Model Railroad with Clinchfield, Southern, ET&WNC, and 3Cs
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- Related: Clinchfield.org | Southern-Railroads.org
Page Contents
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Step 6: Learn from the great role-models:
- Ken Borowski’s Clinchfield Blue Ridge Division N Scale Layout
- Robert Helm’s Clinchfield HO Scale Layout (now building on O scale layout)
- Blissfield Model Railroad Club Website and FB Page
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 wonderful resources for those interested in Appalachian Railroads. They also serve as sources of information for Appalachian-Railroads.org
- Association/Archives: Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Historical Society
- Association/Archives: Chesapeake & Ohio Historical Society
- Association/Archives: Louisville & Nashville Railroad Historical Society
- Association/Archives: Norfolk & Western Historical Society
- Association/Archives: Southern Railway Historical Association
- Archives of Appalachia: ETSU, Johnson City TN
- Book: Drury: The Historical Guide to North American Railroads
- Book: Flanary, Lindsey & Oroszi: The Southern Railway
- Book: Goforth: ‘Building the Clinchfield’ and ‘When Steam Ran the Clinchfield’
- Book: Graybeal: ‘The Railroads of Johnson City’
- Book: Irwin & Stahl: ‘The Last Empire Builder: The Life of George L. Carter’
- Book: King: ‘Clinchfield Country’
- Book: Marsh: ‘Clinchfield in Color’
- Book: Poole: ‘A History of Railroading in Western North Carolina’
- Book: Poteat & Taylor: ‘The CSX Clinchfield Route in the 21st Century’
- Book: Stevens & Peoples: ‘The Clinchfield No. 1 – Tennessee’s Legendary Steam Engine’
- Book: Way: ‘The Clinchfield Railroad, the Story of a Trade Route Across the Blue Ridge Mountains’
- Book: Wolfe: Southern Railway Appalachia Division
- Magazine: ‘Trains‘
- Magazine: ‘Classic Trains‘
- Website: Carolana.com – North Carolina Railroads, South Carolina Railroads
- Website: HawkinsRails.net
- Website: StateOfFranklin.net which hosts Johnson’s Depot
- Website: RailFanGuides.us for Johnson City and for Erwin
- Website: SteamLocomotive.com
- Website: WvncRails.org – North Carolina and West Virginia Railroads
- Video: Ken Marsh on Kingsport area railroads and region’s history Video #1
- Video: Ken Marsh on railroads and region’s history Video #2:
- Article: Flanary: ‘The Quick Service Route, The Clinchfield Railroad‘
- Articles: ‘Johnson City Comet‘
- Article: Scientific American: ‘The Costliest Railroad in America‘
- Personal Maps & Memorabilia: Documents, maps and track charts
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