D&W Model Railroad Layouts

Model Railroad Layouts based on the Danville & Western
At the moment, there is only one D&W layout of which I am aware. I will post others as the information comes to me.

Ken Rickman
This is the layout that started it all. I designed the track plan to fit my available space and needs, and a friend pointed out that it could more or less represent the Danville & Western. I changed the plan somewhat to better fit the D&W, and am currently in the process of building the layout. I have made two major changes to reality, in order to make what I think is a better layout. First, I've included a small yard (because I like yards and I had already built it) with a Southern Ry. interchange. Second, I've inverted the tracks at Koehler so that the D&W is above the N&W, in order to keep from hiding and burying the D&W main line. I've also changed history slightly, figuring that the D&W was built as the westward extension of the Atlantic & Danville (as originally planned), and thus shares the A&D yard on the south side of the Dan River. It also uses the old A&D connection with the Southern, on their own bridge over the Dan river and directly into Dundee yard.


This is the track plan I came up with to fit around a door and closet in a spare bedroom. The black areas are open staging yards. The only major change I've made at this point is to relocate the D&W main line leaving Danville. Instead of a turnout at the east end of the yard, the main line is now beside the staging yard lead, as mentioned below. Structures and scenery are not settled yet, although they will probably be fairly close to the plan.

Progress so far:


This is looking east down Danville yard. The coal, water, sand, and ash facilities will be on the unfinished center tracks, and the roundhouse will be at the left background. The right hand track in the foreground is the new D&W main line.


This is looking east at Martinsville/Koehler. The track in the center left is the N&W main line, and will extend onto a Free-Mo module.


The tracks at Leaksville Jct. #2509 is on the Leaksville branch, which will disappear into staging. The tracks in the foreground are the Dundee (Southern Ry.) staging yard. The stub track in the center is the coal and sand track.

This is where the D&W main line crosses over the N&W. There eill eventually be a steel bridge here. The foregound track is the Leaksville branch, bound for single track staging. The UP F7 is sitting on the N&W main line (Pumpkin Vine) to Roanoke.

First train across the new Dan River bridge. I had to significantly reduce the bridge, from three spans to one. I also went for the smaller and much less expensive plate girder bridge (as the Dan River bridge is today) instead of the period-correct Pratt through truss.

The bridges over the Dan River. The D&W main line is in the background, with the Southern staging lead in the foregound. Most of this area will be covered with trees.