The HO representation of the McKenzie Division of the B&O Railroad is one the newer layouts on the WOOPS 2025 line-up. Since this eastern road is more likely familiar to those who are already fans, the description is best provided by the layout owner himself:
“The modeled layout starts on the upper level in the east at Camden Station, Baltimore. East of Camden is staging representing Philadelphia as well as interchanges in East Baltimore (PRR, Ma & Pa, Canton RR, Bethlehem Steel). West of Camden Station is Mt Clare Yard A, the primary classification yard in this modeled layout (the prototype had two classification yards in Baltimore). Just west of the yard is Curtis Bay Junction, with a branch to Curtis Bay (staging only; B&O’s coal export terminal, chemical industries, and interchange with WM and B&A), and the branch to Riverside Yard (locomotive service), and Locust Point Yard (non-coal import-export terminal and marine ops). From Curtis Bay Junction, the westbound main has a small handful of features of the prototype main: St. Denis MD, a stone viaduct, and Hancock MD (actually in WV). Hancock has a small yard for a silica and kaolinite from Berkeley Springs, WV quarries. Next is Patterson Creek Junction, where staging for both Cumberland Washington DC goes off. The southern Main continues up to Oakland MD. From Oakland, the westbound Cranberry Grade goes down at 2.7% to M&K Junction (start of the lower level).
M&K Junction is the helper station for eastbound trains on the Cranberry Grade. Nearly all eastbound trains get helpers at M&K. M&K also has a small branch to Kingwood and Morgantown WV (represented by staging). The lower level continues as a single-track main to Grafton, WV (prototype was double track), passing through two modeled towns, Rowlesburg and Tunnelton, WV. The line continues east to Grafton, first passing through Grafton’s classification yard and then the Grafton engine terminal, station and town. At the west end of Grafton the Parkersburg-Cincinnati and Fairmont-Wheeling lines go to staging. From Grafton, a subdivision to Charleston WV runs further west to Buckhannon WV. From Buckhannon, the Charleston sub goes into staging, and the light-duty Pickens branch continues south to Pickens, WV. “
Operations will include a double track mainline with helper grade (and subsequent helpers), passenger trains with some head-end switching needed, a harbor district, street running, as well as a light branchline with mixed service.
Controls are NCE radio, with verbal authority governing the movement of trains. Car forwarding is handled with car cards & waybills and incliudes a heavy dose of blocked coal hopper movements.
