Blue Ridge Live Steamers

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Blue Ridge Live Steamers

On Sunday, October 30, 2005, a handful of Blue Ridge Chapter NRHS members visited the Blue Ridge Live Steamers' 1/8 scale layout near Burnt Chimney, Virginia (map). The site features more than 3500' of mainline, a curved tunnel, a steel frame bridge, a turntable, a transfer table, and much more. Two live steamers and three "diesel-electric" locomotives were on hand to pull riders over the line. Our thanks to Jim Humphrey and other BRLS members for their generous hospitality.

Visit Jim Humprhey's Mountain Car Company, based in Salem, Virginia, makers of 1/8 scale locomotives, rolling stock, and equipment.

  All photos by Ralph W. Hawkins

	This homemade switcher mockup greets visitors to the BRLS layout site near Burnt Chimney, VA.		Bald Eagle Valley Railroad 1/8 scale wooden caboose #477001 bringing up the rear.
	Mountain Car Co.'s second locomotive model is a GP30, seen here on its inagural break in run on 10/30/05.		Jim Humphrey and crew inspect the GP30. A two-cyl. gasoline engine drives a hyrdostatic pump for power.
	An informative sign on the depot.		A Blue Ridge Railway bobber caboose #103 brings up the rear of our train.
	A Blue Ridge Railway covered hopper, #10002, one of many freight cars traversing the line.		A BRLS member prepares his Bald Eagle Valley RR 4-4-0 for a run out on the mainline.
	Like the prototypes, Blue Ridge Live Steamers have their own 1/8 scale weed spraying car!		The engine house tracks and main lines all converge into a spectacular curved tunnel. Don't forget to duck!
	The Blue Ridge depot, where BRLS passengers load and unload.		BRLS members bring a train around the mainline.
	A Norfolk & Western NW2 switcher #920 comes into the station area.		Mountain Car Co.'s first production locomotive was the GE Dash 9, this one in a Western Maryland paint scheme. It's ready to depart.
	BRLS members stand ready to board their trains at the Blue Ridge depot.		A classic scene in 1/8 scale: The 4-4-0 couples on for a double-headed excursion.
	New overtakes old as the GE Dash 9 departs Blue Ridge depot, passing the 4-4-0 under live steam.		BRC spouse Elizabeth Hawkins leans in just a bit as our train enters the curved tunnel.
	BRC National Director Norris Deyerle snaps a photo during a runby on the main line.		The 4-4-0 and the GP30 double-head a long train around the picturesque mainline.
	BRC member Gene Campbell looks on as our train rolls by, coasting downgrade toward the depot.		The Bald Eagle Valley 4-4-0 Atlantic pulls hard down the line, a BRLS member at the throttle.
	This handsome C&O gondola and the BR Rwy caboose round out the train.		Norris Deyerle helps load the handsome N&W steamer into a pickup truck for its trip home. Gene Campbell looks on.
	Talk about your head end crew! A man and his dog take their train into the curved tunnel.		This handsome Norfolk & Western 4-6-2 rests on a raised storage track, having already spent time on the mainline earlier in the weekend.
	BRC member Ralph Hawkins poses with the tender from the N&W Pacific, just before moving it to the pickup truck bed of its owner.

Additional report on the outing from Norris Deyerle:

Roanoke Chapter, NRHS, member Doug Andre asked me to gather other BRC members and their guests and come up to Burnt Chimney, VA. to ride the rails of the Blue Ridge Live Steamers.  The Blue Ridge Live Steamers operate 1/8 scale trains on over three thousand feet of track!  The railroad includes a tunnel complete with telltales and a nearly 4% grade that at it’s summit crosses a bridge!  I had to laugh at the miniature cast aluminum whistle and bridge signs along the railroad.  They looked like miniature versions of the cast iron signs used by the Norfolk and Western Railway during the steam era!  I was told that the signs were cast in Jim Humphrey’s shop.  Jim owns Mountain Car Company in Salem, VA.  They manufacture 1/8 scale diesel locomotives and train cars.  Their quality is first class.  The miniature railroad is located on Jim’s property and he was a most gracious host.  The railroad is awesome!  The people even better!   Ralph Hawkins, his wife Elizabeth and daughter Ella, Gene Campbell, my wife Peggy and I all had a great time.  We got to ride behind live steam and diesel power.  We even double headed with both!  Small cinders even came back in my face while I was riding through the tunnel!  I’m still smiling.  Ralph and I are ready to sell our HO model trains and replace them with 1/8 scale versions.  Our wife’s even agreed!  They enjoyed riding them as much as we did.