The
Cumberland Northern Railway main line runs from Hagerstown, Maryland to
Knoxville, Tennessee. It also has a line that runs from Norfolk, Virginia
to Harriman, Tennessee. Coal is the mainstay of the railroad, but a considerable
amount of freight traffic is also moved. The main crossing point of all
the lines is Salem, Virginia.
The line modeled represents a secondary, heavy duty main line that runs
into the heart of the Appalachian coal region. It also serves a few towns
that have agricultural, light manufacturing and warehousing industries.
On-line connections are made with the Norfolk & Western, Clinchfield,
and Louisville & Nashville railroads.
The layout is walkaround style, built in a fourteen by thirty-four foot
area. It is in the transition era with both steam and diesel power used
on trains. The Cumberland Northern main line moves three mine runs and a prep plant job,
three locals, two coal trains each way, three freights each way, one
transfer job and a passenger train that serves the main line and one branch. Helpers are required on most trains up short, steep grades.
Two yard jobs and a local switch job complete the lineup. A standard (3x5) carcard and waybill
system is used, with Digitrax UT-1 and UT-4 radio throttles that have a toggle switch
for reversing and a large knob for speed control.
NOTE: Operators scheduled for Saturday on the Cumberland Northern will
stay for the day and operate both sessions, AM and PM. Operating positions can change
between sessions. Different trains are scheduled so the session is not
duplicated. We will carpool to lunch as a group.

Superintendent |
Dave Vos |
Division or Location: |
Appalachian coal region; Tug Fork
Subdivision of the Iaeger Division |
Interchange Railroads: |
Norfolk & Western, Louisville
& Nashville, Clinchfield |
Size of Railroad: |
476 square feet |
Scale: |
HO |
Era: |
1957 |
Control System: |
Digitrax |
Scale Clock Speed: |
5:1 |
Length of Session: |
Two 2 1/2 hour sessions, with a break for lunch, out |
Number of Crew: |
1 to 8 |
Train Control: |
Verbal Authority |
Are Radios Required: |
No. Railroad is mostly yard limits. Current system is "Supervised Smoke Orders". |
Listed Jobs: |
4 mine runs, coal washer job, 3 locals,
4 mainline coal runs, 6 freights, transfer job, helpers, 2 yard jobs and a local switch job |
Accessibility: |
Basement stairs, duckunder on two
mine runs |
Distance from hotel: |
12 miles |
Estimated travel time from hotel: |
20 minutes |
Web Site: |
No |
Pets: |
None |