Hi all,
As the virtual ops between the Kings Port Division, the New York Central Train Layout (and now the Atlantic Pacific Railroad) increase, I've felt the need to add more industries. Space does not allow me to actually put these additional industries on my layout but I've constructed a diorama to stage some photos for our virtual ops. Having more industries makes things more interesting operationally.
ACME Auto Parts, which has made some appearances in the past, is an example of this.
Here is a link to a past post I made about my first "facade" industries.
http://kingsportdivision.blogspot.com/2016/05/industries-that-arent-there.html
And now for the latest additions:
AGWAY Feeds, located on the KP&W Mountain Branch to Bloomberg (the town is represented by a hidden staging track). The steel silos on the left were printed from Google Images and mounted on black foam board.
Here is AGWAY on the interchangeable diorama shown from above. The blue foam board makes a handy sky backdrop.
Quality Fabrications, a machine shop, also in Bloomberg
Van Winkle Canning, also in Bloomberg.
Corning Glass in Corning, NY. This one is still in the works but the initial results seem promising. Corning is served by the KP&W.
IBM in Binghamton, NY., also along the KP&W line.
International Paper in Rochester NY.
And finally, Williams Yard near Kings Port. The yard is represented by five tracks on a piece of homasote in front of the diorama to create depth and a sense of size. I plan to add some ground cover around the tracks.
Anyway, the purpose of these facades is to give the impression that cars sent to my staging tracks have actually gone somewhere. Visual images of industries should make the virtual ops more fun and interesting for everyone involved.
I plan to continue adding details to these scenes to improve their appearance when pictured in our future P.C.C.M. car movement series.
Thanks for taking a look!
Hello railfans!
Continuing our three layout virtual op, the KP&W and B&O have taken Unit coal Train URN-3 out of West Mill, but several coal hoppers have been cut from the train and are now being routed to Weehawken as Extra #6554.
A caboose switch was made on URN-3, pulling PC caboose #24520 from the train. It is now being tacked onto the end of Extra #6554.
The caboose coupled onto the Extra, the yard switcher pulls away.
Lead unit PC U33C #6554 gets a fresh crew.
Waiting for the Green Indication to proceed.
The train stretches the length of West Mill Yard.
The signal tower finally shows all green. Extra #6554 is given the order to proceed to Weehawken.
The three PC cars and the following four PRR hoppers are headed to the A.P.R.R.
The train leaves West Mill...
That's it for West Mill's involvement with the unit coal train. Follow the action on Neal's Atlantic Pacific Railroad blog.
http://atlanticpacificrailroad.blogspot.com/
Hi all,
We're embarking on a cool expansion of the virtual ops by featuring cars from a unit coal train on three layouts! Train URN-3 left John's New York Central Train Layout on Saturday.
Here is John's blog post about the dispatch of this train.
http://newyorkcentrallayout.blogspot.com/2017/08/pccm-38-dispatch-of-unit-coal-train-urn.html
Many cars on URN-3 will be transferred to the Genesee Coal Docks in Rochester by the Kings Port & Western and B&O after it arrives on my Kings Port Division, but a cut of cars will also head south to Weehawken where they will then be transferred to Neal's Atlantic Pacific Railroad for eventual delivery to the R.M.O. Electric Company. Here is Neal's blog that will later note the cars arriving on his layout.
http://atlanticpacificrailroad.blogspot.com/
This is an exciting development! We're moving cars between three layouts and will see photographs of their progress down the line!
The action started with the dispatch of URN-3 from Terminal Yard on the New York Central Train Layout. Follow now as a Red indication notes the arrival of URN-3 at West Mill. Three large six axle GE U boats lead the heavy tonnage train as it passes WM tower.
Penn Central and pre-merger scheme PRR hoppers that will be routed to Weehawken make up the first block of this train
Now entering West Mill Yard Limits...
...and passing the four F units (KP&W and B&O) that will take over responsibility for hauling most of the rest of the train toward Rochester.
URN-3 slows to a stop at West Mill....
A yard switcher pulls B&O caboose C-3000 that will be tacked at the end of URN-3 since the train is being transferred over to the B&O and KP&W which operate the connections between West Mill and Rochester.
While the caboose move is getting started, the quartet of F units fires up at the engine track to move toward the head end of URN-3 and take over the train from here.
Once past the Yard Tower the consist backs up to couple onto the the coal hoppers of URN-3 that are headed to Rochester.
Coupling up with the hoppers.
The hoppers for Rochester are slowly pulled forward. B&O as well as KP&W cars typically make up a good part of the train.
The train slowly moves through West Mill Yard.
As the train moves forward, Empire Belt Railroad hoppers are observed at the crossing.
The caboose move involves pulling the Penn Central unit off the tail end of the train and replacing it with the B&O caboose.
The caboose switch completed, this is now a B&O/KP&W train. After pumping the air and completing all tests, the crew of the lead F7A awaits a Green Signal to proceed to Salamanca and eventually Rochester. The PC U Boats on the next track are waiting for their opportunity to leave for Weehawken with cars for the A.P.R.R.
The Dispatcher gives the go-ahead and URN-3 continues on its way to the Genesee Coal Docks.
The ACI scanner records passing car information.
URN-3 leaves West Mill.
Next up: The remaining coal hoppers led by the PC U Boats proceed to Weehawken as Extra #6554
