Comments on Modeling C&O (Chessie)

I’m thinking of modeling something that involves the C&O and/or Chessie system.

This is due primarly to my wife’s obsession and love of cats. I’m figuring that I might as well model a line where my wife can be “involved” with all the kitten marketing aspect of the C&O and Chessie.

My question is comments on this C&O and Chessie stratedgy? Any known background information web sites? Or where might I start to model to get Chessie / C&O HO equipment?

Thanks in advance

C&O Historical Society:
http://www.cohs.org

Chessie System Historical Society
http://moosevalley.org/cshs/cshsinde.htm

Chessie photo archive (photos of C&O, B&O, WM and of course Chessie Equipment)
http://www.trainweb.org/chessiephotos/

Proto 2000 makes some great chessie/C&O equipment.
Atlas does as well.

Be sure that if you buy anything C&O or chessie off ebay to check the price of it new, I’ve seen some price gouging on ebay for C&O stuff.

The C&O Historical Society is a great resource as well as they have a shop to buy from, they don’t always have the lowest prices but the are pretty low if your a member.

But, my advice is do some research on the Chessie and C&O first to see if this interests you before you go buying anything.

Above all, have fun. The C&O or Chessie is a great railroad to model.

Be sure the stuff you buy is painted with the correct colors. Lots of passenger cars I’ve seen have paint schemes which are clearly not correct. They have a yellow which is almost white instead of the deep yellow used by C & O and they often have the wrong shade of blue.

Have noticed similar glaring paint errors on engines.

Dale

cnw4001 -

You are sooo right. Unfortunatly the Athrean Blue Box engines usually have the wrong colors and paint schemes. The genisis stuff is pretty accruate. P2K engines are pretty close with color however Atlas is actually closer to the prototype with color.

It’s a real shame that P2k doesn’t understand that vermilion is orange w/ only a touch to the red— not caboose red! Atlas is a tad to the only orange, but they weathered to that and the some. Weathering red only darkens or lightens to a dirty pink. But still love those SD50’s and geeps.
Bob K.

www.discounttrainsonline.com

www.railpictures.net

www.ztrainman.tripod.com/

www.rr-fallenflags.org also has a few photos. Keep in mind that some Chessie engines might also be in the B&O and Western Maryland pages as well–all 3 roads had sublettered engines painted for Chessie System.

Prepare to duck. Some people hear “Chessie” the cat and blow a gasket.

If you want to do steam, your best off with C&O. If you want to do diesel, Chessie, or CSX is the way to go.