Forest & Western Railroad

Located in central Virginia, the Forest & Western - Backyard Division is the scale riding railroad of Chris Schieck. Begin in 1978, the dual-gauge mainline (4 3/4" and 7 1/2") has over the years grown to a length of 2200' and includes numerous wooden trestles, turnout arrangements, and return loops. An Armstrong turntable and car storage barn are located at the end of the one of the mainline legs. Motive power includes a handsome home-built 4-6-0 ten-wheeler steam locomotive, a sturdy GP7, and a tidy electric switcher. Schieck has also built the Indoor Division, an freelanced HO scale layout representing the areas served by the Pennsylvania Railroad, Norfolk & Western Railway, Southern Railway, and the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway, such equipment of any of these roads looks at home on the railroad.