Introduction to the Nickel City Line

Introduction to The Nickel City Line Railroad

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.

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.

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.

Florissant fixtures provide general lighting when work on the railroad is being

conducted. The room is carpeted and insulated to provide year round enjoyment.

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 DispatcherAP Certificate.