Welcome to my Blog. The scope of this blog is to record the trials and tribulations of building and maintaining an HO scale layout, the trains and all of the ancillary projects that go with it. In 2017 New York Central subsidiary short line Empire Belt Railroad came into existence. The New York Central / Penn Central and Empire Belt are now the major railroads featured.
Empire Belt GP30s
The EBRR GP30s round a curve on the Empire City Belt Line.
Our 96th virtual op with PC Ralph's Kings Port Division and Sir Neal's Atlantic Pacific RR interchanging freight cars with my New York Central Layout concludes today with our final inbound train movements.
We open up in Empire City with PC Ralph preparing the Belt Job to return to North Side Yard.
The Belt Job heads towards North Side Yard.
PC Ralph brings the Belt Job past North Side Yard as we catch NPM reefer 498 being refueled and prepared for its next PCCM load.
The Belt Job is tied down on the Belt Line or secondary track as Senior Engineer Sir Neal and PC Ralph get ready for the arrival of LIRR Train MA-3.
And here comes LIRR Train MA-3 rolling thru Bedford NY.
Train MA-3 heads towards North Side Yard.
And arrives in North Side yard.
LIRR engineer Jimmy Alco has coupled up to the PCCM freight cars going back to Fresh Pond Yard and checks in with the EBRR guys.
LIRR Train MA-4 heads out of North Side Yard with PCCM freight cars for LIRR rail customers. PC gondolas 576104 and 576123 are loaded with steel slabs from Shapeless Steel in Rock Ridge, NJ and EBRR gondola 509823 is loaded with mixing and storage tanks from ACCO in Mayfield, NY.
Three PCCM freight cars bring up the rear of Train MA-4. PC boxcar 104478 is loaded with cement flux from Gern Industries in West Mill, NY. PC and KP&W covered hoppers are loaded with aggregate from Hedberg Aggregates in Marion, NY.
LIRR Train MA-4 heads towards Fresh Pond Yard.
Next stop Fresh Pond Yard!!! Put it in the books!!!
Our 96th virtual op with PC Ralph's Kings Port Division and Sir Neal's Atlantic Pacific RR interchanging freight cars with my New York Central Layout continues today with more inbound train movements.
We're back in Terminal Yard and ready for local train WSJ (Water Street Job) that takes cars from Terminal Yard to Water Street industries in Empire City.
Ex NYC GP20 #2103 will be today's power. The NYC purchased 15 GP20s from EMD in July/August 1961. The GP20s were the first EMD turbo charged and low nosed road switchers purchased by the NYC and the only GP20s built without dynamic brakes. Two would be wrecked and scrapped prior to the merger and the remaining thirteen would be based at Selkirk.
Lets take a ride with the Water Street Job.
Back at Terminal Yard Alco Joe reports for Train EC-1, a daily transfer from Terminal Yard to North Side in Empire City NY. Engine hostler Wet Willie is sweating as there isn't an Alco in sight. GP-Joe doesn't sound bad offers Willie.
The PC received 322 GP7s from the NYC and PRR in February 1968. The 5699, 5692 and 5693 not in photo are ex NYC units. These units are part of a small group delivered to the NYC in early 1952 with dynamic brakes for use in coal service. The NYC units retained their original road numbers throughout their NYC-PC careers.
Train EC-1 is on the move thru Bedford, NY
Train EC-1 arrives in North Side Yard under the watchful eyes of the Empire Belt RR trainmen. Don't know about GP-Joe but I think this is a nice looking consist.
Watch EC-1 roll into North Side Yard.
Alco Joe aka GP-Joe has dropped his train, coupled up to his caboose to reclaim conductor Murray and is commiserating with the EBRR guys about todays choice of power.
Alco Joe takes his EMDs and conductor Murray back to Terminal Yard.
A short time later Senior Engineer Sir Neal pulls a cut of PCCM freight cars out of North Side Yard. EBRR 7279 is sold by Walthers as a GP9m but we're imagining it is a GP18, the non turbo charged cousin of the GP20.
Sir Neal has the yard in order, the local train is built and the Belt Job with PC Ralph at the helm is ready to go. The Empire Belt FA1s and FB1s are imagined to be secondhand units from the NYC that have been rebuilt.
PC Ralph brings the Belt Job onto the Belt Line.
The Belt Job makes its first moves pulling non PCCM cars from the Gervais / Ralph's Grocery siding.
Four PCCM freight cars are spotted at Ralph's Grocery Warehouse. BAR 7574 and the orange HRC boxcar are loaded with baked goods from Freihofer's Bakery in Rock Ridge, NJ.
P&E boxcar 3638 is loaded with kitchen gadgets from REVCO in Bloomberg NY and PC boxcar 360063 is loaded with packaged British style meals from Cavendish Food & Spirits in Mayfield NY.
Three PCCM gondolas get spotted at Gervais Pipe & Fitting. PC 288673 is loaded with steels oils from Kings Port Steel in Kings Port NY. EBRR gondolas 5283 and 5287 are spotted for their next PCCM loads.
The Belt Job is now working the midtown Empire City industries. Four PCCM freight cars are being spotted at Empire Produce. BAR 5226 is loaded with blueberries from Caribou, Maine.
AP boxcars 58260, 58279 and TP&W boxcar 70126 are spotted at Empire Produce for their next PCCM loads.
Two PCCM SRR bulkhead flatcars are spotted at Empire City Caterpillar for their next PCCM loads.
With the work done in midtown PC Ralph brings the Belt Job around the westside curve. The Belt Job starts working the westside industries pulling non PCCM freight cars and spotting PCCM freight cars.
Empty PC boxcar 360508 is spotted at City Pallet for its next PCCM load.
Empty AP boxcars 60382 and 60394 are spotted at Moore & Company for their next PCCM loads.
We'll cut it here for today with empty EBRR boxcar 360279 being spotted at Reliable Machine Company for its next PCCM load.
We'll pick it tomorrow with the Belt Job heading back to North Side Yard and close it out with our final interchange with the LIRR.
Our 96th virtual op with PC Ralph's Kings Port Division and Sir Neal's Atlantic Pacific RR interchanging freight cars with my New York Central Layout continues today with more inbound train movements.
We open up at Terminal Yard with Robert R ready to depart for Bedford Park Yard with Train BP-41.
Train BP-41 heads towards Bedford Park Yard.
Train BP-41 is back in the cozy confines of Bedford Park and prepares to shove back to the Ford Plant tank car track.
Two PCCM Gulf tank cars loaded with diesel fuel from the Gulf River Facility are spotted for unloading on the Ford tank car track.
Constructively placed in Bedford Park Yard for future movement to are loaded PCCM Gulf tank car #3 going to the Ford tank car track. and empty PCCM P&LE boxcar #35892 going to American Hardware Supply for its next PCCM load.
Following safety regulations Robert R ties down the RS1 away from the flammable contents of the Gulf tank car.
A short time later a pair of GP38-2s lead PC Train TY-2 from Selkirk past Bedford Tower as it heads to Terminal Yard.
Train TY-2 with tonnage from the APRR, KPD, KP&W and off layout connections heads for Terminal Yard.
Train TY-2 arrives in Terminal Yard.
The TY-2 GP38-2s have cut from the train and arrive at the fuel rack. The 8148 and 8150 are part of a 114 unit order that arrived from EMD January thru April 1973.
Big Mike is ready to pull the TY-2 caboose and Kar Knocker is out to blue flag and inspect the train.
Over in the engine terminal Alco Joe reporting for Train BT-27, the Bedford Turn, is greeted by engine hostler Wet Willie and presented with a pair of Alco RS2s to power the BT-27. Attaboy Willie!!! 24 RS2s arrived on the NYC between February 1948 and February 1950. The PRR purchased 6 RS2s from the D&H in October 1950. All 30 were conveyed to the Penn Central in February 1968 and all were retired by the end of 1969.
Train BT-27 departs Terminal Yard.
The Bedford Turn starts pulling freight cars from the Hostess Plant. The non PCCM APRR emergency grain cars have done their part delivering much needed grain to the Hostess Plant.
Spotted at Berk Enterprises are empty PCCM boxcar TP&W #627 to receive its next PCCM load and PCCM boxcar NIRX #41000 loaded with adhesive backed paper from International Paper in Binghamton NY. The NIRX reporting marks belong to General Electric Rail Services. The LV had four of these cars on their roster.
Being spotted at the Hostess/Wonder Bread Plant are three PCCM AP covered hoppers and a PCCM ACFX covered hopper. All are loaded with flour from the large Cargill Facility in Rock Ridge NJ.
Alco Joe has pulled empty PCCM IC boxcar #30130 from Neubaum's Coffee & Tea Importers as he works the Neubaum's Schaefer siding.
The BT-27 shoves into the Schaefer siding and pulls two non PCCM boxcars loaded with beer.
Spotted on the Schaefer siding are two empty PCCM APRR boxcars and an empty PCCM Hoschton boxcar for their next PCCM loads. A non PCCM P&E boxcar is also spotted for loading. Empty PCCM IC boxcar #30130 is returned to Neubaum's for PCCM loading.
Alco Joe starts putting the Bedford Turn back together.
Alco Joe fights his way back to Terminal Yard.
The Bedford Turn returns.
Our last train for today is Train MR-1, the Mine Run, powered by a trio of ex NYC Baldwin S12s. The PC inherited a total of 108 S12s with 21 from the NYC and 87 from the PRR. By June 1973 only 30 would still be in service.
Train MR-1 departs Terminal Yard.
First stop is T&R Gravel where five PCCM APRR hoppers are spotted for their next PCCM loads.
Six empty PCCM hoppers from Tri-Mount Cement are spotted at Hudson Coal for their next PCCM loads.
We'll cut it here for today with the Baldwin S12s heading back to Terminal Yard with the caboose in the lead.
We'll pick it up tomorrow at Terminal Yard with the Water Street Job ready to depart for Empire City.
