P.C.C.M. #43i: Two trains to West Mill

Whew!  The last installment was a long one.  This will be a bit shorter.  (I think!)

PC Train WK-1 (The Kings Port Turn) has entered Williams Yard to interchange cars with the Kings Port & Western R.R. while the KP&W has just dispatched Extra #160 from Williams Yard to its Mountain Branch.

Here is Extra #160 with its shiny looking GP9 behind the lead F7A. That Geep isn't going to stay that clean for long.

Meanwhile PC train WK-1 (The Turn) has entered Williams Yard and dropped off PC gon #288673 loaded with pipe for the Hudson Valley Ag Coop, and B&M #105 (seen behind the gon to the left) which will be forwarded to Blue Ribbon Flour by the KP&W.

After dropping off the cars and picking up a pair of flats used for TOFC service, the RSD-12 runs around the train and runs long hood first back toward West Mill.  The Turn is now designated KW-2.

Before leaving town the Turn will make one more pick up.   The three cars in the background were recently set out by the KP&W.  All three were at Battaglia Bros.Warehouse and are now empty. They will be forwarded to their next destinations in a future P.C.C.M.  The caboose is cut from the TOFCs at the rear of the train...

...and the three cars are picked up.

 The train backs up to retrieve its caboose...

...and heads out of Kings Port.

Much farther down the line, Extra #160 passes by Hedberg Aggregates.  KW-2 will stop here an hour later to finally set out PC boxcar # 77047.

Arriving at West Mill, the Extra's consist uncouples from the train to pick up the cars that were set out in the last installment, five empty grain cars for Empire Grain, and two boxcars for the Mountain Branch.

Getting some words of wisdom from the WM Towerman.

The Extra gets permission to proceed.

The train doesn't travel far, however, as it stops to set out the five covered hoppers at Empire Grain

 That work done, the Extra heads up the Mountain Branch to serve industries near Bloomberg, NY.

While all is going well with Extra #160, the same cannot be said for The Turn.   The decision to assign one locomotive proved to be unfortunate as RSD-12 #6865 is struggling to get its tonnage up the grade to Marion and Hedberg Aggregates.   A call to West Mill prompts the departure of sister unit #6869 which will provide assistance.  Actually this scenario was real enough as the lone RSD-12 really was having trouble hauling the cars it collected for the return trip to West Mill.  Lesson learned!

The rescue unit runs light and fast over Ulster Ave.

RSD-12 #6869 passes the Turn to get in front of it.   We see an over exerted #6865 belching smoke!

Coupling up to double the power, as long as #6865 holds up to reach West Mill, that is!

KW-2 gets under way and is looking like it will be fine for the rest of the trip.

Reaching Hedberg Aggregates and now able to set out PC boxcar #77047 on the trailing spur.

The two hoppers will be temporarily moved and then returned under the loader.

#77047 is loaded with burlap bags for packaging aggregate for landscape projects. These will be shipped to Neal's Lumber in Empire City in a future P.C.C.M.

The hoppers are replaced on Hedberg's spur and the Turn's crew gratefully heads home to West Mill.

Arriving at West Mill Yard safe and sound!

The cars picked up by the Turn now sit in West Mill Yard awaiting their next move.  The NYC Hi Cube will actually be the first to go on a KP&W train to Salamanca, NY that will also pick up two B&M RBL cars for Corning Glass originally sent from Terminal Yard at the beginning of this series...but that's for later!

Next up:  Catching up on deliveries.  Cars forwarded to the KP&W are set out at their consignees near Mayfield Yard and also on the Mountain Branch.