John
King's HO Scale B&O Shenandoah Subdivision represents the B&O
branch that runs from Harpers Ferry to Strasburg Virginia as it was in
October, 1949. The B&O trackage is complete (for now) but there are
some vague plans for future expansion on the drawing board. The
railroad is designed to replicate prototypical operation with the
emphasis on serving the apple and limestone industries that
predominated in the northern part of the Shenandoah Valley. The
emphasis, so far, has been on developing foolproof trackwork based on
the prototype and accumulating appropriate equipment. Sidings and
switching areas are laid out to exactly follow the protyotype trackage.
John uses a unique linkage for his turnouts, which consists of Caboose
Industries turnout throws mounted on the front of the fascia, and
linked to the turnouts in such a way that by flipping the turnout throw
lever, you not only move the turnout points, but also turn a trackside
target indicating which way the turnout is thrown, consistent with the
prototype. Structures are currently represented by mockups.
Scenery and real structures are the next step. Towns on the railroad
include Millville, Charles Town, Winchester, Stephens City and
Strasburg.