The Coal Division is only 60 members strong and we’re spread over 40,000 square miles so we don’t have quite as many layouts as we have come to expect in the larger cities. The positive side of these numbers is that you won’t have to fret about missing large numbers of layouts. We are working on several more layout owners so check back from time to time.

Alleghany and New River Road - John Harris, Charleston

This HO scale layout features C&O steam and diesel in the transition era.  The railroad represents operations along the New River in WV from Sewell, through Thurmond, to Hinton then ascends to White Sulphur Springs and then Alleghany VA before descending the Alleghany grade to Clifton Forge.  Coal traffic is predominant however freight and passenger service is represented.  Scenery is 90% complete and layout is nearly 100% operational.  Control is NCE DCC. The layout occupies a 14’ x 25’ area in John’s basement. This layout will be open for operations Thursday evening.

C&O New River Subdivision - Clint Foster, Ronceverte, WV

This transition period HO railroad features a double track main line from Hinton to Hawks Nest.  In addition to a very heavy passenger schedule on the main, seven branch lines bring coal, freight and passengers to the river towns of Thurmond, Quinnimont, and Meadow Creek for continuance to points East & West. In addition, locals run out of Hinton, & steam powered passenger trains change power at Hinton. The road is seven + years old & is about 20% sceniced & 99% operational, laid out in a no-post basement room 38 x 20, with crew lounge at one end.  The River serves as the aisle and bridges cross at Hawks Nest, Sewell, Thurmond & Prince, making for duck-unders that were deemed necessary for the best operation.  Control is Digitrax DCC radio with a fast clock.  All locomotives are equipped with sound except 4 switchers scattered around the layout.

Crusty Mountain and Wiloby Springs - Mark Maynard, Portsmouth, OH

A freelanced layout set on the modern diesel era, this layout features plenty of switching and train movements. The railroad occupies a 20’ x 36’ loft above a barn with a cantilevered 4’ x 20’ staging yard monitored by closed circuit TV. N&W, Norfolk Southern, and Conrail locomotives are predominant but other roads are present. Control is NCE DCC, turnout control is innovative. Scenery is 10% complete while layout is 90% operational.

Grafton and Greenbrier - Lin Young, Gallipolis OH

The G&G is a freelanced HO scale railroad set in the mountains of central WV during the early diesel era. Coal mines and coal trains abound on this fully operational railroad that runs south out of Grafton to south central WV. Passenger service is provided by Amtrak. Operations are managed by train orders and track warrants. Car cards and waybills are used for car forwarding.  The layout occupies two large rooms connected by tunnels with portions of layout double decked and even triple decked. A recent addition is expected to be operational but not fully sceniced.  Scenery on remaining section of layout is 98% complete.  Control is NCE DCC.

Hinton Division of the C&O - Gary Burdette, Pt Pleasant, WV

As the name implies, this railroad captures the spirit of the C&O railroad through its Hinton division in the 1950’s steam to diesel transition . Featured towns along the New River include Thurmond, Prince, Quinnimont, and of course, Hinton. Also included are the towns of Alderson and Alleghany to the east and the town of Cass and the Mower lumber operations. The layout includes over 150 structures scratch built or kitbashed over 30 years of modeling.  Locomotives and rolling stock are scratch built or kitbashed to C&O standards using vintage models.  The layout occupies a 24’ x 36’ room and scenery is 10% complete. Control is DC. Also of interest is a replica of a 60’s era hobby shop in a separate building that includes "1960s items at 1960s prices.  The only catch is nothing is for sale!"

Kanawha Valley Model Railroad Club - Charleston

This HO scale Club layout loosely models coal operations along the New River and through city of Charleston. Railroad features C&O, Chessie System, and CSX although N&W and B&O are also likely to be represented as this is a Club layout that allows members to operate their own equipment.  Era is not specific so steam and modern diesels tend to operate simultaneously.  The layout occupies a 24’ x 50’ dedicated building at the entrance of Coonskin Park. Scenery is nearly 90% complete and features a large double span steel bridge crossing of the New River at Hawks Nest, the town of Thurmond, and an impressive depiction of Charleston in the 1950s.  Control is NCE DCC

Kodiak & Brandywine Railroad - Dwight Sherman, Charleston

The Kodiak & Brandywine Railroad is a freelanced, HO scale, mostly modern era based on an eclectic locale. It is bi-level with a yet-to-be-enclosed helix. Overall main area is 12’ X 26’ with a 5’ X 18’ “L” on the upper level. Focus has been to develop practical operation, rather than a fully scenic railroad.  Scenery is 5-10% complete. Operation is essentially point to point from Kodiak, located in the “L,” south to Brandywine and on to Northwood. The layout includes a number of large industries and some smaller outlets. Some freight cars are housed in the yards and represent large offsite industry concerns. Control is DCC powered using a NEC system.

Mid Ohio Valley Railroad – Dave Stout, Parkersburg, WV

The Mid Ohio Valley Railroad is a freelanced 24’ x 28’ triple decked HO layout featuring a steel mill, coal mines, and other local industry around New Martinsville and the small town of Steelton, WV along the Ohio River. MOV RR was almost completely merged into the CSX system so expect to see modern diesel locomotive power on point with MOV RR still serving Steelton. Layout uses wireless MRC DCC and is 99% complete.

Pennsylvania Southern - Bob Weinheimer, Charleston

The Pennsylvania Southern is a freelance HO 1980 era line that connects Pittsburgh with the deep south. The modeled portion is from Pittsburgh to the West Virginia state line.  Pittsburgh and its large yard occupy an 11’ by 22’ foot room with the rest of the visible layout is in an adjacent 15’ by 35’ room.  The layout features heavy industry at its northern end but shifts to more rural scenery and industry as one gets farther from Pittsburgh.  Operation features lots of industry switching, lots of unit coal trains, and lots of those Railbox and Incentive Per Diem boxcars common in 1980.  All trains still have cabooses. The railroad interchanges with the Norfolk and Western, Pittsburgh and Lake Erie, Chessie System, Conrail, and Montour.  The PS uses switch lists for car routing. The train order and dispatching system is very much like that on the G&G.  Scenery is 85% complete.  Control is Lenz DCC.

Pittsburgh and Western Railroad - Paul Lapointe, Parkersburg, WV

The Pittsburgh and Western RR is a 25 x 28 ft HO freelanced layout set in the modern era in Western Pennsylvania.  It primarily serves the steel and coke industries, their suppliers, and customers and was inspired by the P&LE and Union Railroads.  Most structures are kitbashed or scratchbuilt.  A branch line extends into the coal regions and a large urban area where street trackage is planned.  Construction is steel studs and foam roadbed and sub-roadbed. It has a walk around design with DCC and most locomotives are sound equipped.  Scenery is 5% complete.

St. Albans C&O Modelers - St. Albans, WV

This O scale club layout occupies a portion of the partially restored C&O station in St. Albans. C&O steam and diesel locomotives feature sound.  Operation is not prototypical and scenery is limited. The building features photos and C&O memorabilia.  The club also maintains an HO modular layout that features the city of St. Albans, Ashland, Kentucky and the Armco Steel mill at Ashland, Kentucky which may or may not be available during the convention.