Hello everyone!
That's right! This the beginning of our 100th Penn Central Car Movement Series, a photo-documented "virtual ops" between John's New York Central Train Layout , Neal's Atlantic Pacific R.R., and my own Kings Port Division! We are also very pleased to welcome back Brian's Ralston Creek R.R. ! Its hard to believe that we've run this many virtual ops series but they continue to be a very enjoyable and creative venture!
The crew at West Mill Yard noted the 100 milestone today during a lull in freight traffic. Earlier this morning a Penn Central box car forwarded from Berk Enterprises of Empire City was unloaded.
While Berk Enterprises is usually known for producing labels they outdid themselves with this specially ordered banner! A crowd gathers as it is unfurled across the tracks.
West Mill welcomes visiting dignitaries including the Division Superintendent seen being photographed with Miss Sara Jean Baker, a senior from West Mill High School who won the honor of being crowned "Miss PCCM" for her award winning essay "The Importance of America's Railroads"
After an unnecessarily long speech by "the Supe" the big moment finally arrives as switcher #8951 bursts through the banner!
The locomotive has often been recognized as the workhorse of the yard and is instrumental to the successful organization of car forwarding in the PCCMs! The crew is very proud. Yardmaster Cappy Foster is seen riding on the front end. For once, Cappy IS happy!
Miss Baker poses next to the switcher's cab while the Division Superintendent and the Trainmaster stand below for final photos of the event.
After the ceremony ends its "back to work"! The 8951 prepares for the arrival of the first train bringing freight cars in for this series.
A currently empty West Mill Yard is a testament to the great work the crew does to keep the freight moving but it won't stay empty for long....
The Mayfield Transfer is arriving with KP&W/ LV pooled power.
After passing WM Tower and the yard entrance, the Transfer backs into West Mill. You may recall in a previous PCCM that the KP&W crew had some fun labeling their minimally equipped, and not particularly comfortable, transfer hack the "Spam Can".
The caboose is cut and the string of cars is set out.
The Transfer's power comes to a stop next to its caboose.
After a run-around move the Transfer's power backs out of the yard with its caboose for the trip back to Mayfield.
The KP&W/ LV lashup heads home....
...meeting the Penn Central's Bloomberg Turn arriving at West Mill along the way. The Turn is powered by GP38-2 #8150 which has become the standard power for the run, replacing the pair of aging GP20s that used to at the head end.
Watch the action in the video below:
In an oft repeated scene, the train passes WM Tower, a crewman then "bends the iron" to align the switch to the yard lead...
...and the train backs into West Mill Yard.
Switcher #8951 begins sorting the cars into outbound trains.
Watch the switcher separate cars for the N.Y.C.T.L. and the APRR while two trains pass by in the background.
The South Local stops just beyond the yard entrance near WM Tower to perform, once more, the back up move into West Mill.
That's it for today! Stop by tomorrow to watch more cars arrive at West Mill.
To: West Mill / Rock Ridge / Ralston Creek
ReplyDeleteFrom: Terminal Yard
Acknowledge PCCM 100 ceremonies at West Mill!!
Acknowledge high school student Sarah Jean Baker being crowned Miss PCCM 100.
Acknowledge another long winded speech by "the Supe"
Acknowledge NYC 8951 doing the honors of rolling thru the banner.
Acknowledge Mayfield Transfer delivering PCCM traffic to West Mill.
Acknowledge Spam Can labeled by KP&W crew.
Acknowledge Bloomberg Turn delivering PCCM traffic to West Mill.
Acknowledge South Local delivering PCCM traffic to West Mill.
Acknowledge ex NYC 8951 working West Mill Yard.
Terminal Yard out...
A fantastic start to PCCM 100!!! I really enjoyed the opening ceremonies at West Mill even though "the Supe" almost put everyone to sleep. Congratulations to Miss Baker on her award winning essay. I liked the 8951 getting some of the spotlight and finally seeing a Happy Cappy! The spam can is now official. Great moves videos, photos and opening ceremony make this another PCCM Hall of Fame blog entry!!! Well done Ralph!!
To: West Mill / Kings Port
ReplyDeleteTo: Terminal Yard / North Side Yard/ Ralston Creek RR
From: Rock Ridge Yard
Acknowledgement – Engine 8951 ready to receive freight at West Mill Yard
Acknowledgement – Mayfield Transfer arrives at West Mill with KP&W/LV power
Acknowledgement – Mayfield Transfer departs West Mill caboose lite
Acknowledgement – Penn Central Bloomberg Turn meets departing Mayfield Transfer at West Mill
Acknowledgement – Bloomberg Turns backs into West Mill Yard
Acknowledgement – Engine 8951 sorts freight for outbound trains
Acknowledgement – Grain train thru West Mill to ports east
Acknowledgement – South local train returns to West Mill
Rock Ridge Yard out!
What a great way to celebrate PCCM 100 on the KPD! That’s absolutely amazing how you did that!! A photo shoot with the queen of the high school, incredible, and then the engine running thru the PCCM banner, it can’t get any better than that!! Nice work on blocking cars for both the NYCTL and APRR
Happy PCCM 100 Ralph!