Adding More Rolling Stock Again!!!

 Greetings All,

Adding More Rolling Stock Again!!!

Hello, my name is John and I am a trainaholic... Hello John!!!

And here is more proof  just in case you doubted me... During a  recent trip to the Lindy's Booth at the Queen of Hearts Antique Mall in Buford, Georgia just to innocently browse and see what they had I found the booth was well stocked as you can see. Everything you see below was $5.00 each except for the ''super powered'' undecorated F7A.

A Cotton Belt 50' boxcar with Kadee couplers and metal wheels and a DODX HD flatcar kit. The DODX flat was a bust as it came with two parts bags containing the same parts and all sales are final. The car will need four trucks, eight wheels and couplers for completion.

A Walthers Penn Central steel coil coach kit was a really nice find.

The PC H54B covered hopper was the first thing I saw as I approached the booth. Right away I knew I'm going to need a bigger basket!!!

TOFC trailers and tractor trailer kits were also nice finds as was the bulkhead flatcar.

More TOFC and tractor trailer kits along with an Atlas covered MEC covered hopper that came with metal wheels and knuckle couplers.

A gold flywheel powered S12 complete with railings and parts bag.

The undecorated ''super powered' F7A.

The new rolling stock is readied for service

All the new rolling stock received a shot of Testor's Dullcote, had the appropriate parts like exposed weights, frames and wheel faces painted flat black. Metal wheels, Kadee couplers and additional weight was added as needed.

First out of the shop was the MEC 2483 as this was the easiest car to  work on since it was basically already a set up. 

Here is a photo of similar MEC covered hopper #2499 

The finished cars have been gathered on the Bedford Secondary track for their roster shots.

Prototype Photos. PC H54B #890418. SSW #67305. 

I really liked the Accurail CV boxcar that I plan to use in paper service with other CV and CN cars of this type.. 

CV #600178. BNSF Bulkhead Flatcar

The PC 762600 has been built and is now ready for service after adding additional weight, 36" metal wheels and Kadee #5 couplers.

PC #752356.

The Job Is Not Done Until The Paperwork Is Completed!

Since getting into model railroad operation freight cars on the layout get their own car card and waybill when ready for revenue service.

I used the Opsig Industry Database to assist in this endeavor.

More TOFC Traffic Please!!

The two 45' Triple Crown trailers were easy builds and each has an additional half ounce of weight added. Triple Crown trailers started running on flatcars in August 2024 when the road-railer service was terminated.

A pair of CSX 45' trailers were built like the above NS trailers and represent more recent TOFC traffic on the layout.

40' Pacific Intermountain Express and Sea-Land trailers enter service with additional weights.

New York & Atlantic and Conrail motive power handle the test train for the new freight cars. I'm really enjoying the running of this locomotive consist!

The test train makes its way around the layout.

The completed tractor trailer kits get placed around the layout after arriving at the Terminal Yard Ramp. The P.I.E. set is getting unloaded at Ralph's Grocery Warehouse.

The Sea-Land tractor and trailer are backed up to the Quaker Plant loading dock. 

When is a Baldwin S12 not an S12 But is an S12?

Here is the power chassis from the Blue Box S12. I've soldered the connections, painted the wheel faces, painted the coupler pockets and added Kadee #5 couplers. Beware the unpainted frame and metal couplers will conduct power to another unit that can cause a short circuit if the engines are not facing the same direction. 

The B&O 9278 shell is ready for primetime with new railings installed. When looking up the 9278 on the B&O roster I thought it was not an S12 but a Baldwin DS-4-4-1000 and relabeled the box. The B&O purchased forty nine of the turbocharged units that were renumbered 9225-9273. 

In another search I found the 9278 was actually one of five S12s purchased by the B&O numbered 9275-9278 and recorrected the label.

The BINO Baldwin is looking good and running well. Note the painted wheel faces.

The 9278 gets tested with a short REA transfer train that included a track cleaning boxcar.

A quick video of the BINO DS4-04-10 getting tested.

B&O DS4-4-1000 #9256. 

Additional Photos

Baldwin S12 1200

"Baldwin Locomotive Works # 1200 diesel locomotive (S-12) 2" by James St. John is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Triple Crown Road-Railer

"WALLIS_UP_71stStXing_2015_03_19_TripleCrownTrain_vidcapture_06_LookW_NoteConrailLogo" by MKE_railscenes is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Additional Reading and Links

Last Day of Triple Crown Roadrailer Service.

CSX Modern Intermodal Service.

Final Thoughts and Comments

The newly added rolling stock wasn't a big hit on my budget and provided more than a week of hobby time with the building of the kits and getting them ready for layout revenue service. This included completion of the car cards and waybills which is kind of a hobby within the hobby for me.

The gold flywheel undecorated S12 complete with railings was a welcome discovery as it "completed" the B&O 9278 with a better power chassis and the necessary railings.

The undecorated ''super power'' F7A remains just that for now. 

Thanks for reading & watching!!!

See you Soon!!

Penn Central Car Movements #114 / Operation Blue Comet Part 2 / Conclusion of Virtual Op

  Greetings All,

Welcome Back to Penn Central Car Movements #114

Operation Blue Comet

PCCM 114, a three layout special operation focusing on Blue Comet Presentations, a custom model railroad building company founded by 1:1 scale Steve Neubaum continues today with PCCM traffic from Sir Neal's Atlantic Pacific Railroad, Ralph's Kings Port Division and other locations throughout the USA being delivered to Blue Comet Presentations two manufacturing locations and Blue Comet display layouts being shipped around the nation.

The action starts with a string of PCCM TOFC traffic heading to Blue Comet Presentations at All-City Storage in Bedford Park.

Robert R departs Bedford Park Yard with Train BP-12.

Train BP-12 heads to Terminal Yard.

After cutting off from the BP-12 freight cars Robert R couples onto the freight cars going back to Bedford Park Yard.

Train BP-41 departs Terminal Yard.

Robert R is back in Bedford Park and begins to deliver the PCCM freight traffic to Blue Comet Presentations inside All-City Storage. 

The other PCCM freight cars are placed in the yard and will be cycled to Blue Comet for unloading and reloading.

Hey!! What happened to Alco Joe!!! The PCCM freight cars have been loaded with Blue Comet Presentations Display Layouts and he is finally ready to depart Bedford Station.

Alco Joe brings the BT-27 into the Empire City Team Track.

Alco Joe checks in with Sir Neal, PC Ralph and conductor John. The guys try to remember when the last time a local peddler freight ran and used the Empire City team track.

The Bedford Turn is now back in Bedford as Train BT-28.

Alco Joe gets right to work pulling the PC and HRC boxcars loaded with display layouts from Blue Comet Presentations.

The BT-28 makes its moves towards Terminal Yard.

Alco Joe drops his Alco S4 in the engine terminal and shoots the breeze with engine hostler Wet Willie.

Kar Knocker and Big Mike get ready to work the BT-28 consist. There is still a lot to do.

Things are heating up at Empire City Station as the station switcher shoves empty TOFC cars towards the Rail Express Agency Ramp.

PCCM Trailers loaded with Blue Comet Presentations express shipments are arriving at the REA Ramp for inclusion of the next M&E Train arriving at Empire City Station.

Penn Central Mail & Express Train #9 is ready to depart East Bedford Station.

Mail & Express Train #9 departs East Bedford Station for Albany Station with a stop at Empire City Station.

Time to check in with engineer Robert R working the Blue Comet Presentations manufacturing location inside of All-City Storage.

Robert R pulls nine PCCM freight cars from Bedford Park Yard loaded with Blue Comet Presentations display layouts and other model RR items.

Train BP-12 heads to Terminal Yard.

After cutting off from the BP-12 Robert R delivers the 7608 to the engine terminal where Wet Willie will put it in the next train to Selkirk for its 30 day inspection.

Big Mike and Kar Knocker do their thing one more time.

Alco C425s 2434, 2417 and RS11 7608 get the honors to power the all PCCM freight traffic extra with loaded boxcars for Blue Comet and a pair of empty bulkhead flatcars for the MEC.

Extra 2434 departs Terminal Yard for Selkirk.

Next Stop Selkirk!!! Put it in the books!!!

This closes out Part 1 on the NYCTL. Be sure to catch all the PCCM action on PC Ralph's Kings Port Division and Sir Neal's Atlantic Pacific Railroad.

Special Thank You

A special thank you to Steve Neubaum for the idea behind this special PCCM op. Steve is truly a model railroading ambassador and his Blue Comet Presentations Display Layouts bring smiles to people of all ages who see them in action. Doing this on a grand scale as a one man operation is a labor of love that is evident in his finished products. Well done Steve!!!

A special thank you also goes out to Sir Neal and PC Ralph for their enthusiastic response and support for Operation Blue Comet. 

Thanks for reading and watching!!!

See you soon!!! 

Penn Central Car Movements #114 / Operation Blue Comet Part 1

 Greetings All,

Welcome to Penn Central Car Movements #114

Operation Blue Comet

PCCM 114 will be a three layout special operation focusing on Blue Comet Presentations, custom model railroad building company founded by 1:1 scale Steve Neubaum with 1:87 scale Steve's Blue Comet Presentations acquiring additional space at Neubaum's Coffee & Tea Importers to facilitate the rehabilitation of used older trains and the manufacture of the display layouts.

Blue Comet Presentations has also moved into the third floor of the All City Storage Warehouse for additional space to restore rolling stock and manufacture the custom model railroad display layouts.

Donated trains and other items will be traveling from Sir Neal's Atlantic Pacific Railroad, Ralph's Kings Port Division and other locations throughout the USA via both freight trains and a Mail & Express Train which is believed to be a PCCM first.

M&E Train 16 has come down from Albany Station with mail & express shipments from the APRR & KPD consigned to Blue Comet Presentations.

Train 16 arrives in Empire City Station. The PCCM TOFC traffic for the Railway Express Agency gets pulled off and delivered to the REA TOFC Ramp.

The Station Switcher will work the TOFC traffic to get the trailers unloaded and moving to Blue Comet Presentations.

Train 16 is ready to depart Empire City Station.

Train 16 heads to East Bedford Station.

A short time later Penn Central Extra 2417 from Selkirk is rolling over the High Line with LCL and full car load PCCM traffic for Blue Comet Presentations.

Extra 2417 proceeds towards Terminal Yard.

Extra 2417 arrives in Terminal Yard.

Engine hostler Wet Willie greets the engineer as he ties down the  2417 and 2434 in the engine terminal.

Big Mike and Kar Knocker get together to inspect and classify the Extra 2417 freight consist.

The 2417 PCCM cars for Blue Comet Presentations are blocked for movement. The Hoschton boxcar and the rest of the cars on track 5 will be going to Neubaum's Coffee & Tea Importers in Bedford. The APRR boxcars on track 4 will be going to All City Storage in Bedford Park. 

Over in the Pier 16 Area the B&O is testing a new GP30 as it pulls PC boxcar 104474 from Bruce Electric Equipment loaded with wiring and controls for Blue Comet Presentations. 

The B&O Transfer delivers the PC boxcar to Terminal Yard.

Over in Terminal Yard we catch the EBRR Belt Job pulling two EBRR boxcars of donated finished PCCM lumber from Neal's Lumber & Hardware for movement to Blue Comet Enterprises.

Empire Belt Train EB-2 heads to Terminal Yard.

The EBRR guys check in with the PC guys as EBRR Train EB-3 gets ready to head back to North Side Yard with two MEC bulkhead flatcars of lumber from Half Moon Lumber for Neal's Lumber & Hardware.

Train EB-3 heads to Empire City.

An REA truck unloads and reloads Express Reefer 1268 with Blue Comet Presentations model railroad display layouts. 

REA Express Reefer 1268 heads for Albany Station in an Empire Service Train. 

Back at Terminal Yard Alco Joe is called for the Bedford Turn, Trains BT-27 and BT-28.

Train BT-27 heads for Bedford NY with PCCM traffic for Blue Comet Presentations.

Uh oh!! Hobos have hitched a ride in this NYC Pacemaker Car!!!

With the hobo issue resolved the LCL PCCM freight traffic gets unloaded at the station while the HRC and PC boxcars get unloaded at the Blue Comet Presentations freight siding.

We'll cut it here for today as work continues at Bedford Station. Note the KPRS gang had brought a trailer full of donations for Blue Comet. Nice work guys!!!

We'll pick it up tomorrow at Bedford Park Yard with Robert R getting ready to head out to Terminal Yard amidst a sea of tractor trailers from the REA Ramp.

The truck traffic is heavy with freight for the Blue Comet Presentations All City Storage Warehouse manufacturing space. As long as the trucks are traveling by train for most of their journeys the railroad is making a good profit.

This closes out Part 1 on the NYCTL. Be sure to catch all the PCCM action on PC Ralph's Kings Port Division and Sir Neal's Atlantic Pacific Railroad.

Thanks for reading and watching!!!

See you tomorrow!!