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Tom
Matty's Western Maryland Ry. Thomas Subdivision
Layout
at a glance:
Subject: Western Maryland, Thomas Sub.
Era: 1969-1979
Room: 23x32'
Layout Height: 42" minimum on lower level, 62"
on upper (Francis Branch is 64")
Style: Point to point operation only (no provision
for continuous running)
Control: Digitrax DCC radio control
Track: Code 83 mains, code 70 branches, code 55 industrial
tracks, Micro Engineering flex track. Walthers, Shinohara,
and Micro Engineering turnouts
Switch Control: PFM slow-motion switch machines.
Operation: Sonora Software Railroad Management System
for train orders and switch lists.
WM
Thomas Sub, Take #2
This is the second time I've modeled the WM Thomas Sub. From
1988 to 1996 I
modeled it in a 14x24' basement. The layout was double-decked
around the
outer walls, fully operational (used Dynatrol) and was about
1/5th sceniced.
We moved to our current home in 1997 and over the following
3 years I fully
finished the basement. (My back still hurts from hanging 80
sheets of
drywall.)
My
goal for the new layout was to model the same locations as
on the
previous one, but add additional running distance between
locations. I
started benchwork on Christmas day 2000. The entire layout
is
double-decked.
As
of March 2004 about 80 percent of the track is laid and operational.
The
goal is to have all track laid and operational by Christmas
2005. Scenery
work can then begin.
Modeled
Portions
The prototype Thomas Subdivision ran West from Cumberland,
MD to Elkins, WV
(approx 100 miles). The layout covers the main line from Bayard,
WV West to
Elkins, WV (approximately 40 miles). Cumberland is represented
as a 5 track
staging yard in an adjacent room. A major operational feature
is the WM's
famous Black Fork grade from Thomas down the mountain to Hendricks.
This 13
mile stretch of railroad included grades up to 3.05 percent.
On the layout
this is modeled as a 60' stretch of single track. It's an
operational
bottleneck on the model as it was to the prototype.
Several
key branch lines are also modeled. These include:
- Stony
River-- Bayard to Mount Storm, WV to serve the VEPCO power
plant at
Mount Storm.
- Francis
-- Thomas to Childs to serve the Palino Coal, Co. truck
dump at
Childs.
- Slaty
Fork -- Hendricks, portion of the former Slaty Fork Railroad
to
serve Hinchcliff Lumber.
- Belington
-- Elkins to Belington. Interchange with B&O's Tygart
branch.
- Webster
Springs -- Elkins to Webster Springs to serve several major
coal
load outs.
- Durbin
-- Elkins to Durbin. Interchange with the C&O's Greenbrier
branch.
Operating
sessions can keep 6-7 individuals busy for 3-4 hours. Typical
train length is 25-30 cars. Helpers are required on all trains
from
Montrose, WV to the top of the Black Fork grade (a total running
distance of
over 100 actual feet).
- Tom Matty
*
please click on the images below to view larger versions
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Bayard,
WV
The WM maintained a small engine facility at
Bayard to serve three coal loaders on the Stony River
Branch and for delivering coal trains to the VEPCO power
plant in Mt. Storm, WV. |
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Parsons,
WV
(looking West). The WM served the Gould Tannery
and several other small industries in Parsons. |
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Kingsford,
WV
(lower level) The WM served the Kingsford Charcoal plant
in Kingsford. The track on the upper level is at a location
called Mountain Switch near the top of the Black Fork
Grade. |
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Aerial
view of the helix between Montrose and Kingsford
The helix represents Haddix Hill which was the ruling
grade between Elkins and Parsons. |
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Roncevertte,
WV
Staging yard at the South end of the C&O's Greenbrier
branch to Durbin, WV. |
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Hambelton,
WV
(in the foreground). The Shay is sitting on
the Slaty Fork branch line that runs out of Hendricks
to serve the Hinchcliff Lumber. |
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Black
Fork Grade
(upper level), Bergoo, WV and Bergoo Mine (middle
level), WM yard, Durbin, WV (lower level). |
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Cheat
Junction, WV
Track going into the tunnel leads to Durbin, to the left
Bergoo, and off to the right to Elkins. |
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South
Elkins, WV
Line in the background runs West to Cheat Junction. Foreground
will become South Elkins industrial area with a line running
to Belington, WV where the WM interchanges with the B&O. |
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Douglas,
WV
Douglas Mine nearest the camera with Davis
Coal & Coke beyond. |
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Childs,
WV
Palino Coal truck dump was at the end of the Francis Branch,
which ran for 7 miles from Thomas, WV. |
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Elkins,
WV
The West end of Elkins Yard is still in the
early stages of construction. |
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Thomas, WV
The Hendricks local rolls West through Thomas on its way
to Hendricks. I'll forward this stuff to my work address
and try to get it figured out today. |
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Durbin,
WV
You're looking at C&O territory with WM
tracking rights into town. |
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Montrose,
WV
The East local passes the West local at Montrose. Helper
units are sitting on two legs of the Montrose wye today. |
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Mount
Storm, WV
(upper level) VEPCO power plant hopper yard. Montrose
passing siding (lower level). |
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Mount
Storm, WV
The VEPCO power plant will be to the right
of the tracks. The engine is sitting next to the future
site of the rotary car dumper. |
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Elkins,
WV
Brakeman Herb B. hooks up the caboose air hose
before the train leaves Elkins Yard for its trip to
Cumberland, MD. |
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Montrose,
WV
Drop down section of benchwork at the East
end of the
Montrose passing siding. |
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Roncevertte,
WV
Engineer Bill R. prepares to depart the C&O's
Roncevertte yard (hidden staging) for a run up the Greenbrier
branch to Durbin. |
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Durbin,
WV.
Engineer Bill R. has his train running East on WM rails
out of Durbin heading for Cheat Junction. |
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Tub
Run, WV.
The Hendricks local is nearing the bottom of the Black
Fork
grade on its way to Hendricks. |
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Hendricks,
WV
The Hendricks local arrives and prepares to begin its
switching duties. |
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Hendricks,
WV.
Engineer Jim N. slows the train to a craw. |
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Elkins,
WV
Elkins yard is nearly filled to capacity today.
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Elkins,
WV
The WM engine facilities, roundhouse, and turntable
will occupy this space. |
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Bergoo,
WV
Engineer Ray S. runs a string of empties West
through Bergoo on his way to Webster Springs, WV. |
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