What do the following states have in common? West Virginia, Virginia, Ohio, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Indiana, Connecticut, Illinois, Wisconsin, Louisiana, Michigan, New Jersey, Texas and Tennessee? Give up? Over 70 modelers from these 15 states made the trek to Hawks Nest, West Virginia March 28 - 29 for the Chesapeake and Ohio Modelers Weekend, sponsored by the St. Albans Chesapeake and Ohio Modelers Inc. They came together in the heart of Chesapeake and Ohio country to share a weekend of modeling their favorite railroads. Specifically the Chesapeake and Ohio, its predecessors and successors.

Mother Nature gave us a mixed bag this year, with those arriving Friday enjoying sunshine and near 80 degrees. Saturday the weather changed to light rain with temperatures dropping throughout the day until, by nightfall, wet snow was falling on the Hawks Nest State Park Lodge. The location of the lodge, perched high atop the New River Gorge overlooking the famous C & O Hawks Nest bridge, allowed a beautiful view of the mist rising from the hills as the temperature dropped Saturday.

As in past modeling weekends at Hawks Nest, the educational clinics were first rate and varied in era and scope. The clinics at Hawks Nest have come to represent some of the best modeling shared by some of the best C & O modelers.

This year's keynote speaker was Jesse Smith. Jesse spoke on the evolution of the historic Pullman-Standard passenger car order the Chesapeake and Ohio placed in 1946, and the cars that actually made it into service on the C & O in 1950. Jesse's dual PowerPoint and slide presentation was the result of years of in-depth research and provided information that answered questions most C & O fans hadn't even thought to ask.

Other speakers included Everett Young, speaking on C & O and Chessie Maintenance of Way (MOW) equipment and Bill McClure on modeling unavailable MOW cars by casting your own parts. Larry Olsen spoke on modeling the Handley Yard and Lou Shultz discussed his Allegheny Sub in HO scale. Sam Martin gave a talk on CSX equipment while John Whitmore gave an extensive slide presentation for those interested in starting a Chessie System and CSX special interest group. Mike Burgett gave an informative class on the C & O take siding signals and how to model them. Jerry Doyle along with Lin Young gave a thought provoking presentation on coalmines and the heavy equipment used to move coal. Lin's photos of trucks and earth moving machines included vehicles so large they had to be broken down into sub-assemblies for shipment by rail.

The highlight of Saturday's activities was a field trip to the C & O depot in Prince. While at Prince, attendees were treated to a clinic by Gary Burdette on modeling the popular depot in HO. Speaking after Gary longtime C&O, then Amtrak agent Melvin Plumley talked briefly about his years as the station agent at Prince. Paul Bresnahan had arranged for an old fashion brown bag lunch at the depot. As everyone enjoyed ham and turkey sandwiches, CSX seemed to have perfect timing and ran a train in each direction.

Famous to C & O enthusiast, the depot in Prince, WV is a time capsule of American and C & O history. Changed little since built in 1946, the depot is a wonderful example of Art Deco styling. Still an Amtrak stop today, the depot has been in service for over 50 years.

Gary Burdette (left) shows his HO model of the C & O depot at Prince. Melvin Plumley shared stories of his 30+ year career at Prince.

On the way back to Hawks Nest, several C & O fans stopped at Quinnimont to see what had once been a hot spot on the C & O. Sitting on weed infested tracks, out of the way and maybe forgotten sat Snowplow 914021 and C & O caboose 903572. Having served the Chesapeake and Ohio well for over half a century, these old friends of railroaders sit forlornly awaiting an uncertain fate.

In additions to the great models on display the Chesapeake and Ohio Historical Society had a sales table with models, books, photographs and tons of research material available. WV Hobbies of Teays, WV also had a large sales table with models and accessories in several scales.

The Virginia Ntrak club had an N scale DCC layout in the lobby of the lodge and allowed visitors to operate their trains. Like past modelers' weekends, the N scale layout was very popular.

This year's show chairmen Jim Pickett and Bill Sparkmon put together a wonderful relaxing weekend of models, trains and history. Once again the staff at Hawks Nest State Park went out of their way to make our weekend enjoyable.

The atmosphere of the New River Gorge, overlooking the famous Hawks Nest bridge, great food at the lodge, and fellowship of C & O modelers made this a weekend not soon to be forgotten.

Jim Butler with Paul Tabit will chair next years Chesapeake and Ohio Modelers Weekend at Hawks Nest. Watch this site for information, as it becomes available.