P.C.C.M. #43H: The Kings Port Turn

Hi all,

Remember that this installment is titled 43H because the Kings Port Division took a short break so fellow modeler John B. could post installment 43G on his excellent looking layout.    Be sure to see how John beautifully forwarded two cars from John R.'s New York Central Train Layout (and gave us inside prototypical information regarding a special shipment!) at this link:

http://modelrrmisc.blogspot.com/2018/02/pccm-43-g-virtual-ops-session-heads-west.html

The focus now returns to the Kings Port Division.   Be forewarned that this is a long post.  Order a pizza before hunkering down to read it!

Action resumes as West Mill yard switcher #6922 pushes cars into the interchange track for the KP&W to pick up on a run to its Mountain Branch.

Shiny new PC #360063 is loaded with adhesive labels for Van Winkle Canning while the venerable old Pacemaker is full of burlap bags for Agway Feeds.  What a contrast these two cars make!

The cars are set out on the interchange track.

A little later switcher #8951 shoves five empty covered hoppers for Empire Grain into the interchange as well.  Although Empire Grain is right across from the Penn Central's West Mill Yard it is served by the KP&W as it is located on their cut off for the KP&W Mountain Branch.  After getting instructions the switcher crew sets off on its short job while WV-2 (Weehawken to Selkirk) can be seen running through West Mill in the background with GP38-2 #8150 at the head end.

WV-2 passes WM Tower shortly before the empty hoppers arrive at the interchange.

Its caboose is seen rolling by just as the covered hoppers are about to couple up with PC #360063

The cars are set out.

The switching action completed and WV-2 clear of West Mill, The Kings Port Turn (identified now as WK-1) prepares to depart West Mill.  Its power today is RSD-12 #6865 running solo.

Cars on the "Turn" include B&M RBL #105 loaded with printed packaging for Blue Ribbon Flour in Kings Port,

Two corrugated gons of scrap metal for KP Steel and another PC gon loaded with pipe hidden behind the sign.

NYC #80755 with drums of ink for Canton Box Co., IC #30130 with beer for Reynolds Beverage Distributors, TP&W #627 with scrap steel wool for Booms Ready Mix, and PC 77047 loaded with burlap bags for Hedberg Aggregates.

The first set out is NYC #80755 at the very nearby Canton Box Co.

After leaving West Mill, the next customers are Booms Ready Mix and Reynolds Beverage Distributors.

The Turn arrives.  PC boxcar #104478, seen behind Reynolds, is now empty and is slated to be moved to KP Steel as an intra-layout move.

A cut is made behind the TP&W car headed for Booms Ready Mix.

The Turn backs the cars toward PC #104478 at Reynolds...

...and picks it up.

...adding it to the train.

The RSD-12 backs cars into the siding again, this time to set out TP&W #627 at Booms and IC #30130 at Reynolds.

The work here completed, the train moves on...Piece of cake for this crew!

Later that morning the Turn is seen at Marion, the summit of the Kings Port Division, approaching Hedberg Aggregates.

Hedberg Aggregates will have to wait to receive PC boxcar #77047, which is rolling right by, until the WK-1 makes its return trip as KW-2 in the afternoon to take advantage of the trailing spur.  Hedberg Mgmt. once again ponders the feasibility and cost of building a double ended siding in front of their complex...

The Turn arrives at KP Steel.  The bridge bears a reminder of one half of the Penn Central's heritage.

Pick ups at KP Steel include these two gons of slab steel destined for Mid Island Steel in a future P.C.C.M....

...along with two 38' hoppers and four steel coil cars.

The Turn's brakeman cuts the gons of scrap from another PC gon loaded with pipe. 

...and they are set out at KP Steel

The two hoppers and four coil cars are then picked up...

...and pulled forward so the Turn can access KP Steel's yard track #1 to grab the slabs!

The pick ups join the rest of the train...

A cut is made behind PC #104478 so it can be set out at KP Steel where it will be loaded with new 55 gal. drums for Drywell Inks.  This is one of the many cycles we've developed in the virtual ops.  Eventually the car will reach Canton Box with drums full of ink!

KP Tower's operator steps out on the landing to personally invite WK-1's crew to please consider accelerating their pace...or words to that effect!  They have permission to occupy the main for only 30 more minutes.

Knowing this Towerman well, the Turn's crew picks up the pace and sets out PC #104478!

After this move is completed the Turn reassembles itself and pulls forward onto Williams Yard's arrival track to clear the main.  A few minutes later horn blasts from an F7A herald the departure of KP&W Extra #160  from Williams Yard.

The train is pulled by F7A #160 and GP9 #742.  The Geep is a recently acquired vintage Athearn with its rubber band drive motor removed.

Extra #160 crosses over Ulster Ave. with a transfer caboose in tow.  This is the train that will pick up the cars for the Mountain Branch at West Mill.

As the KP&W transfer caboose passes the Turn's former Penny N8 cabin car we are treated to a family reunion as the Torkelson Twins, Sven and Ben, give each other a wave.  Conductors on different lines the Torks have been railroad men for years and enjoy these occasional chance encounters.   "Say Hi to Ma!"

That's more than enough for today!   Stay tuned for the completion of the Turn's work and the Extra's arrival at West Mill.