Unit train meet

Hi all!

Followers of the New York Central Train Layout blog know that John recently dispatched a unit train of empty grain cars to West Mill for Empire Grain on my Kings Port Division layout.   His fine research into train symbols and designations led to this train being identified as JWM-1.  You can see his post about this train by clicking on the link below.

http://newyorkcentrallayout.blogspot.com/2017/07/dispatch-of-empty-grain-train-jwm-1.html

As JWM-1 works its way to West Mill Yard on my layout, the yard crew there is busy putting together Unit Train UKP-2, a train of empty coal hoppers that were recently unloaded at KP Steel.

Prior to this point, three successive Kings Port Turns dispatched from West Mill over the last few days have gradually been picking up empties at KP Steel shortly after they were unloaded.  KP Steel carefully manages its holding yard and requests that empties be removed as soon as possible to make room for deliveries of empty coil cars, loads of ore, gons full of scrap metal, etc. 

Three different "Turns" are seen picking up three strings of cars at KP Steel....

One

Two

Three!

The series of "Turns" fills a couple of West Mill yard tracks with empty hoppers.

Yardmaster Cappy Foster has orders to put together Unit Train UKP-2 for Hudson Coal via Terminal Yard on the New York Central Train Layout.   GE U Boats #6533 and #6538 are assigned to power the train.  These units were joined by sister U Boat #6554 several days ago to form the consist that brought loaded coal hopper unit train UKP-1 to West Mill, but only two locos are needed for this considerably lighter empty train.   

 The U Boat pair backs into a string of hoppers to pick up its train...

..and after coupling on to the rest of the hoppers UKP-2 gets the indication to proceed out of West Mill toward Selkirk, and then down the other side of the river toward Terminal Yard.

UKP-2 is later seen at Marion..

Hoppers from two freelanced railroads!

  
Making the descent toward Kings Port....

 and eventually passing KP Tower, approaching Kings Port from the South...

..while JWM-1 is seen approaching from the North.  JWM-1 will hold here until UKP-2 passes northbound.

UKP-2 continues on its way through Kings Port...

...Meeting the waiting JWM-1...

...as traffic builds at the Ulster Ave crossing.

The rear of UKP-2 is finally clear of the junction by KP Tower so JWM-1 gets permission to proceed.   JWM-1's three unit EMD consist (the same one seen leaving Terminal Yard in John's blog headed by GP40 #3007) crosses Ulster Ave just as the UKP-2's caboose comes into sight.

UKP-2 exits the stage to the north while JWM-1 takes over Kings Port heading south to West Mill!

Motorists have to be patient but railfans are having a great time!

The NYC bay window caboose brings up the rear as the grain train leaves Kings Port.

 Some time later, grain train JWM-1 arrives at West Mill.

As JWM-1 rolls into the yard, a crewman eyes the graffiti on an NYC covered hopper and hopes this doesn't become a trend!

All of the empty grain cars from JWM-1 are now in West Mill Yard, right across the tracks from their ultimate destination; Empire Grain.

A unit train meet is a new and possible future regular feature in the virtual ops between the N.Y.C.T.L. and the Kings Port Division.  Thanks for taking a look!