The Allegheny Midland of Tony Koester is an operations oriented railroad that hauls coal through Virginia and West Virginia. Although based on the Nickel Plate and the C&O, Tony refers to his style as prototype freelancing.

The HO scale Allegheny Midland has changed era at least 5 times. Tony has now settled on 1958 while steam still reigns in the mountains. Elaborately painted first generation diesels are making inroads. This careful attention to history is evident throughout the layout because Tony really enjoys historical research.

An Appalachian railroad needs thousands of trees and lots of tunnels. Tony will show you how to make these elements quickly and realistically. He'll also explain methods of modifying common plastic kits into one-of-a-kind structures.

He has succeeded in making the Allegheny Midland a believable railroad that follows standard prototype operating rules.

The Allegheny Midland is a Great Model Railroad because of the "Trains of Thought" that its builder has put into it. Tony, the former editor of Railroad Model Craftsman, champions an intellectual approach to the hobby.