Passenger Train Parade Part 5

Greetings Blog Followers,

The 5th installment of the 2013 Holiday Passenger Train Parade;

A New Haven Heavyweight Passenger Train behind two workhorse F7As arrives at Empire City Station.

The B&O says hello arriving in grand style behind two Alco PAs

A B&O Stream Liner pulls in to Empire City behind an EMD FP45 and SDP40

 

And now it's the Erie Lackawanna's Phoebe Snow leaving Empire City station behind a beautiful Alco PA

 

A New York Central Rail Diesel Car (RDC) arrives without much fanfare. 

 

 Last but not least for this installment...A New York Central Doodlebug and HW coach arrive

Well that's all for 2013. See everyone back here in 2014! Happy New year Everyone!

Passenger Train Parade Part 4

Greetings Blog Followers,

The Passenger Train Parade continues at Empire City Station.

New York Central's 5th Avenue Special arrives behind an A-B-A set of Fairbanks Morse Erie Builts. While these units didn't fare that well on the prototype New York Central these Proto 1000 models from Life Like are some great diesels and are definitely considered premier passenger power on the New York Central Train Layout. 

A street crossing view of the 5th Avenue Special's arrival

While not as glamorous as the Limiteds and Express trains the Empire City Subway System is a vital part of the transportation link 

The Subway trains roll on through Empire City

Passenger Train Parade Part 3

Greetings Blog Followers,

New York Central Train Layout Empire City Station continues to see numerous passenger trains this Holiday Season.

The Empire State Express arrives behind an EMD E8A

The Pennsylvania Rail Road "Afternoon Congressional" approaches behind an A-B set of Fairbanks Morse C-Liners

New York Central Train #163 arrives behind an A-B set of Fairbanks Morse C-Liners.

The New York Central "Mercury" arrives behind an EMD E8A

Passenger Train Parade Part 2

Greetings Blog Followers.

The New York Central Train Layout has been going non stop this Holiday Season. Increased passenger, mail and express traffic have the system running at maximum capacity and in some cases beyond.

A Pennsylvania Railroad passenger train, possibly the New Yorker, departs Empire City Station behind  Fairbanks Morse H24-66 #8704. These behemoths from F.M. were known as TrainMasters. They were well built and very powerful developing 2,400 horsepower.  For a bit more on the Trainmaster click this link....  http://www.american-rails.com/fm-train-master.html

A New York Central Passenger Train heavy with head end bulk mail and express traffic heads towards Empire City behind two leased Long Island Railroad FA2s. Note the diner and the observation car were cut in at Terminal Yard. The observation car is none other than the "Nassau County" Seems the diner car and kitchen staff were put on this train especially for the V.I.P.s in the "Nassau County" This M&E train usually carries only a single coach.  

The New York Central Holiday Train leaves Empire City Station on it's way back to Mount Crumpet

LIRR FA2s run light back to Terminal Yard

Passenger Train Parade Part 1

Merry Christmas Blog Followers,

Empire City Station on the New York Central Train Layout has been extremely busy this year with numerous passenger trains from several different railroads arriving and departing. First up we see the New York bound premiere passenger train of the Pennsylvania Railroad the Prestigious Broadway Limited.  An arch rival of the New York Central's 20th Century Limited the Broadway was a worthy competitor. The PRR train master has gone the extra mile to make today's Broadway Limited the train to be remembered.

The Broadway Limited arrives at Empire City Station.

The Broadway Limited departs Empire City Station

The Commodore Vanderbilt arrives behind two Alco PA units. The Commodore was the sister train of the New York Central's flagship 20th Century Limited. Both ran the to and from New York and Chicago. The Commodore Vanderbilt made stops that the Century bypassed, most notably Cleveland Ohio. The train is named after the great founding father of the New York Central System.

A Chicago Bound  20th Century Limited pulls into Empire City Station behind an EMD E8A

Empire City Station Platforms Extended

Greetings Blog Followers,

Merry Christmas to All!

Just in time for the Christmas rush Empire City Station is up and running with newly extended passenger platforms. Due to an unforeseen increase in passenger traffic into and out of Empire City Station New York Central Train Layout Management extended the east side of the platforms to accommodate additional passenger cars / locomotives.

A view of the newly extended platforms. The United States Post Office building is in the right rear. The area in and around the platforms has been professionally landscaped for a better appearance and the "Duke" watches over those entering from the newly installed sidewalk. 

Aerial view of the platforms. Upper level has received some landscaping improvements as well. Overpass on right will eventually become a road way. Note crossing gate already installed.

Alco PAs lead a passenger train into Empire City Station. The newly extended platforms will allow for 10 car passenger trains without having to double over to the next platform. The white mock ups are the USPS postal facility.  

Profile shot of the PAs.

The Empire State Express and 20th Century Limited await departure, each with an EMD E8A. A New Haven train is on track 4

Incident At Neal's Lumber and Hardware

Greetings Blog Followers,

A recent incident at Neal's Lumber and Hardware brought in the Empire City Police to mediate the situation. Seems Neal has just taken possession of his private passenger car "Nassau County" and was eager to show it to his friends. family and customers. Instead of trying to get everyone permission to access the rail yard Neal had the car spotted on his lumber yard track. However a rooking police officer not wise in the ways of the model railroading world saw the car blocking the sidewalk and decided to take action. Not finding a license plate the rookie officer was unable to issue a parking ticket. The officer then went to speak with Neal himself. Neal suggested that the rookie call his supervisor. In short order Neal's friends from the police department and the chief took care of everything. The rookie officer has been transferred to a hidden staging yard.

Neal's Lumber and Hardware, featuring bench work lumber for the discerning modeler, has become the center of controversy. The Empire City Police have paid Neal a visit after they observed that Neal's 85' passenger car is blocking the sidewalk. 

 A close up shot of the "Nassau County"

Discussions continue as a local train crew stand by on the left. The train yard is across the street from Neal's Lumber and Hardware. Naturally. Neal explains that he is getting a new sign installed later today and will be blocking the sidewalk anyway. So why not let the car spend the night?

 The following morning Neal's new Coca-Cola sign is in place and the police have returned to make sure the car will be removed per their agreement.

A truck gets ready to be loaded while the passenger car drama plays out.

The conductor checks his watch as he waits for the engine to arrive 

The locomotive has arrived and the train crew holds traffic while the car is coupled.

The "Nassau County" has been spotted on a reversing siding to be turned.

The "Nassau County" is coupled onto New York Central passenger train to begin it's journey to Florida where Neal and the conductor will be vacationing.

Florida Bound

Newly Painted Passenger Equipment

Greetings Blog Followers,

The New York Central Train Layout Paint Shop has been busy and recently released three newly painted passenger cars ready for revenue service. Cars are older Rivarossi models. Decals are from Microscale.

New York Central Lightweight Observation Car "Nassau County". Named for friend and fellow modeler Neal M. owner of the Atlantic Pacific Rail Road

NYC Baggage Car

"Nassau County" being switched 

"Nassau County" waits on siding for coupling to outbound train 

"Nassau County" being coupled on to rear of passenger train. Passengers from the New York Central "Mercury" look on.

"Nassau County" leaving Empire City

NYC Railway Post Office Car

New York Central 5th Ave Special

Greetings Blog Followers,

The New York Central Train Layout Great Steel Fleet is running overtime this holiday season. Rail fans recently caught the 5th Avenue Special hustling through Empire City.

An A-B-A consist of Fairbanks Morse Erie Builts lead the 5th Ave special through Empire City

A Holiday bloated 5th Avenue Special rumbles across the upper level while a New Haven train calls in at Empire City Station on the lower level.  

The New Haven has departed Empire City Station while the 5th Avenue Special occupies the upper level main line.

A New York Central ACF 44 seat coach.

New York Central 4-4-2 Sleeper "Imperial Fleet"

   

Updated New York Central Passenger Cars

Greetings Blog Followers,

Management of the New York Central Train Layout recently purchased and refurbished three used Athearn Blue Box stream lined New York Central passenger cars. 1 Baggage, 1 coach and 1 vista dome were sent into the shops for a thorough cleaning and refurbishment. The re building process consisted of wire brushing the rust off the steel weights, adding Kadee #5 couplers, new coupler box lids, metal 36" Intermountain wheel sets and painting the roofs black to match the fleet. After painting the roofs the factory NEW YORK CENTRAL lettering came off with the masking tape causing a one week delay for the cars to be put into revenue service. This resulted in the coach and baggage car being totally repainted and all three cars re-lettered with NYC Microscale decals and re numbered with PC style numbers.

New York Central Fairbanks Morse C-Liners lead a passenger train containing the newly refurbished cars. 

The new baggage car 

The new vista dome is the one to the right

NYC vista dome # 7011

NYC Coach #3153 

NYC Baggage Car # 4856

Tail end of train

 

Penn Central Fleet Part III

Greetings Blog Followers,

The next installment of the Penn Central Fleet.

Penn Central RS2 #8369. Custom painted Proto 1000 model

 Penn Central RS2 #9942. Custom painted Proto 1000 model

PC RS2s idle away while assigned to protection service. Units are needed to assist trains going upgrade to Terminal Yard or to help trains climbing out of Empire City Station

Penn Central EMD F7A #1672. The newest Penn Central diesel in the fleet. Engine is an MRC Platinum model and is factory painted.  

PC #1672 features metal grills, handrails and horns.    

Penn Central Alco C628 # 6309 is an AHM model that has been custom painted. This unit has also been re-motored with an Athearn motor. Unit now runs extremely well.   

Penn Central E33 #4605 is a factory painted Bachmann Spectrum model.

PC E33 #4605 stops for a roster shot.

New York Central Mercury Passenger Train

Greetings Blog Followers,

The New York Central Train Layout shop forces have been hard at work upgrading the New York Central Mercury. The shop forces hope to have this train ready for the Thanksgiving rush. The NYCTL Mercury fleet is comprised of 8 smooth side lightweight passenger cars from International Hobby Corp. The assembled train consists of 1 baggage car, 1 combine car, 2 coaches, 1 diner, 2 vista dome cars and 1 observation car. The cars are factory painted light gray with silver lettering.

The fleet was sent to the shop to improve it's reliability and running characteristics. The cars as received from the manufacturer are extremely under weight (actually no weight had been added), extreme rocking due to poor wheels and sloppy connections between truck and bolster.

The NYCTL forces have added weight, installed #6 screws and washer to secure the trucks to the bolsters and Intermountain metal wheel sets. Replacement couplers are the McHenry MCH52 designed to drop in to the original coupler pocket on the truck. If curves permit then body mounted knuckle couplers would be preferred.

The original New York Central Mercury was introduced in 1936. NYC management utilized older refurbished heavy weight cars. Henry Dreyfuss is credited with the redesign and the train was assigned to the Cleveland - Detroit corridor. A second Mercury was later assigned to the Chicago - Detroit corridor. The original Mercury equipment ran well into the 1950s   

 New York Central Mercury Coach #1005 is tested against the Kadee Height gauge

Coupler is spot on.

 #6 screws and washers hold the truck in place instead of the factory installed push pins

Interior of car shows added weight for better tracking

 

The Mercury enters Empire City Station

The Mercury on approach to Empire City Station

Penn Central Fleet Part II

Greetings Blog Followers,

A follow up from post Penn Central Fleet Part I

Penn Central EMD F7A #1908. This is an old Bachmann train set two wheel drive locomotive. Original paint has been stripped and unit has been repainted and lettered. Motor has been disconnected and this is now a dummy unit.

 Penn Central EMD F7A #1802. This is an old Bachmann train set two wheel drive locomotive. Original paint has been stripped and unit has been repainted and lettered. Motor has been disconnected and this is now a dummy unit.

PC 1802 & 1908 are draw bar connected.

Penn Central EMD E7A #4210 is a custom painted Proto 2000 unit.

Penn Central EMD E8A #4317 is a custom painted Proto 2000 unit. This unit and E7A 4210 are the pride of the PC passenger fleet.

The Big Es

 Penn Central General Electric U28C #6533 is a factory painted Athearn unit. This series of locomotives are known as U-Boats, a nickname derived from their "U" designation which actually stood for Universal.

Penn Central General Electric U28C #6583 is a factory painted Athearn unit. The number has been changed.

Penn Central General Electric U28C #6538 is a factory painted Athearn unit. The number has been changed.