All photos by Thom Radice

A&WPt spur 1 is the original track which dead ends in Atlanta. After the most recent ops, one operator suggested adding a turnout for a run around. Great suggestion! 


I built on that idea which is shown in A&WPt spur 2, initial plan. This will provide a run around plus an additional spur for staging. For me this clearly demonstrates being open to ideas that enhance operator experience.


Alabama is a 4-4-0 from the Atlanta & West Point line on an early run through a place known as Alatoona Pass. She's on her way to pick up a train to return to Atlanta. 


This one is titled "Operation Elements - Hands-on. Reading trainmen accounts of that time on this railroad, there was what was called a "wreck train" . I have attached two cars and a crane car for this train.

• Bottom left is a telegraph car with poles and barrels of insulators. Next is a keg of whiskey, then a bucket of grease and two "pole" or hand cars. 
• For the wreck train, I lay out the items in the platform car nearby a track down the line for a crew to pick up. 
• The telegraph car is to be deployed at a location for telegraph repair. 
• Whiskey barrel is picked up then delivered to a troop encampment; Lord knows that went over well as a morale booster. 
• One account told of an engineer being asked to meet another train and hand off a bucket of grease. 
• There are also accounts of having pole cars transported to locations for track or train service when trains were not available to go.