NASG
Store
News
Events
Clubs

Former Layout by Brooks Stover

Layout Name:

"Buffalo Creek and Gauley"

Layout Status:

dismantled

Track Type:

AF

Layout Space:

22' x 28'

Layout Style:

L-shaped oval

Track Manufacturer:

GarGraves (track), A.C. Gilbert (turnouts)

Rail Size:

code 172

Min. Radius:

21"

Ruling Grade:

2%

Track Height(s):

40" to 46"

Completed:

100% complete

Era:

1950s

Setting:

Central West Virginia

Railroad(s) Modeled:

Buffalo Creek & Gauley; B&O

Control System:

Dynatrol

Featured In:

Classic Toy Trains, Jan 1994, pg 72

Model Railroader, Dec 1993, pg 124

S Gaugian, Nov 1992, pg 28 (cont'd pg 38)

Notes:

This was Brooks' first layout which represented the Buffalo Creek & Gauley RR. The trackplan, structures, equipment, and operations were all based on the prototype. The BC&G's three Consolidations were created by modifying A.C. Gilbert 0-8-0 switchers. The changes included adding pilot trucks, can motors, Dynatrol receivers, and custom decals. Rolling stock was initially a mix of A.C. Gilbert and American Models with AF-compatible couplers. Over the 9-year life of the layout, Brooks replaced all the AF trucks with ACE hi-rail trucks and all the AF couplers were replaced with Kadee S-scale 802 couplers. All the structures were scratchbuilt to represent their prototypes. The oversized AF turnouts' switch machines were concealed in small structures or landforms. The BC&G's parent company, the Elk River Coal & Lumber Co., operated a Shay and a Climax. Brooks built powered models of these engines although the valve gear/crank shafts did not rotate but were for appearance only. Land forms were made by placing plaster-soaked paper towels over crumbled newspaper. The newspaper was removed from below once the hard shell dried. Trees were primarily poly fiber balls covered with ground foam or poly fiber stretched over natural armatures. A sky backdrop was painted on the wall behind the layout. This layout was one of a very few, if not the only, American Flyer layouts, complete with knuckle couplers, to appear in Model Railroader magazine in modern times.


(copyright © Brooks Stover; used by permission)

Brooks stands near Dundon on the layout with one of the Dynatrol controllers that powered the railroad in his hand. This photo was taken after the layout was well along and the initially barren hills were well covered with trees by then.


(copyright © Brooks Stover; used by permission)

The hills looked more like Colorado than West Virgina! Over time, the hills were covered with trees. The freight cars sits on the B&O interchange. Swandale is in the distance. The sliding panels enclose the area beneath the layout creating an overall finished look. Brooks has used this technique on all his subsequent layouts, recycling the sliding panels, in fact.


(copyright © Brooks Stover; used by permission)

This overview of the layout was taken from the Swandale end of the layout. The log pond was made with Environtex resin. The sawmill was scratchbuilt. It has been modified several times and used on two subsequent layouts. It is still in service on Brooks' current layout.


(copyright © Brooks Stover; used by permission)

Brooks hosted visitors during the 1996 NASG Convention which was hosted by the Southeast Michigan S Gaugers of which Brooks is a member. The large neon BC&G sign on the back wall, one of Brooks' prized possessions, was custom-made as a Christmas gift from Brooks' wife.


(copyright © Brooks Stover; used by permission)

One of the converted A.C. Gilbert 0-8-0 locomotives, the BC&G #14, rolls past the grade crossing at Dundon with a string of loaded hoppers brought down from the Rich Run mine. The cars will be spotted on the B&O interchange track. The unique water plug was modeled after the prototypes used on the BC&G. The engine is still fitted with an AF coupler and the hoppers still have their AF trucks.


(copyright © Brooks Stover; used by permission)

The BC&G's Mack Railbus prepares to depart from the B&O station at Dundon. Brooks scratchbuilt the railbus from metal and styrene. It is powered by a can motor, and at the time of this photo, a Dynatrol decoder. The bus is still in operation on Brooks' current layout. An initial build article about the bus appeared in the S Gaugian magazine, and the entire story of the bus and its several upgrades appeared in the June 2022 issue of the Narrow Gauge Gazette.


(copyright © Brooks Stover; used by permission)

BC&G #14 has a short mixed train in tow as it rolls past the ERC&L's Dundon company store. The photo was taken using a star filter on the lens. The tell-tale was built from prototype photos. Notice that the power poles are strung.


(copyright © Brooks Stover; used by permission)

The signature scene on the layout was the large scratchbuilt Rich Run Mine which was on the back side of the layout from where you entered the room. All the buildings in the mine complex were scratchbuilt. The metal siding was made by corrugating aluminum foil bonded to the mat board walls with adhesive transfer tape. Notice that an AF coal loader, just visible on the right, was integrated into the scene. This photo was taken after the conversion to ACE hi-rail trucks and Kadee 802 couplers.


(copyright © Brooks Stover; used by permission)

The track ran under the tipple. The cylindrical sand tower was built from prototype photos. Other structures were scratchbuilt from cardstock and bass wood.


(copyright © Brooks Stover; used by permission)

BC&G #4, another converted A.C. Gilbert 0-8-0, is about to pull a string of loaded hoppers from the Rich Run tipple. This image was taken after the conversion to Kadee couplers. Notice that the AF hopper is now fitted with ACE trucks. The Bank Of Widen was scratchbuilt from mat board and bass wood from photos of the prototype. Brooks made the rock outcroppings on the layout using molds made from crumbled heavy-duty aluminum foil. The weeds are made from broom bristles. The rails are weathered and the Gargraves track is fully ballasted.


(copyright © Brooks Stover; used by permission)

Three-truck Shay #19 works the sawmill at Swandale. While the locomotive was powered and fully operational, the drive shaft along the side did not turn but was for appearance only. The trees are examples of the ones Brooks made by adding commercial foliage to natural twig armatures. The sawmill structure has been heavily modified but is still in use on Brooks' current layout.


(copyright © Brooks Stover; used by permission)

Shay #19 and Climax #3 are at work at the log camp that was at the back corner of the layout. Logs picked up here are destined for the sawmill at Swandale. The BC&G main passes above the timber retaining wall.


(copyright © Brooks Stover; used by permission)

An early construction photo, Brooks' daughters apply plaster to the front corner of the layout. The layout completely surrounded the support post.


(copyright © Brooks Stover; used by permission)

The crumbled newspaper used to form the terrain features is visible in this photo of Brooks' daughter sitting in, what will be, the log pond at Swandale. The backdrop was painted before scenery construction began.


(copyright © Brooks Stover; used by permission)
Layouts
Product Gallery
How-to
Resources
Site