PCCM 101: Part 2 onthe KPD

 

 Hello,

We're continuing the opening moves of our 101st Penn Central Car Movment (PCCM) "virtual ops" series  between John's New York Central Train Layout,  Neal's Atlantic Pacific R.R., and my own Kings Port Division.

Several cars have already arrived at West Mill but more are expected.  They will then be sorted into outgoing trains for the APRR and the N.Y.C.T.L. as well as for intra-layout locals serving industries on the Kings Port Division.  

Switcher #8951 is seen organizing cars to expedite the assembly of a Yard Local that will set out more cars for the next VW-1 to Weehawken and deliver four covered hoppers to nearby Empire Grain.  A call from West Mill's Yard Office to the grain company confirms that they are ready to receive the hoppers from Agway that arrived yesterday on the Bloomberg Turn. 

RSD12 #6865 will power the Yard Local.

Cars are coupled in front of and behind the Alco for easy set outs.

#8951 adds a transfer caboose that will lead the short train out of the yard.  An unhappy Fingers O'Malley rides on the porch (he hates "them transfer cabooses") to safeguard the train as it rolls through the yard tracks and nearby crossings.  No need for a horn on this crummy as the brakeman's grumbling can be heard a mile away!  :)

Watch the Yard Local add four more cars to the cut waiting for VW-1 and then deliver four covered hoppers to Empire Grain.

The Yard Local freed up some much needed space at West Mill.  The middle track is now available to accommodate the arrival of cars on the Kings Port & Western's next Binghamton to Williams Yard Transfer, the BiWi-3. It's expected to make an interchange stop here at West Mill soon.

Watch the BiWi arrive and set out a cut of cars.   After completing the delivery the train's pair of F7A's returns to its train to prepare for the rest of the run to Williams Yard in Kings Port.

 Meanwhile, Switcher #8951 quickly moves two 38 foot coal hoppers to the next track to add them to a string of hoppers destined for Hudson Coal on John's N.Y.C.T.L.

While this is going on the BiWi receives clearance to proceed to Kings Port. We manage to catch the tail end of the train as it passes WM tower.

After the BiWi clears the main out of West Mill, the yard prepares to send out a transfer to Williams Yard that will follow it to Kings Port. SD9 #6922 will be assigned to this road job along with GP9 #7175.

The train includes empty open hoppers and PS-2 covered hoppers that will eventually be delivered to Hedberg Aggregates, now a Kings Port & Western run out of Williams Yard.  You can see the cupola of the train's caboose at the left.

Watch the SD9/GP9 power leave the engine facility, couple up to the train and take it to Williams Yard in the video below:

After the transfer arrives at Williams Yard a KP&W yard switcher shoves the PS2s and open hoppers to the North end of the yard where the junction with the Marion Branch is located.  You can see the Penn Central SD9/GP9 lashup that powered the transfer from West Mill in the background.

The GP9 #7175 and SD9 #6922 prepare to return to West Mill

Watch the PC power cross Ulster Ave on the way back home while a KP&W shove move to Hedberg Aggregates in Marion is led up the ascending grade by a specially outfitted caboose with horn, headlight, warning beacon on the roof, and extra safety striping.  

Once the cars have been set out the KP&W Geeps reclaim the caboose and pick up PC boxcar #77047 loaded with bagged landscape rock for Neal's Lumber and Hardware on John's N.Y.C.T.L.  The short train then returns to Williams Yard.

PC #77047 is later seen at Williams Yard awaiting its next move.

Meanwhile at West Mill more coal cars are being prepared to depart the yard.    This string is heading as a unit train extra to Terminal Yard on John's layout for eventual forwarding to Hudson Coal.

The 8951 pulls a caboose past the length of the unit hopper train

...and couples it to the rear.

Watch as a pair of FP7s assigned to the train couple to the head end, run it out of West Mill and through Kings Port on the way to Selkirk.

Lets move north to Selkirk before the unit hopper train designated as Extra 4348 arrives.   We see a transfer run to Weehawken (VW-1) headed by a pair of six axle U Boats and an EMD SD35 about to depart.  This train will stop a West Mill to pick up the cars for Neal's APRR that were set out on a siding next to the mainline earlier.

Watch VW-1 leave Selkirk while Extra 4348 arrives.

The hopper train is stopping here for a crew and power change.

We'll stop here for today.   Come back tomorrow to see more action at West Mill, Kings Port, and Selkirk!