Clinch River Railroad

CRRR - Design of Northern Subdivision

 

CRRR - Design of the Northern Subdivision

Status of design: 2016-Dec-26

"Clinch River Rail Road", or CRRR,  is a freelanced model railroad, designed by Phil Brooks. It is modeled to look and work like the prototype railroads in the Appalachian coal fields in the '50s. An overview of CRRR is here.

End of 2016, when Phil and I prepared operation sessions for the CRRR, Phil for his "Southern Subdivison", and I for Speers Ferry and the "Northern Subdivision", I recognised that I had no clear picture of the trains needed, and the amount and specifics of freight movement.

The good news for this operations planning was: As CRRR was designed as a Railroad Model, which is set in place (see map) and time (1954) and context (the "Real Railroads" as interchanges around CRRR), the basics were set, and were realistic.

My starting points were:

  • Phil's layout  (set up in Knoxville, Tennessee, US). And the information about his ops planning, with status of end of 2016. Including the trains he planned for the ops sessions.
  • the CRRR trackage, which I had mapped in Google My Maps
  • my layout of CRRR Speers Ferry Interchange (set up in Weidenberg, Bavaria, Germany)
  • the books about Interstate Railroad, by Ed Wolfe. These books are relevant because these describe a "real" railroad which was working in the same time span, and was an Appalachain Coal Hauler, also.

Phil and I discussed the amount of traffic from Big Creek to Speers Ferry, and back. Prototypical operation of coal mines, tipples and loades is one aspect, the amount of traffic our CRRR can handle an other. Some elements had to be compressed. For example I had to lower the number of cars which could be transported.

One factor is the number of cars loaded with raw coal, which will be loaded at the northern branches "Robinette Branch" and "North Fork Branch". These cars will be transported for cleaning and classifying to "Consolidated Coal Preparation Plant" in Yewell via Big Creek, and than back to Big Creek for weighing, and after that beeing transported to the recipients via the staging yards. Teh result of our dicussion was: a good starting point is one northbound and one southbound train per day, = 24 cars/day.

To come to close as possible to get a realistic "Railroad Model", these were the first steps:

  • placing the coal loaders into Google My Maps. Giving names to the coal loaders.
  • How many cars does one loader load per day? As I did not want to guess only, I took the book "Appalachian Coal Hauler: Interstate Railroad" by Ed Wolfe (2001), looked at the track plans and loading information about the tippes and loader, and chose one "real" loader as a prototype for every one of the loaders on CRRR Northern Subdivision. Some of these prototypes are described below.

Glad to come so close to the real world, I summed up the coal traffic at Northern Subdivision.

The first addition of coal cars showed: much to much. Therefore, I closed four loader and tipples.

 

North Sub 2016 12 26

CRRR Northern Subdivision: schematic track plan, without the closed coal loaders. Here is pdf for larger image

 

G M CRRR North kl

 

The same area, in Google my Maps. Note: the pink balloons show the four closed coal loaders.

 

But, there were (summed up: raw coal + classified coal) still more than 200 coal cars per day, as MTY = Empties towards the loaders and tipples, and the same number back. Still to much.

Step by step I reduced the number of cars each of the remaining tipples and loades is shipping per day.

The result is:

  • 24 cars of raw coal (see above: the upper limit)
  • 72 cars of classified coal. This coal is cleaned at the tipples, and sorted and loaded as 3 different grades.

At this phase of planning, the CRRR had only one place for weighing of coal cars, and this was Big Creek. Therefore, all coal cars had to be routed via Big Creek. This would have been to much traffic on the Main Line, and to much work for one place to weigh.

Looking at the Interstate books, I found out that Interstate had a second weighing place, at Norton. Following the prototype, I set up a weighing place at "North Fork Junction Car Weighing". Doing this, I reduced the Main Line traffic by about 144 cars/day = 6 trains/day.

As a result, these are the trains that will be operating (planning status: 2016-Dec-26):

Trains both k

Trains moving across CRRR network = Southerrn and Northern Subdivision

 

Trains south k

CRRR Trains in Southern Subdivision

 

Trains north k

 CRRR Trains in Northern Subdivision

 

Coal Tippes and Loaders at CRRR Northern Subdivision

 

CRRR North Sub Load

 Number of coal cars transported on CRRR Northern Subdivision, and the numer of cars at the prototype, the Interstate RR.

 For the details of the LDE please look at the following:

 

Prototypes of CRRR Coal Tipples and Loaders

Pardee

Pardee is the LDE (= Layout Design Element) for "Fraley Coal", at CRRR North Fork branch, and "Dry Creek Coal" at CRRR Robinette Branch.

Pardee loaded about 25 to 30 cars per day, classified to several coal grades.

The loading area was on a steep grade, therefore a Runaway Track was installed. And no switcher was needed to move the cars at the tipple, the gravity gave enough power.

 

LDE Pardee

Pardee Tipple, Roaring Fork - Pardee Area, north of Kent Junction, Interstate RR (click here for larger pdf)

Data Source: Appalachian Coal Hauler, by Ed Wolfe, 2001, p. 99f

 

Osaka

Osaka is the LDE for "North Fork Coal", at CRRR North Fork branch.

Osaka loaded about 25 to 30 cars per day, classified to several coal grades.

 

LDE Osaka

 

Osaka Tipple, Osaka - Roda Area, north of Mudlick Junction, Interstate RR

Data Source: Appalachian Coal Hauler, by Ed Wolfe, 2001, p. 58f

 

Cane Patch

Cane Patch is the LDE for "Dinsley Coal" and "Drakes Coal" at CRRR North Fork branch, and "Flower Gap Coal" at CRRR Robinette Branch.

Cane patch loaded raw coal (= not preparated = not washed, not classified).

When starting operations, it loaded about 8 to 12 cars per day, and in late 1990s, about 30 - 35 cars per day.

 

LDE Cane Patch

 

Cane Patch, Kent Junction Area, north of Kent Junction, Interstate RR

Data Source: Appalachian Coal Hauler, by Ed Wolfe, 2001, p. 86f

 

Stonega

Stonega is the LDE for "Blacktop Coal", at CRRR Robinette branch.

Stonega loaded about 25 to 30 cars of coal per day, classified to several coal grades.

At its peak, Stonega made 40 to 50 cars a day, in sum of coal and coke.

 

LDE Stonega

 

Stonega Tippe & Coke Ovens, Stonega Area, north of Kent Junction, Interstate RR

Data Source: Appalachian Coal Hauler, by Ed Wolfe, 2001, p. 45f

Note: the Coke Ovens were operated until 1953. Therefore, in 1955 the coke oven tracks could be used for non-coke traffic.

 

Band Mill

Band Mill is the LDE for "Big Door Coal" at CRRR Robinette Branch.

Band Mill loaded raw coal, about 20 cars per day.

 

LDE Band Mill 

 

Band Mill, Roaring Fork - Pardee Area, north of Kent Junction, Interstate RR

Data Source: Appalachian Coal Hauler, by Ed Wolfe, 2001, p. 104f

 

Roda

Roda is the LDE for "Blacktop Coal", at CRRR Robinette branch.

Roda loaded about 50 cars of coal per day, classified to several coal grades. Night train crew and day train crew were working at Roda, each with 25 cars.

LDE Roda 

Roda, Oska - Roda Area, north of Kent Junction, Interstate RR

Data Source: Appalachian Coal Hauler, by Ed Wolfe, 2001, p. 158f

 

Clinch River Railroad - traffic network in Google My Maps

 

Clinch River Railroad:
traffic network in Google My Maps

Google My Maps allowes to place the trackage into the map - and to share it


What is "Google My Maps"?

I got the information I needed to set upp this map after I put these words into Google.


"Clinch River Railroad" (= CRRR) is a freelanced model railroad, invented and designed by Phil Brooks. It is modeled to look and work like the prototype railroads in the Appalachian coal fields in the '50s.

Therefore, the place was set. A real place, and the Railroad was laid into that place.

The real world is mapped, and can be seen in Google Maps.

When I discovered that Google My Maps makes it possible to add individual information, to store it, and to share it to others, I tried to map the trackage of Clinch River Railroad.

What are the starting points for this map?

  • the publications about CRRR by Phil brooks
  • discussions with Phil
  • Google My Maps, for the Maps
  • the topography
  • 1955 as the status of CRRR, given by Phil

Here is my guess of where the tracks of CRRR would have been in 1955:

 

CRRR setting

 

This is what it looks like in Google My Maps. Klick here, or on the picture, to get a larger image

For lager images, please click on those.

 

a 10 CRRR Ueb

 

Clinch River Railroad trackage (in red), and connecting rail roads

 

a 15 RCCC Ueb 2

 

CRRR trackage, overview

 

CRRR Clinch River RR, Big Creek Area

 

CRRR, Big Creek Area

 

Clinch River RR, Sneedville (TN)

 

CRRR trackage around Sneedville (TN), town above Panther Creec Junction

 

Clinch River RR, East

 

CRRR trackage overview, eastern part

 

a 42 East Det

 

Detail of map, with scale (in Kilometer)

 

Clinch River RR, eastern trackage

 

 

This is what Google My Maps looks like:

  • blue arrow: if one clocks on one symbol ("at Big Ridge" in the picture, a description field pops up, giving information of the name og the location, and the coordinates.
  • to go to "Big Ridge", one can click on "Big Ridge" in the column on the left, too

 

 

Clinch River RR, Speers Ferry

 

CRRR, Speers Ferry Area, with connecting rail roads Southern Ry (black) and Clinchfield RR (green)

 

CRRR, Clinchport (VA)

 

Details of Speers Ferry CRRR Interchange

Speers Ferry (VA) Clinch River RR Interchange

 

 

Speers Ferry (VA)
Clinch River RR Interchange Yard

 

Further CRRR Pages:


Planning and Construction of an americaN-Module

This WebSite is about the planning and construction of Speers Ferry (VA) Clinch River Rail Road (= CRRR) Interchange Yard.

Please note: this module was designed as Roseberg (OR). One aspect of that design was that this yard could be used "flexible".

Inspiration for "flexible design" I got from David Barrows and Riley Triggs (see "Minimalistic Approach")

 

Clinch River Rail Road: Overview

Phil Brooks' "Clinch River Railroad" is a freelanced model railroad. It is modeled to look and work like the prototype railroads in the Appalachian coal fields in the '50s. Details you get here.

 

CRRR Network

 

Clinch River Rail Road: the whole network

Details about the area modeled by Phil Brooks you get here.

 

Speers Ferry (VA) Interchange

Minimalistic Approach: "Roseberg" and "Speers Ferry"

After all tracks were laid out at my railroad system "Roseberg (OR)" with staging yards "Portland (OR)" and "Black Butte (OR)", I found out that this set up could be used as "Speers Ferry (VA) CRRR Interchange as well. Without any modification at the hardware.

The software would be different.

Software?

Yes. The operating system, the Rail Road Company and their rules, traffic patterns, locomotives, cars, etc.

 

Speers Ferry (VA) CRRR and connection to rest of world

 

Speers Ferry (VA) CRRR Interchange

 

Speers Ferry (VA) CRRR Interchange and connections to Southern Ry. and Clinchfield RR

 

In Google My Maps, this is the view:

Clinch River RR, Speers Ferry

CRRR, Speers Ferry Area, with connecting rail roads Southern Ry (black) and Clinchfield RR (green).

Here are the details

 

 

Speers Ferry CRRR Interchange Yard Track Plan

Speers Ferry Connections

 

Speers Ferry: Possibilities of train movements, and connections

 

 

Speers Ferry track plan

 

Speers Ferry (VA) CRRR Interchange Yard: track plan

 

Preview of operations

2016-02-14: the interchange yard technically is not ready for operations.

On the other hand, photos are possible. Therefore, here are some preview photos:

 

01.jpg

Southern RR has trackage rights for passenger trains across Clinch River RR.

This is Southern RR northbound passenger #4 "The Appalachian" with engine #2928 in front.

"The Appalachian" entered CRRR territory at Lone Mountain, stopped at Big Creek and Cedar Fork, and is now arriving at Speers Ferry. At this interchange, it will re-enter Southern trackage.

 

03.jpg

 

Entering Speers Ferry west end yard ladder

 

05.jpg

 

CRRR #25 is switching the caboose #20 off the coal train which arrived at Speers Ferry some time before this passenger was due. Engine #21 is switching, too.

 

08 

 

View from the west 

10

 

 

14

 

 

20

 

With restricted yard speed, the passenger is moving forward.

On the left: the caboose track.

 

25

 

East side of Speers Ferry CRRR Interchange Yard.

This and the other photos illustrate the main business of the Clinch River RR: collection of coal at the mines, and transportation of coal to the interchange yards.

 

Caboose track in front

 

Caboose track in front

 

 

40

 

CRRR engines #23 and #24 in front of a long coal train arrived in time to let the passenger pass by.

 

41

 

Southern passenger #2928 stopped. It is waiting to get permission from the dispatcher to move into Southern trackage.

At the same time, CRRR #20 is switching at the east side of Speers Ferry CRRR Interchange Yard.

 

41b

 

 

41c

 

 

42

 

 

43

 

 

45

 

 

48

 

 

50

 

 

 

55

 

Southern passenger #4 "The Appalachian" with engine #2928 got a track warrant to continue out of Speers Ferry CRRR Interchange and onto Southern tracks.

 

80

 

 

90

 

Over and out for Southern passenger #4 "The Appalachian".

 


 

First video of CRRR Speers Ferry Yard:

 

 

Engineer view, work train from from Purchase Siding via CRRR Speers Ferry Yard towards Southern Ry. Status: November 2016

 

 

 

 

Clinch River Railroad (CRRR) - Videos

 

Clinch River Railroad (CRRR) - Videos

This page is about videos of Clinch River Railroad.

Further CRRR Pages are:

  

Videos of Clinch River Railroad (CRRR)

 

Railfanning a Pulpwood Extra, operated by Clinch River Railroad (2011)

 

 

Railfanning a Pulpwood Extra, operated by Clinch River Railroad.

FREMO meeting in Schutterwald, Germany, April 28 to May 01, 2011. This is the layout of americaN, a N-scale module model railroad.

 

Helocopter View of Pulpwood Extra, operated by Clinch River Railroad (2011)

Helicopter View of Pulpwood Extra, operated by Clinch River Railroad.

FREMO meeting in Schutterwald, Germany, April 28 to May 01, 2011. This is the layout of americaN, a N-scale module model railroad.

 

Train #806, operated by Clinch River Railroad, from Parkwater Yard to Luketown (2013)

 

 

Train #806, operated by Clinch River Railroad, from Parkwater Yard via Watkins,  Yard Extension and crossing 2nd Street to Luketown.

FREMO americaN meeting, Lauffen, Germany, 2013

 

Train #806, operated by Clinch River Railroad, is switching in Fremont Branch (2013)

 

 

Train #806, operated by Clinch River Railroad, is switching in Fremont Branch.

FREMO americaN meeting, Lauffen, Germany, 2013

 

November 2016: first video of americaN CRRR Speers Ferry Yard

 

 

Engineer view, work train from from Purchase Siding via CRRR Speers Ferry Yard towards Southern Ry. Status: November 2016

 

 

 

Clinch River Railroad (CRRR) - Overview, and Big Creek Area

  

Clinch River Railroad (CRRR) - Overview, and Big Creek Area

 

Clinch River Railroad in geography and history

Phil Brooks' "Clinch River Railroad" is a freelanced model railroad. It is modeled to look and work like the prototype railroads in the Appalachian coal fields in the '50s.

The easiest way to lean to know Phil's Clinch River Railroad is to study Model Railroad Planning, 2007, pages 20 to 26. You will find the story behind his freelanced railroad, the maps, the track plans, photos, and a lot of information.

If you want to know how he built his famous Clinch River Bridge, have a look at "N Scale Railroading", March 2006, pages 22 to 31.

If you are a railfan, get "N Scale Railroading" May 2006, pages 28 to 37, and read "Railfanning Mack's Gap and Big Creek".

For printed literature click here.

 


 

Further CRRR Pages:

 


 

 

Layout

Clinch River Railroad Layout

 

Layout, status 2016-02

 

CRRR Schematic Track Plan

 

Schematic Track Plan status 2016-02, for larger image click here

 

a 15 RCCC Ueb 2

CRRR trackage, in Google My Maps (more CRRR maps: click here)

 

Photos

The following photos give an impression of Big Creek and the Macks Gap Viaduct.

 

MacksGapVert

 

Macks Gap Viaduct in background, Big Creek in front

 

2 8 8 2 Speed

 

Mallet at full Speed

 

EngineFacilities

 

Engine facilities at Big Creek

 

 

SRY RS3VO100

 

Southern #2050 and #2059 with coal train, CRRR #41 waiting for switching

 


Literature

Phil Brook's Clinch River Railroad has been published in (extract):

  • 2006 May: N Scale Railroading: Railfanning Mack's Gap and Big Creek; by Phil Brooks 
  • 2007 Model Railroad Planning: Clinch River RR, An Appalachian Coal Hauler; by Phil Brooks (Overview, with track plan)
  • 2007 March: N Scale Railroading: A freelanced yard tower for the Clinch River; by Phil Brooks
  • 2008 March: N Scale Railroading: Bridging the Clinch River; by Phil Brooks
  • 2008 August: N Scale Railroading: An Uncoupling tool for pennies; by Phil Brooks

 

Credits

Photos and graphics (most of them): Copyright (c) by Phil Brooks

Published by permission