P.C.C.M. 49D: Setting out cars at KP Steel and more.

Hello railfans!

In the last installment Unit Coal Train UKP-1 arrived at Kings Port and is preparing to set out loaded hoppers at KP Steel.  After pulling ahead of KP Steel's holding yard and cutting its caboose...

 ...the train will set out 15 hoppers of Hudson Coal into the mill complex.

(11:10)   The first cut of cars is backed into KP Steel's holding yard.

(11:35) The first cut set out on Track 1, the second cut is pushed into Track 2.

After the second cut is set out the three U Boats pull ahead and then back up to reclaim their caboose.

The work at KP Steel completed UKP-1 now consists of three six axle GE units with a combined 9900 horsepower to pull six remaining coal hoppers and a caboose...a bit overpowered!  

The three U Boats idle at Ulster Ave waiting for a northbound freight to pass before being allowed to take the main to West Mill.  

(12:22)  The northbound passes through Kings Port with a lashup consisting of a GP38-2 and F7B at the head end...

...pulling a string of loaded hoppers from Empire Grain in West Mill.

(12:29) The grain train's caboose passes over Ulster Ave.  

UKP-1's crew took a lunch break at Dave's Diner while waiting for the other train to pass.  The coffee at Dave's is so much better than the swill the guys at KP Steel were choking down earlier this morning.  Just a good honest Cup o' Joe.

The crew boards their locomotives.

(12:44)  UKP-1 gets clearance to take the main and proceed to West Mill.

Leaving Kings Port.

(13:35)  UKP-1 arrives at West Mill Yard.

The three U Boats roll behind GP40 #3007 which will soon take over as the power for the six car coal train to Weehawken.

The large consist is cut from the short train... 

....and moved to one of West Mill's locomotive service tracks.

The trio of GE units will be fueled and sanded in preparation for the next northbound unit coal train of empty hoppers from the Genesee Coal Docks.  West Mill is a crew change and power change location for this operation after KP&W and B&O power bring the train in from Salamanca.  

The U Boats tied down, GP40 #3007 powers up and leaves the service track...

...runs around the coal hoppers ...

 ...and then couples up at the head end of what is left of UKP-1.

 Air is up and the train gets the high sign to proceed to Weehawken

On to R.M.O. Electric on Neal's Atlantic Pacific RR.!  See the continuing saga of UKP-1 here:
 http://atlanticpacificrailroad.blogspot.com/

Thanks for checking in on the current "virtual ops" action!!!!

P.C.C.M. 49 C: Unit Coal Train arrives at Kings Port

Greetings all!

John's New York Central Train Layout kicked off the latest Penn Central Car Movement series by switching out empties for loads at Hudson Coal, resuming coal traffic after a slow early part of the summer.  Both KP Steel on my layout and R.M.O. Electric on Neal's placed orders for the black diamonds, and the Penn Central and Empire Belt RR. hustled to fill them.  See the action on John's blog:
http://newyorkcentrallayout.blogspot.com/2018/08/pccm-49b-dispatch-of-unit-coal-train.html

(06:30) Meanwhile on the Kings Port Division, KP Steel employees confer over cups of bad take-out coffee near the steel mill's holding yard.  The yard is full of loaded coil cars that need to be moved before the arrival of UKP-1 with its coal hoppers.

 
The Kings Port & Western has this in hand, however.  Their "Steel Job" from nearby Williams Yard will be pulling these cars to clear the holding yard this morning.  As reliable as the KP&W is, the KP Steel guys call Williams Yard to confirm that the coil cars will be picked up this morning.  Its a go. 

(07:30)  The Steel Job, right now only a pair of KP&W GP9's, has left Williams Yard and approaches KP Steel.

The pair of Geeps starts pulling cars out of the holding yard including this TP&W boxcar loaded with new 55 gallon drums. 

..and several coil cars.

The Steel Job heads back to Williams Yard with its cars in tow.

A brakeman rides the last gon to protect the end of the train.

(09:15) Shortly after the Steel Job is clear a manifest freight rolls through Kings Port with a classic PC consist of F7A /F7B/GP9 at the head end.

(10:25) The rumble of large GE power reverberates over Kings Port as UKP-1 is first seen approaching on the high line.

The unit coal train slowly passes through Kings Port Station. 

 

(10:40) UKP-1 arrives at KP Steel. 

The KP Towerman steps out on the stairway landing to do a roll by inspection of UKP-1

The three unit consist pulls the train forward of KP Steel's holding yard to set out 15 hoppers.  

Ulster Ave will be blocked for awhile!

 

That's it for now!  Next up, cars are set out at KP Steel and the train continues on to Weehawken.