A model Railroad layout in N scale (1:160) based loosely on Durham & Southern between Durham and Apex. Name: Durham & Southern Scale: N scale (1:160) Size: 2'x2'x4' Prototype: Durham & Southern from Durham to Apex, NC Locale: North Carolina, USA Period: 1976-Modern Style: Around the Walls, L Roadbed: Woodland Senics Track-Bed Track: Atlas Code 80 V1.0
Don't forget, the D&S leased GP9s and an RS11 from N&W for a short while before the GP38-2s were delivered. Too bad you can't do the Baldwins... now that would be really cool!!!
Yes, CSX now operates the Apex-Durham Segment with a Weekday local turn. The line did not change much in the 20 years, most industries remained the same.
Very cool! I lived in Apex from 2005 to 2008. I enjoyed railfanning around the depot. I was also active with the New Hope Valley RR folks out of Bonsal.
Yeah, I had my date wrong. It should be 1976-Modern. I mean we don't want to be modeling the SCL now do we?
There was an article on the D&S in Trains back in the late 70's I believe when SCL was still the main interchange railroad at Apex. The GP38-2's were pretty new then. I looked like a neat RR to model then.
I'll have to see if I can dig up my old pics of the D&S RS-12 still sitting out in the woods in Clearfield, KY. Left where it sat under the car shed when the Morehead and North Fork closed down. Frank
For those interested, this still sits out in the middle of nowhere in Kentucky. Last I knew, a local NC group was trying to get it back to it's original home. A couple more pictures in my album, will try to get my older pics from the old computer. Not much difference, though. http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/uploads/1766/DSCN0247.JPG Frank
NBHotshot - You picked a good road to model. My observations were in the mid-60's when all of their road engines were Baldwins. You will not have to apologize for modelling extremely well maintained trackage as the D&S's definitely looked "main-line." Ditto for their motive power and rolling stock, almost spotless! Their black hoppers (the only rolling stock I remember seeing), often looked like it had been washed! It was slightly disconcerting to walk up to a gleaming black hopper car and then notice it was perhaps two to four years old. And, if anyone can be persuaded to make even a generic Baldwin road switcher, you could basically model their entire diesel roster with only two sets of engines.
Thanks for all the comments guys, really enjoy the feedback! V2.0 Notes: I changed Dixie Pipeline to Stock Builders Supply Inc which produces lumber, wallboard, fence posts, centerbeam flatcars, 1 or 2 car lots. Here is a photo I snapped of F729-08 leaving Stock Builders Supply Inc just out of the photo.
Durham & Southern’s line from Apex, NC to Durham, NC stretches 20.7 miles north to south. Today this branch line is used for a CSX weekday local out of Apex and back interchanging with Norfolk Southern at Durham and serving many industries in Research Triangle. Go back about 25 years and it was a busy little short line with its own locomotives and cars. Around 3-5 trains a day operated on the line swapping cars with Norfolk & Western at Durham and Seaboard Coastline at Apex. Locals starting their journey on the Durham & Southern will build their trains at Apex. This small Southern community in Central North Carolina has a lot of railroad history behind it. Sadly though Apex will never return to its Seaboard Coastline status with CSX train numbers now dwindling in the 4-6 a day, 2 being Amtraks. >>Track Plan >> Apex Depot This photo shows what the depot looked like circa 1990s. The CSX depot is behind the locomotives is basically an office and house track for the 2 locals out of Apex. The line to right is the old Durham & Southern to Fuquay-Varina. The Seaboard mainline and classic G style signals guard the junction. Currently a small Auto Repair shop stands in front of the CSX depot. Modern operations at the depot go as followed, it currently houses an office for the Apex Train master and a Maintenance of way hub for the Seaboard Costline (Now CSX’s Aberdeen Subdivision). CSX F729 often builds his train at North End Apex siding where F741-F742 spot cars off for F729 or F799 (Moncure switcher). In 1976 though Durham & Southern train #12 would leave Apex Daily at 8AM to Durham. Then train #45 from Durham would arrive just before 12:00PM. Train #44 would leave Apex around 2:00PM bound for Durham. Train #11 would then return from Durham around 4:00PM. Train #46 and #47 operated on Sunday with #46 leaving around 10:30AM and #47returning around 1:00PM. Trains had 2 locomotives and averaged around 8-10 cars.
My First Track Plans showed that I was going to model Stock Building Supply but after further insight I realized that it is not the best choice. One, it featured two spur tracks into the main loading area and with the limits of my layout I did not have the space to do that. So I chose Guy C. Lee Building Materials, another Apex Lumber supplier to fill its place. >>Track Plan Guy C. Lee Building Materials is a main source of construction materials for local and domestic contractors. Located at the 20.2 Mile post this business has been in operation since the 1960s. Guy C. Lee features one spur track and loading dock. From my research it appears that this business receives loaded center beams containing lumber, wallboard, and fence posts. The loads are usually brought off the CSX making it a short trip on the Durham & Southern but I think I can get away with bring some loads down from Durham. The business also produces wood bound for the Southern Railway interchange at Durham.
