Back to P.C.C.M. #33: Transer to the KP&W.

OK, after the musings of the last post its time to get back to Penn Central Car Movements (P.C.C.M.)!!

The current series includes cars sent from the N.Y.C.T.L. for businesses served by the Kings Port & Western Railroad.   These cars will be transferred from the Penn Central to the KP&W at West Mill Yard.

Now that I've re-established the staging track (seen below) as  representing the branch to the KP&W's Mayfield Yard, a KP&W train led by an Alco RS-3 is seen emerging on the layout "from Mayfield".  It is made up of cars from previous P.C.C.M.s that were sent to Peerless Appliance, Cavendish Foods, and ACME Auto Parts.  Its time for them to return to West Mill Yard for future car movements. 

Some home road cars are included on the train.

RS-3 #566 leads the train past the recently installed KarTrak ACI scanner near WM Tower.

Trains coming off the Mayfield Branch must back into West Mill Yard.   In the past I typically cut the caboose and parked it out of the way before backing the freight cars in.  Then the loco would pull another string of cars out of the yard for the return trip to Mayfield.  Two runaround moves were required to locate the power at the head end of the train and the caboose at the rear.  It was awkward and time consuming.  No one at West mill was pleased with the procedure.

I recently had what I call a "Duh!" moment  (or perhaps more generously, an "AHA!" moment) by realizing I could keep the caboose with the train...

...and back it directly behind the new string of cars that was going to be taken back to Mayfield.

Once the caboose is coupled to the outgoing cars it is cut from the original string of incoming cars...

...which are then set out on the track behind it. The NYC 86 footer came from ACME Auto Parts while the P&LE car is now empty after being unloaded at Peerless Appliance.

The incoming cars are now all in the yard, ending with B&M RBL car (#109) from Cavendish Foods.

A note before pulling the cars going out to Mayfield.   Now that I've decided that Mayfield is a separate branch from the main KP&W line that leaves West Mill through this tunnel at the end of town..

 ...I need to separate the group of cars described in a previous P.C.C.M. post as the "KP&W transfer cut" into two blocks.  One is for the Mayfield Branch and the other is to be picked up by another train that will be going toward Corning on the KP&W mainline.

One more quick look at the route map to help clarify this.

Breaking up the cars for the KP&W into two blocks.   The two coal hoppers and a different B&M RBL car (#110) are destined for Corning Glass in Corning, NY.   The cars starting with the red GM&O boxcar are bound for Mayfield.

The blocks are separated.

...and the RS-3 positions itself to pull the block for Mayfield out of the yard, transfer caboose first.

Once clear of the yard entrance, the train is pushed toward the switch for the Mayfield Branch with the red GM&O car in the lead.   The caboose is positioned blocking the grade crossing for safety as the final moves are made.

 
As the RS-3 pulls away to runaround the train for departure, the conductor comes out on the transfer caboose platform to pleasantly chat with a waiting motorist.  The driver's patience is appreciated during this delay.

RS-3 #566 makes its runaround move...

....and assumes its position at the head end.

The old Alco, now running long hood first, prepares to head back to Mayfield after getting the signal to proceed. It will take the track to the right to enter the Mayfield Branch.

That concludes the work with the Mayfield Branch, fortunately now reduced to only one runaround move.   This op was a lot more fun than the way I used to do it.   I also like having more than one destination for cars transferred to the KP&W at West Mill.  It makes the KP&W seem busier and helps justify its fictional existence.  

The cars for Corning will be picked up tomorrow by a KP&W freight from Kings Port's Fulton Yard running to Salamanca.  

That's plenty for now!  Thanks for taking a look!