PCCM 86: Part 1 on the KPD

Hello!

This is a "virtual ops" series between my Kings Port Division and John's New York Central Train Layout.  Our friend Neal is not participating this time because he is making some very cool updates to  his layout but we hope to include him next time! 

The multi-page Rail Traffic Management Form we designed that determines our car movements has a way of  providing unexpected variety.  We jokingly refer to it as the "caprice of the RTMF".  This time around its seeming unpredictability has scheduled nine cars from my layout to be forwarded to John's while he will be sending me 32!  

Considering the current low traffic volume on the Kings Port Division, West Mill Yard is quiet and virtually empty.

That's about to change as GP7 #5688 gets the call to perform a local move at Empire Grain to bring a NYC covered hopper into the yard.  The car can be seen in the background.

The Geep is on the move to Empire Grain..

...where it picks up the lone covered hopper.

Just as GP7 #5688 is pulling the covered hopper into the yard a Kings Port & Western transfer run from Mayfield Yard arrives, pulled by an SD9.

The Mayfield Transfer prepares to run past the yard entrance where it will back the cars into West Mill Yard. All of the cars on this short transfer are for KP Steel in Kings Port.

Watch the train back into West Mill Yard in the video below:

After the KP&W power leaves to return to Mayfield the West Mill's SW9 #8951 adds the NYC covered hopper to the string of cars and then tacks a caboose on the end.

Watch the cut of cars leave West Mill with U33C #6554 at the head end.  This train is identified as WKT-9 (West Mill, Kings Port, Terminal Yard).   

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An hour later the train arrives at Kings Port where it will set out all of the cars on its manifest except for the NYC covered hopper.  It will exchange them for four steel coil coaches with two loaded for Ford and two for Gervais Pipe and Fittings on John's N.Y.C.T.L.

Watch the train arrive in Kings Port in the video below:

After stopping near KP Steel, the train cuts its caboose so it can set out the cars.

Preparing to shove the string of cars into KP Steel's receiving yard.

Watch the set out in the video below:

After exchanging cars at KP Steel WKT-9 heads toward Selkirk with five cars for the N.Y.C.T.L.   Watch the engineer notch up the throttle as the train leaves town in the video below:

There are still four more cars to pick up for John's N.Y.C.T.L. at Selkirk.  We'll follow that action tomorrow!  Stay tuned!