Hello!
We're moving right along in this 72nd virtual ops series! My Kings Port Division, John's New York Central Train Layout and Neal's Atlantic Pacific R.R. have been assembling trains in preparation of dispatching them to each other. There are several freight cars involved this time around so the action is heavy on all three layouts!
Today the second train for the N.Y.C.T.L. will be dispatched from West Mill with a stop at Kings Port prior to heading to Selkirk.
But first, lets head over to the King Port & Western's Williams Yard near Kings Port. Cars are being assembled into a cut to be moved to the interchange track with the Penn Central in Kings Port.
This cut of cars, that will be picked up by the Penn Central, taken to Selkirk, and then forwarded to Terminal Yard, includes this fine Hoschton Railway Co, boxcar loaded with surplus storage racks from Battaglia Brothers Warehouse for Terminal warehouse.
Three TOFCs from Williams Yard for Terminal Yard's trailer tracks
..and a Cargill covered hopper, barely visible behind the tower, loaded with flour from Blue Ribbon Flour for the Ronzoni Company. The cars are coupled up to a KP&W switcher and are ready to go.
KP&W S-12 switcher #34 pushes the cut out of Williams Yard and onto the interchange track with the Penn Central at Kings Port while KP&W crewmen protect the shove as it crosses Ulster Ave.
The cut for Selkirk, and eventually Terminal Yard, is seen waiting on the interchange for the next northbound Penn Central train.
Meanwhile, over at KP Steel in Kings Port, PC gon #288673, two Evans bread box trough coil coaches loaded with steel coils, and two gons loaded with steel slabs await pick up by the next Penn Central train as well.
Speaking of the next PC train: over at West Mill, the yard crew is assembling a string of cars to interchange with the KP&W at Kings Port . These are mostly "nonplayer cars", (i.e. they are not part of the virtual ops.)
..with the exception of LV boxcar # 66392 which is loaded with batteries for Irwin Marine Corp. of Lakeport, NH. It will be forwarded from Williams Yard by the B&M connection there.
Two RSD12s are ready to take the train to Kings Port and beyond.
Stopping by WM Tower for orders and then backing into the yard.
Watch the train now designated as Extra #6869 leave West Mill
Extra #6869 arrives at Kings Port and separates from the train...
...being careful to avoid blocking the Sumpter Ave. lift bridge.
Looking ahead, the engineer and conductor plan their moves to exchange cars on the interchange, pick up cars at KP Steel, and head toward Selkirk as efficiently a possible.
KP's Towerman steps out to observe the action
Getting started, the Alco consist heads into the interchange track...
The RSD12s push the cut left by the KP&W out of the interchange and onto the main.
The Kings Port Railfan Society pulls up in their VW bug to watch.
The interchange cars are on the main. The locomotives will head forward now to temporarily set them on the other side of Ulster Ave.
The Kings Port Police have shown up...its not clear if they are here to keep an eye on the sometimes wayward Railfan Society or to make sure the Penn Central doesn't violate the five minute law for blocking crossings downtown. You may recall this was an issue in the last series! Anyone seen "Frank?"
Things are looking good and lawful today, however, as the pair of Alcos appropriately sets out the cut and now rolls around it...
...to access KP Steel's holding yard.
Cars loaded with steel coils for Gervais Pipe are picked up first...
...followed by gons KP&W # 2140 and MCRR #350623 loaded with steel slabs for Mid Island Steel.
The string of cars is pulled ahead of the switch to the main.....
and backed into the train from West Mill.
The train pulls ahead so the caboose can be cut at a handy location.
It then continues forward, rolling through the interchange track until the cars from West Mill (starting with the orange KP&W boxcar) are at a good spot to be set out for the KP&W to pick up later.
The Great Interchange Exchange! Cars on the left are set out for the KP&W to take to Williams Yard. Cars on the right are headed to Selkirk and eventually to Terminal Yard.
In a rare example of accord, the KPRS and the KPPD share their appreciation of a job well done by Extra 6869! Cue up the group War's hit, "Why Can't We Be Friends?"
Extra 6869 backs into the cut pulled from the interchange, then backs into its caboose, and prepares to leave Kings Port.
The Dispatcher advises Extra #6869 it is clear for Selkirk.
For the record, cars going to the N.Y.C.T.L. on this train include:
PC #288673
2 coil cars
KP&W # 2140
MCRR #350623
The 40' Hoschton boxcar
Three TOFCs
TDLX #7241 (Cargill)
That is plenty of action for today. Stay tuned for a fourth and final installment tomorrow! Thanks for following along! By the way, the Kings Port Railfan Society does take applications for membership! :)
