Love for the C & O

[BRAKIE]

Lester,The CSX never had a licensing program for models until recently..The biggest problem was the lack of the manufacturers wanting to produce C&O models..Atlas did have a RSD4/5 and RSD12 lettered for C&O,not sure about their F7 plus Athearn had their FP7 and a U boat lettered for C&O. A C&O brass caboose was produce in the late 60s..I can't recall any other C&O diesel models except for few freight cars.There was a C&O/N&W brass 0-8-0 and several other brass C&O steam engines produce over the years.

Now to be a SERIOUS C&O modeler one must never mention those two ugly C words Chessie(except as in mentioning Chessie the cat) and CSX.[:0][:p][;)][:D]

[SSW9389]

I love the C&O because C.P.Huntington was involved in it! He was also involved with some lines out west. [:D] [:D] [:D]

[DigitalGriffin]

There are a TON of C&O steam that hasn't even been produced yet...In matter of fact, I believe the C&O had one of the greatest variety of engines in use at once. (Which is great fun for us modelers!)

The following are currently in production:
C class 0-8-0 (P2k),
J class 4-8-2 Light & Heavy (Bachmann Spectrum)
T-1 2-10-4 (BLI)-And a beautiful piece she is
H-5 2-6-6-2 (Bachmann Spectrum)-rarely used by C&O
H-8 2-6-6-6 (Rivarossi) . (Oh I can't wait till this spring)
K4 2-8-4 (P2K)

I think we are still missing G, and L classes. (At least I haven't seen them in production) Please feel free to correct me if I'm wrong...

I wouldn't mind a C-12 0-10-0 or J-3 4-8-4, H-7 2-8-8-2 myself.

Here's a complete list in order they were introduced:
G-6 2-8-0
A-16 4-4-2
F-15 4-6-2
C-8 0-8-0
G-7 2-8-0
C-7 0-6-0
G-8 2-8-0
G-9 2-8-0
H-1 2-6-6-2
H-2 2-6-6-2
J-1 4-8-2
K-1 2-8-2
H-4 2-6-6-2
F-16 4-6-2
F-17 4-6-2
K-1
H-3* 2-6-6-2
J-2 4-8-2
C-12 0-10-0
H-5 2-6-6-2
H-6 2-6-6-2
F-18 4-6-2
H-7 2-8-8-2
K-2 2-8-2
K-3 2-8-2
C-14 0-8-0
F-19 4-6-2
H-7A 2-8-8-2
K-3A 2-8-2
H-4A 2-6-6-2
C-15 0-8-0
C-16 0-8-0
T-1 2-10-4
J-3 4-8-4
H-8 2-6-6-6
C-16A 0-8-0
J-3A 4-8-4
L-2 4-6-4
K-4 2-8-4
L-1 4-6-4
L-2A 4-6-4

[lesterperry]

First to answer as to why not much stuff available. I have been modeling the C&O for many years now. If you think it is hard to find stuff now you should have tried it 15 years ago. NOTHING. No C&O, no Chessie no, no CSX to speak of. The reason I was given then by many people was CSX owns those names and would not license the modeling industry to use them. The last 5 years has been unbelievable to me in the amount of things availible. I used to buy other roads and repaint and decal them. Now I can find a lot of stuff I want. Pics that many of you have seen are @ http://photobucket.com/albums/b254/lesterperry/
TO Brakie
As for Peach creek information go to WWW.COHS.ORG They will have all the information you can use or need plus some.

[Anonymous]

Well I'm glad to hear that CSX hasn't tried to completely obliterate the C&O. Although its kind of hard to imagine now, someday we may grow nostalgic over CSX. That is, if there is any truth to some rumors that it may be UP through here in the future. Mr. Reeves, the old man at Hobbyland, passed away about two years ago. I understand that at one time his mother worked at the store. She may have started the business. That was well before my time. I don't go around Hobbyland much anymore because it is sad. But, nature abhors a vaccuum. WV. Hobby & Crafts is one of the finest hobby stores around. Really, for our population, we shouldn't have such a large and well stocked hobby shop in this area. It stocks more N scale stuff than any other place I've ever been. The icing on the cake is that things are priced below retail. So, for model railroaders, this is a great place to be. I've visited my brother in the New Orleans area and my sister in the Columbus area and haven't seen any stores that have come close to WV. Hobby and Crafts. When we were visiting friends in Louisville, KY., I checked out some hobby shops and not one was anywhere near the size of WV Hobby & Crafts. It would be a mistake to assume that WV. Hobby & Crafts caused the demise of Hobbyland. Hobbyland had the area sewed up. But, as I've said, once Mr. Reeves no longer ran the place, it went downhill relatively quickly. He was the heart of Hobbyland and loved trains. In fact, in his later years, he built a really awesome trestle bridge type setup that runs around the ceiling of Hobbyland. It was scratchbuilt out of small pieces of wood. I can't even imagine building that myself. When he was alive, you could go and ask him how to do something and he could tell you. He would sit and talk trains with you as long as you wanted to. He was gruff on the outside, but once you got to know him, he was a really neat person. I used to love to go in and talk to him and listen to his stories. I, and a lot of modeller's around here, miss him. Around model railroad circles, he will be the topic of memories and discussion for years to come. He was a cornerstone of the hobby in this area and did a lot to promote model railroading in Huntington. WV. Hobby & Crafts started out as a small store. As a modeller, there was less and less and less you could find at Hobbyland. You just couldn't find what you wanted. Everything was old stock at top dollar. So, the shift of business to WV. Hobby & Crafts was gradual at first and as word spread, things just snowballed. No one took the business away from Hobbyland, its like they just quit and gave up.

[BRAKIE]

WV Hagan,Yes the C&O men call the RSD7s "Dagonladies.The bailiwick of the RSD7s was working out of Peach Creek.
That saddens me to here how Hobbytown went down hill after the old man retired.He was the closest and best stock hobby shop from Garrison,Ky where I was living while working on the C&O.

BTW..CSX calls a lot of the former C&O the C&O division and uses the same sub division names!

[Anonymous]

Brakie, sorry I didn't answer you sooner but my opportunities to get on the computer are limited. I just get too busy to get an opportunity to get on line. Now the best hobby shop in the area is WV. Hobby & Crafts in Teay's Valley, WV. As for Hobbyland, after the old man retired, his daughter took over and the store has slowly withered away to almost nothing. In the old days, they used to have tons of stuff. The only problem was that everything was at retail or above. Recently my cousin bought some HO track from them and it was marked with the old Huntington 8th Avenue store address. I think that they are just selling off the old stock and not getting much, if any, new stuff in. I'm kind of surprised that they are still in business. You don't see them at train shows anymore or any Christmas commercials that were common in days past. One great thing about WV Hobby and Crafts is that their stock is sold below retail. The last Atlas engine I bought there retailed for $89 and change. It was marked at $69 and change. That is standard and does not include their close-out items that they get from time to time which are really discounted. The fellow who owns WV. Hobby & Crafts also owns Nitro Hobby & Crafts. It is like a smaller branch of WV. Hobby & Crafts. I've seen a lot about Peach Creek in some of my C&O books. I think the C&O Historical Society could tell you anything you wanted to know about Peach Creek. Are the RSD 7s the Alcos they used to call Dragonladies?

[BRAKIE]

Thanks Greg! [:D] I will copy that and put it in with my other notes on Peach Creek..
I plan on building the Peach Creek yard in N Scale so I can better capture the general size of the yard without the need to overly condense the yards due to space restictions..I also plan to display this layout at train shows and hopefully at local C&O meets.

[Virginian]

The C&O served Charlottesville, home to UVA. The N&W served Blacksburg, home to Va Tech. Chessie used a kitten as it's symbol. The N&W advertised Precision Transportation. A lot of Hokies worked for N&W. Draw your own conclusions. :-)
Best sign ever, seen at the Sugar Bowl (you know, that's one of those BCS Bowls UVa has heard about) .........

"What's a Hokie?
You're about to find out !!!!!!!!!!!"

Let's see if you 'Hoos can not embarass the rest of the ACC in your bowl this year, okay ?!

[Anonymous]

Did the C & O even run through Blacksburg, I thought it might be that other railroad, like the Norfolk and Western. I am sure you know, that all dirt roads lead to Tech. Yes I happen to be a UVA fan, and yes, you did beat us. Just some playful ribbing here.

[DavidJ611]

QUOTE: Originally posted by 4884bigboy
Don't forget the P2K Heritage C&O 2-8-4 Kanawhas. Probably the best HO C&O steamer you can buy.

I'd personally like to see BLI or Bachmann Spectrum do a C&O J3a class 4-8-4 Greenbriar. BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!

[#ditto][#ditto][#ditto] [^]

-Dave

[Anonymous]

Thanks for all the help, and replies, anyother C & O railfans want to join in

[cnw4001]

My experience at various train shows has been mixed. At one I'll see streamline passenger cars but no engines. At another I'll see engines but no cars and then at another you'll find heavyweight cars but no engines. On and on. I tend to buy at train shows and when I buy I try and get something "complete" instead of say an engine and then wait around hoping for cars.

I guess it comes down to luck of the draw.

[waltersrails]

i am modeling Chessie as well. i found i lot of C&O and B&O manly C&o at www.discounttrains.com They have a great selection the prices are great. Bowser in the selection has a ton of differnt coal cars and i know bachmann has 2 diffeernt C&O RTR coal hoppers.

[gregmc]

QUOTE: Originally posted by BRAKIE

Hi Greg,I really would like to model the Peach Creek yard in the 60 era and would like to know:
What type of engine house?
Was the coal tower still standing in the 60s?
Number of tracks.
What type of trains operated out of Peach Creek-I know about the mine runs?
When did the RSD7s leave Peach Creek?
Was the RSD5s used at Peach Creek?
Was the Butt-head doddle bug still running out of Logan in the 60s?
Freight other then coal?
Any and all help will be deeply appreciated..[:D]
=============================================================

Well lets see. Your interest in 1960s info may be a bit harder for me to answer but I will ask my friends and see if they can fill in the gaps.

Peach Creek had a turntable and roundhouse. Not sure how many stalls off hand but I can find out pretty easily. The turn table is still there and was being used up until very recently to turn locos. They still may be using it though.

There was also a long shop building along the river that had the steam power house and a ramp track on the back side for loads of coal. I believe two tracks may also have ran through the building. The tall smoke stack that you see in pictures was attached to this building. The smoke stack was torn down around 98 I think. This building is still standing but in very bad shape. MoW forces had been using it but I think it is now condemned.

The coaling tower stood up until just a few years ago. I have a photo of two AC4400s sitting under it.

Not sure how many tracks were in Peach Creek over the years. Definitely not as many today as there were. Best bet here would be to call the C&OHS and see if they have a map. As with many large yards, they are usually made up of several smaller yards, and Peach Creek was no different. The lower yard was generally for loaded cars and the upper yard which extended from the yard office to FD cabin was the empty yard. Most pictures of Peach Creek are of the larger lower yard.

Not sure on the exact operations out of Peach Creek, but as you already know they were mostly coal trains. What little freight traveled up the Logan sub probably was just tacked on to coal trains. I will ask about this and see if any of my friends can answer. I have heard stories of a few NW reroutes that occurred when there was a derailment on the NW main. The trains came through by Gilbert.

Not sure if the RSD5s ever operated on the Logan sub. I will ask and see if anyone knows.

The RSD7s were moved to the B&O sometime in the late 60s early 70s prior to Chessie. Somewhere I read they were used for helpers out of M&K before being moved to the Fairmont WV area for service on the FM&P.

I know nothing about Passenger operations on the line.

Some of the freight operations I know about include a local that switched a local news paper office in Logan. Power was a alco switcher of some sort. This operation was still ongoing when I left Logan a few years ago. As far as I know they are probably still receiving a boxcar of paper a month. There was also a produce distributor that received several carloads. I will see if I can track down some dates. In the 70s and 80s, there was a wood-chip shipper above Man WV.

While I lived there, non coal related traffic included stone, news paper, and prell (ammonium nitrate blasting agent).

I would recommend joining one of the C&O yahoo groups such as [C_and_O_Rwy] , [ChesapeakeOhioRailway], and [sacomodelers]. Pose these questions there and you will get a wealth of info. Here are the links.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/C_and_O_Rwy/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ChesapeakeOhioRailway/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sacomodelers/

Greg McCartney

[andrechapelon]

QUOTE: Originally posted by 4884bigboy

QUOTE: Originally posted by BRAKIE

No C&O engines you say Sir..[;)]
Atlas.
S2
RS1
GP7-Soon to be release.
RSD5
RSD12-If you can find 'em.
GP38
U23B

Athearn
GP35

Stewart
F7
AS616-if you can find 'em

P2K
GP7
GP9
GP30
E8

Don't forget the P2K Heritage C&O 2-8-4 Kanawhas. Probably the best HO C&O steamer you can buy.

I'd personally like to see BLI or Bachmann Spectrum do a C&O J3a class 4-8-4 Greenbriar. BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!

Also don't forget the C&O J-2 4-8-2 and H-5 2-6-6-2, from Spectrum.

Andre

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by BRAKIE

No C&O engines you say Sir..[;)]
Atlas.
S2
RS1
GP7-Soon to be release.
RSD5
RSD12-If you can find 'em.
GP38
U23B

Athearn
GP35

Stewart
F7
AS616-if you can find 'em

P2K
GP7
GP9
GP30
E8

Don't forget the P2K Heritage C&O 2-8-4 Kanawhas. Probably the best HO C&O steamer you can buy.

I'd personally like to see BLI or Bachmann Spectrum do a C&O J3a class 4-8-4 Greenbriar. BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!

[BRAKIE]

Hi Greg,I really would like to model the Peach Creek yard in the 60 era and would like to know:
What type of engine house?
Was the coal tower still standing in the 60s?
Number of tracks.
What type of trains operated out of Peach Creek-I know about the mine runs?
When did the RSD7s leave Peach Creek?
Was the RSD5s used at Peach Creek?
Was the Butt-head doddle bug still running out of Logan in the 60s?
Freight other then coal?
Any and all help will be deeply appreciated..[:D]
=============================================================
Thanks for adding to the list of C&O models especially BLI's RSD7 in C&O! [:D]

Also,MDC/Roundhouse made a peaked end 40 foot C&O gon some years ago..I hope Athearn releases it again..Also Athearn is releasing a RTR PS2 2893 covered hopper in C&O with 3 different numbers.[:D]
Yup looks like us C&O modelers is finally getting our long awaited models.[;)]

[gregmc]

Indeed the number of C&O models in both scales as steadily increased. It is hard to believe the list Brakie has supplied has been produced in the last 6-7 years. Couple additions I can think of are U30Cs from Atlas. BLI has made an NW2 or SW7 in multiple C&O paint schemes. Now they have released an E7 or E8 and C&O RSD7s have been announced. Also Brakies list doesn't include the steam locos that have been produced such as the H5s, H8s, and T1s.

The freight car side of things have blossomed also. Life Like's war emergency hoppers with rebuilt steel sides lasted into the 70s. Bowsers 100 ton hopper is dead on for many C&O classes, but their lettering job leaves a lot to be desired. In Bowser's first run, they left the "o" out in Progress. Their are still many other errors in the lettering which have not been corrected. If you model late Chessie to early CSX, then the Bachmann Silver Series 100 ton hopper can be used painted either Chessie or with or without the Chessie logo. Most of the Stewart hoppers are correct for the C&O at some point in time, just depends on your modeling date. The old MDC hopper is pretty close to several of the old C&O 9 panel C&O cars, but the shell is getting pretty long in the tooth, plus it has S scale ribs which is probably its most glaring problem. I was hoping the new Atlas 9 panel would fix this, but it appears they chose a western prototype for their 9 panel. It is about 2 scale feet to long for anything the Chessie roads had.

The biggest problem one faces with modeling the C&O is they built a lot of their own cars making them unique prototypes. Something a model manufacturer would be unlikely to produce. This is very true for most of their hoppers.

Brakie, what information are you looking for concerning Peach Creek? I lived right across the river from the place for 1.5 years from 1997- 1998. I have several friends in the area who had family who worked for the C&O and Chessie.

Greg McCartney

[BRAKIE]

No C&O engines you say Sir..[;)]
Atlas.
S2
RS1
GP7-Soon to be release.
RSD5
RSD12-If you can find 'em.
GP38
U23B

Athearn
GP35

Stewart
F7
AS616-if you can find 'em

P2K
GP7
GP9
GP30
E8

There may be others that has escape my mind..I did not include the Chessie(C&O) units.
You can have C&O,B&O and WM units thrown in with your Chessie units.
Please oh please do not make the common mistakes that most Chessie modelers make!

You see Sir,I am a C&O modeler and worked on the C&O under the Chessie and CSX banner from 1978- early 1985 for a total of 61/2 years as a brakeman.
============================================================
WVHagan,I am looking for information on the Peach Creek Yard on the Logan Sub..Can you pass along any information?


BTW.I worked the Big Sandy Sub out of Russell..

I also use to shop at Hobbyland when it was located in Huntington on 8th street then he moved on a side street across from the yard then finally to South Point Oh.There was a great hobby shop in Charleston that carried lots of N Scale..

[Anonymous]

Around here, Huntington, WV., the C&O is almost sacred (as it should be). I model N scale and C&O rolling stock is not as plentiful as in HO. Of course, nothing in N scale is as plentiful as it is in HO. For C&O Nscalers the last few years have been sweet. Atlas released the C&O RS-1, the C&O GP-9, which I've been waiting for ever since I got into Nscale, rereleased the C&O U25B. Add to that Bachmann's C&O H-5s and Life-Like's C&O Berkshires. I'm hoping Atlas will do the C&O U30-C? in Nscale that they have released in HO. Atlas has rereleased the C&O 90 ton coal hoppers. Athearn has 70 ton C&O hoppers out. I know that this list is not all inclusive, I can think of other C&O models released in the last few years, I just don't want to keep typing. I hope and pray that in the next few years the manufacturers release some more C&O goodies in Nscale. The last few years have been sweet (and I jokingly add-its about time!!). God bless the C&O and her memory. She will always be in our hearts.

[Anonymous]

keep this topic burning, I love it

[Anonymous]

Your right, The gift shop is still there, but before I buy Life Like, I will paint and decal them myself. Can I get an Amen on that brothers. Thanks for your post

[Anonymous]

C&O continued to be one of the most profitable and financially sound railways in America, and in 1963 started the modern merger era by "affiliating" with the ancient modern of railroads, the hoary Baltimore & Ohio. Avoiding a mistake that would become endemic to later mergers among other lines, a gradual amalgamation of the two lines' services, personnel, motive power and rolling stock, and facilities built a new and stronger system, which was ready for a new name in 1972. Under the leadership of the visionary Hays T. Watkins, the C&O, B&O and Western Maryland became Chessie System, taking on the name officially that had been used colloquially for so long for the C&O, after the mascot kitten used in ads since 1934 [see Chessie].

[locomutt]

QUOTE: Originally posted by morrisbee40

I agree that the Penn Central gets ignored a lot. But go to Wathers and do a search for C & O, and see how many products you come up with. Hardly anything. When I go to Athern, most of the C & O products are sold out. If it sells that well why dont they make more. The C & O Historical Society used to have a gift shop, they dont even offer that now. Atlas, which makes some fine models, has either sold out of C & O, or discontunied them. Try to find a C & O GP 9, look real hard. I am not talking Bachman, or lifelike, those models are cheap, and make me want to throw up. Your right also, with the over production of the Union Pacfic, or the Santa Fe. I feel sorry also for someone who might want to model the Cotton Belt. Those guys should really feel snubed.

To the BEST of MY knowledge,the C & O Historical Society does indeed have the "Chessie Shop" up and
running. In my last issue of their "News Letter",they have an ad for their(C & O) 50T,2 bay hoppers,along with books and such.
Previously,they had ads out for FP-7s.

As an FYI,I just received a book from them.

[Anonymous]

BRAKIE,
Sir, I did research both web sites. Athearn only offers a GP 35 in C & O, unless you want to purchase an F 7, then the selection gets better. I would like the web page on the Atlas model you suggest, for I already have three of the sd 40 offered by Atlas 3 years ago. A very fine model indeed. You are correct in which the C & O did aquire much of the stock of the B & O in 1962, which would make them an owning parnter.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by BRAKIE

QUOTE: Originally posted by morrisbee40

Am I wrong, but are the major hobby suppliers ignoring the C & O. If my history is correct the rail line was a major player in the 60"s. I mean after all, they did purchase the B & O. Which if you love to model the B & O, there is no problem to purchase loco's and rolling stock. I have since started to model the "Chessie System", where I can run WM, B & O, and the C & O. Even decals for the line are hard to come by. Coal was king to the C & O, but try to find a large selection of hoppers. Maybe I am looking in the wrong places. I was just wondering if someone else, who loves the C & O, can vent with me. Thanks

Had you taken the time to do some research you would find that Athearn and Atlas leads the pack producing C&O engines.Athearn has several C&O cars.Walthers has the C&O wooden caboose.Atlas is producing the Magor C&O steel caboose plus the extended vision caboose.Athearn also makes a C&O extend vision caboose as well as a Chessie (C&O) extended vision caboose.Bowser makes the 100 ton 3 bay hopper..So,the C&O can be modeled without modeling the Chessie(C&O).

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hoscalebuses/

[Anonymous]

Jeff,
Your right, egg on my face, sorry, I should read the post before sounding of my big mouth. I just fell off my perch a little bit. Great model though.

[BRAKIE]

QUOTE: Originally posted by morrisbee40

Am I wrong, but are the major hobby suppliers ignoring the C & O. If my history is correct the rail line was a major player in the 60"s. I mean after all, they did purchase the B & O. Which if you love to model the B & O, there is no problem to purchase loco's and rolling stock. I have since started to model the "Chessie System", where I can run WM, B & O, and the C & O. Even decals for the line are hard to come by. Coal was king to the C & O, but try to find a large selection of hoppers. Maybe I am looking in the wrong places. I was just wondering if someone else, who loves the C & O, can vent with me. Thanks

Had you taken the time to do some research you would find that Athearn and Atlas leads the pack producing C&O engines.Athearn has several C&O cars.Walthers has the C&O wooden caboose.Atlas is producing the Magor C&O steel caboose plus the extended vision caboose.Athearn also makes a C&O extend vision caboose as well as a Chessie (C&O) extended vision caboose.Bowser makes the 100 ton 3 bay hopper..So,the C&O can be modeled without modeling the Chessie(C&O).

BTW..C&O did not purchase the B&O..The C&O acquired control of the B&O in May 1962.

[1shado1]

QUOTE: Originally posted by morrisbee40

Tom,
Since you love steam so much, then why cant you find a big old Allegany engine, which at the time was one of the largest steam locos at the time. If I am correct, it had even more power that the UP's Big Boy. Walthers did have it, I remember it being a feature in the "Bible of Model Railroading", but that was several years ago. Since I am not into steam, dont hate me, It is a shocker, that, that loco is hard to find as well. Just another point in that they snub the C & O.

If you reread his post, he stated that he already HAS an Allegheny.[:D]

Jeff