CRR Kingsport, TN track plan HO

Track plan CRR Kingsport, TN HO scale
  • Size: 7′ x 20′
  • Scale: HO
  • Minimum Radius: 27″
  • Minimum Aisle Width: 27″
  • Designed by Dan Bourque

CRR Logo PlainThis track plan is a little different for ARM because it doesn’t have a single coal loader. Instead, it focuses on Kingsport, Tennessee, an industrial area along the Clinchfield mainline. Despite the lack of coal loaders, this area still had plenty of hills and tunnels, and the mainline still offered plenty of coal trains moving through. Still, the large industries in Kingsport are what kept the railroad busy. The largest customer in Kingsport was (and still is) Eastman Kodak (now Eastman Chemical). In fact, Eastman basically occupies the entire west … Read more

L&N K&A Coal Fields track plan HO

Track plan L&N K&A Coal Fields HO scale - upper
  • Size: 22′ x 22′
  • Scale: HO
  • Minimum Radius: 27″
  • Minimum Aisle Width: 30″
  • Designed by Dan Bourque

L&N Logo PlainThis layout represents the L&N’s former Knoxville & Atlanta division south of Corbin. This area is a fantastic blend of coal, mainline traffic and fantastic scenery, and the L&N shared a coal branch with the Southern Railway.

The Layout

Southern Logo (plain)The layout is designed to represent operations in the ’70s, though some of the loaders like Roosevelt were probably inactive or gone by this time. The lower level represents … Read more

CRR North End track plan HO

Track plan CRR North End HO scale - Lower
  • Size: 22′ x 40′
  • Scale: HO
  • Minimum Radius: 28″
  • Minimum Aisle Width: 30″
  • Designed by Dan Bourque

CRR Logo PlainThe Clinchfield’s coal loaders were mostly located north of Dante, VA, and that’s the focus here.  Three primary branches, the Freemont Branch, the Nora Spur and the Haysi, were all served by mine shifters (mine runs) and dumped hundreds of coal loads onto the mainline every day.  The Haysi Railroad, operated as a Clinchfield branch line, is renowned among coal field fans for the radio controlled B-unit that worked its tracks.  Dozens of loaders on the mainline and seven … Read more

C&O New River District, WV track plan HO

Track Plan C&O New River District, WV HO scale - Lower
  • Size: 28′ x 30′
  • Scale: HO
  • Minimum Radius: 30″
  • Minimum Aisle Width: 30″
  • Designed by Dan Bourque

C&O Logo PlainThe Chesapeake & Ohio’s New River District was enormous and encompassed numerous coal marshaling yards and dozens of branches (“subs” in C&O lingo).  The C&O’s double-track mainline ran through the heart of the New River District from Deepwater, WV to Hinton, WV.  The marshaling yard at Thurmond, WV sat on the mainline in the middle of the district.  It served not only as a yard but also as a base for numerous nearby branches including the South Side Branch, the Loup Creek Sub, the White Oak Sub, Keeney’s Creek Sub, … Read more

INT Norton and Dixiana Branch track plan N

Track plan INT Norton and Dixiana N scale
  • Size: 9′ x 9′
  • Scale: N
  • Minimum Radius: 12″
  • Minimum Aisle Width: 48″
  • Designed by Dan Bourque

Interstate Logo PlainThe Interstate’s Dixiana branch north of Norton, VA was home to several coal loaders and served by two mine runs per day.  A small yard at Norton was used by the Interstate’s first and third mine runs and “Hill Crews” bound for the Clinchfield at Miller Yard to sort cars bound for the Southern and L&N (west) from those bound for the Clinchfield (east) and the N&W at Norton.  The N&W’s medium-sized yard at Norton … Read more

Book Review – the Model Railroader’s Guide to Coal Railroading

by Tony Koester
Kalmbach Publishing, 2006
ISBN 0-89024-668-8

45starReview by Dan Bourque

MR Guide to Coal Railroading - CoverFor many of us Appalachian modelers, the name Tony Koester and “coal railroading” are permanently wired together thanks to Tony’s previous layout, the Allegheny Midland, which captured the look-and-feel of Appalachian railroading so beautifully. Consequently, it should come as no surprise that Tony has written an excellent book on the subject of coal railroads with the modeler in … Read more

INT Dorchester and Dixiana Branch, VA track plan HO

Track plan INT Dorchester and Dixiana Branch HO scale - Upper
  • Size: 21′ x 28′
  • Scale: HO
  • Minimum Radius: 30″ (visible)
  • Minimum Aisle Width: 36″
  • Designed by Dan Bourque

Dorchester & Dixiana Branch logoThe Interstate’s operations in and around Norton, VA and up the the Dixiana Branch were busy and interesting. In addition to the massive amounts of coal being generated on the branch, the mainline also saw a lot of movement of interchange traffic, particularly between the L&N at Dorchester Jct. and the Clinchfield at Miller Yard, the eastern end of the Interstate’s mainline. This layout (which was partially built in my former basement before … Read more

Book Review – The Clinchfield Railroad in the Coal Fields

by Robert Helm
TLC Publishing 2004
ISBN 1-883089-84-0

5starby Dan Bourque

Clinchfield RR in the Coal Fields - CoverThis book is an outstanding resource for anyone modeling Clinchfield coal-field operations, especially in the diesel era. The book’s author, Bob Helm, is a model railroader, and it shows in the details he includes in this excellent volume. The book follows the Clinchfield mainline from Elkhorn City, KY to Dante, VA along with the Haysi RR, the Fremont Branch and the Nora Spur.

Read more

Book Review – Interstate Railroad – Memories of an Appalachian Short Line

by Ed Wolfe
HEW Enterprises, 2003
ISBN 0-9720692-1-6

4starReview by Dan Bourque

Interstate Railroad Memories - CoverThis is Ed Wolfe’s third book in his series on the coal-hauling short line, the Interstate Railroad. The first book is an overview and is focused on the railroad’s history and development. The second book is a detailed look at the tipples and operations with first-hand recollections of the way the men worked the railroad. This third book picks up where the others left off and continues the … Read more

L&N Cumberland & Manchester Branch track plan HO

Track plan L&N C&M Branch HO scale
  • Size: 20′ x 30′
  • Scale: HO
  • Minimum Radius: 27″
  • Minimum Aisle Width: 30″
  • Designed by Dan Bourque

L&N Logo PlainThe Cumberland & Manchester Branch (C&M for short) was a part of the L&N’s Cumberland Valley Division.  It was located between the large yard and mainline at Corbin, KY and the principle mine-run yard of Loyall, KY.   The branch, which originated at Heidrick and ran to Manchester, was about 20 miles long and LOADED with loaders, particularly at the end of the branch.  In the height of the coal boom, several unit trains loaded on the branch including the O&W’s “Green Train.”

The Layout

This layout was designed to … Read more