P.C.C.M. 46G: VW-1 picks up cars for the A.P.R.R./ KP&W heads up the Mountan Branch

Hellllllooooo there!   You've all been very patient and attentive readers of these long blog posts!  Here is another one featuring the movement of cars toward Neal's A.P.R.R.,  and a run up the Kings Port & Western Mountain Branch to deliver cars to consignees up there.

We last saw this cut of cars blocked for Penn Central train VW-1 (Selkirk to Weehawken) waiting at West Mill.  Its now being moved to the ready track.

Cars for the A.P.R.R. include B&M RBL #105 loaded with large bags of flour for Freihoefers Bakery, a road weary ex-Pacemaker loaded with new 55 gallon drums for an oil and chemical facility near Rock Ridge Yard...

...a Morton Salt car returning to its home facility, and two KP&W boxcars loaded with Peerless Appliances for Three Amigos Warehouse.

The cut is shoved onto the ready track for easy access by VW-1, expected later this morning.

Its 09:30 and the rumble of GE power is heard emerging from under the GERN tunnel...which makes it sound 3% louder of course!

The two massive U33Cs are cut from the train and pull ahead to change tracks to pick up the cut for Weehawken.

VW-1 leaves its train behind to do the back and forth move required to couple up with the KP&W car next to it. The PRR auto parts car is at the head end of a long cut of cars from Terminal Yard.

The pick-up completed, VW-1 surges ahead toward Weehawken, notching it up as it passes West Mill!

The enormous 86 foot PRR auto parts car marks the beginning of the long block of cars sent from Terminal Yard.   The West Mill cut is ahead of it with B&M #105 bringing up the rear of that cut.

Nothing but green for this priority freight!

The train enters the tunnel on the South side of town and leaves West Mill.

 

Shortly after the sound of  VW-1's massive power and squealing freight car wheels has faded, the West Mill Yard switcher moves the next KP&W transfer to the interchange track.

These three cars are headed for the KP&W's Mountain Branch

Power selected to handle the branch line's tight curves and steep grades will be sister GP9s,  #761 and #742

The pair of first generation Geeps back into the train and pulls it forward in front of Canton Box Co.

A local railfan captures the well maintained units.  The KP&W is budget conscious and keeps its older power in good working condition.

The train, designated Extra #761 leaves PC track and heads for the Mountain Branch.

After 45 minutes of hard labor tackling the grades up the Catskills, Extra #761 reaches Bloomberg and its first stop, Van Winkle Canning.  

An empty Hoschton Railway car is spotted at the loading door...

...while empty PC #360063 and A.P.R.R. #60358 are pulled.  Both cars will be returned to West Mill and the A.P.R.R. car will soon be forwarded empty to Corning Glass Company.

The second stop is Quality Fabrications.   NYC #80755 is loaded with boxes from Canton Box Company.  You DO remember it begin picked up from Canton in a previous post...right?!  Rock Island #35062 is loaded with hardware from American Hardware in Empire City.

The cars are set out.  Extra 761 will perform other jobs in Bloomberg and then return to West Mill with its pick-ups.  We'll follow the A.P.R.R. tomorrow as it gets picked up by a KP&W train heading West toward Salamanca, NY.  That will wrap up the Kings Port Division's lengthy but enjoyable role in this series!

Thanks for reading!