, Arizona 85021. You can also email him at
spark@quik.com. Or try the links below. Find this book at:
AlibriseBay
Rio Grande High-Side Gondolas:
Stan Rhine, 2019, (White River Productions), color and b&w images (softcover, 8.5"x11")
Rio Grande High-Side Gondolas is a must for railfans and modelers interested in narrow gauge rolling stock.
In spite of the author¿s quote in the introduction as ¿a brief, incomplete history,¿ this book is anything
but. Dr. Rhine has chronicled these cars for decades and this is a detailed study of the Rio Grande¿s narrow
gauge highside gondolas. The book traces all the major classes of cars, from introduction to the railroad,
through the many variants and permutations of the car type, to the end of their service lives. These cars
formed the backbone of the coal, mineral, and loose material transport and in so doing, had long and
productive lives on the line with many examples still extant, including some in regular service as passenger
cars on tourist and museum railroads.
Find this book at:
White River ProdeBay
Taking Stock:
Vic Stone, 1992, Creedstone Publications, Hampshire, UK, 254 pages (hardcover, spiral-bound)
An extremely detailed look at D&RGW stock cars, aimed at historian, railfan and modeler. The book documents
these cars to the Nth degree, and includes official D&RGW plans for the various types of cars, covers variations
of each car type, and many variations of car lettering. It is a very comprehensive book. The cover is unique,
and folds out into a 1/2" scale drawing of the DRGW 550-5849 series stock car. Unfortunately, the book is
currently out-of-print and hard to find. Vic has a few copies left in England, available for the original
price of $75 each. Contact information is Creedstone Publications, 23 Sinah Lane, Hayling Island, Hampshire,
UK, PO11 OHH, Telephone: 02392 463913, or email Vic at:
creedstonepubs@aol.com. Or try the links below. Find this book at:
AmazonAlibriseBay
John Maxwell Collection:
This is a very complete set of drawings, of many narrow-gauge items, especially RGS items. Drawings
include bridges, cabooses, freight cars, locomotives, maps, work equipment, passenger cars, streetcars,
structures, track, signs, and other items. There was also a large collection of photosgraphs on the site.
Unfortunately, the collection and website were managed by John's son Bruce, who has now passed away. As of
May 2021, my understanding is this has been donated to the Denver Public Library, but has not been digitized
and posted (yet).
These softcover books are a collection of very detailed photographs of various railroads, including a large number of
narrow gauge and RGS topics. They've been created by Tim Mulina and various guest authors / photographers. More
details and ordering information is available on Tim's main site.
I've included below those of Tim's books that may be of interest to the RGS modeler.
Quick Pic Book - RGS Bunk/Outfit 01789:
Mike Condor & Tim Mulina, 2003, BHI/Rail Systems, O'Fallon, MO, 58 pages (softcover). 118 b&w photos
A detailed, photographic reference for
RGS boxcar 1789 / Outfit car 01789.
The carbody photographed can also be used for boxcars D&RG and D&RGW 4000-4099, Silverton 500-544, Silverton
Northern 100-109 and US Naval Base Pearl Harbor 1942 and later. Find this book at:
BHI/Rail SystemsAlibriseBay
Quick Pic Book - RGS Goose #1:
Tim Mulina, 2004, BHI/Rail Systems, O'Fallon, MO, 50 pages (softcover). 84 b&w photos
A detailed, photographic reference for a newly-built replica of
RGS Goose #1. This was the first
Goose, and acted as a prototype for the larger geese to follow. It was scrapped by the RGS when the later
geese were built. This replica was built a few years ago and is in private ownership. It operates from time
to time, at RailFest in Durango and elsewhere. Find this book at:
BHI/Rail SystemsAlibriseBay
Quick Pic Book - RGS Goose #5:
Mike Condor & Tim Mulina, 2004, BHI/Rail Systems, O'Fallon, MO, 62 pages (softcover). 106 b&w photos
A detailed, photographic reference for
RGS Goose #5. This is one of 4 Geese
that were modified for tourist hauling by the RGS. It's now owned by the Galloping Goose Historical Society
in Dolores, CO, and is operating! Find this book at:
BHI/Rail SystemsAlibriseBay
Quick Pic Book - RGS Goose #6:
Mike Condor & Tim Mulina, 2004, BHI/Rail Systems, O'Fallon, MO, 50 pages (softcover). 81 b&w photos
A detailed, photographic reference for
RGS Work Goose #6. This is the only
of the RGS's 7 geese that was dedicated to MOW service. It's owned and on display at the
Colorado RR Museum, and is operating sometimes. Find this book at:
BHI/Rail SystemsAlibriseBay
Quick Pic Book - RGS Locomotive #20:
Mike Condor & Tim Mulina, 2004, BHI/Rail Systems, O'Fallon, MO, 66 pages (softcover). 132 b&w photos
A detailed, photographic reference for
RGS #20. This is a 4-6-0 originally built
for the Florence & Cripple Creek, and is now on display at the
Colorado RR Museum. It's owned by the Rocky Mountain Railroad Club. Find this book at:
BHI/Rail SystemsAlibriseBay
Quick Pic Book - RGS Locomotive #42:
Mike Condor & Tim Mulina, 2004, BHI/Rail Systems, O'Fallon, MO, 66 pages (softcover). 149 b&w photos
A detailed, photographic reference for
RGS #42. This is a 2-8-0
originally built for the Denver & Rio Grande, and is now on display in the roundhouse museum of the
Durango & Silverton RR. It has been cosmetically restored,
but is very worn and has serious frame damage; it's unlikely it'll ever operate again. Find this book at:
BHI/Rail SystemsAlibriseBay
Quick Pic Book - C&S / RGS 7015-7064 series NG Stockcars:
Tim Mulina, tba, BHI/Rail Systems, O'Fallon, MO, 54 pages (softcover). 119 b&w photos
More of Tim's very complete photographic reference books, this one covering the
C&S's 7015-7064 phase-1 stockcars,
which were used on the C&S and later on the RGS. Find this book at:
BHI/Rail SystemsAlibriseBay
Quick Pic Book - D&RGW 3000-series NG Boxcars:
Tim Mulina, 2003, BHI/Rail Systems, O'Fallon, MO, 42 pages (softcover). 64 b&w photos
Another of Tim's very complete photographic reference books, this one covering the
D&RGW's 3000-series box cars. Find this book at:
BHI/Rail SystemsAlibriseBay
Quick Pic Book - D&RGW 6200-6219-series NG Flatcars:
Tim Mulina, 2003, BHI/Rail Systems, O'Fallon, MO, 42 pages (softcover). 78 b&w photos
More of Tim's very complete photographic reference books, this one covering the
D&RGW's 6200-series flat cars. Find this book at:
BHI/Rail SystemsAlibriseBay
Quick Pic Book - D&RGW 6500-series (class 23 & 24) NG Flatcars:
Tim Mulina, 2006, BHI/Rail Systems, O'Fallon, MO, 54 pages (softcover). 118 b&w photos
Another of Tim's very complete photographic reference books, this one covering the D&RGW 6500 series
(Class 23 & 24) flats. This book includes never before published photos of the class 24 cars as well as a
number of others that were taken in the early 1960's by Maurie Walker in addition to the normal highly
detailed photography that the series is know for. The photos include some of the special use cars that the
D&S uses.
D&RGW's 6500-series flat cars. Find this book at:
BHI/Rail SystemsAlibriseBay
Quick Pic Book - D&RGW 700-series NG Drop-Bottom Gondolas:
Tim Mulina, 2003, BHI/Rail Systems, O'Fallon, MO, 70 pages (softcover). 115 b&w photos
More of Tim's very complete photographic reference books, this one covering the
D&RGW's 700-series drop-bottom gons. Find this book at:
BHI/Rail SystemsAlibriseBay
Quick Pic Book - D&RGW 1000-series NG High-Side Gondolas:
Tim Mulina, 2003, BHI/Rail Systems, O'Fallon, MO, 50 pages (softcover). 105 b&w photos
More of Tim's very complete photographic reference books, this one covering the
D&RGW's 1000-series high-side gons,
including cars numbered 1000 thru 1499. Find this book at:
BHI/Rail SystemsAlibriseBay
Quick Pic Book - D&RGW 1500-1899-series NG Gondolas:
Tim Mulina, 2003, BHI/Rail Systems, O'Fallon, MO, 54 pages (softcover). 89 b&w photos
More of Tim's very complete photographic reference books, this one covering the
D&RGW's 1500-series gons,
including cars numbered 1500 thru 1899, and including both high-side gons and pipe gons. Find this book at:
BHI/Rail SystemsAlibriseBay
Quick Pic Book - D&RGW long NG Reefers 150-189:
Tim Mulina, 2003, BHI/Rail Systems, O'Fallon, MO, 54 pages (softcover). 104 b&w photos
More of Tim's very complete photographic reference books, this one covering the
D&RGW's 150-series long reefers,
including cars numbered 150 thru 169. Find this book at:
BHI/Rail SystemsAlibriseBay
Quick Pic Book - D&RGW Narrow Gauge Consolidations in Color:
Tim Mulina, 2009, BHI/Rail Systems, O'Fallon, MO, 46 pages (softcover). 157 color photos
A book with the same focus as the Narrow Gauge Mikados in Color (see below), except this one focuses on
the 2-8-0 consolidations of the D&RGW, including the C-16, C-17, C-18 and C-19 locomotives.
BHI/Rail SystemsAlibriseBay
Quick Pic Book - D&RGW Narrow Gauge Mikados in Color:
Tim Mulina, 2009, BHI/Rail Systems, O'Fallon, MO, 46 pages (softcover). 224 color photos
Tim notes that they've asked repeatedly over the years by modelers and custom painters as well as fans for
books that show the actual colors and weathering patterns on the K-27, K-28, K-36 & K-37 locos. We have been
listening and this is the result of your requests. This book is full color so you can see the subtle shadings
of grays, the lime and rust and water and oil spots, the places where cinders land during the right wind
conditions and many other details usually overlooked. These are almost all digital images so we were able to
get the color as accurate as possible
BHI/Rail SystemsAlibriseBay
Quick Pic Book - D&RGW short NG Reefers 32-81:
Tim Mulina, 2003, BHI/Rail Systems, O'Fallon, MO, 54 pages (softcover). 91 b&w photos
More of Tim's very complete photographic reference books, this one covering the
D&RGW's short reefers,
including cars numbered 32 thru 81. Find this book at:
BHI/Rail SystemsAlibriseBay
Quick Pic Book - D&RGW 5500-5849-series NG Stockcars:
Tim Mulina, 2003, BHI/Rail Systems, O'Fallon, MO, 54 pages (softcover). 119 b&w photos
More of Tim's very complete photographic reference books, this one covering the
D&RGW's 5500-series stockcars,
including cars numbered 5500 thru 5849. Find this book at:
BHI/Rail SystemsAlibriseBay
Quick Pic Book - D&RGW NG RPO / Baggage car #60:
Tim Mulina, 2003, BHI/Rail Systems, O'Fallon, MO, 2nd ed, 34 pages (softcover). 36 b&w photos
More of Tim's very complete photographic reference books, this one covering the
D&RGW 60 RPO / Baggage-Mail car. Find this book at:
BHI/Rail SystemsAlibriseBay
Quick Pic Book - D&RGW NG Coaches 280 and 284:
Tim Mulina, 2003, BHI/Rail Systems, O'Fallon, MO, 54 pages (softcover). 104 b&w photos
More of Tim's very complete photographic reference books, this one covering
D&RGW coaches 280
and 284. According to Al Kamm (w/the exception of the bay window on the three Chili Line configured
coaches 284, 306, & 320), the following cars were similar to the 280 & 284: 256, 270-276, 278-283, 285, 287,
289-292, 297, 297, 300-305, 307-309, 313-319, & 321. Find this book at:
BHI/Rail SystemsAlibriseBay
Mike Blazek has these created loose-leaf format workbooks give detailed information on yards, structures, tracks,
bridges, etc. Detailed yard and area maps are provided where appropriate.
Mike also has a large number of very detailed drawings available for numerous buildings used by the RGS and the
towns it served - mines, stations, section houses, etc. These are scale drawings, in either HO or S scale.
For either workbooks or plans, visit Mike's website Or email him
Narrow Gauge Workbook - Vol 1 - Rico:
Mike Blazek, 19--, (self published), Costa Mesa, CA, --- pages
(description mostly from Amazon) This is one of a series of amazingly detailed workbooks of specific narrow
gauge locations. In this one, the
focus is the Rio Grande Southern's Rico yards about 1920. There's a hsitory of the town, then 7 chapters of
detail - maps (RGS, Rico with Enterprise branch, Grand View smelter schematic, Enterprise Mine schematic), the
yards (plans for the South, Central and North yards), trackwork (track, ties and ballast, rail, turnouts,
switchstands), buildings and structures (paint color schemes, building and structure inventory, space
requirements for buildings, full sized and reduced scale plans, list of available plans), bridges (Rico's
bridges, Bridges 66A, 66B and 66C), details (analyzing photographs, sketches and signs), operational
possibilities and resources. The delightful pen and ink drawings bring Rico to life and make it easy to
visualize the railroad, the yards and the structures. Unpaginated but about 2" thick.
Find this book at:
AmazonAlibriseBay
Narrow Gauge Workbook - Vol 2 - Telluride:
Mike Blazek, 19--, (self published), Costa Mesa, CA, --- pages Find this book at:
AlibriseBay
Narrow Gauge Workbook - Vol 3 - Dolores:
Mike Blazek, 19--, (self published), Costa Mesa, CA, --- pages Find this book at:
AlibriseBay
Narrow Gauge Workbook - Vol 4 - Ridgway:
Mike Blazek, 19--, (self published), Costa Mesa, CA, --- pages Find this book at:
AlibriseBay
Narrow Gauge Workbook - Vol 5 - Placerville-Dallas Divide:
Mike Blazek, 19--, (self published), Costa Mesa, CA, --- pages Find this book at:
AlibriseBay
Narrow Gauge Workbook - Vol 6 - Ophir:
Mike Blazek, 19--, (self published), Costa Mesa, CA, --- pages Find this book at:
AlibriseBay
Narrow Gauge Workbook - Vol 7 - Brown - Vance Jct - Matterhorn:
Mike Blazek, 19--, (self published), Costa Mesa, CA, --- pages Find this book at:
AlibriseBay
Narrow Gauge Workbook - Vol 8 - Durango - West Durango:
Mike Blazek, 19--, (self published), Costa Mesa, CA, --- pages Find this book at:
AlibriseBay
Narrow Gauge Workbook - Vol 9 - Pandora:
Mike Blazek, 19--, (self published), Costa Mesa, CA, --- pages Find this book at:
AlibriseBay
Narrow Gauge Workbook - Vol 11 - RGS 1919 ICC Valuation Report:
Mike Blazek, 19--, (self published), Costa Mesa, CA, --- pages Find this book at:
AlibriseBay
Narrow Gauge Workbook - Vol 17 - Mancos - Lizard Head - Coke Ovens:
Mike Blazek, 19--, (self published), Costa Mesa, CA, --- pages Find this book at:
AlibriseBay
Model RR videos on YouTube:
There are a suprising - and growing - number of videos on YouTube featuring modeling or scenery building, many
of them focused on narrow-gauge or similar layouts. I'm trying to maintain a personal playlist with these
videos here, as I find them.
Building the RGS vol 1 - Building Durango, Part 1:
Green Frog Productions, 2001?. 60 minutes. Color.
A new building series tracking the construction of a major RGS layout in On3 set in the 1930s. This volume
includes benchwork, track laying, scratch-building the roundhouse, car shops, ash pit and more. Includes
slides and film footage from Mallory Hope Ferrell, and (of course) video of the new layout being built. It's
narrated by John Koch. Find this video at:
eBay
Green Frog: mainGreenFrog
Building the RGS vol 2 - Building Durango, Part 2:
Green Frog Productions, 2001?. 60 minutes. Color.
A new building series tracking the construction of a major RGS layout in On3. This volume includes a fascia
for the layout, ballasting in the Durango yard, shrubs & bushes, scratch-building the Durango depot, a mine
retaining wall, a tunnel portal, rock casting (using rubber molds), a backdrop, and details inside the car
shop. Find this video at:
eBay
Green Frog: mainGreenFrog
Building the RGS vol 3 - Building Dolores, Part 1:
Green Frog Productions, 2001?. 60 minutes. Color.
A new building series tracking the construction of a major RGS layout in On3. This volume starts work on
Dolores - benchwork, track laying (including stub switches & their wiring), a photo backdrop, a unique access
door, wiring, scenery, and planning for the town which will include some bas relief work. Find this video at:
eBay
Green Frog: mainGreenFrog
Building the RGS vol 4 - Building Dolores, Part 2:
Green Frog Productions, 2001?. 70 minutes. Color.
A new building series tracking the construction of a major RGS layout in On3. This continues construction in
Dolores, including the Dolores river, cottonwood trees, more buildings, bridges, a canyon, pine trees, a
retaining wall, and blending the 3d scenery into the photo backdrop. Find this video at:
eBay
Green Frog: mainGreenFrog
Building the RGS vol 5 - New Mexico Lumber Co, Part 1:
Green Frog Productions, 2002?. 60 minutes, video and DVD. Color.
A new building series tracking the construction of a major RGS layout in On3. Part 1 of a three part section
covering The New Mexico Lumber Co in McPhee. This video includes construction of two plaster buildings, a std
company house in styrene, a small plaster cabin, and some work on a tunnel and trackwork under the logging
camp. A great series covering consruction of an entire smal town, w/lots of buildings being built from
scratch. Find this video at:
eBay
Green Frog: mainGreenFrog
Building the RGS vol 6 - New Mexico Lumber Co, Part 2:
Green Frog Productions, 2002?. 60 minutes, video and DVD. Color.
A new building series tracking the construction of a major RGS layout in On3. This continues construction in
McPhee, including the Company Store (w/an an interior), a highly detailed Donkey Engine, and beginning
installation of a photo mural built in vol 5. Water and a water tank are also built. Find this video at:
eBay
Green Frog: mainGreenFrog
Building the RGS vol 7 - New Mexico Lumber Co, Part 3:
Green Frog Productions, 2003. 63 minutes, video and DVD. Color.
A new building series tracking the construction of a major RGS layout in On3. This finishes up construction
of the New Mexico Lumber Co area, and includes installing the photo mural, construction of the sawmill, slash
burner and engine house, and finishing up scenery around McPhee. Lots of operating shots from a typical day
in McPhee as well. Find this video at:
eBay
Green Frog: mainGreenFrog
Building the RGS vol 8 - Back to Durango:
Green Frog Productions, 2004(?). 59 minutes, video and DVD. Color.
A new building series tracking the construction of a major RGS layout in On3. This moves back to Durango to
cover some rarely-modeled items: construction and placement of the Graden Flour Mill, the stock pens south of
Durango, the balloon loop in the yards, and a small passenger-car storage yard just west of the
roundhouse. Find this video at:
eBay
Green Frog: mainGreenFrog
Building the RGS vol 9 - Dolores to Rico:
Green Frog Productions, 2004(?). 73 minutes, video and DVD. Color.
A new building series tracking the construction of a major RGS layout in On3. This moves along the main from
Dolores to Rico, and includes the construction of a huge 8'x10' rock wall and a tunnel leading into Rico,
an 18' photo-mural backdrop behind Rico (focusing on blending the backdrop and 'live' scenery), and finally
the addition (in Rico) of a large sampliing mill and ore bin. Find this video at:
eBay
Green Frog: mainGreenFrog
Modeling the Prototype - 4 Narrow Gauge Layouts:
Green Frog Productions, 19--. 55 minutes. Color.
This video covers four finished layouts from Paul Scoles, Dave Woodrell, Jim Noonan, and Bill Busacca. Paul
Scoles freelance layout features Sn3 railroading in the Pacific Northwest. Dave Woodrell's Sn3 layout shows
us a late 30s RGS from Ridgway to Rico. Jim Noonan's modeling shows us a HOn3 RGS from Ridgway to Telluride.
And finally, Bill Busacca's Sn3 covers the RGS town of Dolores in the 40's. Find this video at:
eBay
Green Frog: mainGreenfrog
The Rio Grande Southern - Modeling the Prototype:
Green Frog Productions, 1995. 60 minutes. Color.
A photo excursion of Duane Danielson's On3 RGS layout, with additional b&w photos from
Mallory Hope Ferrell. Video also includes a history of the RGS, tips on modeling the
line, a mini-clinic on building evergreen trees, and other building & scenery tips.
In print and easy to find.
Here's some reviews of the tape.
Find this video at:
AmazoneBay
Green Frog: mainGreenfrog
Scratch Building Structures:
Green Frog Productions, 2005. 60 minutes, video and DVD. Color.
This video was created by taking material from the 'Building The RGS Series' (see above), and adding a lot
more details specifically related to scratch-building several of the structures described in that series.
Apparently there was a good deal more material that didn't fit into those videos, and it has been collected
here. There are four structures covered: a small boilder house, the RGS office building, a repair facility,
and the proposed Illium depot - all RGS structures. Find this video at:
eBay
Master Model Railroading books:
An amazing set of books by the producer of the QuickPic books (see below), this new series covers
3 areas - Electronics and Animation (2 books), Towns, Cities, Structures (2 books) and
Scenery (2 books). These are unlike most other modelng books, and feature extensive photography and very
detailed step-by-step instructions on the topics covered. The first scenry book, on rushing rapids, is
something I've never seen anywhere else. Check 'em out!
Find this book at:
BHI Publications