Empire Belt GP30s

Empire Belt GP30s
The EBRR GP30s round a curve on the Empire City Belt Line.

Saturday, April 15, 2023

Penn Central Car Movements #99 Part 2 / The Empire Belt Takes The Stage

 Greetings All,
 
Welcome Back to Penn Central Car Movements #99!!!

Our three layout virtual op with my NYCTL interchanging freight traffic with PC Ralph's Kings Port Division and Sir Neal's Atlantic Pacific RR continues today with the Empire Belt RR servicing local industries and delivering PCCM cars to the Penn Central Terminal Yard.

Today's action starts in North Side Yard in Empire City with the EBRR trainmen back at full strength with the return of 1:87 scale senior engineer Sir Neal who will be working the Belt Job in EBRR engines #7278 and #7279. 

The Belt Job gets to work.


The Belt Job starts working Gervais Pipe & Fitting coupling up to EBRR gondola #509823 loaded with pipe for the Hudson Valley Ag Coop(HVAC) and EBRR gondolas #5283 and #5287 loaded with pipe for Shapeless Steel in Rock Ridge NJ.

The Belt Job has shoved back to the Ralph's Grocery Warehouse siding and pulls empty BAR reefer #7574 and empty PC boxcar #77047 for their next PCCM loads.

The Belt Job continues its work in midtown at Empire Produce pulling APRR RBLs #58260 and #58279 and TP&W RBL #70126 loaded with produce for ShopRite in Rock Ridge, NJ.

Empty Northern Pacific reefer NPM #473 is spotted at Empire produce for its next PCCM load.

With the switching work completed in midtown the Belt Job heads to the westside industrial park.

The Belt Job shoves into the west side industrial tracks.

APRR RBLs #60382 and #60379 loaded with bulk paper for Marcal in Rock Ridge, NJ get pulled from Moore & Company.

PC boxcar #104478 loaded with pallets for Reynolds Beverage Company in West Mill, NY gets pulled from City Pallet.

The Belt Job heads towards Reliable Machine Company.

P&E boxcar #3638 loaded with a milling machine for Blue Ribbon Flour in Kings Port, NY is pulled from Reliable Machine Co.

The Belt Job is back together and preparing to return to North Side Yard.

The Belt Job is on the move.


Sir Neal brings the Belt Job into North Side Yard and is greeted by PC Ralph and brakeman Rocky.

Several hours later the Empire City freight traffic has been sorted and blocked and PC Ralph is ready to take EBRR Train EB-2 from North Side Yard to Terminal Yard.

EBRR Train EB-2 departs North Side Yard behind a pair of EBRR GP30s and a leased NYC GP30.


For the very first time ever EBRR Train EB-2 meets PC Train EC-1 in Bedford, NY. Both RRs agreed to a schedule change for the transfer of freight between the two carriers that opens up yard capacity and follows the union rules of the era.

The EB-2 arrives in Terminal Yard.

PC Ralph talks things over with the Terminal Yard crew and it looks like Conductor John is in the engineer's seat of leased GP30 #2188.

Meanwhile over in North Side Yard Train EC-1 has arrived.

The EC-1 power couples up to its caboose for the return trip to Terminal Yard. Empty EBRR boxcars #416079 and #416035 await movement to Walsh Steel Wool Products for their next PCCM loads.

We'll cut it her for today with the caboose hops heading back to their respective freight yards.
 
We'll pick it up tomorrow at Terminal Yard and make our final preparations for the dispatch of our outbound trains.

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

Thanks for reading and watching!!!
See you tomorrow!!!

4 comments:

  1. To: Terminal Yard/ North Side Yard/ Rock ridge Yard
    From: West Mill

    Acknowledge dispatch of EBRR Belt Job
    Acknowledge dispatch of EBRR EB-2 North Side to Terminal Yard
    Acknowledge meet between EB-2 and Penn Central EC-1
    Acknowledge EB-2 arriving Terminal Yard
    Acknowledge EC- 1 arriving North Side
    Acknowledge EB-3 dispatched caboose lite Terminal Yard to North Side Yard.
    Acknowledge EC-2 dispatched caboose lite North Side Yard to
    Terminal Yard.
    Acknowledge EB-3 meeting EC-2

    West Mill Out.

    The EBRR's Belt Job is a major source of car forwarding for the PCCMs with all of the Empire City industries it serves! I admired their trio of GP30s on the head end which seemed to power the train very well, despite what some notable detractors might say about the locomotives! When we recently discussed the regs and rules regarding 70's era transfers between railroads I thought it might be cumbersome to have each line dispatch its own transfer instead of havig one railroad perform an out and back exchange, but watching EB- and EC-1 complete this task made sense and looked great! I'm hoping the meet between these two trains is a regular feature! I noticed once again some of your nice open car loads including the new wrapped lumber load on the bulkhead flat! Terrific railfanning on the N.Y.C.T.L. today!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 10-4 West Mill...

      Thank you very much Ralph!! All of the nice comments are greatly appreciated. Yeah, the GP30s were considered "slippery" by two reliable 1:1 railroaders. Adding a third one seemed like the right thing to do!

      EB-2 and EC-1 schedule adjustment worked better than I expected and looked pretty good when the two trains met. I think both RRs will opt to keep it in play in future PCCMS!!!

      Delete
  2. To: Terminal Yard
    To: West Mill / Kings Port

    From: Rock Ridge Yard

    Acknowledgement – Belt Yard Job w/EB engines #7278 & #7279 working midtown local industries
    Acknowledgement – Belt Yard Job now working west side local industries
    Acknowledgement – Belt Yard Job returns to North Side Yard
    Acknowledgement – EBRR Train EB-2 departs North Side Yard for Terminal Yard
    Acknowledgement – EBRR Train EC-1 departs Terminal Yard for North Side Yard
    Acknowledgement – EBRR Train EC-1 arrives North Side Yard
    Acknowledgement – EBRR Train EB-3 departs Terminal Yard caboose lite!
    Acknowledgement – EBRR Train EC-2 departs North Side Yard caboose lite!

    Rock Ridge Yard Out!

    A tremendous amount of freight was moved today for both yards, industries and non-PCCM freight! I think it’s the first time I’ve recognized or remember seeing the GP18’s in action. Nice consist as well as the 3 GP20 engine consist with the leased NYC engine.

    I see there’s a lot of freight coming to the APRR and conferring with the crew, they will be ready!

    Two nice meets of trains as well, especially both trains caboose lite!

    Great job Sir John!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 10-4 Rock Ridge...

      Thank you for the compliments 1:1 Sir Neal!!!

      The GP18s are original EBRR power and have been swapped for later power additions and have been in consist with the EBRR FA-FB units at times. They make for a good looking belt line set of locomotives and are mostly run by 1:87 senior engineer Sir Neal when they are in service in the PCCMs.

      Delete