Model Railroad with Clinchfield, Southern, ET&WNC, and 3Cs

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3Cs Model Railroad with the Clinchfield, ET&WNC and Southern

My childhood memories of watching the parade of Clinchfield, Southern, and ET&WNC trains running through Johnson City TN will be forever cherished. Each hour back in the 1960s brought a new train whether it was a CRR merchandise, a CRR coal drag, a SOU passenger, a SOU regional freight, or a ET&WNC 2-8-0 performing yard duties. Johnson City and the 1960s provides so many possibilities on which to base a model railroad layout.

In my memory the engines and cars were bright, colorful and loud. Watching them pass by with hourly frequency made this converged railroad highway through Johnson City so exciting. There was little space between each railroad, as if it was a railroad super highway, an experience and theme I wanted to recreate, relive, and expand upon.

I also saw remnants of a railroad from the past, one which I did not understand at that time, but now am fascinated by its history and vision. That railroad was the Charleston Cincinnati & Chicago Railroad, the 3Cs.

3Cs - Clinchfield - ET&WNC - Southern - Model Railroad
Experimenting with decal design. Four steam locomotives: ET&WNC, 3Cs, Southern, and a Clinchfield Challenger

My Version of Model Railroading

My modeling skills are limited, as well as the time I have in this to life enjoy the layout, so designing and building the 3Cs will require a different approach. Here are the decisions I made to have a layout that recreates my memories, while also being able to run trains as quick as possible.

Step 1 – Create an Alternate History for the Model Railroad:

After 60+ years of life, I was honest with myself that I did not have the talent or interest in creating a true-to-life model railroad. Rather, I was better served to suspend reality……and to create my own Alternate History. My reality was that the CC&C succeeded and Johnson City became a Railroad Boomtown. If I’m modeling what is in my mind, to me, that is totally realistic.

Clinchfield Railroad - Southern Railroad - Model Railroad - Speers Ferry VA
Experimenting with track placement and backdrop as I create a ‘Speers Ferry’ scene

Step 2 – N Scale:

In order to create the mountainous scenes and accommodate trains of 30-40 cars…..the layout would need to be N Scale.

Clinchfield Model Railroad - Challenger
The Santa Claus Trains pulled by the Challenger

Step 3 – Backdrops:

Failure or burnout was assured if I chose to build all of my mountains and trees. Plus, a river valley scene and a tall trestle really does look great with a backdrop. Creating the foreground scenery and building kits was just the right amount of work for me.

Clinchfield Model Railroad - Dante VA
Working on a depiction of Dante VA

Step 4 – Model Railroad Track Plan designed for Operation:

My greatest enjoyment is to watch trains stop and pass through Johnson City, watch them climb up out of the river valley and the loops, and to watch trains cross the viaduct in the expansive river valley. I’m a visual person who likes to let the trains run, with limited interest in switching or a precise operating session.

Clinchfield Railroad - Southern Railroad - Model Railroad
The busy Johnson City railroad thoroughfare, as if the city had become a railroad boomtown

Step 5 – Unitrack:

Laying track is not my favorite or my strong suit. Kato Unitrack is both extremely reliable, and with some additional ballast and work, can look very realistic. Additionally, I’m a big fan of the 19/18″ and 17’/16″ super-elevated curves.

Southern Railway Model Railroad

Step 6: Learn from the great role-models:

and of course the Clinchfield Layout built by ‘Model Railroader’

Dan Bourque’s Appalachian Railroad Modeling website has a great collection of Clinchfield track plans and Southern Railway track plans, as well as modeling ideas and plans for many other railroads of our region.

For More Information – Sources and Resources

The following are excellent resources for those of you wanting to explore and learn more about the history and operation of the Appalachian Railroads. These sources of information also serve as reference and historical materials for Appalachian-Railroads.org. Much of the content on the website is verified across multiple sources.

Contact Us

Would enjoy hearing from you if you have questions, suggestions, edits, or content that you are willing to share. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you have similar interests in the railroads or model railroading.

3Cs Websites

Appalachian-Railroads.org | Clinchfield.org | Southern-Railroads.org