Ford City Northern Railway
WWW Home of the N-Scale model FCNRWY
Welcome to the Ford City Northern homepage, which is dedicated to the hobby of N-Scale model railroading and to the N-Scale model railroad that I have built over the last nine years. This year (2009) the FCN Rwy celebrated it's twenth birthday as it has existed in one form or another over these past years. But, March of next year will mark the tenth anniversay of the FCN residing in it's present home.
Jerry G.
What is the "Ford City Northern"
The FCN is a free-lanced railway, meaning it is not modeled after a specific prototype road. But, is made up from ideas (rolling stock, operations, etc....) taken from many prototype roads. These in more detail being the Wisconsin Central Ltd. and Wisconsin Southern RR to name a few. The terrain is modelled after Central Wisconsin, with its abundance of Agriculture and Dairy Farming. Farm equipment and related industires abound. In fact, there are seven dairy farms modelled in one form or another.
The layout is setup to run point-to-point, but a connecting track was added to allow for continuous running for open houses, when I am operating it alone and when I just want to see the trains go by.
The overall measurements are: 15 feet long, 11 feet wide and stands at an average height of 52" from floor to track level. Train control is DCC and comes from a (1) NCE(North Coast Engineering) PH1 Powerhouse PRO command station with a built-in 5 AMP booster. Operations are controlled by NCE Throttles, (1) PROCAB and (4) CAB-04 intermediate cabs. These cabs connect to the layout through (7) Cab Bus Fascia Panels (#UTP).
The Locomotive roster consists of Atlas B23-7s and locomotives based on them.(3) B23-7s, (1) B23-7B and (2) B32-9Ws (using B23-7 chassis') and a B18-7 makeup the shortline’s current loco roster. All the units are painted into FCN's present "Slate Blue" paint scheme.
FCN's new digs!
Because of the inpending closing of Yahoo's Geocities hosting site at the end of October 2009. Which has been the FCN's long time home. Another site had to found to keep my past guests updated on the operations of the Ford City Northern.
As time allows, I will fill-out the rest of this site with updated photos of my N-scale layout. I also, plan to make room for more photos and information on my kitbashing and scratchbuilding projects, both past and present. That I had not had the time to do properly on the Yahoo site.
Stay Tuned!!
Below is a drawing of the layout of the layout. The shortline's main shop and operations are located in Ford City. Wautoma, is the home to the largest industry on the FCN. Wautoma Pulp & Paper. While the other towns of Randolph, Princeton and Wild Rose host agricultural business such as a CO-OP, Canning Plant, Ethanol Operation, Feed MIll and a Creamery. The rail bridge just north of Wautoma, offers a interesting view as it crossing near the Dam and over the White River.
Another day begins on the FCN. As the Highway/Rail crew leaders gather to assign the days work schedule. The shortline's only "B-unit" has just been shopped and is getting last minute once-over before going back out on the rails.
Below the FCN's Business Car, #7 the Wautoma is parked on the loading track along side the Railway's Depot and Headquarters. The WC-style (the 1890s edition) Depot is home to the general offices and dispatcher's operations.
