Hello!
Welcome back to our Penn Central Car Movements (PCCMs) in which we move identical freight cars between John's New York Central Train Layout, Neal's Atlantic Pacific R.R., and my own Kings Port Division in what we refer to as "virtual ops"! This first series of 2024 marks the 9th year we've been exchanging cars this enjoyable way between our layouts. Thanks for following along!
As usual, the action on my King Port Division begins at a quiet West Mill Yard. And, as usual, it doesn't stay that way for long!
Yard Switcher #8951 starts the day by bringing in two cars. The NYC #80755 was picked up from Canton Box Co.
While the short local comes into the yard we can see the Bloomberg Turn returning to West Mill in the background with cars from the Catskill Mountain area industrial park. The small tower controls access to the Catskill Branch.
All of the cars on this train are PCCM cars heading to either John's or Neal's layouts following movements determined by our Rail Traffic Management Form.
The Bloomberg Turn stops for a red indication at the switch to the mainline.
It doesn't take long to realize why as a Kings Port & Western transfer from Binghamton to Williams Yard in Kings Port rolls into town. The train designated as BiWi-3 will stop to drop off some cars at West Mill. The KP&W and Penn Central share running rights on this section and interchange at West Mill Yard.
The BiWi's brakeman cuts the cars to be set out at West Mill. A Coring covered hopper in front of the two BAR bulkhead flats is the one PCCM car on the BiWi that will be forwarded to the APRR..
The cut for West Mill is set out in the yard and the F7A/ GP9 consist returns to its train.
Once the #769 and #110 are coupled to the train the BiWi continues on its way to Williams Yard in Kings Port.
The crew in GP38-2 #8150 rouses after the BiWi leaves town and finally get their long awaited green board. The train proceeds to the yard.
The Bloomberg Turn sets out the string of PCCM cars in West Mill.
Leaving West Mill for a short time we're now looking at Hedberg Aggregates at the end of the Marion Branch that originates at the KP&W's Williams Yard. KP&W GP9 #742 is preparing to take a string of loaded hoppers to the yard in Kings Port.
The Hedberg Run and the BiWi-3 will coincidentally approach Williams Yard at the same time. Watch them roll by while a KP&W maintenance crew works on a nonfunctional crossing light.
Now that we're in Kings Port lets turn our attention to KP Steel, a major industry there served by the KP&W.
PCCM cars at KP Steel include three green steel coil coaches for Gervais Pipe and Fittings, two orange steel coil coaches for Ford in Bedford Park....
...and six empty hoppers that will be forwarded to Hudson Coal.
Watch a KP&W S12 switcher leave the mill complex with cars for Williams Yard.
Williams Yard awaits the transfer from KP Steel. The hoppers from Hedberg Aggregates can be seen with APRR #9416 at the end of the string.
The empty hoppers and loaded steel coil coaches arrive at Williams Yard.
After the cars from KP Steel arrived Williams Yard crews assembled a transfer run to West Mill that includes the empty coal hoppers and coil coaches. The transfer is dispatched from Williams Yard. It will stop at the Gulf facility in Kings Port to pick up three tankers that are also scheduled to be forwarded to West Mill Yard.
The KP&W transfer from Williams Yard arrives at Gulf, makes the pick up, and then continues on to West Mill Yard.
That concludes the action for today! Come back tomorrow as more cars arrive at West Mill!
