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!