Tuesday, March 2, 2021

P.C.C.M. 81: Part 8 on the KPD

 Hi everyone!

If you're still following along with the Kings Port Division in this 81st Penn Central Car Movement series you'll know that I'm going to wrap up the KPD's involvement in this installment.  A lot of freight traffic has been exchanged between my Kings Port Division with John's New York Central Train Layout and Neal's Atlantic Pacific R.R. this time!

In the last installment the Mayfield Transfer was seen returning to Mayfield Yard after picking up cars at West Mill.  Here are some photos of the action shortly after the train's arrival.  KP&W 38 foot hoppers #233 &234 have been added to a train that will take them to the Lehigh Valley's coal connections for loading.  A pooled KP&W/LV consist is at the point. 

In the background you can see a short KP&W "Local Job" heading out of Mayfield with cars to be set out at local industries. 

The first stop on this local run is ACME Auto parts.

Three 60 foot auto parts cars are being set out here to be loaded for Ford Motor Co. on the N.Y.C.T.L.

The second and last stop is Amalgamated Container Co.   The KP&W boxcar was sent from American Hardware on Neal's layout loaded with screws and fasteners.



That completes the brief work of the "Local Job"  GP9 #742 heads back to Mayfield Yard.

As the Geep returns to Mayfield, we will return to West Mill where one of their own local runs is prepared to depart.  This train will run caboose first to expedite switching after a short trip to Lower Kings Port where Reynolds Beverage Distributors and the Gulf river facility are located.  The Gulf tankers are non-P.C.C.M. cars while the black HRC car is is loaded with Schaefer beer.  Watch the train leave West Mill in the video below:


Now follow the action as the RSD12 sets out tankers at Gulf and the HR boxcar at Reynolds Beverage Distributors, and then returns to West Mill.

The final move of the series involves PC #160502 loaded with stored materials from Three Amigos Warehouse that is being transferred to Battaglia Bros. Warehouse.   NH boxcar #36116 has been loaded with Port Owen bricks for American Building Products in E. Deerfield Maine.   Both cars will be set out for pick up by the next KP&W BiWi headed to Williams Yard. The KP&W will deliver the PC car to Battaglias on a local run while the NH car will be forwarded to New England via the KP&W's connection to the B&M.

The yard switcher back at work again pulls the cars out of the yard and sets them on a siding for convenient pick up by the scheduled BiWi.

 A couple of hours later BiWi-4 arrives and stops for the pick up.



After adding the two cars to its train the BiWi proceeds to Williams Yard.


And THAT is the last move of the series!   Its been a fun challenge to keep the freight moving!  Thanks for following along!


Monday, March 1, 2021

P.C.C.M. 81: Part 7 on the KPD

 Greetings virtual ops fans!

This is the seventh installment of the KPD's involvement in our 81st Penn Central Car Movement Series!   Cars brought in by trains from John's New York Central Train Layout  and Neal's Atlantic Pacific R.R.  are being sent to their consignees.

Considerable yard work is required at West Mill today to assemble trains for Bloomberg, a Mayfield Transfer, a local run to Lower Kings Port, and a set out for the next KP&W "BiWi" .

First move is to pull this NH boxcar that was sent on the car float.

It was loaded with bricks at Port Owen Brick Co.  for American Building Products in E. Deerfield, Maine.  It will get there via the KP&W's B&M Connection.

NH #36116 is coupled to PC #160502 which is headed to Battaglia Bros. Warehouse loaded with stored materials from Three Amigos Warehouse.  Both cars will be picked up by the BiWi and taken to Williams Yard.

 The next job is to assemble a cut of cars that will be picked up in a railfan-favorite move, the Mayfield Transfer Exchange in which a train from Mayfield drops off a string of hoppers for the car float and then leaves with a cut of cars for Mayfield.  This week's cut includes three empty auto parts cars for ACME Auto Parts...

...two 38 foot empty hoppers headed to the Lehigh Valley's coal connection, and KP&W boxcar loaded with screws and fasteners from American Hardware (Rock Ridge) for Amalgamated Container (ACCO)

After the Mayfield Transfer Exchange cut has been completed, yard switcher #8951 turns its attention to the Bloomberg Turn that will serve several industries in the Catskill Mountain community.  Cars include KP&W #30112 and 30115 empty for Zenith TV...

...a 50 foot Hoschton Railway car loaded by Empire Produce for Van Winkle Canning, and P&E boxcar #3638 carrying drums of Drywell Ink for The Catskill Mt. Press.

NYC #80755, empty for Quality Fabrications, is tacked on as an intra-layout move, handily making the Bloomberg cut
five cars long, meeting West Mill's policy for minimum sized trains to Bloomberg.


Blocks of cars are now ready for two trains, The Mayfield Transfer on the far track and the Bloomberg Turn in the foreground next to the Car Float.

After the Bloomberg Turn's cars have been coupled together, a pair of GP20s gets the call to run them up the Mountain Branch.  Watch the power roll by to get into position at the head end while switcher #8951 tacks a caboose at the rear in the video below:

 

The Bloomberg Turn prepares to back out of West Mill.

Watch the train roll out in the video below:


The Bloomberg Turn then leaves West Mill in the video below:



A little less than an hour later the Turn is setting cars out at Bloomberg industries.  P&E #3638 loaded with Drywell ink is delivered to Catskill Mt. Press...

...and the HRC car loaded with produce is set out at Van Winkle Canning


The Turn's other set outs were captured on video by a local railfan.  Watch NYC #80755 get dropped off at Quality Fabrications while KP&W #30112 & 30115 are set out at Zenith TV in the video below:


While the Bloomberg Turn completes its work up in the Catskills the Transfer Run from the KP&W's Mayfield Yard has arrived at West Mill with loaded coal hoppers for the Port Own Edison Power Plant.  After dropping them off, the F7A/RS3  consist will pick up the block of cars assembled for Mayfield.  Watch the entire Mayfield Transfer Exchange in the video below:


 After backing out of West Mill the power and caboose will be run around the block of cars to orient the train for the run on the Mayfield Branch.   We later see it arrive at Mayfield Yard in the video below:


We'll stop here today.  Tune in tomorrow for the conclusion of the series as cars are delivered to Mayfield area industries, a local run from West Mill serves Reynolds Beverage Distributors, and cars are set out for the next KP&W BiWi to take to Williams Yard for forwarding to the B&M and Battaglia Bros. Warehouse.  Its been busy but fun week on the KPD!