Quick Overview
Owner
David Olesen
Prototype
Alleghany Sub of Chesapeake & Ohio in the early CSX era.
Era
Circa 1986
Physical Location
40 miles northwest – About 0:55 travel time
Layout Dimensions
25’ x 31’”
Mainline Run
250′
Scale
HO
Scenery
50%
Pets
Two cats that goeth not into the layout space
Handicap Accessible
No
Description
The Alleghany Sub of the C & O in the early CSX era is a heavy-duty double-track railroad, with division points at Hinton WV and Clifton Forge VA. In between is a challenging climb up and over the Alleghenies, necessitating helper service for coal and grain trains.
The modeled railroad’s easternmost point is Clifton Forge (staging), proceeding west through Covington (home of a large Westvaco paper mill), Alleghany (summit), White Sulphur Springs (home of the Greenbrier Hotel), Whitcomb (junction with the Greenbrier Branch to Durbin WV), Ronceverte (small yard supporting Greenbrier Branch, helper, and local operations), Snowflake (Acme Limestone, main supplier of C&O ballast), Hinton (division point), and Handley (staging).
The railroad includes two decks. The lower deck follows the room perimeter and includes Clifton Forge and Handley staging. A four-track helix connects the staging yards to the modeled portion of the railroad – Covington to Hinton.
The railroad is controlled by CTC, with US&S signals along the right of way. Traffic is heavy – including coal, grain, general merchandise, hot manifests, locals, pickups, and Amtrak’s Cardinal.
Operations
What to know about the operations of this layout.
Control System
NCE DCC with radio throttles and Wi-Fi
Dispatching
CTC with US&S lineside signals
Communications
Lineside telephones
Car Routing
Car cards/waybills
What to Bring/Needed
Any Wi-Fi throttle will work or use available throttles
Pace
Pleasant
Crew Size
15 to 17
Operating Positions
Dispatcher
Hinton Chief YM
Hinton East YM
Hinton West YM
Ronceverte Chief YM
Ronceverte YM
Covington Chief YM
Covington YM
New River Sub TM (staging yard manager)
Road Crews (6 positions)
Gallery
