Hello again!
In this special historical 1972 themed op, Neal's Atlantic Pacific R.R. and my Kings Port Division sent loaded coal hoppers to John's New York Central Train Layout where they were forwarded to Pier 16 on his layout for loading onto ocean going vessels for Germany and Korea. We're acting as if 1972's Hurricane Agnes has disrupted some regular routes so EL traffic was routed through Neal's APRR and B&O traffic was routed up the PC River Line.
The cars have been unloaded at Pier 16 and are now on their way back empty. Here is a photo of unit coal train UTP-1 that John dispatched from Terminal Yard being hauled by a PC/B&O consist!
Watch it run though Selkirk in the video below while a train coming off the Boston & Albany line arrives at Selkirk with a typical F7A/GP9B/F7A lashup.
UTP-1 is now heading for West Mill where it will drop off a cut of hoppers for the Kings Port & Western. Things are currently quiet at West Mill but that will change in a couple of hours.
The KP&W has provided a pair of F7As and a caboose for the crew and power change UTP-1 will undergo at West Mill before continuing on to Binghamton.
Meanwhile at Kings Port, a KP&W crew stopped their truck at Ulster Ave. to cover a Williams Yard move of several empty coil coaches to KP Steel.
Watch the KP&W Steel Job roll through the grade crossing from the left while unit coal train UTP-1 arrives from the right.
An hour later the train is seen arriving at West Mill while yard switcher #8951 sets out some cars for GERN Industries.
The PC/B&O power comes to a stop next to the KP&W units that will take over the head end of this train.
The cut to be set out at West Mill is separated from the rest of the train and pulled forward.
The PC F7A gives up its position at the head end and runs to West Mill's engine tracks. The crew plans to go to beans at the local Italian place, Musaccia's Ristorante
The twin KP&W units move into position in front of the train.
The cabooses are then switched out with the former NYC hack getting pulled off by the #8941...
...and KP&W crummy #2232 spotted in its place.
Watch the train leave West Mill in the video below:
The next scheduled coal ops action at West Mill is the arrival of another KP&W Coal Transfer from Mayfield. It has arrived but is holding for the next Weehawken to Selkirk Transfer run, train WV-6, the third of the day.
WV-6 arrives on time but makes an unscheduled stop at West Mill!
It turns out that local law enforcement officers waiting for the train to pass at a grade crossing a few miles back noticed unauthorized riders in two boxcars as the train rolled by. Seems like the tramps chose the wrong moment to look out the boxcar doors! West Mill police and the yard bulls roust the riders from the train.
Since the WV-6 is delayed, the Mayfield Coal Transfer gets the "come on out" from the dispatcher and is allowed to access the main in front of the Penn Central freight.
Once past WM Tower the coal transfer quickly backs into the yard to avoid further delaying WV-6
The train-hoppers are about to get a free car ride to the West Mill police station. WV-6 continues on its way to Selkirk.
After the Penn Central train clears, the crew on the KP&W job grab their transfer caboose to place it at the end of the cut of empty hoppers dropped off earlier by UTP-1. This is a classic KP&W/ PC loads in-empties out interchange at West Mill!
The KP&W power runs around the cut of hoppers to get to the head end.
After coupling up and cutting in the air, the train of empty hoppers gets the shove past WM Tower so it can get on the mainline.
The Mayfield Transfer is now ready to depart West Mill
Taking the branch to Mayfield with its empty hoppers the train concludes this special historic coal op!
Thanks for following along!