Introduction

[Anonymous]

[:)]Seeing as how I'm a "boot" to the world of forums, allow me to introduce myself. My name is John R. Lauch and I live in Charlotte, NC.(JR) I am currently modeling an obscure mining and logging shortline that really did exist in Northern Va. circa 1880-1920. There is very little history remaining about this place which is located inside of a national park named Prince William Forest Park near the quaint little town of Dumfries, Va. (They're on the net) As I said, there is little remaining about this mine, one site layout drawing, done in 1914, one photo taken of the main mill circa 1908 and some small artifacts. Of course this all boils down to scratch building because there are no models of any of the bildings, motive power or rolling stock. The strangest thing about this mine is that although this is BIG gold country, these folks were after something called "Fools' Gold (sulfur pyrite). This mineral was used at that time to make sulfuric acid (one of the darlings of that era's industries) Unfortunately, [:(] I don't have the capability of submitting photos but we are looking at digital cameras so there may be hope yet. Thanks for listening.

JR

[Anonymous]

You mentioned the words "northern Virginia" and thus got my attention. Welcome to the forum!

I model a fictional short line which was based in Winchester, VA, although I model it as though it were the year 1971 and it has recently been merged into the Norfolk & Western big tent. I only model the portion west from Winchester, across the border (and the mountains) into WV, and down the valley of the South Branch of the Potomac. This route almost exactly corresponds to the combined routes of the modern Winchester & Western and the South Branch Valley, both of which I discovered long after conceptualizing the basic geography of my ficitonal route. Thus, I have my own town names, but Oxmore directly corresponds with Gore, VA, and Trellisville is actually Romney, WV. Paston or Paston Valley corresponds with Moorefield WV. the route supposedly turns west again after Paston (and its sister city Sunnyvale), heading for a connection with Grafton WV from the south, but I do not model this portion. I operate is primarily as a coal branch, with turns out of Winchester, but I also have a fair amount of bridge traffic moving from Roanoke to Grafton or vice-versa.

I'd be interested to know more about the line you're modeling, as it probably could inform some of my decisions as to how to conceive of my own WP&P's operating attitudes prior to an NW merger; I want to showcase the shift in practices following the merger. One way I'm already doing this is with my non-standard mainline ballast colors - WP&P preferred to use tailings from its online mines rather than import granites from elsewhere. NW's well-manicured mainlines look almost white in comparison.

[Anonymous]

Avondaleguy: This line that I am modeling was only about seven miles total. It was as John Olsen used to say, "a bite, kick and scratch" type of line. As I always say, this line was so poor that if a trip around the world cost 12 cents, the owner couldn't get out of sight. Everything was hand-me-down except for one loco which was obtained on a "deed of lease" from Corry to wit; a Class B Climax, twenty-five ton locomotive to be of 36" gauge. We can't even be sure of what happened to it. There is a story that while digging for foundations for an apartment complex near Spotslyvania, a construction crew found the remains of a locomotive. Now, from here the story diverges into two tales; one was that the locomotive was simply re-buried or two that someone came by with a truck, loaded the loco on it and disappeared. Who knows ??? There are very few artifacts left except the concrete foundations of buildings all of which were wood, some pieces of iron around where the blacksmith shop stood and a dim, ill-defined trace of where the track went. As opposed to main-line operations, this outfit didn't even bother to ballast the line, just used fill dirt. (Typical of these types of operations, get in, get the goods and get out). I have used much creative license on it even adding a trestle (I mean, what's a mining and logging line without a trestle?) I am also trying to re-create part of Dumfries as the line passed through the town and went out to an ore-loading tipple at Possum Point (where VEPCO is now). The ore was loaded on barges to be sent to the chemical companies. All buildings and I do mean ALL have to be scratchbuilt as there are no prototypes and no known drawings and 1 photo. I've been pretty busy building structures etc. and have just now gotten around to start scenery. I imagine that this will be about a 5 to 7 year project if I ever live to see it finished. But, it keeps me off the streets and out of the bars (Ha Ha). Talk at you later

JR