PCCM 110: Part 1 on the KPD

 Hello everyone!

We are embarking on our 110th Penn Central Car Movement series (PCCM) also known as our "virtual ops" as John's New York Central Train Layout , Neal's Atlantic Pacific R.R. , and my Kings Port Division exchange freight car traffic from one layout to the other, thanks to us owning similar rolling stock that we photograph and film in action.              

This time around we'll start at the Kings Port & Western's Mayfield Yard where S12 switcher #34 is preparing to get to work.

The S12 goes in search of a Morton Salt covered hopper in the yard that will be included on this morning's transfer to the Penn Central's West Mill Yard.  Meanwhile, a Lehigh Valley train arrives at Mayfield with a string of loaded coal hoppers.  The LV and the KP&W interchange at Mayfield, facilitating a coal connection from the Lehigh Valley to the Hudson Valley.  Watch the action in the video below.

The Morton Salt car was forwarded empty to Mayfield from Cavendish Fine Foods.  Its going back to the Morton Salt loading center in Rock Ridge on Neal's layout.

The PCCM cars on the LV train are KP&W 38 foot hoppers #233 & 234 which will be going to RMO electric, also on Neal's layout.

#34 adds the Morton Salt car and the two hoppers to the transfer for West Mill

 The train is assigned RS3 #566 which rolls by and then couples up to the transfer.  Meanwhile a quiet West Mill Yard awaits the train.

Watch the transfer roll out of town and later arrive at West Mill.

 After setting out its cars the transfer's RS3 and caboose return light to Mayfield.  They clear the junction with the Catskill Mountain Branch in time to avoid delaying a returning Bloomberg Turn that had been working up there this morning.

The Bloomberg Turn has brought three gondolas loaded with poles from Bell Pole which will eventually be delivered to LILCO by the Long Island Railroad.   The three cars (along with the two flat cars acting as spacers on either side of PL&E 40331 and its extra long load) will travel to Selkirk and then to John's Terminal Yard before reaching his Empire Belt's North Side Yard which interchanges with the LIRR.

The TP&W boxcar #627 is heading empty to the Gulf Oil facility in Kings Port as an intra-layout move...

...while the former NYC Early Bird boxcar loaded with REVCO kitchen gadgets will be forwarded to Ralph's Grocery Warehouse on John's layout.

We'll leave West Mill for now and head over to the KP&W's Williams Yard where GP9 #742 is preparing to run light to Hedberg Aggregates with the specially outfitted caboose that takes the lead on this upgrade shove move.

The Geep and caboose head to the unseen north side of the yard where the cut off to the Marion Branch to Hedberg Aggregates is located.  From there they will back upgrade to Hedberg's to pick up six loaded hoppers and four PS-2 covered hoppers.

 After picking up the cars the train heads downgrade to Kings Port.

 ....rolls past the north yard entrance and then backs into Williams Yard

Bouncing back to West Mill, we see the tow boat "Robert H." has just pushed the car float against the West Mill apron.  The float is carrying empty hoppers and one boxcar from Port Owen that will be off loaded soon.  We'll also see more KP&W action as their train BiWi-3, the daily transfer from Binghamton, NY to Williams Yard is about to arrive at West Mill to set out some cars.    

Watch the BiWi-3 arrive as the car float begins unloading.  The long KP&W transfer is well powered by first generation EMD units; pairs of F7As and SD9s!

After the BiWi stops, its four unit consist sets out three PC RBLs that are full of materials from International Paper Co. for Tropicana on Neal's layout.   It then continues on to Kings Port.  Meanwhile SD9 #6922 moves the hoppers from the carfloat into the yard.

 That it for today's action!  Come back tomorrow for more Penn Central and KP&W car movements!