HO Scale Train Operations / The Ford Auto Service Train FAST-50

 Greeting All,

HO Scale Train Operations

The Ford Auto Service Train FAST-50

Today we're going to have some fun with my freelanced train the Fast 50, the Ford Auto Service Train that transports auto parts and empty auto racks to Terminal Yard for movement to the Bedford Park Ford Plant. A video will tell the complete story.

Background

The FAST 50 is one of the hotshot trains on the layout that runs from Selkirk to Terminal Yard. It can also contain TOFC traffic depending on the length and tonnage. It is a cool train to railfan and getting the steel, tank, auto parts cars and auto racks to the Ford Plant in a timely manner is a high priority for the railroad. 

The FAST-50 gets its name from the Ford Fast that ran from Chicago to a Ford Plant in Milpitas, CA. The Ford Fast was hauled by different western roads at different times and there is a link at the bottom for further information.

The FAST 50 Arrives On The Layout

The FAST-50 rates top shelf motive power from Power Pool A as evidenced by this pair of GP40s leading the train from Selkirk thru Empire City for a late night arrival in Terminal Yard.

After arriving in Terminal Yard Kar Knocker and the yard job get right to work preparing the freight consist for movement to the Bedford Park Auto Plant.

The caboose is shoved toward the caboose track and the FAST-50 consist is blue flagged and ready for inspection.

The caboose is parked on the caboose track.

With the FAST 50 consist inspected and readied for its next movement to the Bedford Park Ford Plant engine hostler Wet Willie has coupled on an Alco RS11. No EMDs for the Ford Plant!!!

After spending a good part of the day delivering a block of cars to the Bedford Park Ford Plant Train BP-12 arrives back in Terminal Yard with empty freight cars and loaded auto racks. 

Later that day the FAST 50 power has been serviced and hauls Train APR-25 (Auto Parts Return) that takes the cars from the Ford Plant and other high priority freight cars off layout to Selkirk. 

The FAST-50, BP-41, BP-12 and APR-25 in action!

A video of the entire operation from start to finish

Penn Central Power Pools

The Penn Central System Movement Bureau located on the 17th floor of Penn Central headquarters at Six Penn Center Plaza in Philadelphia, PA was known as the "Blue Room" and responsible for the movement of approximately 4,000 locomotives  on a daily basis to wherever they may be needed on the 19,000 route miles. 

The locomotives were broken down into three categories.

Power Pool A: Symbol trains

Power Pool B: Mineral trains (Coal and Ore)

Power Pool C: Lesser symbol trains and local operations.

Pool A and B were managed interchangeably to accommodate the hills and valleys of traffic flow.

Final Thought and Comments

If you watched the entire video I thank you very much and hope you enjoyed it. The Ford Plant is basically just a corner mock up but provides a good amount of model railroad operations. 

For operational simplicity no TOFC traffic was included in todays FAST-50. Careful blocking at Selkirk brought the train to Terminal Yard with two complete blocks for movement to the Ford Plant in Train BP-41. Each BP-41 has coil steel, tank cars, auto racks and auto parts. This is enough for two separate op sessions.

Train BP-12 brings the cars from the Ford Plant back to Terminal Yard and they are moved off layout in Train APR-25, the Auto Parts Return along with high priority TOFC and some fill cars as needed. I imagine the APR-25 departs for Selkirk early in the evening.

For the NYC and PC serving the Detroit auto industry was hectic and expensive. Hot Cars, Shutdown Cars, Rush Cars and the need for  "right away" one car moves can add some varied and interesting prototypical railroad moves.

Additional Links

Ford Fast

Thanks for reading and watching!!

See you soon!!