If you've been following the series so far, Train UHC-1 dispatched from Weehawken with empty coal hoppers for Hudson Coal has arrived at West Mill and is about to pick up some additional hoppers for the trip to Selkirk. The two U Boats pull a few cars with them and then do a back and forth move to pick up the cut from West Mill
The West Mill cut of hoppers is added to the train.
Meanwhile, manifest freight WV-2, which was last seen passing through West Mill shortly after UHC-1 arrived, has reached Kings Port.
Coming from the opposite end of Kings Port is UHC-2, a unit coal train of loaded hoppers from Hudson Coal that will be heading south to Weehawken with eventual transfer to Neal's Atlantic Pacific R.R.
UHC-2 has orders to wait at Kings Port for train WV-2. Behold the Almighty Form 19!
While they wait for VW-2 to pass, the crew on UHC-2 confers about one of the locomotives in their five unit consist. The end unit, an aging F7A #1802 is acting up.
WV-2 passes through Kings Port at a respectable 45 MPH
...and meets the waiting UHC-2....
UHC-2 is clear to proceed but the engineer and conductor are pretty concerned about #1802. The other four units are able to carry this train to Weehawken with the possible exception of mastering the grade to Marion, the summit of the Kings Port Division.
Not liking to risk excessive wheel slip on the hill to Marion, a call is made to the Williams Yard locomotive facility to send a pair of helpers to shove UHC-2 upgrade to Marion. The job is assigned to a pair of FP7s; #4369 and #4348.
The helper set is in place and last minute agreements are made prior to departure. The helpers will couple on the fly as the train slowly rolls out of Kings Port.
UHC-2 gets underway...
F7A #1802 has officially conked out and is deadheading now...
The helper set prepares to catch up to the train...
...and couples on behind the caboose.
With help from the two FP7s, UHC-2 successfully climbs to the top of the Kings Port Division near Hedberg Aggregates...
...and the FP7 helpers cut off at MM Tower...Thanks guys!!
....and return to Kings Port. UHC-2 should be able to make it the rest of the way now.
The loaded unit coal train arrives safely at West Mill...
....with four out of five units working...
...and meets its empty doppelganger, UHC-1.
Loads pass empties as UHC-2 rolls through West Mill.
UHC-2 leaves West Mill for Weehawken.
All opposing traffic clear, UHC-1 gets the high sign to proceed to Selkirk where the cars will be forwarded to Terminal Yard for eventual loading at Hudson Coal.
UHC-1 with empties is headed North! UHC-2 with loads is headed South! This completes the Kings Port Division's role in this series. With trains approaching Neal's and John's layouts, be sure to follow the action on their respective blogs!
Neal's A.P.R.R.:
http://atlanticpacificrailroad.blogspot.com/
John's N.Y.C.T.L.:
https://newyorkcentrallayout.blogspot.com/2018/02/penn-central-car-movement-44b.html
Thanks for following the action at West Mill!