Empire Belt GP30s

Empire Belt GP30s
The EBRR GP30s round a curve on the Empire City Belt Line.

Thursday, March 1, 2018

Penn Central Car Movement # 44F / The Wrap Up

Greetings All,

Today we'll wrap up the three layout P.C.C.M. 44 series with the arrival of Penn Central empty hopper unit train UHC-1 at Terminal Yard and begin the coal loading cycle again at Hudson Coal.

If you're just tuning in 1:1 Sir Neal started it off dispatching UHC-1 from Rock Ridge Yard. I followed it up with the dispatch of UHC-2, a loaded unit coal train consigned to R.M.O. Electric on Neal's layout. Both trains met at West Mill Yard on Ralph's K.P.D. layout. The unit trains then continued on towards their respective destinations but not without some interesting operations, additions, twists and turns. I strongly recommend checking them out.
P.C.C.M. 44A
P.C.C.M. 44B
P.C.C.M. 44C
P.C.C.M. 44D
P.C.C.M. 44E

To:         Rock Ridge Yard /West Mill
From:    Terminal Yard
Subject: Arrival of PC Train UHC-1 at Terminal Yard

We open up with PC Train UHC-1 outlawed in Empire City adjacent the Empire Belt's North Side Yard. UHC-1 has been sitting here for almost 24 hours. 1/87th scale Engineer Ed and AT JOE have been called as the relief crew. 
1/87th scale Senior Engineer Sir Neal and the guys talk it over. This latest development has stalled service in and out of North Side Yard causing service disruptions to local industries.
Here is the cause of the 24 hour delay, a train has derailed in Bedford NY and the Terminal Yard Wreck Train was dispatched.
The wreck crew's final task is to rerail this New Haven 40' boxcar. Track #2 should be open in a few minutes and the trains can now start moving.
The first train past the wreck site is NY-2 the Meat Products train led by a trio of Alco Century's.
NY-2 at Bedford Tower getting orders from tower operator 1/87th scale John B.
NY-2 makes it's way past North Side Yard as Empire Belt Train EC-2 with 1/87th scale PC Ralph at the throttle gets ready to proceed towards Terminal Yard. 
Following the slow order thru Bedford 1/87th scale PC Ralph guides EC-2 slowly past the crane spotting the New Haven boxcar.
Meanwhile 1/87th scale Double E and AT JOE have just received clearance to proceed to Bedford Tower from Hohman Ave tower operator 1/87th scale Larry D
1/87th scale John B is out again handing up clearance forms. I bet he wished he took off today!
UHC-1 rolls slowly past the wreck train. If the wreck train engine consist looks familiar chances are you've watched the Green Frog Penn Central volume 1 video.
UHC-1 with the much needed empty hoppers tackles the grade towards Terminal Yard behind Hudson Coal.
UHC-1 arrives at Terminal Yard a day late. 
KP&W and A.P.R.R. hoppers along with a PC caboose bringing up the markers are at the end of UHC-1. It's going to be awhile before the Coal Job is called though. There are manifest and commuter trains to get past the wreck site first.
 Later that day the wreck train returns to Terminal Yard.
The yard crew now gets busy building the first Coal Job train of empty hoppers for Hudson Coal.
 The hostler pulls the Coal Job's power set from the engine terminal
After a 36 plus hour delay the empty hoppers head for Hudson Coal
 The loads are pulled. 
The Coal Job engines are shoving the empties back towards Hudson Coal on track 3
The extra board brakeman is riding the lead hopper as they pass the loaded hoppers on track 2
The Coal Job has spotted their 15 empties at Hudson Coal and now heads back to Terminal Yard with their 15 loaded hoppers. The coal loading cycle can now continue. 
The Coal Job arrives back at Terminal Yard with their loaded hoppers. Later today if all goes well the Coal Job will head back to Hudson Coal and exchange another 15 empties for 15 loads. 
Operations are slowly getting back to normal until the next crisis occurs. However, with the PC in bankruptcy crisis will be the new normal.


Put it in the Books! 
Thanks for reading!! 
  

10 comments:

  1. To: Terminal Yard, Rock Ridge Yard
    From: West Mill
    Subject: Acknowledge the arrival of PC Train UHC-1 at Terminal Yard, delayed by derailment.
    West Mill out.


    Arrgh! The impact Penn Central deferred maintenance has on the system!!! While customers would pull their hair I enjoyed the coverage of the derailment and the wrecker train that indeed is reminiscent of the PC Green Frog video! Nicely staged!

    Alco Century units led by new #2417 are looking mighty fine at the head end. Congrats on those acquisitions and your usually nice job painting and decaling them!

    Lots of action with the EB train and the Coal Job!

    A very nice wrap up of the #44 series!

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    Replies
    1. 10-4 West Mill...

      Thanks for the compliments Ralph!! The curse of deferred maintenance rears it's ugly head again.

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  2. Another great segment to the series! First order to climb the “Selkirk Hurdle” from Weehawken to Hudson Coal. Watch your doppelgänger lose a locomotive and need helpers to clear the hill. Then be in the home stretch and have your progress thwarted by a derailment. Great stuff!!!! You guys really went above and beyond with PCCM 44!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for the compliments Brian!! I want to learn more about the Selkirk Hurdle. Please let me know where I can do that.

      Delete
    2. Google to the rescue:
      https://www.google.com/search?q=selkirk+hurdle&oq=selkirk+hurdle&aqs=chrome..69i57.6170j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

      I really like the term Selkirk Hurdle and know about the issue but don't recall hearing term before. Thanks Brian!

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    3. Thanks, I came across the term when I was doing some research on the geography and routes for the PCCM. I like the term “Selkirk Hurdle”. It adds to the challenges already facing the PC. It sounds better than “A Bridge Too Far” or Hudson Tunnel denied for NYC bound freights. I guess the Pennsy tried to run freight trains to NYC using the Penn Station Tunnel in WWII. The clearances were too tight for it.

      Delete
  3. To: Terminal Yard
    To: West Mill

    From: Rock Ridge Yard

    Acknowledgement: Arrival of PC Train UHC-1 at Terminal Yard, delayed by derailment.

    Rock Ridge Yard Out!

    Nice touch with the train wreck, adds more realism and of course, in line with the Penn Central! Whatever merchandise was in that box car I would bill the consignee the 'extra' charges for the wrecker and more!

    The good news is that the N.Y.C.T.L. has come thru with getting the hopper cars to Hudson Coal and readied for the next run to West Mill, R.M.O. Electric and other customers in the region who need this most precious commodity!



    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 10-4 Rock Ridge Yard...

      Thanks for the compliments 1:1 Sir Neal! If you were the PC C.F.O. they never would have went bankrupt!

      Delete
  4. GREAT JOB to all three of you guys! The broken down engines, the derailment, all the little twists you'all add to the story keeps it fun. Thanx.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank for the compliments K.K.! Glad you enjoyed this virtual ops series. We'll be starting #45 on Friday with Neal kicking off the action on his A.P.R.R. blog. The link is above on the right. Thanks again!

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