Locomotives & caboose ready for service

KV&O shop forces have been busy. Ready for service is 4 locomotives and a caboose. U5B Switcher #6000, DD9C-2 Transfer locomotives #6100, RS3M #6200, U25B #3480 and caboose #90052. Reason for the red KV&O locomotives are these are home built locomotives.

KV&O Shirt

Wife surprised me with a KV&O shirt.

Railfanning March 13 2017

Heard there was a derailment around Black Mountain on the KV&O so I know they would be getting the big hook out. Anyone who knows the KV&O knows that they keep the hook stored inside and it hardly ever seen unless something like this happens. Thought it would be a good time to see it out and about. Was surprised when I got to the yard and seen it sitting in the yard waiting for an engine to be brought around and coupled on. Fuel and a water tender on one end and a crane tender on the other.

Additional Shots From March 4th Visit

Additional shot from Brad McClelland and his boys take on the Gerry Alber's Virginian Deepwater District Layout taken on March 4th, 2017.  

Railfanning March 6 2017

Railfanning around Black Mountain Yards and seen they brought the dynamometer car in. I'm guessing it is the test the transfer locomotive that is being built at the shops. After I got permission I got a few pictures

Center Cab Locomotive Part 4

Getting closer to being completed still a few more details to be added, then decaled and weathered.

Center Cab Locomotive Part 3

The center cab was eased out of the paint shop after its coat of primer has dried. The locomotive is ready for final paint.

Diesel Shops and Turntable Part 7

I add a 6" x 4' section onto the area in front of the roundhouse so I was able to add 3 extra stalls to the roundhouse and 9 outside tracks. Next is to added details.

Center Cab Locomotive Part 2

The center cab is out of the shops for a test run. A few more details will be added and a trip to the paint shop and she will be placed into service.

Center Cab Locomotive Part 1

Currently being fabricated at the shops is a center cab using EMD components. The locomotives will be used in hot metal transfer trains but will mostly be used to work the ore and coal docks. Dynamic braking will be installed due to the grade of the docks.

Current progress. Frame motor and wheels sets in place. Body and cab being constructed. The locomotive will probably be painted in the KV&O red representing experimental locomotives.

New hot metal cars

D&D Mining & Steel took delivery of 4 new hot metal cars. The following pictures are from the yard and one from the yard tower. With the new blast furnace and electric furnace up and running these are much-needed cars. Each car is different due to being tested in the mill to see which design will best work within the mill.

The cars are a combination of ST&D cars and spouts and Walthers cars. One car is a stock ST&D car while the Walthers car is stock except for the spout. The other 2 cars have the end platform changed out with each manufacturer. The paint is aluminum color.

#2 highline Part 2

Update on #2 highline January 24, 2017

#2 highline Part 1

Been working on #2 highline. Before the highline stopped one car past the rotary dumper. Now it extends to the edge of the layout and has 2 tracks with a crossover. Longer car cut can be loaded and unloaded with having to run back to the yard for more cars.

The highline is two standard Walthers highline combined. Instead of having the legs in the open they will be placed in simulated concrete footers so the occasional hit from a dozer or loader will not damage the steel.

Still, have to finish the footers and the walkways on the highline. and a set of stairs. Then paint and scenery.

Railfanning January 16 2017

Good friend Drayton Blackgrove owner of Delay in Block Production came over and ran his GP30 High nose on the KV&O. I will have to say this was the first time I have had someone bring their own power to run on my layout. It was nice to also get to talk to another model railroader in person. The lowered level of the layout is getting completed enough that multiple operators can run trains.

I did notice the aisle around the transfer table and north end of Black Mountain Yard can be a problem with multiple operators due to being kind of narrow.

I was also impressed with the GP30 with WOW Sound from TCS. I have a few locomotives with sound but none compared to WOW sound.

Here is D&S GP30 #2570 cutting off the empty coal train so the KV&O SD40-2 1259 can take it up the Leatherwood Branch loaded at Blue Diamond Loadout.

KV&O 1794

Found an old picture of KV&O 1794 coming through Black Mountain Yards with a passenger train special in tow.

Layout Visit March 3rd and 4th

On March 3rd and 4th me and my brother, Larry took a trip to Ohio to visit a couple HO scale layouts. I'll start out by thanking Tom Patterson and Gerry Albert for showing us their layouts and take the time to talk to us.

Friday our the first layout we saw was Tom's Chesapeake, Wheeling and Erie Railroad (CW&E).Truthfully it wasn't I expected. It was better!!! The pictures in magazines and on online do not do the layout justice. The layout was well laid out and the operations were great. The locomotives, rolling stock and scenery looked great, and you felt like you were in the 70s. Thank you again, Tom for having us over.

Saturday we woke up to snow. Was not expecting that, but we made our way to Gerry's. I was amazed by this layout also. Gerry was also having an operating session on his layout that day and we were able to meet some really great people. They all made us feel welcome. This was the first layout I saw that also had an operating session. I have read about them online and in magazines but to see one actually going on was something to see. Yes, I did run a train, 20 empties from Elmore to Page and Larry operate a passenger train in the Mullins area. We both had a great time made new friends and got to put names with faces.

Brad thank you for the invite to the layout, we were not disappointed. Tom, thank you again for having us over to your layout also. I look forward to coming back up to Cincinnati and seeing the layouts again.

In the history section of the KV&O website. The KV&O purchased the Virginian Railway before N&W could due to the KV&O needing access to a coal dock to ship coal and Sewall Point was in a perfect location. The KV&O purchased the line but the Virginian retain its identity.

In the first picture, we caught set of KV&O SD40-2 engines sitting at the CW&E Hollister yard. Second picture we caught the same set of SD40-2 going through Page yard on the Virginian Deepwater District.

Rolling Mill & Ingot Striper Part 3

Painted and started laying track.

Rolling Mill & Ingot Striper Part 2

Really wasn't satisfied with the legs of the ingot building. I added additional supports from an extra Electric furnace I had. I added one more press and another set of rollers to the rolling mill and the plan is to add at least another set in the future.