New York Central RDC Safety Stripe Project

 Greetings All,

I recently purchased a set of RDC Safety Stripe decals from Great Decals designed for New York Central and Penn Central Rail Diesel Cars. The project car is a Proto 1000 model of NYC RDC-3 M-499.

New York Central Prototype History supplied by William Mosteller of Great Decals:

The New York Central's Budd rail diesel cars were delivered without the distinctive safety striping as seen below. After RDC M-498 was destroyed in a grade crossing accident in 1960 the railroad applied the zebra end striping to improve the cars' visibility.

The safety stripes carried over into the Penn Central era. When the New Haven was absorbed into the Penn Central the 40 NH RDCs also got safety stripes. The cars ran with the safety stripes for early Amtrak and in the MBTA-era Boston commuter service.

The passenger end of project NYC RDC-3 # M-499. Don't think for a minute that I didn't breathe a sigh of relief when I saw this car's number was M-499 and not the aforementioned M-498!

The baggage, RPO end of the car. It looks very bland in the pre 1960 scheme. When I was notified thru the Penn Central Modelers Group that the zebra stripe decals were available I ordered them at once.

Step one of the project is to have a reference photograph handy to refer to when the decals start being applied. Step two was to dismantle the car and remove the windows according to the decal instructions. The decal set is made for an Athearn model so there are construction differences with my my P-1000 model. The P-1000's front door, steps and cow catcher are separate pieces and I've removed them to ease the decal applications. 

I started with the doors first, marking their height on the rear of the decal. I then cut these to fit with with my decal scissors. That small strip will be applied to the silver part of the frame above the door. 

The doors and one end of the car have their decals applied. There will be much Solvaset used for this project that's for sure!

The decal applications are now completed. The car is in the Solvaset Phase of the project. 

After about two weeks the decals were about as set as they were going to get so I took the car outside and sprayed the decals with Testor's Dullcote.

The next day the RDC was on the worktable ready for the windows to be cut. A new Exacto #11 blade was used and the cutting went well. The directions call for another clear coat to protect and seal the decals edges. 

The Dullcote left the model with a frosted finish so to correct this I brushed two thin coats of Floquil Flat Finish over the entire model including the decals.

The RDC-3 is back together and making it's maiden voyage to Empire City Station.

The RA Towerman checks out the passenger end of the RDC-3.

RDC-3 M-499 stops for passengers at Bedford Station.

Not too bad!!! No doubt you can see this thing coming.

A short chase around the layout

This was a project that required patience grasshopper to allow the decal setting solution to do it's work. The patience is well rewarded as this model is now a good representative of one of the iconic NYC RDC units.

 

For more reading on the Budd RDCs click here.

Thank you for reading!!!

See ya Soon!!

 

Penn Central Car Movements #80 / N.Y.C.T.L. Part 6 / E.B.R.R. & L.I.R.R. Close it out

 Greetings All,

Welcome back to Penn Central Car Movements #80!!

Follow along as P.C.C.M. #80 concludes today. This virtual op is a three layout affair with my N.Y.C.T.L. interchanging freight cars with PC Ralph's Kings Port Division and Sir Neal's  Atlantic Pacific RR.

Our EL reefer with baked goodies has been under armed guard at the Terminal Yard engine facility with someone watching the watchers.

Over in Empire City Sir Neal is aboard his GP9 set and shoves the Afternoon Industrial Job or AIJ out of the east side yard entrance. 

Sir Neal brings the AIJ onto the Empire City secondary track.

First stop is working the east side industries and pulling freight cars from Gervais Pipe and Ralph's Grocery Warehouse.

Now spotted at Ralph's Grocery Warehouse are a NYC Early Bird boxcar filled with kitchen gadgets from REVCO, PC boxcar #77047 loaded with Woodstock Hills natural Soda and BAR boxcar #5226 loaded Cavendish packaged meals. 

The AIJ is working Neal's Lumber and Hardware pulling a loaded SP 50' boxcar.

Now spotted at Neal's is NYC boxcar #47062 loaded with bricks from the Port Owen Brick Co.

The AIJ is now working the midtown siding and will pull the HRC 50' RBL loaded with perishables for Van Winkle Canning and AP 50' RBL loaded with perishable for ShopRite from Empire Produce. 

Empty BAR and NPM reefers get spotted at Empire Produce for their next P.C.C.M. loads.

Sir Neal gets the AIJ back together 

and heads back to North Side Yard

The AIJ is back in the yard. Sir Neal will do some housekeeping in preparation of the arrival of Train EC-3 coming from Terminal Yard with a large block of cars to be interchanged with the L.I.R.R.

Over at Terminal Yard Sup't Shore lets the police know that it's OK for PC Ralph to couple up to the EL reefer and take it away.

PC Ralph runs the EL reefer and his engines into the engine terminal wye. He's working the extra board today and was called for Train EC-3 that will take freight cars to the E.B.R.R.s North Side Yard.

The reefer and engines come out of the wye and head for the yard. The EL Reefer's baked goods have been donated to the patients and workers of Pilgrim State Hospital and will head out in train EC-3 

Kar Knocker connects the air hoses after the reefer and engine are coupled on. After an air test EC-3 will depart for North Side Yard.

EC-3 heads for Empire City and North Side Yard

PC Ralph brings the EC-3 around the Empire City west side curve.  

Train EC-3 rolls into North Side Yard.

PC Ralph knows his freight yards and trains! Caboose 18227 is just beyond the fouling point indicated by the yellow tie.

The EL Reefer is also within the track 3 limit with about 12 ties to spare. Nice job! 

The guys talk it over as PC Ralph reclaims his caboose and Sir Neal thanks him for bringing the EL Reefer of baked goods for P.S.H.

The EC-3 heads back to Terminal Yard caboose lite.

EC-3 and the LIRR thread the Bedford Needle!

Due to yard congestion Jimmy Alco brings the LIRR Transfer thru the west side reverse curve.

The caboose is dropped just beyond the yard lead and strategically close to Pizza Land. The freight consist is moved forward.

Jimmy Alco has the engines coupled up to the outbound cars on track #3. Sir Neal explains the late addition of the EL reefer for Pilgrim State Hospital and tells Jimmy Alco to stop the caboose here on the way out for a few crates of baked goods. Jimmy Alco assures him the car will go to P.S.H. on the next freight train east!!! 

The LIRR Transfer stops for the caboose to be loaded momentarily blocking Hohman Ave as it heads out of town.  

Jimmy Alco notches it up as he blows past Bedford Station.

Put it in the Books!!!

Long Island RR Freight Train Manifest

Road  #   Type     Consignee    Shipper               Lading

PC 104478    Boxcar    Lombo Concrete        Gern                    Cement Flux

IC 30130       Boxcar    Pilgim State Hosp    Van Winkle           Canned Goods

PC 766053    Dep Flat  Suffolk College        Peerless Appl.       AC Unit

EB 509823    Gondola  West Chemical         A.C.C.O.               Storage Tanks 

ACL 77195    Flatcar     NYS DOT #10         KP Steel               Empty / Spacer

PLE 40081    Gondola   NYS DOT #10        KP Steel                Bridge Girder

MILW 65640 Flatcar     NYS DOT #10        KP Steel                Empty / Spacer

NYC              Hopper    NYS DOT #10        Hedberg                Aggregate

PRR               Hopper    NYS DOT #10        Hedberg                Aggregate

AP 5750        Reefer      Nassau College       C&P Rest Supply  Frozen Food

AP 5782        Reefer      Nassau College       C&P Rest Supply  Frozen Food

AP 5794        Reefer      Nassau College       C&P Rest Supply  Frozen Food

EB 5730        Reefer      Nassau College       C&P Rest Supply  Frozen Food

EB 5728        Reefer      Nassau College       C&P Rest Supply  Frozen Food

EB 5726        Reefer      Nassau College       C&P Rest Supply  Frozen Food 

USLX 13068 RBL        A&P Garden City    Tropicana              Juice Products

EL 5010        Reefer      Pilgrim State Hosp   Freihofer's            Baked Goods          

 

This concludes the N.Y.C.T.L.s P.C.C.M 80 posts. Be sure to catch the rest of the action on PC Ralph's Kings Port Division and Sir Neal's Atlantic Pacific RR.

Thanks for reading and watching!!!

See ya tomorrow!!!

Penn Central Car Movements #80 / N.Y.C.T.L. Part 5 / PC Local Trains Deliver

 Greetings All,

Welcome back to Penn Central Car Movements #80!!

Follow along as P.C.C.M. #80 inbound cycle continues. This virtual op is a three layout affair with my N.Y.C.T.L. interchanging freight cars with PC Ralph's Kings Port Division and Sir Neal's Atlantic Pacific RR.

Today we open up with Robert R once again working the Bedford Park Yard transfer run to Terminal Yard and passing Bedford Tower.

BP-12 rolls toward Terminal Yard.

BP-12 arrives in Terminal Yard.

Some quick moves by the yard job have Robert R coupled up to Train BP-41 that will head back to Bedford Park Yard.

BP-41 heads for home

BP-41, flanges squealing, arrives in Bedford Park Yard.

Robert R makes a runaround move needed to get these cars delivered.

Two NYC 50' double door boxcars loaded with kitchen appliances from Peerless Appliance are shoved into the All-City Storage siding. 

Next move is shoving three 60' boxcars of auto parts from ACME Auto Parts in Mayfield NY into the Ford Plant.

Robert R shows his class as he takes care of the Bedford Park Yard crew. Freihofer's cookies and cakes anyone?

With the yard crew taken care of and the yard in good shape Robert R ties down his engine. We'll see him again in a future P.C.C.M.

Next we turn our attention to Terminal Yard where we catch ATJOE called for Extra 2103, a combined Empire City transfer and Bedford Turn. Kar Knocker has the train ready to go and conductor Murray is standing by for the caboose to slowly pass.

Extra 2103 leaves Terminal Yard

ATJOE brings Extra 2103 into Bedford and passes the Hostess Plant which will be his first stop.

Some efficient switch work has this loaded ACF covered hopper from the Rock Ridge NJ Cargill Plant spotted at the Hostess Plant.

Next stop is the Schaefer Brewery to pull two APRR and two EBRR boxcars loaded with the one beer to have when having more than one that will be going to C&P Restaurant Supply in Rock Ridge NJ in a future P.C.C.M.

This empty HRC 40' boxcar is then spotted for it's next PCCM load.

ATJOE puts Extra 2103 back together as a passenger train heads towards Terminal Yard on track #1.

Extra 2103 heads for Empire City but gets held at Bedford Station for a symbol train from Terminal Yard bound for Selkirk to pass.

After getting cleared past Bedford Tower Extra 2103 rounds the curve towards Empire City.

ATJOE brings Extra 2103 into North Side Yard under the watchful eyes of Sir Neal and PC Ralph.

PC Ralph has uncoupled the cars for the Empire Belt RR and Sir Neal has coupled onto the NH NE-6 caboose to pull them off. 

ATJOE reclaims his caboose and heads back to Terminal Yard. The NH caboose is an Atlas model making it's virtual ops debut. Orange is the new black?

ATJOE brings Extra 1218 from North Side Yard to Terminal Yard

We'll close it out here for today with the Empire Belt preparing to deliver these newly arrived freight cars.

We'll close out the op tomorrow and find out the disposition of this EL reefer 2/3rds full of baked goods from Freihofer's Bakery in Rock Ridge NJ that is under armed protection. Wait! I think I see someone surveilling the security of the car!

Be sure to catch the action on PC Ralph's Kings Port Division and Sir Neal's Atlantic Pacific RR.

Thanks for reading and watching!!!

See ya tomorrow!!!