Nickel City is
the Hub of the Nickel City Line. Nickel City
was founded in
1849 by a wealthy industrialist named
Jonathan
Sebastian Nickel. The City was designed to serve Nickel's mining
interests in the surrounding area. Nickel was
granted a charter
to develop a rail line from Nickel City to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
The rail line was completed in
1857. The railroad was expanded
west to Ridgway, Pennsylvania in 1863. So formed the Nickel City
Line.
The railroad's
headquarters, shops and main yard are situated in Nickel City. Freight traffic supplies
customers in Ridgway,
Harrisburg
and beyond. Passenger service serves Harrisburg
to
Pittsburg and Buffalo through track agreements with neighboring railroads.
One of the many freights
departing Nickel City passes by one of the City's grade crossings.
Waiting for the train is a fact of life in this busy City.
Tunnel 17 overlook is a great place to see
all the rail action. Here a fast freight heads west to Rigway.
Downtown Nickel City night life begins to
stir as the sun sets.
The Allegheny Model Railroaders have set
up shop in one of the old stores in Nickel City. Their Saturday Open
Houses attract many visitors. Today's visitor line goes past two
storefronts!!
A pair of center flow hoppers await
delivery outside the Nickel City Yard.
Locomotives 278 and 270 (left) emerge from
the tunnel under Sherman's Warehouse enroute to the main yard to pick up a
coal consist headed North. Meanwhile, Locomotive 419 switches out some
other coal hoppers needed by the power plant for today.
Many through streets cross the industrial
area of Nickel City and train crews must always be on the alert for vehicle
traffic as they go about their work. Here a crew member stands ready
to stop vehicle traffic so number 419 can safely pick up it's cut of cars.
(Pictures Left & Below)
Locomotives
278 and 270 continue towards the main yard, all the time cautious of the
many grade crossings between the engine facilities and the main yard.