Towns:
The modeled portion of the railroad features a double track main line between Hinton, WV and Clifton Forge, VA. The layout simulates the 79.5 mile run in xxx' of actual track.
Hinton is the first town along the railroad and the western-most portion modeled. It consists of an xx track yard for handling local freight, a locomotive servicing facility including turntable and coaling tower and depot.
The town of Alderson, home of a federal women's prison, is the next town east of Hinton. There is a depot, house track and the beginnings of a track representing one that served the prison. There are photos.
Ronceverte:
Just east of the beautiful bridge crossing the xxxxxx River, we come to the town of Ronceverte. This town features quite a few industries such as Ake Coal, Casdorph & Sons, Martin & Jones, a freight house and a team track. It also features a yard for interchange tonnage with the Greenbriar Sub trains. The switch for the Greenbriar Sub is located just east of town.
White Sulphur Springs:
This is the location of the Greenbriar Resort, a luxury resort owned by the C&O railroad. Many passengers take the train in style to visit the Greenbriar. There is plenty of work for the freight local that switches the industries here too.
Alleghany:
The town of Alleghany is the top of the grade and has a turntable on which the massive Alleghany helper engines are cut off of the loaded coal trains to be turned and run back west to Hinton to push more coal trains over the hill. The West Virginia/Virginia state line is just west of town in Alleghany Tunnel.
Covington:
The current configuration of the layout allows us to actually replicate the town of Covington with its massive paper mill and assortment of industries. A yard job is kept busy during the day switching the gons of pulpwood into the paper mill (wood racks were still in the future in 1949) and other yard chores. The daily mixed up the Hot Springs Branch passes through here also.
Clifton Forge Yard:
The eastern end of the modeled portion of the railroad is the large classification/hump yard at Clifton Forge. Locomotives are serviced and turned at the engine facility and cars are classified at this yard.