P.C.C.M. 45J

Greetings All,

Welcome back for the conclusion of the 45th Penn Central Car Movement series! This virtual op series featured four layouts with rail traffic heading to the east coast from as far away as Denver, Colorado. A quick recap, the A.P.R.R. batted lead off, 31st Street Yard and Cicero Yard loaded the bases and the K.P.D. came thru with three successive hits before the N.Y.C.T.L. came to bat. 

Now let's wrap it up!

We start the day at the Empire Belt's North Side Yard located in Empire City NY with E.B. Train EC-2 (N.Side Yard to Terminal Yard) due out at 10:00 AM with GE U30Cs 6574 & 6576 as the assigned power.

EC-2 meets the F-M powered Coal Job at Bedford NY with a train of empties as EC-2 heads to Terminal Yard. The C.J. will spot the hopper cars left at Hudson Coal yesterday for loading under the tipple along with the empties they are hauling below.

EC-2 arrives at Terminal Yard and in the background we see some of the freight cars that will make up outbound E.B.R.R. Train EC-3 (Terminal Yard - North Side Yard)

The E.B.R.R. U Boats have headed into the engine facility for fueling. 

Fueling complete the E.B.R.R. six axle GE's have coupled up to their freight cars and get ready for a terminal air test.

Air test completed EC-3 departs Terminal Yard

EC-3 meets the Coal Job holding track #3 at Bedford now with a train of loaded coal hoppers.

EC-3 arrives back at North Side Yard.

The trainmen of the N.Y.C.T.L. and Empire Belt talk it over and get their assignments from 1/87th scale Senior Engineer Sir Neal.

The big GE's have cut off from their train and are running light back towards the Hohman Ave yard entrance to begin their switching duties.

E.B.R.R. caboose 1604 protects the shove move thru Empire City

Today's switching work is confined to the Gervais Pipe / Ralph's Grocery Warehouse siding with both receiving freight cars. Loaded reefers have been pulled from Ralph's Grocery Warehouse and coupled up to the caboose. The engines are now shoving some loaded boxcars back towards R.G.W.'s rail siding.

Two AP 50' RBL's loaded with paper products from Marcal in Rock Ridge NJ and RI boxcar 35062 loaded with Tivoli beer from Denver CO are spotted at Ralph's Grocery Warehouse siding.

Next move is spotting these two Evans Breadbox Trough cars at Gervais Pipe & Fitting. They are loaded with steel coils from Kings Port Steel in Kings Port NY. at Gervais Pipe & Fitting.

The switching work done now's a great time to pick up a couple of pies from Pizza Land conveniently located right outside Ralph's Grocery Warehouse.

A pizza drop off for 1/87th scale Larry D at the Hohman Ave tower.

 Back to the yard office the guys file in to sit down and chow down.

A short time later the daily Long Island Railroad transfer run from their Fresh Pond Yard to North Side Yard makes it's way thru Bedford NY. 

Bedford Tower operator 1/87th scale John B is out to greet the L.I.R.R. conductor as his own lunch gets delivered. Fresh Pond Yard located in Glendale NY is home to a large German American community and some fine ethnic restaurants. 1/87th scale John B will be feasting on some Goulash soup and Krainerwurst this afternoon. Mention Glendale and John B will tell you 'Try the Krainerwurst, it's the best in the city'

The L.I.R.R. Alcos round the curve at Walsh Steel Wool as the Precinct captain has come out to have a talk with his newest rookie who's been too preoccupied by the length of the crossing closings. 

 The L.I.R.R. arrives at North Side Yard

Having dropped their train on track 3 they make a runaround move to access their outbound freight cars on track2.

The L.I.R.R. departs North Side Yard with two gondolas loaded with steel slabs from Kings Port Steel consigned to Mid Island Steel in Medford NY and a 50' Tropicana RBL loaded with OJ from their NJ facility for the A&P in Garden City NY

Two trains, seven engines, three builders. As was a common later PC practice their train is powered by more than a sufficient number of GE and EMD engines. As much as we liked the F-Ms, Alcos and Baldwins the PC kept them corralled so they couldn't cause trouble on the important mainlines.

 Steel and Orange Juice makes it way east.

With a green signal the L.I.R.R. heads back towards Fresh Pond and that wraps up this installment and the 45 series.

 Thanks for reading!!!