Atlantic Pacific RR GP38-2 #358 / Celebrates A 50 Year Anniversary

 Greetings All,

Join us today for a fun fact filled 1/87 scale documentary about a freelanced locomotive that has served the NYCTL for 50 years. 

In 1972 GM's Electro Motive Division introduced the Dash-2 series of locomotives. The GP38-2 was an upgraded GP38 with solid state controls and a 2000 HP 645 prime mover. Bankrupt Penn Central bought 223 units. Sir Neal's Atlantic Pacific Railroad signed up for sixty units (300-359). Successor Conrail bought 119 more.

APRR #358 comes out of the shop in a simple orange 1972 era paint scheme from contract painter NYCTL and is placed into the APRR lease fleet. Conrail would later imitate this lease unit painting with their CRL and LMS lease units.

APRR GP38-2s #302 and #304 at work in the Atlantic Pacific RRs Rock Ridge Yard show off the APRRs classy paint scheme for the rest of the APRR fleet.

The APRR 358 is a power by the hour workhorse on the New York Central Layout. Over the years the 358 has been fixture in Empire City and the NY-NJ-CT Tri-State area.

APRR 358 hauls a freight train out of Terminal Yard with three 1972 EMD GP38-2 classmates. With the PC in the midst of critical locomotive shortages due to slow orders and deferred maintenance the leased APRR 358 will stand to make some decent revenue.

The 358 assigned to PC Power Pool A is working with the big boys today leading a pair of SD40s on a symbol freight thru Empire City.

Still in Power Pool A the APRR 358 brings a symbol freight from Selkirk to Terminal Yard behind a pair of big GE U-Boats.

On another day the 358 heads toward the Nutmeg State with a freight train for Cedar Hill Yard in New Haven ,CT.

APRR 358 with PC GP35 #2327 to the rescue!! They are towing an Amtrak Train with a broken down E-60 to Empire City Station.

 

Today the 358 is assigned to Power Pool B iron-ore service and brings an ore train from Mingo Junction thru Bedford NY. The orange 358 adds color and 2,000 HP to this ore train going to Pier 16.

On April 1, 1976 the Consolidated Rail Corporation (Conrail) took over the operations of six bankrupt Northeastern Railroads. The solvent and profitable Atlantic Pacific RR was able to remain independent. The APRR 358 continued making revenue in lease service as 192 locomotives intended for Conrail were diverted to the D&H and Amtrak leaving CR power short with many engines in less than ideal condition.

APRR 358 leads a manifest train thru Empire City in this post April 1976 photo. Working closely with Conrail's General Superintendent, Locomotive and Caboose Distribution J.P. Tansey the Atlantic Pacific RR supplies the CR with good running power by the hour.

The Conrail rainbow years are on full display today. APRR 358 leads an EMD SD45 lease unit, ex EL bicentennial SD45 and BN GP38-2 bringing another freight train towards Terminal Yard.

The high stepping APRR 358 works another mineral service train as Conrail awaits the arrival of 100 leased M636s from Canadian National. The 358 is in the rocking chair sandwiched between a CR GP40-2 and a GP35 as the trio lug an ore train towards Pier 16.

Relieved from mineral service the APRR 358 is back in Power Pool A. This Conrail train from 1977 features new GE B23-7s, ex PC GP40 #3180 still in PC paint and the APRR 358.

A long Conrail freight with eight diesels in a power balancing move heads across the high line. APRR 358 is the seventh engine in the consist.

APRR 358 is back in Empire City to the delight of the railfans who appreciate these multiple unit movements. 

After being serviced in the engine terminal the APRR is assigned to a high priority intermodal train. The intermodal revolution greatly helped Conrail's recovery. Owning two direct mainlines between New York and Chicago Conrail dominated TOFC and COFC traffic and the APRR 358 is right in the middle of it. 

Go west 358!!! APRR 358 leads a run thru UP AC4400CW out of Terminal Yard with a Chicago bound stack train circa 1995.

A rebuilt APRR 358 leads a high priority intermodal train from the west coast thru Empire City with pooled power from BNSF and NS circa 1997.

 

When CSX and NS split Conrail in 1998 the APRR lease fleet continued to be called upon by both railroads. APRR 358 works a CSX Stack Train out of Terminal Yard circa 1999.

  

NYCTL railfans are in for a treat today with the CSX Pride in Service fleet and the APRR 358 leading a Precision Scheduled CSX Train past Bedford Station in this 2021 photo.

Model Info: APRR GP38-2: In March 2015 the New York Central Layout's Patti O Paint Shop painted an Athearn BB GP38-2 as Atlantic Pacific RR #358 which we contend is the first locomotive painted for the APRR.

Prototype Info: Many of the above prototypical tidbits were from the book "Trains of the 1970s" from Classic Trains magazine and other online sources.

Enjoy this video of the APRR 358 thru the years!

Thanks for reading and watching!!!

See you soon!!!

Penn Central Car Movements #88 / NYCTL Part 3

 Greetings All,

Welcome back to Penn Central Car Movements #88!!!

Our three layout virtual op continues with PC Ralph sending PCCM freight cars from his Kings Port Division to the Atlantic Pacific RR and my NYCTL doing the same.

Today's focus will be on the building and dispatching of Penn Central Train Extra 8148, a unit coal train going from Terminal Yard towards the Atlantic Pacific RRs Rock Ridge Yard.

The unit coal trains caboose and twelve hoppers occupy Terminal Yard track #7. The coal is for delivery to RMO Electric in Rock Ridge NJ and the Morristown & Erie RR via interchange at the APRRs Rock Ridge Yard.

The black diamonds came in from Hudson Coal in PCCM 87 part 1.

Extra 8148 performs a terminal air test and readies for departure. GP38-2 #8148 was delivered to the Penn Central from EMD in April 1973 as part of a 114 unit order(8040-8153). The PC would amass 493 GP38s/GP38-2s starting with the arrival of a 140 unit order between June and November 1969.

Extra 8148 departs Terminal Yard.

Extra 8148 heads towards Selkirk.

To Selkirk and beyond!!!

This concludes the NYCTLs portion of PCCM 88.

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

Thanks for reading and watching!!! 

See ya tomorrow!!!

Penn Central Car Movements #88 / NYCTL Part 2

 Greetings All,

Welcome back to Penn Central Car Movements #88!!!

Our three layout virtual op continues with PC Ralph sending PCCM freight cars from his Kings Port Division to the Atlantic Pacific RR and my NYCTL in the midst of doing the same.

Today's focus will be on building and dispatching mixed manifest train Penn Central Extra 3175 from Terminal Yard towards the Atlantic Pacific RRs Rock Ridge Yard.

Yesterday ex NYC switch engine #9608 started building Extra 3175 at Pier 16 yard pulling a long string of freight cars held on track 2 for the Atlantic Pacific RR during their signal upgrade project.

Four PC PS2 covered hoppers for the APRR Richmond Hill Engine Terminal are coupled onto a trio of APRR covered hoppers going to the large Rock Ridge NJ Cargill Complex.

The covered hoppers join the rest of the mixed manifest that includes PC boxcar #360508 going to Marcal, three AP gondolas of pipe and an empty Tropicana RBL going to Tropicana and a pair of AP orange boxcars going to IDEAL Auto Parts.

With Extra 3180 having departed yesterday Penn Central GP40 #3175 has coupled on and is preparing to depart. The 3175, like yesterdays 3180, were a group of sixteen GP40s delivered from EMD with the orange "C" in October 1968.

Extra 3175 leaves Terminal Yard.

Extra 3175 brings the mixed manifest train thru Bedford.

To Selkirk and beyond!!!

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

Thanks for reading and watching!!! 

See ya tomorrow!!!

Penn Central Car Movements #88 / NYCTL Part 1

 Greetings All,

Welcome to Penn Central Car Movements #88!!!

We are back at full virtual ops strength this weekend with 1:1 Sir Neal's Atlantic Pacific RR back in service after completing its signal upgrade project. 

With the APRR now ready to receive inbound traffic PC Ralph's Kings Port Division and my New York Central Layout will be sending freight cars to the APRRs Rock Ridge Yard for delivery to Rock Ridge consignees.

This first installment will focus on Penn Central Train Extra 3180 which will be a hotshot reefer train going from Terminal Yard to Weehawken for forwarding to the APRR Rock Ridge Yard. The reefers are all going to a single consignee, C&P Restaurant Supply.

Ex NYC SW8 #9608 gets the call to work both the Pier 16 Yard and Terminal Yard. Below the 9608 pulls a string of APRR bound cars from Pier 16 track #1.

The 9608 brings the APRR cars to Terminal Yard. In the background are additional freight cars going to Rock Ridge Yard starting with the PC and APRR boxcars.

A block of reefers going to Rock Ridge Yard get shoved into track #4. The EL reefer is loaded with frozen produce from Empire Produce and the EBRR reefers are loaded with frozen foods from Terminal Warehouse & Cold Storage.

APRR reefers loaded with frozen food from Terminal Warehouse & Cold Storage add to the trains tonnage.

APRR RBLs #60382 and #60394 loaded with packaged meals from Ralph's Grocery Warehouse are added to the freight consist.  

Penn Central GP40 #3180 gets the call and will take this train designated Extra 3180 to Weehawken Yard via Selkirk.

Extra 3180 departs Terminal Yard. The 3180 is one of sixteen GP40s (3170-3185) to arrive from EMD with an orange "C" in October of 1968.

Extra 3180 on the move thru Bedford.

To Selkirk and beyond!!!!

We'll pick it up tomorrow back at Pier 16 Yard and get the second train for Rock Ridge Yard built and dispatched.

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

Thanks for reading and watching!!! 

See ya tomorrow!!!

Baldwin Lima Hamilton Sharks On Parade!

 Greetings All,

In an article in the Penn Central Historical Society POST magazine volume 22, number 3 author David L. Hadley reported seeing New York Central Baldwin-Lima-Hamilton Shark nosed diesels hauling a Super Van train. This article was the inspiration for me to get out my NYC Sharks and Flexi-Vans.

An A-B-A set of NYC RF16 Sharks from Bachmann get fueled up in the Terminal Yard engine terminal.

The Sharks have coupled up to the Flexi-Vans.

The NYC Sharks are ready to depart Terminal Yard with a Flexi-Van train which is known as a Super Van or SV Train in NYC parlance.

A previously released video showing the SV Train on the move!!!

With my interest in the Baldwin-Lima-Hamilton RF16s rekindled I turned to the below books in my home library to remind myself of some fun facts about the distinctive shark nosed locomotives.

David R. Sweetland's Lightning Stripes provides some nice photos and information on the NYC RF16s. The Penn Central Bi-Annual features a section called "Scenario of Sharks" with many photos of PRR and NYC Sharks. 

RF16 Fun Facts 

Baldwin Lima Hamilton built 109 RF16As and 51 RF16Bs between 1950 and 1953. The RF16s featured an inline 8 cylinder prime mover putting out 1600HP, dynamic brakes, B-B trucks and quickly gained a reputation as a reliable rugged hauler. A negative for the BLH RF16s was its inability to multiple unit with other locomotive makes due to its air powered throttle.

The only RRs to purchase the RF16s were the B&O, PRR and NYC. 

The B&O bought 19 RF16As and 12 RF16Bs. The B&O retired their entire class of RF16s in 1962. (Wikipedia)

The NYC purchased 20 RF16As that were numbered 3804-3821 and then renumbered for the pending merger to 1204-1221. The NYCs 8 B units retained their original 3702-3709 numbers. (Penn Central Bi Annual)

All NYC RF16s continued in service until 1966 when the first group was retired in September. By May 1967 all were removed from the roster and traded to GE on new U30Bs. (NYC Lightning Stripes)

Eight were reactivated in December 1967 and sold to the Monongahela Railway for coal service. (NYC Lightning Stripes)

MRY #1205 and #1216 worked for the Monongahela Railway into 1974. (Penn Central Bi-Annual)

The D&H purchased the 1205 and 1216 in 1974 and they continued in revenue freight service and passenger excursion service wearing the D&H war bonnet paint scheme (Classic Trains, Winter 2009.)

Enjoy the view from the cab of #1205!

The 1205 and 1216 were sold to Castolite Corporation in 1978 and leased to the Michigan & Northern RR in 1979. (Wikipedia)

In 2020 Trains Magazine reported the1205 and 1216, now the property of John Larkin, President of the Escanaba and Lake Superior RR, will be donated to a museum upon his passing. The units have been stored inside since the mid 1980s with both suffering from mechanical issues. (Trains News Wire) 

 

The PRR purchased 72 BLH RF16As and 30 RF16Bs in 1951 and 1952. The PRR RF16As and Bs were numbered in four groups. 2000-2027, 9594-9599, 9632-9633, 9708-9745.(Penn Central Bi-Annual)

 

All PRR RF16s were retired prior to the merger. (Penn Central Bi Annual) 

As keeper of the trains I thought now would be a fine time to get out the PRR and B&O Sharks that belong to my sons who now live on their own but foolishly left their trains behind 😉.

The three sets of Sharks pose at North Side Yard in Empire City.

B&O Sharks hustle a TOFCEE Train towards Terminal Yard.

The Sharks excelled in mineral service like these PRR RF16s lugging a coal train thru Bedford. 

 

Even the jaded  NYCTL commuters at Bedford Station pause to look over the NYC A-B-A set of sharks as they lug an empty coal hopper train towards Terminal Yard. 

As newer motive power arrived on the New York Central the Baldwin RF16 Sharks were relegated to yard and transfer runs like this one from Terminal Yard towards North Side in Empire City.

See the Sharks on Parade!

Thanks for reading and watching!!!

See you soon!!!

Penn Central Car Movements #87 / NYCTL Part 6

 Greetings All,

Welcome back to Penn Central Car Movements #87!!!

Our two layout virtual operation with PC Ralph's Kings Port Division interchanging freight cars with my New York Central Layout concludes today with the final deliveries of inbound PCCM freight cars to their respective consignees in Empire City.

The action starts with the Empire Belt RR pulling a cut of cars from North Side Yard to arrange them into the EBRR Morning Industrial Job (MIJ) that will make the local deliveries.

The Empire Belt Morning Industrial Job leaves North Side Yard.

The MIJ crosses onto the Empire City secondary track to access the local industries.

First stop is to work the eastside industries. A Cargill covered hopper loaded with grain from Empire Grain gets shoved into the Empire City Cargill Plant. 

Penn Central boxcar #77047 loaded with gooseberry & kale flavored soda from Woodstock Hills Soda and RI boxcar #35062 loaded with groceries from Ralph's Davenport, Iowa warehouse are spotted at Ralph's Grocery Warehouse. BTW, that soda won a taste test contest in upstate NY!

Now in midtown the MIJ pulls two boxcars from Neal's Lumber & Hardware.

EL boxcar #73510 loaded with bricks from Port Owen Brick is spotted at Neal's Lumber & Hardware.

NYC covered hopper #892010, delivered empty by the LIRR from Ronzoni, gets spotted at Red Wing Milling for its next PCCM load.  

The Morning Industrial Job heads west after completing its work in midtown.

The MIJ crosses the Empire City viaduct and will access the westside industrial area via the switch just past the road in the distance.

TP&W boxcar #627, proudly proclaiming it links east and west is loaded with cutting oil from Gulf and being spotted at Walsh Steel Wool Products.

Next move is to spot NYC boxcar #80775 loaded with new 55 gal drums from ACCO at Drywell Inks.

With the local deliveries and switching complete the MIJ is back together and getting ready to move out.

The Morning Industrial Jobs heads back to North Side Yard. 

The MIJ is back in the yard and this concludes the NYCTL's PCCM 87 virtual operations. Put it in the books!!!

Be sure to follow the action on PC Ralph's Kings Port Division!

 

Thanks for reading and watching!!!

See ya soon!!!