K&T Steam Era track plan O

  • Size: 20′ x 22′
  • Scale: O
  • Minimum Mainline Radius: 48″
  • Minimum Aisle Width: 36″
  • Designed by Dan Bourque

K&T Logo PlainThe K&T was a compact little road that ran short trains to a handful of loaders. As such it makes a great subject for a layout of modest proportions or a layout of a larger scale.

The Layout

This layout, my first attempt at an O scale layout, captures the key elements of the K&T in the 1950s when coal trains were still going as far as Oz to serve the handful of remaining coal loaders using Southern hoppers and a small fleet of aging steam engines. The idea with this design was to capture some key scenes and compress them into a more modest layout. The key scenes I decided to include were the shop and interchange tracks at Stearns, the loader at Blue Heron (this prototype is now restored as a museum), the bridge at Yamacraw and Oz.

Compression is the name of the game on this layout, but it is still capable of hosting operatations similar to the prototype. The space between scenes is severely compressed, and the classic concrete arch bridge at Yamacraw is reduced from five spans to three. I added the loader at Worley, though I wasn’t able to keep its contemporary at Yamacraw. For both Blue Heron and Oz, only the load tracks are represented. Stearns is also severely compressed and stubbed, but there are enough tracks to handle the interchange and locomotives.

This plan also takes advantage of the 3+ percent grade from Stearns down to the Cumberland River to essentially gain a partial second deck without a helix. Operations would be simple, so any walkaround throttle system would work well to power the layout. This design could also be easily adapted to a bedroom-sized HO or N scale layout.

Track plan K&T steam era O scale

Operations

I am not an expert on K&T opeations, but I imagine operations went something like this. Pick up a locomotive (probably a 2-8-2) in Stearns and pull a string of empty hoppers from the Southern interchange tracks (don’t bother with a caboose, the K&T didn’t use them). Take the hoppers down the grade and switch them into the tipples, trading them for loads. Because of the steep grade against the loads, they would need to be taken up to Stearns a handful at a time, making for more operation between the decks than is apparent at first glance. Finally, the loads would be handed off to the Southern in the interchange tracks at Stearns. For variety, or if two operators are working, two separate mine runs could be dispatched to work the various loaders. There are certainly enough run-around moves and stub tracks to keep the operators busy for quite a while.

Things I Like About this Plan:

  • Captures key elements of the prototype
  • Space efficiencies of double-deck without a helix
  • No need for staging

Things I Don’t Like About this Plan:

  • Very compressed
  • Stub tracks instead of double ended

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4 Responses to K&T Steam Era track plan O

  1. Chuck says:

    Interesting that you call this a steam era track plan but include no space for engine facilities or turn-around. A couple of wyes (or at least one) with at least one coaling station for the railroad there would do the trick.

    • Dan Bourque says:

      Thanks for your comment, Chuck! I try to keep my track plans as close to the prototype track arrangements as possible, even if those track arrangements don’t make the most sense. The best I can tell, the K&T had no wye or turntable and didn’t turn their locomotives. Anyone building this layout could use a little modeler’s license and add a means of turning, but then it would operate differently than the real K&T. It’s a matter of what’s more important to the modeler—choices, choices…

  2. James Schneider says:

    Hi Dan. I found out about your site after finding The Roundhouse podcast. What a great forum!!! I model 2 rail O Scale. I model steam era N&W and Milwaukee Road. I’m not into P48. No way I want to convert all my articulateds. Just bought a home and would like to start building a layout possibly next year. Currently content converting all my locomotives to dcc and scratchbuilding various rolling stock projects. I have ideas but I could really help in the design department. O scale may limit things but there’s nothing like a O Scale Y6a at eye level. Lol. Would you be interested in helping me with a design. I’d love to do a Pigeon Creek shifter idea. Could talk more about it if your available to work on it for me. Thank you. Jim Schneider from New Berlin WI. What fee’s are associated with your projects?

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