Impressive New Model Photos

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Chessie GP40 model by Fred Lagno

Appalachian Railroad Modeling welcomes a new contributor, Fred Lagno. If Fred’s excellent work looks familiar, it’s because it’s been featured in Model Railroad Planning and NMRA calendars. Fred’s eye for detail, excellent scenery and photography style lend a realism to his scenes and models that all of us can learn from. To see more of Fred’s work, see the Chessie models page.

Tom Patterson has shared more photos of one of his incredible scratchbuilt loaders. This truck dump, named Harney No 2 on Tom’s layout, is representative of the hundreds of these little operations that dotted the lines of Appalachian coal hauling railroads. While Tom’s railroad is freelanced, he studied dozens of prototype tipples to create his … Read more →

L&N KD Sub track plan HO

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Track plan L&N KD Sub HO scale - Lower
  • Size: 32′ x 32′
  • Scale: HO
  • Minimum Radius: 27″
  • Minimum Aisle Width: 27″
  • Designed by Dan Bourque

L&N LogoThe L&N’s KD sub connected the coalfields of Kentucky to its connections and power plants in the south. Originally the Knoxville & Atlanta or K&A, the line ran south from Corbin, KY to Knoxville and on to Nashville, TN. In addition to the flow of coal from the L&N’s Eastern Kentucky (EK) and Cumberland Valley (CV) Divisions/Subs, the KD Sub had a modest number of loaders along its main along with several small branches including the Clear Fork Branch (Clairfield Branch) which … Read more →

The New Appalachian Railroad Modeling is here!

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ARRM LogoThe new and improved Appalachian Railroad Modeling is finally here! It’s been months in the making (about 120 hours to transition the hundreds of pages and thousands of images), and I trust you’ll find this new site easier to navigate, richer in content, and better for mobile browsers and different sized screens.  Best of all, you can now post comments!

For me, the new design also means easier updates, so rather than large updates every few months, expect smaller but more frequent updates. Also included are a new set of advertisers and links to products I believe you’ll find relevant, … Read more →

eBook Review – Model Trains for Beginners

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4star

Review by Dan Bourque

Model Trains for Beginners CovereBooks can be a tricky proposition for buyers because you can’t browse them like you would a book in a hobby shop. I first came across Model Trains for Beginners when I saw it advertised on many model train websites. While I’m not a beginner, I still found myself wondering “is it a good book and worth the price?” I revisited this book when I was looking … Read more →

CRR N&W St Paul, VA track plan N

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Track plan CRR N&W St Paul, VA N scale
  • Size: 10′ x 12′
  • Scale: N
  • Minimum Radius: 18″
  • Minimum Aisle Width: 22″
  • Designed by Dan Bourque

CRR Logo PlainSt Paul, Virginia, was a unique piece of railroad. The N&W, travelling from East to West, and the Clinchfield, travelling from North to South, intersect and run parallel through the town with wyes at either end. The CRR and N&W interchanged at Boody, and there were a few small industries in town. St Paul offers a lot of variety in operation depending on the time period modeled. Up to the 60s, the N&W and CRR were the only game in … Read more →

CRR Elkhorn City, KY track plan N

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Track plan CRR C&O Elkhorn City, KY N scale
  • Size: 11′ x 12′
  • Scale: N
  • Minimum Radius: 18″
  • Designed by Dan Bourque

CRR Logo PlainElkhorn City was the Northernmost point on the Clinchfield RR and was an important interchange point between the CRR and C&O. Both merchandise and coal trains were exchanged daily with the majority of the coal moving south from the C&O to the CRR. In addition to a modest engine servicing facility, Elkhorn City was home to several truck-dump coal loaders located alongside the yard tracks.

The Layout

This track plan includes all of the major tracks in the yard and most of the loaders along … Read more →

Book review – N&W Clinch Valley Line

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By Ed Wolfe
HEW Enterprises 2013
ISBN 978-0-9720692-4-3

45star

Review by Dan Bourque

Book - N&W Clinch Valley LineThose of you familiar with Ed Wolfe’s previous books won’t be surprised by this book’s high rating. Ed, with help from many including his co-authors Charles Wilson, Jr. and Paul Mandelkern, delivers again with this history of the Norfolk & Western’s Clinch Valley line. The N&W’s Clinch Valley line extended from the N&W’s main at Bluefield, WV to it’s interchange with the Louisville & … Read more →

B&LE and PRR Western Allegheny, PA track plan HO

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Track plan B&LE PRR Western Allegheny, PA HO scale
  • Size: 12′ x 18′
  • Scale: HO
  • Minimum Mainline Radius: 24″
  • Minimum Aisle Width: 27″
  • Designed by Dan Bourque

B&LE Logo PlainThe Western Allegheny Railroad was incorporated in 1902 to serve the coal fields of Butler and Allegheny Counties in western Pennsylvania. The WA was originally operated by the B&LE until 1908 when the WA gained its independence. It was purchased by the Pennsy in 1926 as part of a plan for a new mainline to bypass Pittsburgh, but these plans fell victim to the Great Depression. Because it had no direct connection with the Pennsy, it was operated as an independent branch and interchanged its … Read more →

B&LE Shenango, PA track plan N

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Track plan B&LE Shenango, PA N scale
  • Size: 15′ x 20′
  • Scale: N
  • Minimum Mainline Radius: 20″
  • Minimum Aisle Width: 30″
  • Designed by Dan Bourque

B&LE Logo PlainThe Shenango/Greenville area of the B&LE was unique in that it was a major hub of a railroad and yet not on the mainline. In 1902, the K-O cutoff from Kremis (south of Shenango) to Osgood (north of Greenville) was completed which greatly improved the grades and curvature by keeping the main out of the Shenango River Valley. However, the old line remained important because it hosted three interchanges and was home to the B&LE’s major engine and car shops. Shenango Yard was the site … Read more →