P.C.C.M. 63, Part 1: Outbound cars for the N.Y.C.T.L.

Hello!

Welcome to our 63rd series of "virtual ops" or Penn Central Car Movements (P.C.C.M.s as we like to cal them).  Its time once again to forward cars between three layouts in a virtual manner, i.e. by photographing and videotaping cars that we have in common to create the impression they've moved from one layout to the next even though those layouts are a thousand miles apart or more!   

Just in case there are any new readers...are there any new readers?...here is a quick look at how we determine what cars to send in our operations scheme.

We've made an alphabetical list of all the cars we own in common and call it "The Dispatch Sheet".  The Dispatch Sheet includes the car number, road name, type of car ,which P.C.C.M. it was last actively involved in, where it last came from, where it is now, and with what lading they have, if any.  That's a lot of information!

The pic of the Dispatch Sheet below was taken from my computer screen.

When starting a new P.C.C.M. the easiest way to determine what cars to send to each other is to look at the Dispatch Sheet column that indicates where the cars are now.  Cars listed as being at locations on my layout are ready to move in the next P.C.C.M.   I make a list of them to create a train (or trains) to dispatch. 

The image from the Dispatch Sheet shown below has information about two gondolas that always travel together (KP&W #2140 and MCRR #350623).   Looking at the second to the last column on the right I learn that these cars were last spotted at Bell Pole.   Immediately below the info for the gons is similar data about LV boxcar 8247 which was last seen at Quality Fabrications on my layout.

And...here they are.  The gons at Bell Pole across from the Agway elevator getting loaded with utility poles....

..and LV #8247 now loaded with baking trays and racks for Freihofers Bakery

How do I know what these cars are loaded with and where they are going next in the P.C.C.M.?  Well...we have a second form known as the Rail Traffic Management Form (RTMF) which also lists all of our cars in the same alphabetical order for easy cross referencing.    The RTMF has operations cycles for each car..some have a couple, others have four or more.

The pic below is a highlighted section of the RTMF's info about routing the two gons and the LV boxcar. 

Forgive the poor quality of the photo of my computer screen but a close up of the box in the upper center of the image reveals that the gons are supposed to go from Bell Pole to LILCO of Babylon NY.   Underneath that box we see a box of info for LV #8247 indicating the load from Quality Fabrications goes to Freihoefers.  

Here are the gons at West Mill Yard after being pulled from Bell Pole.  They will be included in a train to Selkirk, and eventually to Terminal Yard on John's New York Central Train Layout where they will be handled by the Empire Belt R.R. and the LIRR

LV boxcar #8247 is also at West Mill Yard and will be included on a train to Weehawken and eventually to Rock Ridge Yard on Neal's Atlantic Pacific R.R.

So, the ops primer completed, let's get to forwarding outgoing cars for this P.C.C.M.!

Cars headed for Terminal Yard on John's layout this time include PS-2 KP&W covered hopper #445052, loaded with crushed aggregate from Hedberg Ag. and red GM&O #21129 loaded with bed frames from Quality Fabrications for Pilgrim State Hospital.    

The two gons from Bel Pole are next in line...

...followed by PC depressed well flat #760053 with the large tank load and the Cargill covered hopper which carries wheat flour for Ronzoni. This is the Long Island RR cut. 

The second block of cars for industries in Empire City is coupled up to the Cargill covered hopper, including NYC #80755 loaded with new 55 gallon drums from Amalgamated Container for Drywell Inks.  

PC #77047 carries bagged landscape rock and P&E #3638 is loaded with bagged gravel, both from Hedberg Aggregates for Neal's Lumber and Hardware.   

86 foot auto parts car PRR #125291 is predictably loaded with auto parts...for Ford.

The Rail Traffic Management Form also indicates that PC 50' plug door boxcar #360158 would be included on this train traveling empty from Battaglia Brothers Warehouse to University Milling, but recent suspicious activity on both John's New York Central Train Layout and my own King Port Division has led the police to impound the car with a search warrant.   If nothing is found it will be released and forwarded during the P.C.C.M. 64.   

There is that suspicious black car again, observing the proceedings with interest!

Noting the delayed forwarding of PC #360158, the West Mill Yard crew prepares the train for Selkirk.   Power for the run is fired up; a pair of GP38-2s that recently came in with a transfer from KP Steel's yard. 

The twins back up past WM Tower to access the Yard Entrance.

..and head down the tracks to couple up to the cars for Selkirk.  

Air is pumped, connections checked.  The train is ready to head out as Extra 8150 to Selkirk. 

A NYC bay window hack brings up the rear creating a pre-merger scene with PRR #125291 as the train heads toard Selkirk.

See the action in film below.

Stay tuned for tomorrow's installment as cars are forwarded southbound to Neal's Rock Ridge Yard via Weehawken.