Topton Station

The first module I build is the station of Topton, that will be used as end of the line terminus on my small home layout. The track plan will work also as a time saver and switching layout in single use. By adding a fiddle yard top one end, it's possible to run typical short line operations. The module is designed to fit in both directions with the station building to the left, or to the right.

The module is 120cm by 27cm in size. The old through station has been cut down to the actual end of the branch line. The spurs and run around track is very short, but will work for the branch line trains. These trains may have up to 5 freight cars with caboose, mixed locals with coach, baggage and 2 freight cars or a passenger with 3 cars. Each spur track can hold up to 3 cars max. Freight cars are spotted to the grain elevator, pulpwood loading and team track.

The construction of this module is shown on the next page.
To the construction report

The following pictures are showing some scenes from the modules as well as details to the industries.

Let's start the trip through Topton at this old cattle loading facility. The days that "Cheeseburgers" where shipped from Topton are long gone and the facility is abandonned. There are only some boards and fences beside the cattle ramp from the old boxes remaining and the cattle ramp itself may collapse in the next winter.

Comming into the station, you'll notice the typical grain elevator to the left of the tracks. He's still in operation, but only with one covered hopper capacity every day. But the railroad has still his job to handel the loads of grain down to Asheville.

In the middle of the station area, there's the team track with loading ramp for loading several goods and freights. Today, a gondola was loaded with scrap and you can see a mobile oil tank car in the distance, awaiting a load of fuel for the local gas stations. This will be brought with tank cars by the Southern Railway.

At the left corner, a pulpwood loading yard generates more freight traffic for the railroad. The old Bucyrus crane is resting here and waits for some empty pulpwood cars to be loaded. Up to 2 cars per day are done. the pulpwood will be shipped to furniture factories or pulpwood mills.

At the end of the module, you'll find the old depot. The passenger shelter was closed some while back and only the freight section and office is still in use. The best times of this branch line are long gone. At the front is the pulpwood yard again, while the team track is left to the depot.