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The Nickel
City Line was my first attempt at a moderate
size model railroad layout. I had kept a 4 x 8
foot layout I made when I was 11 years old with
me for many years. When I began to get
interested in model railroading again years
later, I started adding small additions to my
existing layout. In February of 1991 I
attended a meeting of the Prince William County
Model Railroad Club. The group was small with
only 5 members. But ambitions and excitement
were high. I decided to join the group and soon
I discovered there was much more to the hobby
than I ever envisioned. I began to learn new
techniques and standards for the hobby.
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In 1993 my
family moved to a single family detached home
with a full, unfinished basement. I began
planning a new layout, on a much grander
scale. I negotiated a 12 x 20 foot area of the
basement for the layout. Construction of the
layout was started in 1994 and was completed by
1997. Revisions were made in late 1997 and
1998.
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I made several
mistakes on this first layout. But I have learned
far more than I ever imagined. I am finishing a
new, larger layout in a different section of the
basement. A lot of planning has gone into this
layout which includes train operations as well as
continuous running. The layout room provides a
bright, warm and comfortable area for visitors and
operators to enjoy the Nickel City Line. Track
lighting provides most of the light source during
operations sessions with blue lighting
illuminating the room during night operations.
Florissant fixtures provide general lighting when
work on the railroad is being conducted. The room
is carpeted and insulated to provide year round
enjoyment.
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| The railroad,
as mentioned above, is operations oriented.
Operators run trains on a fast clock and adhere
to specific rules and instructions given by a
Dispatcher. NMRA Members who operate on the
Nickel City Line can earn hours towards their
Chief Dispatcher AP Certificate. |
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| The NCL as
viewed from Sheppardsfield. Nickel City East is
located on the right (lower level) while Monserrat
is located on the upper level. |
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| This view is
taken from the upper deck in front of Chessie
City. Bristow is just to the left. In the
background (center) are Mills River and Laurel
Valley. |
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| This is an
asile view. Canova is in the upper right. Mills
River is just below by the red top stool. The
Canova Grade is seen in the Center. On the left is
Nickel City and the beginning of Monserrat on the
upper deck. |
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This web
site and all its contents, are Copyright (C)
2011-2021 by the Nickel City Line,
Prince William County, Virginia
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