Blog Roll

▼

Saturday, July 30, 2022

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!!!

at

5 comments:

  1. PCRalphJuly 30, 2022 at 9:51 AM

    To: Terminal Yard/ Rock Ridge Yard
    From: West Mill

    Acknowledge the arrival of Extra 3175at Terminal Yard.
    Acknowledge arrival of UTP-2 at Terminal Yard
    Acknowledge Broadway Limited awaiting clearance to leave Terminal Yard
    Acknowledge work of switchers 9622 and 9608 moving coal hoppers at Pier 16
    Acknowledge dispatch of Extra 3175 to Rock Ridge.
    Acknowledge Extra 3175 meeting Reading powered coal train
    Acknowledge dispatch of UTP-1 to West Mill
    Acknowledge UTP-1 meeting PC manifest train at Bedford.
    West Mill out.

    The N.Y.C.T.L. managed the brunt of the work in this quick turnaround coal op! The busy operations at Pier 16 provided great photos and video of the action with coal hoppers everywhere! Local railfans enjoy all of the foreign power coming into Empire City! I was wondering why the Kings Port Railfan Society wasn't following UTP-2 at West Mill or Kings Port. They wisely stationed themselves at Terminal Yard to see two trains come in, hoppers get pushed and pulled out of Pier 16, and got a close up view of the EL and B&O units at the engine servicing area! Great train meets at Bedford! A very nicely done post in this special series!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. John R.July 31, 2022 at 8:43 AM

      10-4 West Mill...

      Thank you very much Ralph!!!! This a nice op to run with its historical background and I'm glad we were able to do it. I appreciated that the KPRS boys, Benny, Chooch, Easy and TC, were able to get down river and see the foreign power in Terminal Yard!

      Delete
    2. John R.July 31, 2022 at 2:53 PM

      Thanks for acknowledging the work of the NYCTL crew!

      Delete
  2. Neal M.July 31, 2022 at 2:24 PM

    To: Terminal Yard
    To: West Mill

    From: Rock Ridge Yard

    Acknowledgement – Train PC Extra 3175 East arrives Terminal Yard
    Acknowledgement – Train UTP-2 (Extra 1862) from West Mill arrives Terminal Yard
    Acknowledgement – NYC switcher #9608 moves coal cars from PC Extra East 3175 to Pier 16
    Acknowledgement – NYC switcher #9608 pulls coal cars from PC Extra East 3175 at Pier 16
    Acknowledgement – NYC switcher #9608 pulls coal cars from PC Extra East 3175 at Pier 16 back to Terminal Yard
    Acknowledgement – NYC switcher #9622 builds outbound coal cars for the EL to return via Rock Ridge Yard
    Acknowledgement – NYC switcher #9608 moves coal cars from UTP-2 to Pier 16
    Acknowledgement – NYC switcher #9622 pulls outbound coal cars for train UTP-2 for West Mill back to Terminal Yard
    Acknowledgement – Wet Willie getting ready motive power for Extra 3175 West and UTP-1
    Acknowledgement – Extra 3175 West departs Terminal Yard for Selkirk, Rock Ridge and beyond for the EL
    Acknowledgement – Train UTP-1 departs Terminal Yard for Selkirk and West Mill

    Rock Ridge Yard Out!

    The N.Y.C.T.L. and Terminal Yard crew went above and beyond to turn both trains around in the same day! The motive power on both trains (PC and EL) and (PC & B&O) gave both trains plenty of motive power to get the jobs done. Kudos to Wet Willie and his crew to get the engines serviced and turned. I see the KPRS have found their way from West Mill to Terminal Yard. Do they have some type of press pass or railfan pass? I wonder who they know…

    This was a great PCCM and kept the action moving quickly. I agree with Ralph that you had most of the work to get done in on shot. Excellent work Sir John!


    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. John R.July 31, 2022 at 2:52 PM

      10-4 Rock Ridge...

      Thanks for the compliments 1:1 Sir Neal!!!
      Thanks for acknowledging the work of the NYCTL crew!!! The KPRS guys must have spotters outside of Selkirk!! They know what is going where and follow trains that catch their interest all the way to Terminal Yard. They make full use of the public street along side the engine terminal.

      Delete