Penn Central Car Movements #94 / Coal Operations with a Twist

 Greetings All,

Welcome to Penn Central Car Movements #94!!!

PCCM #94 is a three layout one weekend coal op with a twist. Instead of our usual empties to the NYCTL for loading at Hudson Coal both Neal's Atlantic Pacific RR and PC Ralph's Kings Port Division will be forwarding loaded coal hoppers for export overseas via Pier 16 on the NYCTL. 

In a recent article from T.R.P. magazine from White River Publications author Mike Bednar described the that coal loadings in the 1970s were up on the Lehigh Valley RR with most of the coal going to overseas export. Big Mike specifically mentions 1972 as a big year for coal export.

We know from history that Hurricane Agnes roared thru the eastern part of the United States in June 1972 decimating many railroad rights of way. Particularly hard hit was the Erie Lackawanna whose right away and infrastructure was so badly damaged the EL filed bankruptcy two days later. 

As tragic and destructive as Hurricane Agnes was railroaders kept the trains rolling that were often being detoured onto other railroads to keep the nations commerce moving.

We open the op on the NYCTL as a detoured EL train that came thru the Atlantic Pacific RR's Rock Ridge Yard comes thru Empire City with PC GP40 #3175 leading EL GP35 #2570.

Extra 3175 East heads to Terminal Yard.

The Extra 3175 East engines have cut off from their train and prepare to head to the engine terminal. A pair of ex NYC switch engines are busy working the Pier 16 yard.

The locomotives head into the engine terminal for service and turning.

Meanwhile back at Empire City unit coal train UTP-2 includes a pair of B&O F7As with a combined coal train from the B&O and LV. The PC unit on the head end was added at West Mill for signaling purposes and the train is entering the High Line for Bedford NY.

Train UTP-2 heads to Terminal Yard.

The UTP-2 power has cut from their train and prepares to head into the engine terminal. The ex NYC switch engines are hard at work loading the unseen ship docked at Pier 16.

The UTP-2 power arrives at the fuel pad.

A Pier 16 switch engine brings empty ore hoppers to Terminal Yard as Big Mike pulls the cabooses from both inbound coal trains and Kar Knocker is ready to blue flag and inspect the trains.

A couple of hours later ex NYC switch engine 9608 shoves the coal hoppers brought in on Extra 3175 East towards Pier 16. 

Catch 9608 in action with the Extra 3175 coal hoppers.

A short time later the EL and APRR coal hoppers are shoved onto the pier for unloading.

The last of the Extra 3175 East coal hoppers are shoved onto the pier.

A bit later the switch engine starts pulling the now empty coal hoppers from Pier 16.

Another cut of empties from Extra 3175 East are pulled out of Pier 16.

Empties are brought to Terminal Yard and loads shoved towards Pier 16.

Ex NYC caboose 21667 will bring up the markers on the return train to Rock Ridge Yard.

Switch engine 9622 shoves the empties for Rock Ridge Yard into Terminal Yard Track #4.

Over at Pier 16 switch engine 9608 is shoving a cut of cars from train UTP-2 onto Pier 16 for unloading.

While the 9608 is busy getting the ship loaded switch engine 9622 retrieves a block of empties from Pier 16 holding track #1 for return to the Kings Port Division.

An ex NYC caboose will bring up the markers on this train.

Empty hoppers for return to West Mill are shoved into Terminal Yard track #2.

Over at the engine terminal engine hostler Wet Willie has done his job getting the engines serviced and turned. The B&O and EL locomotives have drawn railfans from around the area.

The power for empty hopper trains Extra 3175 West and UTP-1 are coupled on.

Extra 3175 departs Terminal Yard.

Extra 3175 passes Bedford Tower. Next stop Selkirk!!!

Train UTP-1 departs Terminal Yard.

Train UTP-1 passes Bedford Tower. Next stop Selkirk!!!

This closes out the NYCTL's portion of PCCM 94 and we turn the op back over to Sir Neal's Atlantic Pacific RR and PC Ralph's Kings Port Division. Be sure to catch the final car movements!!! 

Thanks for reading and watching!!!

See you soon!!!