C&O Layland, WV track plan O

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C&O Layland, WV O scale track plan
  • Size: 14′ x 14′
  • Scale: O
  • Minimum Radius: 48″
  • Minimum Aisle Width: N/A
  • Designed by Dan Bourque

C&O Logo

Layland, West Virginia lay at the end of the Chesapeake & Ohio’s 6-mile long Laurel Creek Sub that originated at the small yard at Quinnimont, WV on the New River. Like most of the early lines built from the New River, grades were steep (up to 4%), and switchbacks were used to access some of the tipples crammed into the tight hollows.

The Layout

This track plan represents the very end of the Laurel Creek Sub and the medium-sized tipple at Layland, and the track arrangements would work from the … Read more →

FJ&G, NY track plan HO

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FJ&G, NY HO Scale Track Plan - Upper
  • Size: 13′ x 31′
  • Scale: HO
  • Minimum Radius: 24″ 
  • Minimum Aisle Width: 30″
  • Designed by Dan Bourque

The Fonda, Johnstown and Gloverville, better known as the FJ&G, wasn’t exactly a “coal hauler,” but it’s a fun little railroad nonetheless. Nestled on the fringes of the Appalachians in New York, the FJ&G served many industries along its line and connected with the New York Central. The primary industry in the area was leather, but in addition to dozens of tanneries, the FJ&G served many customers including manufacturers and coal dealers.

The Layout

This layout represents the FJ&G in the transition era when power was moving from steam to Alco switchers. By this time, the FJ&G consisted of a single line from its connection with the … Read more →

Modeler Spotlight – Bob Chapman

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C&O 2-6-6-2 in HO scale by Bob Chapman

Bob Chapman HO scale layoutBob Chapman standing in front of Cincinnati Union Terminal on his HO-scale Cincinnati-based layout

I had the privilege of visiting Bob Chapman’s HO scale, Cincinnati-based layout recently to see his work first-hand, and it was a non-stop parade of beautiful trains and meticulously built models.

B&O 4-6-2 Royal Blue in HO scale by Bob ChapmanB&O class P7A 4-6-2 Royal Blue speeds by on Bob Chapman’s layout

Bob loves many railroads, so his … Read more →

My New Layout – Southern Railway St. Charles Branch

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In addition to keeping up Appalachian Railroad Modeling, I’m a model railroader myself. A few years ago, I had to tear down my first layout [largely unfinished] based on the Interstate Railroad in Virginia in preparation for a move. My layout space in the new house is a bit smaller, so it gave me the opportunity to model something different. You’ve probably seen a few of the ideas as they’ve shown up in the track plans section of ARRM.

Just a couple weeks ago, though, I began construction on my new layout, a 12 x 16′ double-deck design … Read more →

ARRM Featured on “The Roundhouse” Podcast

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I’ve always loved the track-planning aspect of the model railroad hobby, and recently I was asked to share some of my track-planning philosophy on a podcast called “The Roundhouse.” If you enjoy (or struggle with) designing prototype-based track plans, it might be worth a listen as I share some things I’ve learned in the last 20+ years of designing track plans with The Roundhouse host, railfan and modeler Nick Ozorak. Give it a listen!

SP Tehachapi Sub, CA track plan HO

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SP Tehachapi Sub, CA HO scale track plan - Upper Deck
  • Size: 24′ x 40′
  • Scale: HO
  • Minimum Radius: 35″ 
  • Minimum Aisle Width: 36″
  • Designed by Dan Bourque

This track plan represents one of the most iconic pieces of railroad in the United States, the Southern Pacific’s Tehachapi Sub, home of the famous Tehachapi Loop. While certainly not an Appalachian track plan, it’s still a good study in prototype track plan design (and any mountain railroad is still pretty cool). This plan captures the key features of the line between Bakersfield and Mojave, CA circa 1990s when both the SP and ATSF (via trackage rights) ran 30-40 trains daily over this route.

The Layout

While 24′ x 40′ may seem like a lot of space for a layout, it was … Read more →

B&O East End Parkersburg Sub, WV track plan HO

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B&O East End Parkersburg Sub HO scale track plan
  • Size: 14′ x 17′
  • Scale: HO
  • Minimum Radius: 28″
  • Minimum Aisle Width: 30″
  • Designed by Dan Bourque

B&O LogoThe B&O’s Parkersburg Sub of the Monongah Division, known as “the Branch,” was a critical part of the B&O’s mainline from Maryland to St. Louis. Despite traveling through coal country, this line was more important as a thoroughfare for fast freights and passenger trains. Still, the yard at Clarksburg, WV was a key base for not only industry but mine runs which ran in every direction on branches and lines north, south and east including many smaller tipples along the mainline between Clarksburg and Grafton, WV making this a … Read more →

A Special Train for a Special Day

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CSX ET44AH 3621 Barboursville, WV

by Jonathan Spurlock

CSX’s former C&O line to Logan, WV and the coalfields in the region left the main line at Barboursville, WV. The Logan subdivision then traveled near some of Barboursville’s residential district before heading mostly south to Logan and beyond. The line was usually kept in a well-maintained condition but I can seldom remember seeing a train. Even in my grade school years, we had a younger-than-Little-League baseball league that played games literally a stone’s throw from the tracks. Even at 9 years of age, I could throw a rock better than a baseball, but that’s another story.

Many years later, one of the saddest days of anyone’s life happened. Dad completed his earthly journey and … Read more →

P&S South End, PA track plan HO

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P&S South End, PA HO scale track plan
  • Size: 10′ x 30′
  • Scale: HO
  • Minimum Radius: 27″ mainline (24″ on some spurs and the B&O)
  • Minimum Aisle Width: 27″
  • Designed by Dan Bourque

Pittsburg & Shawmut LogoThe south end of the Pittsburg & Shawmut Railroad occupied the west bank of the Allegheny River valley for its last 24 miles from Reesedale to Freeport, Pennsylvania. Along the narrow right-of-way were tipples, numerous industries, interchanges with the B&O and PRR, and the P&S headquarters at Kittaning. Unlike the northern section of the railroad which was marked by tunnels and tall trestles, most of the southern end was water-level with little … Read more →

P&S North End, PA track plan N

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P&S North End, PA N-scale track plan
  • Size: 14′ x 24′
  • Scale: N
  • Minimum Radius: 15″ 
  • Minimum Aisle Width: 27″
  • Designed by Dan Bourque

Pittsburg & Shawmut LogoThe Pittsburg & Shawmut was a picturesque coal hauler that featured tunnels, high trestles and lots of small loaders nestled in the rolling hills of Pennsylvania. The heart of the P&S in later years was Brookville, PA, a small town that housed maintenance facilities, a small yard and an interchange with the Pennsylvania RR (and later the Penn Central and Conrail). A handful of trains, powered mostly by colorful SW9s, worked out of Brookville making this a great area to … Read more →