Up to now, I’ve called my layout the “St. Charles Branch.” While this is technically accurate, I’ve struggled with it a bit because it sounds more like a property in a Monopoly game than a rugged piece of coal-hauling railroad. Perhaps I have delusions of grandeur and want a name that’s a bit more grand like “Allegheny Midland,” “Ohio Southern,” “Virginian & Ohio” or “Cat Mountain and Santa Fe.” Of course, these are/were MUCH larger freelanced layouts, but small layouts can still do great things, so why not? . . . I’m kicking around the idea of changing the name to the “Black Mountain Railway.” The logo would look something like this.
Why “Black Mountain?” First, Little Black Mountain is the name of the ridge that divides Virginia from Kentucky just a mile north of the end of the St. Charles Branch. The Black Mountain Railway was also the name of the first railroad to lay tracks in the St. Charles area (see prototype history). Even though the Black Mountain Railway was purchased by the Virginia & Southwestern and later the Southern Railway, the Southern mine run that worked the end of the St. Charles Branch was alternately refered to as either the “St. Charles Switcher” or the “Black Mountain Local” until at least the NS merger.
The draft logo for the layout makes it clear the focus is the Southern Railway, but it includes a little splash of color for the L&N. The shape is a black hexagon symbolizing coal, machinery and hard work (like a nut and bolt). In addition to the words “Black Mountain Railway” in Southern Dulux Gold on the hexagon are two yellow circles–while good for filling some empty space, they’re also reminiscent of the “yellow ball” markings that adorned many of the hoppers used in captive service on the line. Ok, maybe I’m stretching the symbolism a bit far, but hey. Oh, and if you’re thinking it’s a bit reminiscent of the Pittsburg & Shawmut logo, yes, it is! . . . and a hexagon is a lot easier to cut out than a circle. . .
Anyhow, I’d love your thoughts on the name change–please leave a comment below!
I think an option could be “Black Mountain Southern” or perhaps “Black Mountain and Southern” since you’re modeling the South side of Black Mountain.
Dan
I assume you will still run Southern power. I think of Southern subsidiary lines like the Carolina & Northwestern that sometimes were still referred to by their former name even under Southern control. I do like the name but maybe logo is a bit busy but interesting. Remember rule 1 in model railroading.
Yes, nothing else about the layout or operations would change. It would still be as faithful a representation as I could manage of the Southern’s St Charles Branch. There wouldn’t be any “BMR” power running around 😉
First of all, love the covid 19 inspired rapid progress on the layout. That’s good for those of us living vicariously thru others. Regarding the name change and logo…very creative logo. Black Mountain Railroad is historically accurate as described above. I would shy away from it. I like the “St. Charles Branch”. I my readings on the subject from Ed Wolfe and Ron Flanary, in the Southern era and NS timeline it seems the crew(s) based in St. Charles were called the ‘St. Charles Mine Run” 1st, 2nd, etc. and the local that came over from Andover to exchange loads for empties was the “St. Charles local” with train numbers since this was T&TO territory. And yes, some of the old timers called the local the “Black Mountain Local”. Either way, I’m a fan and check back often to monitor your progress. I can’t remember, but the L&N local from Pennington (no gap on the Old Reliable) had a nick name as well. Thanks for the good times.
Delusions of grandeur? What name is more grand than Southern?
(says the guy that has horse heads on his locomotives…)
I like it, I’m just going to say it.
Dan,
You know me I am a traditionalist and I like the name St. Charles Branch because, well that’s what the Southern was called it. However after reading your reasoning for the possible change the Black Mountain Railway is starting to grow on me but I’m not convinced yet. I still like St. Charles Branch but as has been said already no matter which way you go, I am still a big fan of what you are doing.
Thanks for the input, everyone! I reserve the right to change in the future, but for now, I’m going to keep it as the “St. Charles Branch.”
Dan
Just saw your notes on name change. A long time and very appreciative follower of ARM and modeler of 1959 railroad activity in southwestern Virginia, I do like the St Charles Branch moniker. After all that’s what it is.
Keep up the good work
Roger Sekera
Clinch Valley Lines
Potomac, MD
Black Mountain and Southern or St. Charles Branch sound great.
Plain old Black Mountain reminds me of the of the branch off of
the Clinchfield Railroad at Kona.
Well the Black Mountain/Yancy County did serve mines…although they were feldspar. 🙂