N&W North Fork Branch, WV track plan HO

Track plan N&W North Fork Branch, WV HO scale
  • Size: 10′ x 16′
  • Scale: HO
  • Minimum Radius: 24″
  • Minimum Aisle Width: 24″
  • Designed by Dan Bourque

N&W Logo tuscan PlainThe Norfolk & Western had coal branches all across southern West Virginia. The North Fork Branch stemmed from the busy Bluefield-Williamson mainline of the Pocahontas Division. Like most branches, the North Fork was filled with loaders and a variety of track arrangements to serve them. This is what makes branch line modeling so great for those who love switching. This line was active into the NS era, though I am not sure which loaders remained active.

The Layout

This layout is designed to fit into a medium-sized bedroom and … Read more

N&W Norton Yard Brakes and Tight Tunnels

NS working Norton Yard, VA

by Harry J. Dolan (Retired NS Trainmaster)

N&W Logo blue PlainWorking the N&W’s Norton yard in Southwestern Virginia required sets of six-axle locomotives.  The yard has a 1% descending grade from west to east.  Tracks 1 thru 8 (original numbering) hold 40 hoppers each; at 100 tons each, that is 4000 tons.  One six-axle unit at Norton couldn’t handle much more than switching the caboose track.  One Dash-8 would not even pull the 21 loads out of Norton Coal (switch off N&W Main at the east end of yard that crossed the Miller Yard Main of Interstate in Norton).

Just to give you an example as to what tonnage and a 1% grade will do … Read more

N&W Train Symbols

N&W SD40 1596, Home Creek, VA

by Harry J. Dolan (Retired NS Trainmaster)

N&W Logo blue PlainThe N&W used train symbols to identify its trains.  Train symbols are different from train numbers.  Train numbers are used to designate scheduled trains (those who’s authority to occupy the main track between stations is listed in the Division Employees Timetable).   Train symbols, on the other hand carry no timetable authority and do not authorize a train or engine to occupy the main track between stations.  Train symbols, at least on the N&W, pretty much reflected the initial and final terminal of the train or perhaps the primary type of traffic handled on that train.  For instance, the train … Read more

N&W Pushers on the Clinch Valley Extension

N&W engines at Carbo, VA

by Harry J. Dolan (Retired NS Trainmaster)

N&W Logo blue PlainBig pusher consists (24 powered axles) were only used on loaded trains. “Time Freight” (General or Mixed Freight) pushers were limited to 14 powered axles. The former Southern pushed against cabooses, empty, and light loaded cars. As such, they limited pushers to 14 powered axles (example, two 4 axle & one 6 axle conventional units). High adhesion locomotive axles were counted as 1 1/3 conventional traction motors, hence, a C40-8 or an SD-60 with 6 actual axles would be counted as 8 axles. The N&W, on the other hand, pushed against 100 ton or heavier loads and limited their pusher consists to 24 powered axles (4 conventional SD’s … Read more

B&O and MGA Paw Paw Branch, WV track plan HO

Track plan B&O MGA Paw Paw Branch, WV HO scale
  • Size: 12′ x 18′
  • Scale: HO
  • Minimum Radius: 27″
  • Minimum Aisle Width: 30″
  • Designed by Dan Bourque

B&O Logo (plain)The Paw Paw Branch, a 13 mile coal branch, was situated near the West Virginia/Pennsylvania border. It was jointly operated by the B&O and Monongahela railroads and their successors. The branch left the Monongahela river at Rivesville, WV where the B&O’s Paw Paw Branch joined with the end of the Monongahela’s trackage along the river at Catawba Jct.  The B&O entered the area via its large yard at Fairmont, WV, just a few miles south of Rivesville. The Monongahela’s trackage extended along the river to the main … Read more

CRR Fremont Branch, VA track plan N

Track plan CRR Fremont Branch, VA N scale
  • Size: 7′ x 11′
  • Scale: N
  • Minimum Radius: 15″
  • Minimum Aisle Width: 28″
  • Designed by Dan Bourque

CRR Logo PlainFew branches in the Appalachians saw more coal than the Clinchfield’s Fremont Branch. Like every other coal branch, it was lined with loaders of various sizes, but at the end of the branch lay the massive Moss No. 1 prep plant.  There are many characteristics that made the Fremont Branch interesting.   First, the profile of the branch climbed a ridgeline from the CRR main, punched through Bear Penn Gap Tunnel, and then descended most of the way to the end of the line at Moss.  Second, Moss was … Read more

INT Dorchester Branch, VA track plan HO

Track plan INT Dorchester Branch HO scale
  • Size: 11′ x 14′
  • Scale: HO
  • Minimum Radius: 30″
  • Minimum Aisle Width: 30″
  • Designed by Dan Bourque

Interstate Logo PlainIt’s difficult to get a lot of operation into a small bedroom. The most common solution is to build a switching layout to get enough operation since a small slice of mainline or branchline is often too compressed for much operation. The Interstate Railroad’s Dorchester Branch, however, packs a lot of operation into a short branch with some interesting switching challenges making it a great prototype for a bedroom layout.

From Dorchester Jct., the Dorchester Branch … Read more

SOU CRR Clinchcross, NC track plan HO

Track plan SOU CRR Clinchcross, NC HO scale
  • Size: 14′ x 20′
  • Scale: HO
  • Minimum Radius: 28″
  • Minimum Aisle Width: 30″
  • Designed by Dan Bourque

Southern Logo (plain)Clinchcross, near Marion, NC, was a major interchange point between the Southern and Clinchfield.  Besides playing host to several coal trains per day (particularly on the Clinchfield), Marion was a busy switching area for both roads.  The Clinchfield stationed a switcher at Marion for years (don’t know about the Southern) to work the four-track interchange yard and industries which included a concrete block plant, a scrap dealer and a piggyback track among others.   On the Southern side, the main industries were furniture plants which would see … Read more

MGA Waynesburg & Southern track plan N

Track plan MGA Wayesburg & Southern N scale - Lower
  • Size: 10′ x 15′
  • Scale: N
  • Minimum Radius: 18″
  • Minimum Aisle Width: 30″
  • Designed by Dan Bourque

MGA Logo PlainIf you like unit trains, big loaders and lots of different railroads, this is a great plan for you!  The Waynesburg & Southern was built by the Pennsylvania Railroad (a 1/3 shareholder in the Monongahela) and opened in 1968 to serve three large coal loaders being built around Blacksville, WV.  From its inception, it was operated as a branch of the Monongahela.  The Monongahela had its own branch to Blacksville, but it was too old, too steep and too full of curves to operate unit trains, so it was … Read more

L&N Martins Fork, KY track plan N

Track plan L&N Martins Fork, KY N scale
  • Size: 11′ x 13′
  • Scale: N
  • Minimum Radius: 18″
  • Minimum Aisle Width: 27″
  • Designed by Dan Bourque

L&N Logo PlainThe Martins Fork Branch, despite its name, was actually a mainline on the L&N’s Cumberland Valley Division.  The line extends from Loyall, KY to Smiley, VA where it goes through the Hagans Switchback to meet up with the old CV main.  As a mainline, it handled most of the coal traffic from Loyall bound for the Southern, Clinchfield, and N&W.  In addition to being a mainline, it was also home to several loaders and other, smaller coal branches, including the Crummies Creek Branch with its Lick Branch Spur which … Read more