Chesapeake and Ohio Economy Line

Motive power at Dorin Yard

Introduction:

The C&O Economy Line is an N scale layout based on the Soo's Red Wing Division HO scale layout from the December 1994 issue of Model Railroader Magazine. The original track plan was 4 x 8 feet.

My version of the Red Wing Division is 2 x 4 feet and is modified a bit from the original plan. N scale doesn't scale down exactly 50% from HO, but it is close. My version of the track plan has a few compromises in order to fit the 2' x 4' footprint.

Track Placement

The N scale track plan is a close match to the original. My rail yard has only 3 tracks without an additional track for an engine house. The tracks serving the industries (center area) on the layout are almost an exact copy. The runaround track is a bit longer than the original HO track plan. I prefer the extra siding length; however, it also means less room for my business district buildings. It's a compromise I can live with.

My initial plan is to use the same structures on this layout as the ones used in the Model Railroader layout. Most of these are available in N scale, but a few substitutions will be needed for some of the buildings.

Layout Theme Information:

My version of the layout is going to be located in Indiana instead of Minnesota. I did this due to my modest collection of C&O railroad equipment in N scale. The Economy Line represents a 78 mile bridge line connection between the C&O at Economy, Indiana with the B&O at Cold Springs, Indiana. Economy (C&O) and Cold Springs (B&O) are actual railroad locations along their respective lines, but were never connected together by rail. Along this bridge line is a connection to the town of Red Wing, Indiana (fictional town). This section of track is called the Red Wing Branch. I decided to keep the Red Wing name in honor of the original layout.

The Economy Line name comes from the fact that I am using old supplies and equipment from my early years of model railroading. I got my first serious start in the hobby back in 1984 with the purchase of N scale locomotives and rolling stock. I never got rid of my n scale stuff, and I still have tons of track, structures, components, and electrical supplies to use to get the layout up and running. You can say my reentry into N scale will be quite economical! 🙂

Layout Progress Photos