Having visited this layout

in person, I didn't even know the supports were metal, as the fascia completely covers that aspect of it.

new layout

Very nice FIRST article on the new L&N.  Now let's see more of your fine modeling.  Happy to see your work in the pages of MRH.

Great Article about the Virginia Southwestern

I have visited and operated on John Wilkes Virginia Southwestern many times.  The construction, trackwork, scenery and attention to detail are amazing.  The photography... especially Greg Komar's photos are perfect.  John is a wonderful friend and fellow model railroader.  My congratulations on a great article and look forward to many more. 

Dave Johnson

Solon, Ohio

Video of the L&N

I shot this video about a year ago on Johns layout. A lot has been done since then. Congratulation on the article John.I am a regular operator and dispatcher on the railroad. It is a lot of fun to operate and dispatch.

Op Session Jan. 2013 before Prototype Rails

This

signals

I wanted to ask John a question.  Is he planning on signaling this layout like he did the Thornhill Division?  Thanks, Andrew.

I'm planning to signal the

I'm planning to signal the Edison interlocking and the 'joint track' section to begin

Edison

Maybe I'm missing something,but I'm just not finding Edison Interlocking on the track plan and I've looked 5 times just to be sure.Is it even on the track plan?  Thanks, Andrew.

'Edison' was not labeled.

'Edison' was not labeled. It's on the upper level to the left of 'Eljobean' where the L&N and Southern Ry. main lines cross. The early track arrangement is shown in caption 29.

edison

Ok  now I'm clear. Thanks, Andrew.

Enjoyed the article

Nicely written article on a great looking railroad. The metal benchwork was a surprise! Looking forward to seeing more of this layout in the future.

For another spot on this railroad, look no further

then the July 2013 cover of MRH.  That is the City of Miami cruising between Eljobean ad Esserville on that very same layout. (Upper deck).  I was fortunate enough to meet John when Joe Fugate got us together for that shot.  I'm planning another shot on that layout too, for a future cover.  Hope it comes out.

Thanks Kevin. More things are

Thanks Kevin. More things are planned for the near future......

Great article

Great article and great layout John!

Not sure if I just missed it but I was curious about the heights, especially where you have staging below?

Cheers,

Ken

Layout Deck Heights

Thanks,glad you enjoyed it! The bottom staging deck is 30 inches off the floor, middle deck is 44 inches high give or take 2 inches, upper deck ranges from 64 inches to 68 inches (primarily 66 inches) with the Esserville area at 70 inches being the highest.

Great layout and article!

John,

I really enjoyed the article on your Virginia Southwestern. I've been a fan of your modeling and your layouts for a long time now, and I've also been a long-time fan of the L&N. Reading the information behind your selection of the 1976- 1978 time period reminded me of all the challenges the L&N faced during that time. It also reminded me that it would be completely prototypical to have leased power on my layout as well. Add that to the list of projects in the works!

It looks like the layout would be an absolute blast to operate. A lot of mainline coal traffic, a number of tipples to work, branch roustabouts to serve the various industry, etc. Hopefully you'll share some more about your operations once the layout is further along.

Like others, I look forward to seeing more about the layout in the future.

Tom Patterson

Hot Trains

John  I was curious about 2 things. 1. Are you planning on running leased diesels on your L&N trains?  2. Are you going to have Hot Autoparts and Intermodel [Autoracks & Piggybacks] trains on your layout or will it be just general freight and coal traffic only?  Thanks, Andrew.

I have also visited John's layout and it's wonderful!

The first time I went over to visit Tom Wilson he took me over to see John's layout and it is really something to see!  Now since I'm also and L&N fan I might seem prejudiced, but that's not the case.  It must really be seen to be appreciated.  The same is true for Tom's layout and I got a double dose of excellent railroads that night!

Yes to 1, I run 'leased'

Yes to 1, I run 'leased' power on all mainline trains. Locals have L&N power only. I currently have CN, SCL, SP, CR(PC patch units) and an O&W unit train. I schedule 4 N&W trains plus the N&W units will show up on a L&N train as well. On the Southern Ry. side I do not mix power. Question 2; I schedule 1 hot auto parts train in each direction on each railroad. I do not run any auto racks or piggyback equipment mostly for asthetic reasons, they just look out of sorts on the curves. The clearances will allow them.

Excellent Article! Helix question...

I too enjoyed this article very much, best yet, in my opinion.  

I have a question about the helix and operations.  I am planning a layout with two parallel railroads running along the Ohio River, the PC and the B&O in 1974.  I will have a helix between decks(two actually, but only the PC will run on the other).  My plan is to have four tracks in this helix to make it operationally "invisible".  East and West tracks for each railroad.  On the prototype there was no interchange of any kind between these two lines at that time.  My plan is to duplicate that, with no tracks shared, thus the four tracks in the helix.  My hope is that this will allow operations to be more like the prototype, as well as reduce the chance of bottlenecks at the helix.  In your experience with operating with a helix, does this seem like a good plan?  Do you encounter any bottlenecks with yours?  I don't think the time in the helix will be that bad, but others disagree, how is your experience?  

Great layout, great article.  Hope to see more. 

Randy

Helix question

There is wait time at each helix because the mainlines are single track and have north-south running. Travel through helix B takes 5 to 7 minutes real time, about 120 feet of track. Helix A is split so the travel time is 3 to 5 minutes through each half. Bottlenecks will depend on how many trains you have scheduled, but with the east and west mains separated seems like that would eliminate any bottlenecks.

-

I thoroughly enjoyed the article. Excellent layout John! I'd love to see it in person someday.