Welcome to the Cardinal & Wautauga Railroad

“Welcome to the Cardinal and Watauga Railroad! We're a group of adult simmers & railroaders that want to move consists and trains in a mostly realistic fashion. We have a dedicated server that is running 24/7, and is available at all hours of the day. It is available so you can hop on and complete various train orders, with friends and with others. We're a small, but growing community, and we have various former and retired railroaders who are always willing to help!”

Well, gather 'round, folks, 'cause I gotta tale 'bout the summer of '47 up in the Appalachian Mountains. Jeb and Cletus McCoy, two real spirited redneck brothers, were sippin' on Cardinal moonshine when they stumbled upon somethin' that'd change their lives. Drunk as skunks, they found the remains of a steam locomotive, later named #1 T-17 Ten Wheeler, and a busted-up caboose in the flooded Watauga River valley.

Now, these McCoy brothers, known for their love of moonshine and fixin' things up, couldn't resist the charm of that old train. Despite bein' constantly fueled by moonshine and the wreckage bein' halfway underwater, they saw a chance to live out their dream of runnin' their own railroad.

The "Cardinal & Watauga Valley Shortline" became a local legend as the McCoy brothers and their mostly cousin crew laid tracks through them Appalachian hills. Overcomin' challenges like inclines, thick forests, and rocky cliffs, they kept it real with that redneck charm.

Word spread like wildfire 'bout the McCoy brothers, attractin' rail enthusiasts and investors. The C&W became a symbol of grit and determination, provin' two redneck brothers could turn a flooded valley into the tracks of dreams. Cousin Michael even hooked them up with surplus Army radios so Channel 5 and Channel 12 could keep trains rolling.