PCCM 94: Part 2 on the KPD

 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 hoppers for West Mill are backed into the siding next to the main and the power returns to the train.

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!

PCCM 94: Special Historic Coal Op: Part 1 on the KPD

Hello,

This is a special historic coal op inspired by an article John found in a recent issue of The Railroad Press that noted coal exports to German and Korea in 1972.  In June of that year Hurricane Agnes damaged a lot of Northeastern railroad infrastructure on the EL, PC, RDG, and D&H.     

We are imagining EL coal shipments being detoured over Neal's APRR, running up the PC River Line,  running through Selirk, and reaching John's Terminal Yard where the loaded hoppers will be forwarded to his Pier 16 for unloading onto ocean going ships.

The Lehigh Valley and B&O are getting involved in coal shipments as well in this op.   We start following coal car movements on my layout at the Kings Port & Western's Mayfield Yard.   The KP&W connects with the Lehigh Valley at Mayfield.  An LV coal train can be seen arriving below behind two Geeps sporting different LV schemes.

The loaded hoppers from the LV train are assembled into a transfer run to West Mill powered by an F7A-B-RS3 consist.  The crew can be seen boarding the lead locomotive below. 

Watch the Mayfield Coal Transfer leave for West Mill Yard in the video below:

Once past the West Mill yard entrance the brakeman on the Mayfield Coal Transfer "bends the iron" to line up for backing the loaded hoppers into the yard.

KP&W Caboose #0383 is set aside so the hoppers can be set out at West Mill Yard.

 

 Watch the Mayfield Coal Transfer consist set out the hoppers and then separate from the train in the video below:

More loaded hoppers arrive at West Mill on unit coal train UTP-2  from Binghamton with a four unit KP&W/ B&O pooled power "F-stravaganza!"  It is seen meeting WiBi-4, a mixed freight from Williams Yard heading in the opposite direction toward "Bingo".

  The UTP-2 stretches the length of West Mill.

This is a crew and power change point for the train.  The KP&W units are cut off and a PC F7A is put at the head end in its place for block signal purposes while the B&O units remain with the train.  Baltimore & Ohio power is rarely seen running from West Mill to Selkirk but this historic operation is providing some railfan surprises!

The train pulls ahead of WM Tower to back into West Mill Yard where it will pick up the loaded hoppers left by the Mayfield Coal Transfer. 

Once more, a KP&W brakeman aligns the turnout for entrance into the yard.

Watch the coal train back into the yard, set aside the KP&W crummy, and couple up to the cut from Mayfield.

Now the train is fully assembled, the air is cut in, connections are checked, and the engineer in the PC covered wagon requests permission to leave the yard.  Watch the train depart for Selkirk in the video below:

Two hours later UTP-2 runs through Selkirk.  A number of empty hoppers get the shove in the foreground as coal car movement is the priority this weekend!  Next stop is Terminal Yard!

    

 

That's all for today!   Check John's and Neal's blogs to follow more action in this op!  Come back Sunday when the empty hoppers are returned to the Kings Port Division!