New York-New Jersey Ops #1 / Part 1 / Debut of New Virtual Op Series

 Greetings All

Welcome to the opening installment of the NY-NJ Ops #1!!

In January 2026 after more than a decade of combined virtual operations the Penn Central Car Movements came to a close with PC Ralph no longer participating due to personal reasons. It was a great run and Ralph contributed much to the PCCMs. I'll certainly miss him and wish him well going forward.

After consulting with 1:1 Sir Neal we decided to continue running model railroad virtual operations between my layout and Sir Neal's Atlantic Pacific Railroad under the name NY-NJ Ops. The parameters will be basically Penn Central as before with early Conrail for some variety. NY-NJ freight traffic will also feature some new traffic patterns, shippers and consignees.

The NY-NJ action starts at the Empire Belt RR's North Side Yard with Senior Engineer Sir Neal and conductor John getting ready to run the Belt Job that serves the local Empire City industries.

The Belt Job is on the move.

The Belt Job has cut off its  caboose and begins working the Haydon Heights industries. Below a long string of covered hoppers are being delivered to the Quaker Plant.

Four Empire Belt gondolas loaded with pipe for National Supply in Ambridge, PA get pulled from Gervais Pipe. National Supply is a new customer of Gervais Pipe & Fitting that will have its NY-NJ traffic moving thru the APRR's Rock Ridge Yard.

Over at the Quaker Plant a Hoschton Railroad RBL loaded with cereal products is pulled from the siding for movement to ShopRite in Rock Ridge NJ. 

The Belt Job is now working Empire Produce pulling two BAR reefers loaded with produce for C&P Rest Supply in Rock Ridge, NJ. 1:87 Emery is back to capture the NY-NJ rail action!!

Sir Neal has the Belt Job back together and prepares to shove back to North Side Yard.

The Belt Job returns to North Side Yard.

The EBRR brain trust talk things over after yarding their train. Conductor John checks his watch for the arrival time of Long Island RR Train MA-3 which is due soon.

And here comes LIRR Train MA-3 behind a single Alco C420.

Train MA-3 heads to North Side Yard.

The MA-3 caboose is coupled onto the freight cars going to Fresh Pond.

The C420 is coupled onto the headend with engineer Jimmy Alco back for the new op and talking things over with the EBRR guys.

LIRR Train MA-4 departs North Side Yard for Fresh Pond.

Next Stop Fresh Pond!!!

A little while later Sir Neal and conductor John have the yard in order and will be taking EBRR Train EB-2 to Terminal Yard. Conductor John will inspect the train as it heads out and then hop on the caboose.

Train EB-2 departs North Side Yard.

After cutting the engines off the EB-2 the EBRR guys check in with the Terminal Yard yardmaster and Big Mike. 

Sir Neal couples up to the outbound non NYNJ traffic going to North Side Yard as Kar Knocker waits for three step protection before connecting the air hoses.

Train EB-3 departs Terminal Yard.

We'll cut it here for today with the EBRR guys back in North Side Yard and heading to the office with their waybills.

We'll pick it up tomorrow at Terminal Yard with the yard crew breaking down the EB-2 freight cars.

This concludes part one of the NY-NJ Ops on the NYCTL. Be sure to catch the rest of the NY-NJ action on Sir Neal's Atlantic Pacific RR.

Thanks for reading and watching!!!

See you tomorrow!!!