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DICK'S ROOT RIVER & SOUTHERN

OWNER: Dick Kloes
LAYOUT TYPE: Scale around the wall - two level
RAIL CODE: 148
POWERED BY: DC Dual Cab

Dicks first layout was a very impressive walk around Classic American Flyer which came with a lot of compliments. As most modelers find, his desire to improve his layout went beyond what he had. His flyer layout was dismantled and a new "round the wall" pike was developed in terms that would allow his operations to be both Hirail and Scale. 

The Root River and Southern is an fictional branch line from the Milwaukee Road somewhere west in the Rockies. The RR&S hauls general goods along with the primary export function of coal and lumber. Passengers arrive and depart at River Junction depot while dry goods are stored at the River Junction Warehouse. The service is a single mainline with passing sidings. Consists from the Milwaukee road come from the lower level and have to go over the mountain to reach River Junction.

To run either version of wheel-sets on the same rail takes a lot of consideration up front when dealing with switches and crossovers due to flange height and inner wheel spacing. Some of Dick's switches were custom built to allow either type of wheel set to pass over without it considering derailing. Locomotives are from American models with exceptions of 1 diesel switcher from S-Helper Service. Dick also has converted some flyers over to can motor as well to deal with the DC current efficiently. The saw mill was scratch built as well as some of the other accessories. One of the coaling towers is a Lehigh Valley Models kit while the other is modified from Plasticville. The terrain was constructed using plaster over cardboard.

Photos by Don Goeke

On a somber note... Dick has sadly passed away. Ron has contributed something about Dick and his involvement with the club for many years. 

I am very sorry to report that member of the Badgerland S Gaugers for 45 years, Richard (Dick) Kloes passed away peacefully in his sleep early this morning. He had a valiant fight with cancer and finally wore out.

In all of the years that Dick belonged to our club, he was what is called a "participating" member. At one time or another he held nearly every officers position in the Badgerland. S Gaugers. He worked on the club's modular layout, the club's table top layout table, ran the club's swap meets, hosted club meetings at his home, had open houses for conventions and was always there to help out when needed. His home train layout was one of the finest in the Midwest and appeared in the February 2003 NASG Dispatch in the "Meet an S Gauger" section. His scratch built bridges were featured. The diagram did not show the 16 ft.yard yard that was added at a later date.

Dick was not only my friend, but a friend to all that met him. The Root River Southern may be shut down, but will long be remembered,  S Gauge has lost one of it's finest. BSG will miss him.

At this time I have no other details to report.

Ron Schlicht