Greetings everyone!
We're running a special three-layout virtual coal operation this time between John's New York Central Train Layout , Neal's Atlantic Pacific R.R. , and my own Kings Port Division. All of the action will occur this weekend so keep your eye on the blog posts!
John dispatched a unit coal train from his Terminal Yard yesterday headed by a pair of FP7s. These work horses have been seen on the point of heavy coal drags on the KPD before. While the two units can handle the trip from Terminal Yard to Kings Port the grades between Kings Port and West Mill require helper service.
A Kings Port helper crew boards their pair of GP30 humpbacks and await the coal train's arrival.
Twenty minutes later the coal train, identified as Extra #4348, is seen crossing Ulster Ave. and slowing to a stop to cut off some cars.
After the Extra stops, six loaded hoppers are cut off for KP Steel
The FP7s pull them beyond the switch for the interchange in preparation for the set out.
Follow the action as the cars are set out in the video below:
The string of cars is cut into two sections to avoid blocking Ulster Ave .
Watch as the power returns to the train and pulls it out of Kings Port in the video below. Note the helper units leave their pocket to catch up with Extra #4348 on the fly:
The helpers assist the train up grade to Marion...
...cut off at Marion...
..and head back home.
The hoppers for KP Steel sit on the interchange waiting for KP Steel's industrial switchers.
KP Steel sends out units 2 and 3 to pick up the loaded hoppers.
The two sections of the block for KP Steel that were separated to avoid blocking the crossing are coupled together and hauled to the mill.
While the KP Steel switchers do their work, Extra #4348 reaches West Mill. Watch the train arrive in the video below:
A West Mill carman quickly gets to work bleeding the air so the cars can be sorted into three separate blocks
Watch as switcher #8951 gets to work setting up a block for the car float to take to the Edison Power Plant in Port Owen, and then pulls a block for Corning Glass that will be picked up by the Kings Port & Western's next WiBi to Binghamton.
The cars for the Wibi are pulled beyond the yard entrance and placed on a siding for the Kings Port & Western train to pick up.
The remaining coal hoppers are a block for Tri Mount Cement which will wait for a while
GP9 #6922 prepares to make the loads-for-empties exchange on the car float while SW9 #8951 tacks a caboose on the Cement Job.
The empty hoppers are pulled off of the float...
...while the Cement Job backs out of West Mill to take the main.
The float's SD9 and the Cement Job's Geeps pass each other in opposite directions
The empty hoppers are set out and the car float is ready for loads.
Watch the Cement Job leave town while the car float is loading.
The car float is loaded and the Cement job has left for Tri Mount Cement where it also exchanged loads for empties.
Tune in tomorrow to see the rest of the hoppers delivered to their consignees.
To: West Mill / Rock Ridge
ReplyDeleteFrom: Terminal Yard
Acknowledge arrival of Coal Extra 4348 at West Mill
Acknowledge delivery of coal hoppers to Kings Port Steel
Acknowledge GP30s utilized in Helper Service assisting Extra 4348 over Marion grade
Acknowledge Switch Engine 8951 preparing blocks of coal hoppers for their intended consignees
Acknowledge SD9 6922 exchanging empties and loads on car float
Acknowledge departure of Cement Job with GP9 7085 in the lead
Terminal Yard out...
An action packed entry kicks off the coal op on the KPD!!!! A long coal train, helpers on the fly!, industrial locomotives at Kings Port Steel, yard engine hard at work, high hood geeps on the Cement Job and waterfront action all in one installment make this another candidate for the P.C.C.M. Hall of Fame!! Who could ask for more!!
Great work on the photographs and videos!! In addition to all of the above "Caboose Row" really stands out in both the WM video at 1:01 and subsequent photos. That is a beautiful detailed scene showing your caboose fleet with the a good amount of PC power behind it. I really enjoyed seeing how is complimented the overall scene at West Mill.
Thanks John! I had designated a track for my caboose fleet just as a handy way of storing them but you calling attention to how they look brought them more to my attention and I have to say they do look good in the background! Thanks!
DeleteTo: West Mill
ReplyDeleteTo: Terminal Yard
From: Rock Ridge Yard
Acknowledgement – Extra 4348 Arrival at West Mill
Acknowledgement – GP30 Helper Engines for Extra 4348
Acknowledgement – KP Steel Switchers handling inbound coal hopper cars
Acknowledgement – Engine 8951 switching cola cars for the Edison Power Plant at Port Owen
Acknowledgement – Coal hoppers to head to Tri Mount Cement
Rock Ridge Yard Out!
I like how you added the helper units to get the heavy loads over the grade. In modern times today, the move is called a DPU or Distributed Power Unit. Wish they still called them ‘helper’ units. Nice move the way you cut the cars at Ulster Ave. and not blocking the crossing.
Great work Ralph!
Thanks Neal! I agree that "helpers" sounds better than DPU. The city of Kings Port is pretty attentive about enforcing time limits on blocking crossings.
ReplyDelete