Welcome back everyone!
John's New York Central Train Layout, Neal's Atlantic Pacific R.R., and my own Kings Port Division have been running our annual Holiday Coal Op, moving empty and loaded hoppers to serve consignees to the North. If you've been following John's blog you know some of the coal has gone WAY NORTH!
In his installments this weekend John dispatched two unit trains of loaded coal hoppers, both designated as UB-2A. Each is heading to Selkirk, will continue on to Mechanicville, and then arrive at the large Bow New Hampshire power plant.
Before the first UB-2A arrives, PC train BA-4 for Beacon Yard in Boston departs Selkirk on the old B&A line. An EMD GP38-2 and two GE U33Cs are assigned the task of climbing the Berkshires.
While BA-4 rolls out of Selkirk the skies are starting to look a bit steel blue/gray as an early winter storm is approaching and is expected to dump on the region tomorrow.
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The predicted winter storm arrives at Selkirk the next day, as does the second UB-2A unit coal train dispatched from Terminal Yard!
Watch the second UB-2A stop a Selkirk, receive a power change, and then continue to Mechanicville on its way to the Bow, New Hampshire Power Plant in the video below:
The storm intensifies at Selkirk.
Trains continue to run today despite the weather! Snow was not a friend of the Penn Central as some notable storms during the PC era severely disrupted Northeastern railroading.
Watch as PC train EV-4 from Enola arrives and stops at Selkirk with some former PRR power at the head end. You'll see the PC/B&O F7A consist that was on today's second UB-2A roll by. Its moving to couple up with a mixed freight that will run through West Mill and points west to return the B&O units to home territory.
The storm has reached West Mill and snow is starting pile up.
Watch as the PC/B&O powered mixed manifest rolls through West Mill while the yard's SW9 pulls a pair of cars.
That's the last train of the day at West Mill, which will give the yard crew some time to shovel out some switch points....
...and later do a little decorating for the Holidays!
To West Mill / Rock Ridge
ReplyDeleteFrom: Terminal Yard
Acknowledge PC Train BA-4departing Selkirk for Boston.
Acknowledge Day 1 Unit Coal Train UB-2A from Terminal Yard arriving at Selkirk behind a PC FP7-F7B-FP7 lash up.
Acknowledge Day 1 Train UB-2A continuing to Mechanicville to interchange with the B&M.
Acknowledge Day1 Train UB-2A meeting B&M Train RM-1 at Mechanicville.
Acknowledge deteriorating weather conditions at Selkirk, Mechanicville and West Mill.
Acknowledge Day 2 Train UB-2A arriving at Selkirk behind a PC F7A-B&O F7A-B&O F7A lash up.
Acknowledge power swap at Selkirk
Acknowledge Day 2 UB-2A forwarded to Mechanicville to interchange with B&M.
Acknowledge PC Train EV-4 from Enola arriving at Selkirk.
Acknowledge PC manifest train leaving Selkirk and passing West Mill behind PC F7A-B&O-F7A-B&O F7A lash up.
Acknowledge ex NYC switch engine 8951 working West Mill Yard.
Acknowledge West Mill Yard crew shoveling out switches.
Acknowledge West Mill Yard no decorated for the Holidays!
Terminal Yard out...
Did I mention élan? Another PCCM Hall of Fame Post to close out the annual Holiday Coal Operations!!! Great job showcasing the PC & B&M fighting the snow to get the job done and West Mill decorated! I thoroughly enjoyed all of the action even as I reached for my own sweater! This was well done on so many levels it's a shoe in for PCCM HOF!!! Happy to Holidays to West Mill Crew!!! Excellent work Ralph!!!