New Rolling Stock / Old Favorites

Greetings Blog Followers,

Below are a couple of photographs of some new additions and old favorites currently running on the layout.

A Quartet of Pennsylvania Railroad Merchandise Service Boxcars on the head end of the  

"Gotham Limited" 

The "Gotham Limited" moves through Empire City 17 cars strong

 A Pennsylvania 4-6-2 K-4 Pacific leads the "New Yorker" over shark infested lower tracks

An A-B-A consist of Fairbanks Morse C-Liners power the "Gotham Limited" through Empire City

C-Liners passing Empire City Caterpillar Corporation's building and yard

An REA Express 50' Boxcar is part of the head end traffic on the "Gotham Limited" 

This car, an older Roundhouse model, is a new addition and has metal wheels and Kadee couplers added

 A four way meet just outside and above Empire City Station. New York Central Sharks lead a passenger train into the station while B&O Sharks are pulling a passenger train from the station. On the upper level the K-4 lead "New Yorker" passes the "Gotham Limited"

 3 new Merchandise Service cars join a 4th on the head end of the "Gotham Limited". The cars are by Mantua and have been upgraded with Metal Wheels and Kadee Coupler Boxes.

A new 50' Mechanical Refrigerator is now added to the NYC Roster. The car is by Bachmann and has been upgraded with Kadee Couplers

Happy New Year

Greetings Blog Followers,

Happy New Year to All.

Priorities for the layout this year are adding a mountain to one corner, a small yard to the peninsula and realigning some tracks in one of the shelf portion industrial areas.

Priorities for the rolling stock fleet is to continue with the metal wheel and coupler upgrades . This actually started about 8 years ago and continues to this day. At this point there are not many cars left with plastic wheels and couplers.

Priorities for the blog are to learn to work my new camera and keep the posts timely, informative and fun.

Here are some of the last purchases for 2012

 B&O 86' Auto Parts Boxcar

  B&O 86' Auto Parts Boxcar

N&W 86' Auto Parts Boxcar

L&N 86' Auto Parts Boxcar

WSRC 86' Auto Parts Boxcar

  

Daring Daylight Burglary Thwarted

Greetings Blog Followers,

A daring daylight burglary at the Belvedere Hotel was thwarted by the quick response of the Empire City Police and Sheriff Departments. The authorities were tipped off by a local citizen who noticed a man climbing into a top floor room from the rear fire escape. The police quickly responded and confronted the suspect as he exited the building via the rear fire escape. The suspect attempted to flee back into the hotel but quick acting police had already cut off that escape route. A confrontation ensued and the Police and Sheriff Swat Teams both responded and locked down the hotel and parking lot. As the Swat Teams got into position the suspect realized the futility of his situation and surrendered. 

A photo of the suspect as he tries to flee the hotel which has been surrounded by the Police

A Police Commander with bullhorn, lower right, communicates with the suspect as a Swat Team sharp shooter, left,  keeps a trained eye on the suspect. 

Police and Sheriff Departments units blocking off the street while suspect is given a final notice to surrender 

 Police and Onlookers have gathered at the scene. Note sharp shooter on roof at top of picture.

The Hotel is locked down

Police trying herd onlookers from the scene while they conduct business. "Nothing to see here folks, Please move along and cooperate with your Police Department."

Merry Christmas 2012

Greetings Blog Followers,

From all of us here at the New York Central Train Layout to all of you have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!!

New Flexi Van Flat Car

Greetings Blog Followers,

The newest acquisition for my New York Central layout is a Flexi Van car with two Milwaukee Road 40'0 trailers. Just in time for the holiday rush....

N.I.F.X. #7030 with two 40' trailers minus their bogies (wheel assemblies). N.I.F.X. is the reporting marks of General Electric Rail Services.

The current Flexi Van fleet, new car is in the middle of the consist. Flexi Van service was first tested by the New York Central in 1957 as a way to cut costs over regular trailer on flatcar (TOFC) service. Production models arrived on the system in 1958 and handled only 36' trailers. As 40' was becoming the standard length for highway trailers later models carried a 36' and 40' trailer. Cars built from 1961 to 1968 carried 2 40' trailers. The low profile skeleton cars were designed for the clearance restrictions on the N.Y.C. Lighter and lower than standard TOFC cars they proved well suited for high speed operation and many cars were rebuilt so they could move in both passenger and freight  service. Although intended for most types of freight the Flexi-Vans proved very popular for handling mail. Although successful the rapid rise of containers and industry standards for moving trailers on flat cars pushed Flexi Van service into the pages of history.  

Car on left (new addition) is a Mark III Flexi Van car and the Car on the right is a Mark IV

The Flexi Van Fleet await motive power

Leased Power II

Greetings Blog Followers,

The Holiday Season continues at Empire City with passenger trains heavy with mail and express car, freight is moving at record levels and motive power is running short. Additional leased power has been authorized and the New York City Metropolitan Transit Authority as sent over two Long Island Railroad Alco FA units numbered 607. I will need to renumber one of these units eventually. The real LIRR #607 was acquired from the Western Maryland RR and formerly numbered 303 in 1951. It served the LIRR until 2001 when it went to a a private owner. It has been repainted as WM #303. The model trains are from Walther's.

Leased Power put right to work on the New York Central Layout 

LIRR #607 has a fregith train in tow as it passes through Empire City

Empire City Rail fans did a double take as these units passed through Empire City. 

 Another busy day in Empire City.

LIRR FA units head through Empire City under the watchful eye of a brother Alco FA of the home railroad. 

 

2012 Holiday Season M&E Trains

Greetings Blog Followers,

The Holiday Season is in full swing and trains coming and going from Empire City Station are laden with head end cars full of bulk mail and express packages. Here are some short videos recently captured by local rail fans at Empire City Station.