This past week the N.Y.C.T.L. reverted back to its roots with the return of the New York Central lightning stripes and pre merger rolling stock. This will work well as I'm participating in a virtual op with John B's Los Feliz & North Western, Brian's Ralston Creek Railroad and Ralph's Kings Port Division. Sir Neal's A.P.R.R. had to sit this one out as he attends to expanding his model railroad empire.
The last virtual op of 2018 will be the four layouts focusing on some Mail & Express Operations. M&E as it was known was big business for the railroads at one time and I'll be showcasing some of that in my portion of the M&E Virtual Op.
We open up with the Empire City station switcher working the Railway Express Agency.
While on the freight tracks the NYC Pacemakers fight it out with the PRR Merchandise Service trains for upper level supremacy.
Empire City passengers and EL M&E Train #7 are entering the station. The #7 features a unique consist of C.O.F.C and T.O.F.C head end cars that I first saw in a 2014 MRR article that showed the #7 at Binghamton NY in 1965.
The REA used T.O.F.C cars with steam and signal lines for use in passenger service much like the NYCs Mark IV Flexi-Van cars.
The station switcher will add these two baggage cars loaded with express packages to the EL train.
With the work done EL #7 heads out of town and the station switcher shoves the cars from the EL train into the REA siding.
Next we catch an Alco PA-PB-PA consist lugging Mail & Express Train 620 out of the lower level as it heads towards Terminal Yard.
Coming out of the tunnel at Bedford Station this mail and express train originated in Buffalo with only a rider car for the crew.
The Alcos lead the 620 into Terminal Yard tunnel.
I followed that up by checking CanadaSouthern.com and found some actual consists for NYC M&E trains #13 and #3 in 1966. Perfect for today's virtual op!
Let's take a look at express reefer REX 1268 seen earlier leaving Kings Port NY for Empire City loaded with expres packages.
REX 1268 being unloaded and reloaded at the Empire City REA.
REX 1268, loaded with express shipments for Oakland CA, heads towards Terminal Yard for inclusion in Train#13, the "Fast Mail"
REX 1268 arrives at Terminal Yard.
It's 10:30 PM and Train 13 has left Terminal Yard and is easing into Empire City Station behind two E8As.
Train 13 runs from Empire City NY to Englewood Station in Chicago with mail and express cars for interchange with western railroads. Here's today's consist;
TRAIN #13 | EQUIPMENT / DETAILS |
CONTENTS
|
DESTINATION
|
Mail Train - New York to Chicago | DEPART EMPIRE CITY 10:45 PM CONDUCTOR FOX. ENGINEMAN STEVENSON. BAGGAGEMAN JOLLIFFE. BRAKEMAN DENBY. | ||
4040 - E8A | |||
4088 - E8A | |||
REX 1268 - REEFER |
EXPRESS
|
OAKLAND
| |
NYC 9503 - BOX EXPRESS |
EXPRESS
|
DENVER
| |
REX 6100 - REEFER |
EXPRESS
|
WICHITA
| |
CBQ 48500 - BOX EXPRESS |
EXPRESS
|
KANSAS CITY
| |
REX 1501 - REEFER |
EXPRESS
|
KANSAS CITY
| |
REX 7592 - REEFER |
EXPRESS
|
ST.PAUL
| |
NYC 9718 - FLEXI-VANS #200997 & 4233 |
MAIL
|
DENVER / OMAHA
| |
MFVX 9642 - FLEXI-VANS #4425 & 4233 |
MAIL
|
OAKLAND
| |
NYC 8811 - BAGGAGE |
MAIL
|
SALT LAKE CITY
| |
MFVX 6983 - FLEXI-VANS #203157 & 200819 |
MAIL
|
OAKLAND
| |
MFVX 9557 - FLEXI-VANS #4221 & 200753 |
MAIL
|
DENVER / OMAHA
| |
MFVX 6861 - FLEXI-VANS #4057 & 201397 |
MAIL
|
MILWAUKEE
| |
NYC 9850 - FLEXI-VANS #201821 & 201849 |
MAIL
|
ST.PAUL
| |
MFVX 9560 - FLEXI-VANS #201859 & 201227 |
MAIL
|
ST.PAUL
| |
CMSTP&P 391 - REEFER |
EXPRESS
|
MINNEAPOLIS
| |
NYC 9370 - BOX EXPRESS |
EXPRESS
|
ST.PAUL
| |
NYC 9220 - BOX EXPRESS |
EXPRESS
|
SEATTLE
| |
ATSF 4169 - BOX EXPRESS |
EXPRESS
|
PORTLAND
| |
REX 6119 - REEFER |
EXPRESS
|
CHICAGO
| |
REX 7592 - REEFER |
EXPRESS
|
CHICAGO
| |
REX 2721 - REEFER |
EXPRESS
|
DETROIT
| |
UP 1734 - BAGGAGE |
BAGGAGE / MAIL
|
DETROIT
| |
NH 3803 - BAGGAGE |
EXPRESS
|
DETROIT
| |
PRR 1120 - REEFER |
MAIL
|
DETROIT
| |
MFVX 6916 - FLEXI-VANS #201351 & 201197 |
MAIL / DEADHEAD
|
DETROIT
| |
REX 2701 - REEFER |
EXPRESS
|
DETROIT
| |
RI 148393 - BOX EXPRESS |
EXPRESS
|
DETROIT
| |
NYC 7373 - BAGGAGE |
EXPRESS
|
ST.PAUL
| |
NYC 2714 - RIDER CAR |
CREW
|
CHICAGO
|
Train 13 is ready to depart at 10:45 PM sharp.
Train 13 heads out of Empire City Station
The next train we'll see is Train #3 heading into Empire City Station with another healthy consist of M&E shipments and some pinch hitting power.
TRAIN #3 | EQUIPMENT / DETAILS |
DESTINATION
|
CREW: R. L. JOHNSTON, W. M. BUSHNELL, T. L. PARROTT | ||
NYC 5003 - ERIE A | ||
NYC 5101 - ERIE B | ||
NYC 5002 - ERIE A | ||
NYC 2072 - HEAVYWEIGHT BAGGAGE |
CHICAGO
| |
NYC 0265 - LIGHTWEIGHT BAGGAGE |
CHICAGO
| |
NYC 9065 - LIGHTWEIGHT BAGGAGE |
MILWAUKEE
| |
NYC 5018 - LIGHTWEIGHT BAGGAGE |
ST. PAUL
| |
NYC 4856 - LIGHTWEIGHT BAGGAGE |
SPOKANE
| |
B&A 1002 - EXPRESS BOXCAR |
DENVER
| |
PRR 102076 - EXPRESS BOXCAR |
OMAHA
| |
B&O 0820 -LIGHTWEIGHT BAGGAGE |
OAKLAND
| |
PRR 2165 - LIGHTWEIGHT BAGGAGE |
COUNCIL BLUFFS
| |
NYC 5010 - HEAVYWEIGHT RPO |
CHICAGO
| |
B&O 3241 - HEAVYWEIGHT BAGGAGE |
CHICAGO
| |
NH 3020 - LIGHTWEIGHT BAGGAGE |
CHICAGO
| |
NYC 3087 - HEAVYWEIGHT RPO |
CHICAGO
| |
B&O 1902 - EXPRESS BOXCAR |
CHICAGO
| |
REA 1813 - EXPRESS BOXCAR |
CHICAGO
| |
PRR 4906 - LIGHTWEIGHT BAGGAGE |
CHICAGO
| |
NYC 306 - HEAVYWEIGHT COMBINE - USED AS RIDER CAR |
CHICAGO
|
Train #3 rolling into Empire City Station
Next we'll turn our attention to some localized M&E action at Bedford NY as Train 846 is dropping and picking up mail and express at Bedford Station.
Train 846 behind two RS2s heads for Terminal Yard passing Train 501 heading towards Empire City Station.846 arrives at Terminal Yard
Train 501 stops at Empire City Station to pick up these outbound cars for transfer to Harmon NY where 501 terminates.
The station switcher heads back to the REA building as 501 heads out of the station.
Back at Terminal Yard we catch the last train for today. Go ahead Neal, start er up, says 1/87th scale John B. 1/87th scale Sir Neal is working the fireman extra board and has been called for Train #351with engineer John B. who holds this job with his seniority.
The rest of the gang watch as 1/87th scale Sir Neal cranks her up. Train #351 (Empire City NY to Detroit MI) will stop at EC station to pick up passengers and any additional M&E cars before heading north.
Train #351 eases out of Terminal Yard
That wraps up the N.Y.C.T.L.'s portion of the M&E Virtual Op. Be sure to check out what the other layouts have posted!
Los Feliz & North Western
Kings Port Division
Ralston Creek Railroad
Acknowledgements:
1:1 PC Ralph for the gift of the Express, Mail & Merchandise Service book mentioned above. It's pages are getting well worn!
The CanadaSouthern.com website. This website offers a wealth of information for anyone interested in the New York Central RR and its subsidiaries. Special thanks to the creator and curator Terry Link for providing me with hours and hours of enjoyment and so much information.
Thanks for reading and watching!
Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas to all!!!
Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas to all!!!
The 1/87th scale NYCTL guys from left to right:
AT JOE, PC Ralph, Sir Neal, Conductor John, Big Mike, John B, Kar Knocker, Larry D.
Wow! what a great way to end 2018! An awesome story line and I really enjoyed looking at the manifest you added for both trains.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas to the entire crew and their families in Empire City as well you your family Sir John!
Thanks for the compliments !:1 Sir Neal!!!
DeleteManifest provided by the CASO website. I altered it very slightly by adding in my own road names and car#s but the consist and destinations were prototypical.
Merry Christmas to you and yours Sir Neal!
OMIGOSH!!!! This one has to be one of the best posts of any virtual ops series! Thanks for the extensive look at M&E operations on the N.Y.C.T.L. with the vintage NYC equipment and guest appearances by the PRR and EL! Lightning striped E8s, PAs, and RS2s!!!! Fantastic assortment of locomotives including the switchers setting up the mail trains! I also enjoyed seeing the manifests. Nice touch! The inclusion of REX 1268 was a great surprise and it was fun to see what happened to it after leaving Kings Port! Beautifully done all around John!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the compliments Ralph!!! It was a fun virtual op. I was happy to see the REX 1268 in your post and made some last minute adjustments to put it into nationwide express service. Thanks again for that great gift of the Mail & Express book!
DeleteThank you for the entertaining and informative post on the head end business for the Mail and Express trains. I had no idea there was such a thriving business back in the day. So many different modes of delivery and lots of variety. Enjoyed the NYC and EL head end power as well!
ReplyDeleteThanks Brian!! Mail & Express trains were the unseen backbones of some of the class 1s. Never actually seeing this in person it was a lot of fun learning about it and trying to emulate it. Glad you enjoyed the the blog post!
Delete