Chesapeake & Appalachian Railway

7/8’s scale is the largest of large scale trains to run on standard “G gauge” 45 mm track. 7/8’s, or 7/8’s of an inch equal to a scale foot, is 1:13.7 scale. When run on 45 mm track, it represents two foot narrow gauge track. Two foot narrow gauge railroads are represented worldwide from Maine to South America to Europe to Southeast Asia. Many of these are private industrial lines including mines, quarries, agricultural plantations and even the Guinness Brewery. The famous Maine two foot lines were general freight and passenger service. Much of the older equipment has been restored and is still running to this day.
There is a set of 7/8’s modelers who run on 32 mm “O scale” track that represents 18 inch narrow gauge.
Many 7/8’s modelers are freelance modelers, as much of the prototype equipment was custom made for each line. There are many who are also produce very true to prototype models, especially the small steam engines and rolling stock of the Maine lines and small Brookville and Vulcan industrial engines ("critters").
7/8’s railroads are made up of either scratch built or kitbashed engines, rolling stock and structures and tend to have a rustic feel to them. There are several commercial sources for 7/8’s scale parts which makes it a bit easier. Many 1:12 scale doll house parts can also be used for structures.
Stay tuned for future projects.

-Brian

This is my first endeavor into 7/8 (1:13.7) scale. My first 7/8n2 project is a freelance rail work truck. It is mostly scratch built with the exception of the front hood and trucks.

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My second 7/8’s loco project is a rail tractor. It is basically a Bachmann Dizzy truck with the body of a modified diecast 1/16 scale construction tractor. The 45 tonner Dizzy truck is unmodified except for wiring it to use with a battery trailer car. It will be a simple battery power trailer car using the same speed controller I used in my rail truck (Bakatronics speed control). The diecast tractor body was chopped, channeled and widened. A bit of steel plate was epoxied into the body and the additional epoxy was used to fill. Regular blue painter’s tape was used as a mold. The seat was also redone and relocated. Styrene sheet and Plastruct box channel made up the other pieces. The drive is a Star Trek:TNG figure, Captain Picard from the future, as seen in the series finale. He was modified so he could sit. So far, so good -

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This little crew car was built for the 7/8’s online group’s winter car swap. Members who want to participate, sign up with preferences listed and names are secretly swapped. Not until the the new owner receives their car will they know what they are getting.
My swap car build is a small work crew car based on a Bachmann V tip car frame. The frame was decked with cedar planks -

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This is a little layout mostly for my 7/8’s scale trains. It will be mostly plants with maybe 1 or 2 structures. Its in a sunnier, more open part of the yard so I can use a wider variety of plants I can’t use on my main layout.
The layout itself is a simple loop to loop folded in on itself with just two sidings. The main grade is a bit steep at 3-4% but the trains will be short, industrial types. The smaller inner loop is 8 foot diameter. All will be battery powered. The layout is mostly raised using ladder construction. Ladder construction will be covered in the How Tos section.

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