Here is a quick follow up to the landmark 50th virtual ops series. In P.C.C.M. #51A John R. of the New York Central Train Layout dispatched train SLX-1which will stop at Selkirk, Detroit and Avon Yards to return cars to the four layouts that participated in the last series.
Check it out here: Dispatch of SLX-1
After the train arrived at Selkirk blocks of cars for West Mill and Rock Ridge were cut, sorted, and added to VW-3 to Weehawken with further connections to Rock Ridge.
The next day VW-3 is seen at Kings Port emerging near the northern yard limits of the Kings Port & Western's Williams Yard. Power today is a pair of GP38-2s.
The first car is the always impressive 86 foot NYC auto parts car currently consigned to Ideal Auto Parts. It will be forwarded by the Atlantic Pacific RR at Rock Ridge...
...followed by a pair of TOFCs which will be set out at the Williams Yard TOFC track.
These two B&M RBLs are loaded with Heilemans beer for Reynolds Beverage Distributors
Three 60 foot auto parts cars, empty for ACME Auto Parts in Mayfield, will be forwarded by the KP&W.
As the third 50 footer, a PC/TOC car, rolls over the grade crossing we get a good look at an old survivor still in service. The former Pacemaker is loaded with steel wool mesh for mufflers at ACME.
The train stops and a crewman comes out to protect the crossing.
The train is cut behind the TOCFs so they can be set out at Williams Yard.
The KP towerman performs a visual inspection of the 86 footer that had a coupler problem at Terminal Yard. As John R. noted in his blog post these big cars were known for couplers over riding each other, causing damage. The replacement coupler installed at Terminal Yard is looking good.
The cars are set out at Williams Yard for the KP&W to handle.
The Twin Geeps return to the rest of the train.
One more coupler inspection before heading out.
VW-3 continues to West Mill.
...and is later seen passing the abandoned West Mill Station. The train is slowing down to a stop to set out a block of cars here.
The brand new PC auto parts car and the road weary Pacemaker make a poignant contrast in Penn Central railroading.
As VW-3 comes to a stop it meets KP&W Extra 160 from Salamanca which has been holding there for the Penn Central train to finish its work at West Mill before setting out its own cars in the yard.
Everything behind the NYC 86 footer will be set out at West Mill.
West Mill yard loco SD9 # 6925 takes on the task of pulling the West Mill block off of VW-3...
...and shoving it into the yard.
Once that job is completed #6925 grabs a cut of cars for Weehawken and Rock Ridge to be tacked onto VW-3
These include two new cars in the virtual ops, KP&W boxcars #30112 and #30116, provided by Neal and painted by the KP&W shops at Williams Yard.!
The entire block for Weehawken/Rock Ridge is seen here.
The engineer in the SD9 notches up the throttle and pulls the cut out of the yard.
and shoves it toward VW-3
After being coupled up at the back end of the NYC 86 footer the train is assembled and ready for clearance to Weehawken.
Getting the green, the train proceeds.
Conductors exchange a friendly wave as the PC bay window caboose still in its old NYC livery passes a KP&W caboose with a high vision cupola.
Extra #160 finally gets the go ahead to enter West Mill Yard. Much like the Penn Central the KP&W often employs mixed consists. An F7A/ GP9 lashup powers this freight.
Backing the train into West Mill Yard.
Included in the cars from Salamanca is this orange "Crossroads to the South" Hoschton Railway Company car #521 which we continue to run in the virtual ops in honor of our late friend Engineer Ed.
Blocks of cars to be delivered by the PC and KP&W
Extra #160's crew ties up their locomotives at West Mill.
That's it for now!
