This is NOT my layout.
History on the Layout:
The Cheat River Railway construction began in May of 2008. Most of our early members most of whom are still currently in our railroad group (Pepperell and Brookline Railroad Enthusiasts Association) aka PNB REA, were former members of the Nashua Valley Model RR Assn whose layout in Bolton MA closed down around the same time period as the Cheat River was started. Instead of those members moving with the current NVRRA to Shirley MA, they came to Pepperell and built the Cheat River Railway.
The Cheat River is based on former Western Maryland Railway tracks in Maryland and West Virginia. The Cheat River Railway is part of the Kennebec Valley Transportation Industries Group which in addition to the Cheat River, owns the Kennebec Valley Railroad (operates former Maine Central RR lines in Maine), the Klondike and Western RR (operates rail lines in Alaska), Devens and Harvard RR (operates former New Haven rail lines in central and eastern Massachusetts), Tacoma Central RR (operates former Milwaukee Road rail lines in Washington State), Keenan Aggregates (located in Bittinger PA producing gravel, crushed stone, concrete and asphalt products), and Total Waste ( providing trash removal and recycling services in West Virginia and Maryland).
The Cheat River Railway scenario is based on the mid 80's when CSX was forming and excess trackage in the
CSX family of railroads were being disposed of. The railroad was created to compete for coal traffic in competition with CSX. The Cheat River main line starts in Port Covington MD and follows the Western Maryland lines west through Hagerstown and on to Cumberland MD. At Maryland Jct. WV, the Cheat River enters the WM Knobmount Yard and then follows the WM Thomas subdivision through Westernport, Bayard on the Elkins WV. Then the Cheat River follows the Durbin Subdivision to the end of the main line at Durbin WV where the railroad interchanges with CSX. The Cheat River interchanges with CSX at Port Covington (Baltimore), and Durbin. The railway interchanges with Conrail at Harrisburg via the Lurgen Subdivision via Hagerstown and Cumberland via a former Pennsy Branch. Other interchanges are with the Winchester and Western at Hagerstown and Maryland Midland at Highfield.
The Cheat River switches a variety of customers in Cumberland Maryland via the Connellsville extension main line, several branch lines serving coal loaders both large and small. Some questions that are asked about the Cheat River? How did I choose the name? The name which is derived from the river that the railroad follows in West Virginia which in most areas is referred to the "Shaver's Fork of the Cheat River". How big is the layout?
Who knows, I never measured the basement!!
27 авг 2024