Hello again!
We're continuing our one weekend/three layout Penn Central Car Movement virtual ops between John's New York Central Train Layout, Neal's Atlantic Pacific R.R., and my own Kings Port Division.
Its Saturday morning and time for the special weekly Spring and Summer runs of a vintage Doodlebug up the Catskill Branch to Bloomberg! This popular day trip brings out the railfans of West Mill! A crowd is gathering at the commuter station.
Looks like 1/87th scale Emory is here to photo-document the run!
Watch the Doodlebug leave West Mill in the video below:
Later in the afternoon a couple of the Old Heads at West Mill are spending the end their shift talking about "the good ol' days".
Their conversation about better times is interrupted by the arrival of WV-2 with six empty coal hoppers from Neal's APRR.
The hoppers are separated from the rest of the train to be set out at West Mill.
WV-2's consist shoves the hoppers onto a nearby siding before continuing on to Selkirk
After the WV-2 leaves West Mill, the yard's SW9 switcher goes out to grab the empty hoppers.
...and brings them into the yard.
The hoppers will be transferred to the KP&W's Mayfield Yard where they will later be forwarded to the Lehigh Valley and its coal connection. GP38-2 #8045 and GP7 #5689 have been assigned to the Mayfield Transfer and await their manifest of cars.
Switcher #8951 supplies the cars by shoving them into the waiting consist.
The six empty hoppers are in front of the non-player bulkhead flatcars.
The #8951 tacks on a bay window caboose still wearing its NYC heritage to finish off the Mayfield Transfer.
Meanwhile, over at Mayfield a set of Lehigh Valley power waits for more empty coal hoppers to take to the mines. The string of empties behind the locomotives will run with the six hoppers coming from West Mill.
A D&H freight is also seen arriving at Mayfield. As bridge lines the KP&W and the Delaware & Hudson are often more competitors than collaborators but they sometimes find it beneficial to work in cooperation with each other.
Returning our attention to West Mill the Penn Central transfer backs out of the yard for the run to Mayfield.
The empty hoppers from Neal's APRR will soon be on their way on the LV. That concludes this installment! Come back tomorrow as John's Terminal Yard dispatches a train to the Kings Port Division.
To: West Mill / Rock Ridge
ReplyDeleteFrom: Terminal Yard
Acknowledge Doodlebug Special running from West Mill to Bloomberg.
Acknowledge PC Train WV-2 delivering empty PCCM coal hoppers and non PCCM traffic to West Mill Yard.
Acknowledge Switch Engine 8951 working West Mill Yard and building Mayfield Transfer.
Acknowledge Mayfield Transfer departing West Mill Yard with PCCM and non PCCM Traffic for the KP&W.
Acknowledge Mayfield Transfer arriving at Mayfield Yard.
Acknowledge empty PCCM coal hoppers interchanged with the Lehigh Valley at Mayfield Yard.
Terminal Yard out...
It was quite a weekend in West Mill!!! I was wondering where 1:87 Emery went and now I know he was in West Mill photographing and riding the Doodlebug Special. That was a nice addition to today's op!!! WV-2 delivered the goods and 8951 sorted it all out. BTW those bulkhead flatcars look great. The Mayfield Transfer brought the interchange traffic to Mayfield Yard in style and was met by both LV and D&H crews. Another nice touch for today's op. A very enjoyable weekend indeed!!! Nice job Ralph!!
ReplyDeleteTo: West Mill / Kings Port
To: Terminal Yard
From: Rock Ridge Yard/Rock Ridge East Yard
Acknowledgement – Doodlebug train West Mill to Bloomberg
Acknowledgement – Train WV-2 arriving West Mill from Weehawken
Acknowledgement – Yard switcher NYC #8951 working hopper cars at West Mill
Acknowledgement – D&H freight train arrives at Mayfield
Acknowledgement – PC Transfer heads out to Mayfield with APRR hoppers and non-PCCM cars
Rock Ridge Yard Out!
The APRR management appreciates the quick turn to send the hoppers to Mayfield and on to the LV connection. Nice to see the D&H freight train on a run at Mayfield. Very nice for 1:87 Emery to make an appearance on the KPD. Wonder what the KPRS guys thought of the visitor?