Empire Belt Engines and Vacation Assignments

Greetings All,

Whew! I finally got the Empire Belt's motive power in service in what seemed like a never ending series of projects to accomplish this. I will admit under oath that I bit off a little more than I could chew on the disassembly, stripping, painting, lettering and reassembly of motive power prior to a vacation.

With a week long vacation for the 1:1 owner of the N.Y.C.T.L. the 1/87th scale employees of the N.Y.C.T.L. were assigned to qualifying runs and other duties while I was away. An idle 1/87th scale mind is the devil's workshop!

The Patti-O round table with Empire Belt motive power, hoppers and a pair of cabooses are in the final stages of their paint and lettering process.

The newest engines out of the Patti-O Paint Shop are these GP30's and GP9m's.

Fast forward a couple of days and the new GP9ms and GP30s are side by side at the Terminal Yard Engine Shop. The N.Y.C.T.L. Trainmen and Tower men have gathered to see the newest Empire Belt engines.

Meanwhile 1/87th scale Engineer Ed will be running a trio of U Boats, two in E.B.R.R. paint. We'll take a look now at Double E's qualifying run to Selkirk with a high value Multi Level train.

The EB 6574, 6576 and PC 6557 make their way out of the engine tracks and head towards Terminal Yard.

Knowing there will be rail fans for 1/87th scale Double E's qualifying run to Selkirk he is reversing the U Boat consist so the EB units will be in the lead. That Double E is all class!

1/87th scale Double E has the 6574 in the lead making this photo possible as he guides a symbol train out of Terminal Yard past Hudson Coal.

A University Lumber & Mill Work railroad dock worker admires the big GEs and the new Fords on the tri level auto racks.

The GEs head over Market Street. 

EB caboose 1603 bringing up the markers heads into the Bedford Station tunnel.

The Multi Level train heads downgrade past Ralph's Grocery Warehouse.

1/87th scale Double E has come down the slide in good shape as he exits the tunnel

The Auto Racks just make it thru the tunnels. Much to the relief of the crew and Ford.

The big GEs cross over to the outside mainline as they head towards Empire City Station and Selkirk. Nice work Double E!!!

First out of the shop are E.B.R.R. GP30s 2160 and 2161 ably piloted by 1/87th scale PC Ralph. The 2160 is from Bachmann.

The 2161 is an old Lionel shell on a Bachmann chassis.

Leaving Terminal Yard is a Unit Grain Train with EB GP30 2160 in the lead and under the control of 1/87th scale PC Ralph as he makes a qualifying run to Selkirk.

1/87th scale PC Ralph has four GP30s and 9,000 HP at his disposal as the train heads downgrade at Bedford Station. Note the orange Hoschton Railway Company 50' RBL photo bombing the shot from North Side Yard.

Heading over Water Street towards the lower level of Empire City. The train will be heading down the 'slide' to the lower level. This is one of the N.Y.C.T.L.'s proving grounds. 

EBRR caboose 1604 brings up the rear behind APRR and Morton Salt covered hoppers. Look for these cars on the APRR in the coming weeks.

The Unit Grain Train rolls under the signals at Empire Station as it heads to Selkirk. Looking good PC Ralph!

And what about 1/87th scale Sir Neal? As the senior engineer on the N.Y.C.T.L. Sir Neal is already qualified on the entire Penn Central system. Any tonnage anywhere for him. He will be evaluating the newly rebuilt GP9ms and in charge of the day to day operations at North Side Yard while I'm away. Maybe not as glamorous but vitally important. 

Readers may remember that 1:1 Sir Neal is the founder of Neal Multz Diesel Consultants aka the N.M.D.C. The N.M.D.C. has been evaluating motive since just after WWII and advising manufacturers and railroads on the pros and cons of diesels being bought and sold.

1/87th scale Sir Neal pulls the GP9ms from the shop with 7278 in the lead.

EBRR 7279 brings up the rear of the two engine consist. Both units are from Walthers.

The first assignment for the GP9ms are a transfer run to North Side Yard with 1/87th scale Sir Neal is at the throttle. 

The EBRR GP9ms make their way thru Bedford NY where 1/87th scale Sir Neal will use them this week at North Side Yard and in transfer service. 

   That's it for now. I'll post the highlights of 1/87th scale Sir Neal's  report in the next blog entry along with some newly finished E.B.R.R. rolling stock and the results of the qualifying runs. Thanks for reading!