Rend Branch, WV--10' x 11' Track Plan

Scale: HO
Minimum Radius: 30"
Minimum Aisle Width: 60"
Designed by Dan Bourque

This layout is designed to fit into a relatively small bedroom and focuses on the C&O's Rend Branch, a small steam-era coal branch near Thurmond, WV.  The branch exended from the Loup Creek Branch and was only about four miles long.  This track plan is based on 1921 track charts and contains three of the five mines listed.  In addition, I've added a fourth mine on the first switchback's tail track (to the right of the door) for added operation and interest.  In a 1966 mine listing, only Minden 1 remained in operation.

This layout is intended to keep one, perhaps two operators happy for an hour or so.   The switchbacks, in particular, could make things interesting, especially if you loaded the mines with too many hoppers to efficiently move about.  You could also have areas for pulpwood loading to further add fun.  The branch is pretty self-contained, but if you wanted, you could extend the Loup Creek Branch accross the doorway and back into staging to get a continous running loop.

Upper Deck