Penn Central Car Movement #43A

Greetings All,

Penn Central Car Movement series 43 begins today on the N.Y.C.T.L. I'm really looking looking forward to this P.C.C.M. as it comes right on the heels of the the Penn Central's 50th Anniversary. The 43 series will feature three layouts this round, mine, Ralph's K.P.D. and John B's L.F.N.W.

We'll start the action at Bedford Park with 1/87th scale PC Ralph breaking in 1/87th scale AT JOE on the Bedford Park operations. 
Their initial assignment will be pulling loaded boxcars from American Hardware Supply and then working the Ford Plant. We'll follow that up with 1/87th scale Engineer Ed working the Bedford Local. 

To: West Mill, Zenith Yard
From: Terminal Yard

Dispatch of Trains BP-12 and Bedford Local

Terminal Yard out...

Alco RS-1 #9921 still in PRR paint but renumbered into the Penn Central builds up the air pressure while 1/87th scale PC Ralph and AT JOE go over their switching plan. P&LE 35892 is loaded with bulk hardware for Peerless Appliance and GM&O 21129 is loaded with bulk hardware for ACME Auto Parts. Both consignees are located in Mayfield NY on Ralph's layout.

1/87th scale PC Ralph has pulled out two loaded auto racks and is now coupling up to an empty CB&Q 86' auto parts boxcar while AT JOE waits to attach the air hoses..

Two empty 86' boxcars are shoved back and coupled to the loaded 40' boxcars. 1/87th scale AT JOE has the air hoses connected and they'll be off for Terminal Yard as Penn Central Train BP-12

BP-12 hauls the Penn Central's most profitable rail traffic towards Terminal Yard.  RS-1 9921 was built in June 1950 as PRR 5621. The 9921 primarily worked out of Buffalo until being transferred to the N.Y.C.T.L. for use at Bedford Park.

BP-12 arrives at Terminal Yard

1/87th scale PC Ralph guides BP-12 thru track #8. This train's quick turnaround will have it hauling the steel coil loaded gondolas on track 7 right back to the Bedford Park Ford Plant as train BP-41.

1/87th scale PC Ralph and AT JOE take a minute to discuss their next moves while they wait for Train BP-41 to build air pressure. Note the high priority Multi-Level train being put together at the rear of the photo

It might be a local but make no mistake about it BP-41 is a high priority train. Hot cars. Rush cars. Shutdown cars. All are part of the daily operations of the Bedford Park train crews. With coiled steel and loaded 60' auto parts cars BP-41 quickly makes it's way thru Bedford back towards the Ford Plant to keep the car production assembly line humming along..  

Next out of Terminal Yard will be the Bedford Local with 1/87th scale Engineer Ed at the throttle. The Penn Central had 38 of the 1,600 hp FM H16-44s on their roster. The NYC contributed 13 and all remained in NYC paint. All Penn Central H16-44s were retired by the end of 1970.  

The Bedford Local rolls past University Milling and towards Berk Enterprises. All six cars shown on the siding need to be pulled. PC 50' boxcar #360063 is loaded with printed adhesive backed labels for Van Winkle Canning in Bloomberg NY and BM 105 is loaded with printed packaging for Blue Ribbon Flour in Kings Port NY. 

Before the crew can deal with that  they must first work the  Heileman Brewery siding. L.F.N.W. 50' boxcar 160 is loaded with cases of beer and will be heading to the West Coast to be spotted at the team track in West Egg, CA on John B's layout. IC 40' boxcar 30130 also loaded with beer will be delivered to Reynolds Beverage in Kings Port NY on Ralph's layout.

The Local has pulled the loaded PC and BM boxcars from Berk Enterprises and couples them up to the cars from Heileman Brewery. The guys still have some work to do here spotting cars at Hostess, Berk and University Milling.

The switching done 1/87th scale Engineer Ed heads for the High Line and the Empire City west side reverse curve. Below he gets the high ball and roll by inspection from Bedford Tower operator 1/87th scale John B.

Hohman Ave Tower operator 1/87th scale Larry D. has lined the tracks for the reverse curve and is out to greet the crew. 

1/87th scale Double E heads back thru Bedford towards Terminal Yard with the four virtual ops cars blocked together. Nice work EE!

The Bedford local arrives back at Terminal Yard and is now off the sheet.

Tomorrow we'll continue with action from Empire City and catch the L.I.R.R. transfer run.

Thanks for reading!