Unit Coal Train UKP-1 arrives at West Mill

Hello all!

If you've been following the "virtual ops" between my Kings Port Division and John's New York Central Train Layout you may know that we have established a regular exchange of unit coal trains.  One of these is UKP-1 which is loaded at Hudson Coal on John's layout and set out at K.P. Steel on mine.

John got the ball rolling with two recent posts on his blog that describe the assembly of the hoppers for this train and its eventual dispatch from Terminal Yard.  Be sure to check out the excellent new locos and rolling stock for his freelanced Empire Belt Railroad that make their debut in Part 1 below!

http://newyorkcentrallayout.blogspot.com/2017/07/penn-central-unit-coal-train-ukp-1-part.html

And follow the action in Part 2 as UKP-1 is dispatched to West Mill.
http://newyorkcentrallayout.blogspot.com/2017/07/penn-central-unit-coal-train-ukp-1-part_11.html 

Here is a photo capture of UKP-1 leaving John's layout with three powerhouse GE six axle U Boats at the head end!

And, here it is making its first appearance on the King Port Division!   The two guys standing by the white sedan in the background are Kings Port & Western employees who planned to drive to nearby Dave's Diner for lunch but just realized they are going to be stuck for a while as the long coal train slowly rolls by.

Big PC Power works its way pulling a long string of loaded hoppers through the track work at Kings Port while the KP&W guys can only watch.

The consist includes U30C #6538 leading U28C #6533(upgraded to 3,000 HP) and U33C #6554 with a combined 9300 horse power !

Crossing Ulster Ave...

Traffic starts to line up waiting for the unit coal train to pass.

Finally the caboose appears!

And automobile traffic is able to cross the tracks.  The KP&W crewmen head for lunch...

And cars cross Ulster Ave...

UKP-1 is later seen ascending the grade to Marion, the summit of the Kings Port Division.

...and approaching a rural grade crossing where a local farmer has to pause on his tractor.  Waiting for this train is becoming a theme!

The head end reaches Hedberg Aggregates...

..while the rear finally passes over the grade crossing...

...allowing the farmer to get back to work.

The caboose passes by Hedberg's...

UKP-1 eventually reaches West Mill and passes by the ACI scanner at WM Tower.

Crossing near Canton Box Co. and delaying more traffic.

Once the caboose is clear, traffic resumes, including a truck just leaving Canton Box.

UKP-1 enters West Mill Yard Limits.

The coal hoppers stretch the through the length of town

The crew disembarks to let the yard hostlers disconnect the three U Boat consist and move it into the engine servicing tracks.

That's it for now!  
Next Up:  The consist is removed from the train and a yard engine moves the hoppers into the yard tracks.