CATEGORY: Ford Transmission
Galleries: Prototype Gallery | Peavine Gallery | Model Gallery
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Category Description: 
Ford Transmission opened July 1980, producing front wheel drive transmissions for Ford, Mercury and Mazda. In 1999, Ford partnered with ZF Friedrichshafen AG and continued to make transmissions, including the relatively new CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission). The plant finally closed in June 2008.

The transmission plant was probably the largest customer on the Peavine. Winchester Grain may have competed for that title, and I don't have any numbers to confirm. But there is no doubt that the transmission plant kept the Peavine alive after the breakup of Conrail.

After the plant closed, things looke really dire for the Peavine. Then in the early 2010s, Huhtamaki moved into the facility, breathing new live into the line.

It would have been very easy for me, and more accureate, to model the location as Huhtamaki. But the auto industry is an integral part of the Western Ohio back story. The WO built much of its existence service auto related industries between Cincinnati and Detroit. The hightest priority WO train is the auto rack train. So keeping Ford as a transmission plant was an important and easy design decision.

The complex in Afton is far too large to model in full. The the model I depict is inspired by the view of the facility you get from outside the gate on Curliss Road. The doors to the inside loading docks are blocked by the old power plant and the distinctive smoke staks. That is the only structure I've modeled. The east wall is just a building flat, with a backdrop photo extending the east wall into the background. Photo 171 was the inspiration for the powerhouse model you see on the layout.

There are two siding at Ford, matching the prototype. In addition to box cars, gons for removing scrap and tank cars full of chemicals used in the manufacturing process are brought in and out.
 
Click on image to view larger size
 

Photo ID: 2584

Photo ID: 2062

Photo ID: 2060

Photo ID: 1422

Photo ID: 171
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