Welcome to the Appalachian&Ohio Railroad!

The A&O has been hosting sporadic operating sessions since 2001. It takes 8-10 persons to keep up with the scheduled traffic in a given session. Traffic includes: • Eight through freights • Four local turns • Two second class freights • Three branchline operations • Industrial swithching at Bayfield and Fillmore Heights • Yard operations • Two runs of #12, the gas electric “doodlebug” • Barge loading at Millport via the operating rotary coal dump • Endless coal traffic, both online and to staging power plants and tipples The dispatcher coordinates all these movements, currently by track warrant, but eventually by CTC. Car forwarding is done by my personal version of the classic Doug Smith car card system. As a member of the NMRA’s Operations Special Interest Group the A&O has been host to RockyOp, a Colorado operations weekend held each September.
Being up close and personal is the main theme of operation on the A&O as CEO, David Stewart, watches first class freight #188 pull the Morrison grade at milepost 234.
An A&O brakeman cuts loose yet another coal drag in Willow Creek coal marshalling yard under the watchful eye of the N&W transfer from Bluefield.
The C&O Connector exits Tunnel Six at Ridge as Bob's photography grabs another picture.
Deep in the Willow Creek valley David Stewart calls the dispatcher before leaving the yard.
Doug Geiger working the yard at Willow Creek
President and CEO pays a suprise visit to Ridge
Crew member Dave Zamzow operates the rotary switcher and dump of the Hatfield Coal and Aggregate Coal Company.
Darwin Vanderpol working Ricksburg
Dispatcher Vince Griesemer coordinates traffic on the Coal Ridge Subdivision
Bob Sobol brings a locomotive into Willow Creek yard
Rick Bacon handles coal traffic at his "hometown," Ricksburg
Coal Operations on the A&O The Kayford Coal Branch provides the majority of coal loadings on this portion of the Appalachian and Ohio Railroad. The huge King Coal Company preparation plant occupies trackage at the end of the branch. Featuring true conveyor belt operation and two Pittman 12-volt motors, the King Coal Company regularly dispenses up to eight gallons of "coal" in a five hour operating session. ABS plastic pellets provide coal loads for transport. After movement from Willow Creek to Millport, the hoppers are rotaried on a scratch-built model of a Whiting Rotaside Rotary Dump simulating barge loading on the Ohio River. A gravity yard recieves empty hoppers in preparation for the return trip Southbound.
The King Coal Company features over 40 lights and stretches more than six feet in length. It is built from styrene and corrugated siding is embossed aluminum foil.	Obviously the King Coal COmpany is still working on its safety record. Slac coal is weighed and hauled away in company trucks.
Coal is being dispensed from track one from the controls in the suspended operator house on the conveyor support A-frame. This structure was built of brass shapes and styrene.	The King Coal Company operates three shifts leaving the Kayford B-Unit #1 little time for rest.
GP30 #410 is added to the rear of a coal extra as it exits the Willow Creek yard.	#410 is in Run 8 as it pushes on the rear past milepost 234.
Helper 410 will cut off here at South Ridge and wait for dispatcher clearance back to Willow Creek.	Built from an early article in Model Railroader Craftsman, the Whiting Rotaside Rotary Dump operates flawlessly. Hoppers are held to the rails by a counterweight as the table inverts.