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!
Great looking coal action with UHC-1 and UHC-2 rolling through town together. Looks like your F unit’s traction motors probably overheated. A common problem with them. I like your form 19 as well. Adds a nice touch of prototype to the series. Helper action looked great as well.
ReplyDeleteThanks! I appreciate the diagnosis on the F unit so i can talk about it in more detail in the future if (When!)it happens again.
DeleteThanks for the F unit info. Like Ralph, I'll be sure to work that in somewhere down the road!
DeleteI just remember as a kid being excited about the Cab units when I would go visit my Grandpa and Uncles at the Burlington and Rio Grande shops. The first generation units especially the EMD cabs went through traction motors due to their poor cooling system for them. That’s why the Second Generation locomotives have the big blower bulge and duct behind the fireman side of the locomotive. A little shop talk I overheard.
DeleteTo: West Mill / Rock Ridge
ReplyDeleteFrom: Terminal Yard
Acknowledge meet of UHC-1 and UHC-2 at West Mill.
Terminal Yard...
One of the best P.C.C.M.s in the history of P.C.C.M.s!!! Tonnage Trains, Manifest Trains, Train meets, Form 19 clearance, balky F7, helper engines, and use of the word doppelganger. Couldn't ask for more. I knew this would portion of the 44 series would be good but you blew me out of the water. Great job!!!!! PS Thanks for keeping the UHC-2 power consist intact!
Thanks John! This was a fun one to put together. I especially liked catching the two coal trains passing each other with empties on one track and loads on the other.
ReplyDeleteI just went thru it for the third time and must say you hit it out of the park!
DeleteAgree with Sir John and Sir Neal, really top notch PCCM series. One for the annuals of PCCM record book!
DeleteTo: West Mill
ReplyDeleteTo: Terminal Yard
From: Rock Ridge Yard
Acknowledge meet of UHC-1 and UHC-2 at West Mill
Rock Ridge Yard Out!
History in the making! It doesn't get any better than this! If the real Penn Central ran as efficiently as our railroads do, the PC could be in existence today. Wait! It is! It lives vicariously thru our Penn Central Car Movements! Long live our P.C.C.M.! KUDOS to you Sir!
That was beyond amazing ! That shot of the empties passing the loaded hoppers really shows the massive amounts of coal being transported. Another photo suitable for framing. So at 1 point there were 7 locomotives with 1 O/D in play. Now that really shows how bad things got for the PC. But very exciting ops nonetheless. Thx.
ReplyDelete