The Omega Junction module is modeled after an ore-loading location called Omega, along Leopard Creek on the Rio Grande Southern (RGS) near Placerville in southwestern Colorado.
This is an overview of the office, tram house and boiler house at Omega, an important ore-loading facility on the railroad.
![Omega Junction [220207] _c.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/7f4237_41a1126df5d2497085c5ddbd9216b808~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_554,y_525,w_6857,h_2329/fill/w_976,h_332,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/Omega%20Junction%20%5B220207%5D%20_c.jpg)
The Omega Junction module with its tramway
Locomotive 461 leads a freight past the tram house and spur at Omega.
Another freight led by #461 leaves Omega and the tram tower on the hillside and passes below the red sandstone outcrops on Leopard Creek.
Omega was the location of a tipple/tram house on a spur along Leopard creek at milepost 25.8, about one mile west of Placerville on the Rio Grande Southern. The tram house was the lower terminus of an overhead tram line to a carnotite mine on the hillside. Carnotite is a uranium ore, and this mining area shipped significant amounts of ore for the Manhattan Project during WWII. Other structures at the site included a boiler house and office.
Omega Junction serves three purposes: as an ore-originating spur along the main line; as the start of the layout’s branch line; and as an entry into the hidden staging yard behind Gato. The red sedimentary rocks extend from Placerville and Leopard Creek onto Omega Junction to form a continuous scene along this side of the layout.
Track and scenery base done by John Scherr
Omega tram house built by Steve Hollenbach
Omega intermediate tram tower built by John Scherr
Omega boiler house built by Rich Young
Omega office built by John Massura
Backdrops painted by John Scherr
Omega rock castings and finished scenery done by Chuck Graham