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The O Scale Appalachian and Ohio is my attempt at "prototype free-lancing" a railroad in the tradition of the Chesapeake and Ohio or the Clinchfield. Set in the verdant hills and valleys of West Virginia, the A&O seeks by design to capture a railfan's by-the-track perspective. The imagined railroad runs from Columbus and Cincinnati to the north and west, to Marion, North Carolina in the south. There is interchange with other railroads at each end and with other actual railroads along the way. The time is summer, 1969.

The modeled portion of the A&O runs from the imaginary industrial city of Millport on the Ohio River (upriver from Huntington), south through the western lobe of West Virginia and into coal country.
The remainder of the railroad is represented by a connected staging yard that allows for continuous running. This Coal Ridge Subdivision of the Virginian Division includes three branch lines, substantial bridge traffic, industrial and online switching, and coal, coal, coal.
Free-lancing a prototype has allowed me to define the railroad according to my personal interests all the while being guided by what the prototype does. I get to choose the color schemes and equipment roster, yet each decision was made after careful consideration of what a full-size Appalachian and Ohio would be like based on prototype practices. Further, by selecting a geographic region but establishing fictitious cities and towns I was able to avoid having to exactly duplicate a location, yet honor railroad friends through town name selection. Choosing 1969 allowed me operate first and second generation diesels as well as lots of 40’ equipment, including old, but character-laden iced refrigerator cars.

The Appalachian and Ohio Railroad is located in Greeley, CO. Visitors are always welcome by appointment to come visit and enjoy the scenery of West Virginia in Colorado.

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