Virginian and Ohio
Encyclopedia
The Virginian and Ohio is both the name of a fictional railroad company created by W. Allen McClelland and the HO scale
model railroad he built featuring this railroad. The V&O is famous in the model railroading world for setting a new standard for freelanced (fictional) model railroads designed to operate in a prototypical manner and was a major influence upon many model railroaders of the time.
, VA to Elm Grove, VA. In the mid 1970's, Allen McClelland began a second phase of construction that expanded the railroad from Elm Grove to Kingswood Junction, VA. In 1980, Allen moved the timeframe of the railroad to 1968. In the late 1990s, the railroad was expanded one final time and was updated to 1975.
In 2001, McClelland moved into a new home, forcing him to dismantle the original layout. The Clintwood section of the layout is currently preserved in the National Model Railroad Museum in Chattanooga, TN. Alan began construction on a second V&O in the basement of his current home.
Construction of the new V&O (the "Gauley Division") was cut short in 2008 by another move, this time to a house without a basement, as detailed in the October 2008 issue of Scale Rails (the official publication of the National Model Railroad Association
), and the January 2009 issue of "Model Railroader".
and Steve King had become fast friends as they developed their interest in proto-freelancing (developing a fictional railroad based on real-life practices) and railroad operations. The V&O was constantly moving forward in time period, reflecting McClelland's interest in prototype modeling. Heavily influenced by repeat visits to Appalachian coal country and the realization that their three small regional railroads would face challenges surviving in the real world economy of the late 1970s, Koester suggested that the V&O, his Allegheny Midland and King's Virginia Midland form the Appalachian Lines. Modeled after the Chessie System
and the SCL/L&N Family Lines, each railroad would retain its own identity and color scheme, but follow similar layout for paint styles and road names. The V&O would keep its deep blue and white, the AM would adopt a bright red and yellow, and the VM would go with yellow and deep green. Like Chessie System and Family Lines, the Appalachian Lines would be a name used in marketing and advertising, and the three railroads would be able to pool their resources to remain competitive. Not only was this a great excuse to use "run-through" power from the connecting AM and VM roads, but it also helped strengthen the idea that all three model railroads we somehow part of a larger system, and in fact connected to the national railroad network. Thanks to regular coverage in both Railroad Model Craftsman
(of which Koester was editor at the time) and Model Railroader
magazines, this is probably the most well-known period of the V&O's operations.
HO scale
HO or H0 is the most popular scale of model railway in the world.According to the NMRA standard S-1.2 predominantly used in North America, in HO scale, represents 1 real foot ; this ratio works out to about 1:87.1. According to the MOROP standard NEM 010 predominantly used in Europe, the scale is...
model railroad he built featuring this railroad. The V&O is famous in the model railroading world for setting a new standard for freelanced (fictional) model railroads designed to operate in a prototypical manner and was a major influence upon many model railroaders of the time.
Model railroad
The original V&O was built in 1962 and was set in the 1950s. The railroad operated from AftonAfton
-United States:*Afton, Glenn County, California*Afton, San Bernardino County, California*Afton, Delaware*Afton, Georgia*Afton, Iowa*Afton, Louisiana*Afton, Michigan*Afton, Minnesota*Afton, North Carolina*Afton, New Jersey*Afton, New Mexico...
, VA to Elm Grove, VA. In the mid 1970's, Allen McClelland began a second phase of construction that expanded the railroad from Elm Grove to Kingswood Junction, VA. In 1980, Allen moved the timeframe of the railroad to 1968. In the late 1990s, the railroad was expanded one final time and was updated to 1975.
In 2001, McClelland moved into a new home, forcing him to dismantle the original layout. The Clintwood section of the layout is currently preserved in the National Model Railroad Museum in Chattanooga, TN. Alan began construction on a second V&O in the basement of his current home.
Construction of the new V&O (the "Gauley Division") was cut short in 2008 by another move, this time to a house without a basement, as detailed in the October 2008 issue of Scale Rails (the official publication of the National Model Railroad Association
National Model Railroad Association
The National Model Railroad Association is a non-profit organization for those involved in the hobby or business of model railroading. It was founded in the United States in 1935, and is now active in Canada, Australia, Great Britain, and the Netherlands...
), and the January 2009 issue of "Model Railroader".
Appalachian Lines
Several factors came into play in the formation of the Appalachian Lines. Model railroaders Tony KoesterTony Koester
J. Anthony Koester, more commonly known as Tony Koester, is a well known member of the United States model railroading community. Koester popularlized the idea of proto-freelancing with his HO scale model railroad layout, the Allegheny Midland , along with his friend Allen McClelland's Virginian &...
and Steve King had become fast friends as they developed their interest in proto-freelancing (developing a fictional railroad based on real-life practices) and railroad operations. The V&O was constantly moving forward in time period, reflecting McClelland's interest in prototype modeling. Heavily influenced by repeat visits to Appalachian coal country and the realization that their three small regional railroads would face challenges surviving in the real world economy of the late 1970s, Koester suggested that the V&O, his Allegheny Midland and King's Virginia Midland form the Appalachian Lines. Modeled after the Chessie System
Chessie System
Chessie System, Inc. was a holding company that owned the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway , the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad , the Western Maryland Railway , and several smaller carriers. It was incorporated in Virginia on February 26, 1973, and it acquired the C&O on June 15...
and the SCL/L&N Family Lines, each railroad would retain its own identity and color scheme, but follow similar layout for paint styles and road names. The V&O would keep its deep blue and white, the AM would adopt a bright red and yellow, and the VM would go with yellow and deep green. Like Chessie System and Family Lines, the Appalachian Lines would be a name used in marketing and advertising, and the three railroads would be able to pool their resources to remain competitive. Not only was this a great excuse to use "run-through" power from the connecting AM and VM roads, but it also helped strengthen the idea that all three model railroads we somehow part of a larger system, and in fact connected to the national railroad network. Thanks to regular coverage in both Railroad Model Craftsman
Railroad Model Craftsman
Railroad Model Craftsman is an American magazine specializing in the hobby of model railroading. Its first issue in March 1933 was called Model Craftsman because it covered other areas of scale modeling as well. In April 1949 it changed its focus to model trains and changed its name to reflect this...
(of which Koester was editor at the time) and Model Railroader
Model Railroader
Model Railroader is an American magazine specializing in the hobby of model railroading. It was founded in 1934 by Al C. Kalmbach and is based in Waukesha, Wisconsin. It is published monthly by Kalmbach Publishing...
magazines, this is probably the most well-known period of the V&O's operations.