The Ontario Northland Railroad

(HO Scale Railroading by Fern Leroux)

Being originally from Iroquois Falls this model railroader has tried to capture the essence of Porquis Junction (mi. 0) and Iroquois Falls, home of Abitibi Power Paper Co. (now Abitibi-Consolidated) (mi. 6).
This craftsman, a retired Industrial Arts teacher, has made use of his teacher techniques by using the directed problem solving approach to create a recognizable representation of the area as he knew it. Drawing on personal experience and extensive research he creates scenes and structures that capture the original essence of the prototype including the original trestles, the station in Porquis Jct. and the recently completed massive Abitibi paper plant.
Be sure to spend some time with his research material to see how to approach a re-creation through observation of the real thing, planning, revision and to execution.

Scale: HO
Size: 8ft x 18ft
Prototype: Ontario Northland Railway (ONR)
Locale: Porquis Junction to Iroquois Falls Ontario (Appr. 6 mi.)
Period: Late 50's to 1977.
Layout Style: Sectional with lift out for east access.
Layout Height: 41 to 47 inches
Benchwork: Modular sections, 24" x 48", 30" x 48" & 12" x 48".
Roadbed: 3/4 inch homoasote on 3/8 inch plywood
Track: Flextrack.
Turnouts: Peco #6 mainline, #4 in yards.
Minimum Radius: 20 inch in the helix, 40 inches on the mainline.
Length Of Mainline: 100 feet
Scenery: Sculptamold and plaster castings for rock formations.
Backdrop: Handpainted forest scene on 1/8 inch hardboard.
Power System: Walk around DC cab control
Operations: Yet to be determined, leaning towards car cards.
Typical Operating Crew: 1 to 5

Fern has a very impression combination of bridges at the front corner of his layout. Both bridges are scratch built based on actual prototypes.
The front steel bridge has a rather unique base arrangement to help disperse the weight on the soft ground.
Fern has made extensive use of foam core mock ups to help visualize what the buildings will look like. This one is just part of a very large Pulp & Paper complex that Fern once worked at.
In keeping with his theme of naming places after people he knows are places he has been, Fern has named this distillery after Bill Scobie.
Fern spent many enjoyable hours waiting for trains at this station. That is Fern and his wife sitting on the bench.
Another view of the great bridges with the Ontrio Northland passenger train passing by.
Another view of the expansive Pulp & Paper plant.
One of Fern's custom painted F units.


This Web page is written and maintained by Grant Knowles.
This page was last updated on October, 2001.

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