Penn Central Car Movements #90 / Part 3 Conclusion of Outbound Portion

 Greetings All,

Welcome Back to Penn Central Car Movements #90

The PCCM 90 virtual op with my NYCTL layout interchanging freight cars with PC Ralph's Kings Port Division continues today with the conclusion of my outbound portion.

We open up across from Bedford Station with Alco Joe and the Bedford Turn, Train BT-27, preparing to switch out Neubaum's Coffee & Tea Importers.

Conductor Murray is signaling the engineer to pull out the cars that include BAR #5226 and IC #30130 loaded with imported coffee and tea for Cavendish Food & Spirits in Mayfield NY. Ex NYC RDC M-499 commonly referred to as a Bee-Liner in NYC parlance waits on the main to take on passengers.

Alco Joe gets the Bedford Turn back together and heads for Terminal Yard.

The Bedford Turn arrives back in Terminal Yard as Kar Knocker watches for defects.

The final local train of the day, the Coal Job, Train CJ-1, has been cleared for departure.

The Coal Job heads for Hudson Coal.

Train CJ-1 has shoved into Hudson Coal and begins pulling out the loaded hoppers, six of which will be going to Tri Mount Cement in South West Mill NY.

The last of the loaded hoppers are pulled out.

The Coal Job begins spotting the empties.

The empties are spotted for loading.

The Coal Job is back together and gets clearance to head back to Terminal Yard.

The Coal Job is back in Terminal Yard and rolling across the weigh in motion scales as we get a close up of PC GP7 5693.

Our intrepid photographer also caught a nice close up of GP7 #5699.

With the Coal Job now in the yard it's time to turn the op over to Big Mike running the Yard Job powered by a pair of ex NYC SW8s. 

Big Mike starts building outbound train SK-5 on track #1. The SK-5 takes cars for the KPD, KP&W and Selkirk where it will terminate.

Below is the Mayfield Block with LV boxcar #66392 loaded with paint and paint supplies for ACCO. The empty NYC-KP&W-PC/TOC 60'ers are heading for ACME Auto Parts.

The yard job couples onto the Cargill covered hopper, TLDX #7241, that was brought in on yesterday's Empire Belt EB-2 transfer run. The 7241 is going to Cavendish Food & Spirits with a load of barley from the Empire City Cargill plant.

IC boxcar #30130 and BAR boxcar #5226 loaded with imported tea and coffee for Cavendish Food & Spirits join the Cargill hopper in the Mayfield block of train SK-5.

Six loaded coal hoppers for Tri Mount Cement in South West Mill are the next block in the consist.

Three empty Gulf tank cars returning to the Gulf River Facility in West Mill NY and TP&W boxcar #627 loaded with steel wool scrap for Boom's Ready Mix round out the West Mill block. 

Big Mike shoves a four car TOFC set onto the head end of SK-5. The TOFC cars are heading to the B&M at Mechanicville NY.

With SK-5 complete Big Mike brings NYC covered hopper #892010 to the shop for repairs after Kar Knocker discovered wheel and brake issues with the car. It pays to have the 1:87 guys working the layout! This car is loaded with flour for Freihofer's Bakery in Rock Ridge NJ. It should be repaired and dispatched in PCCM 91. 

Engine Hostler Wet Willie is at the ready track and heads toward the motive power assigned to Train SK-5. 

Wet Willie has coupled on the engines. Kar Knocker has taken care of the hoses and train inspection.

Train SK-5 rumbles out of Terminal Yard with an all EMD GP30-F7A-GP40 power set.

SK-5 comes thru Bedford NY.

The SK-5 passes Bedford Tower and proceeds towards Empire City.  Next stop Selkirk!!!

Be sure to follow the action on PC Ralph's Kings Port Division!!!

When Ralph and I first conceived the Penn Central Car Movements I don't think either of us thought we'd still be at it seven years and ninety installments later. Having gotten involved in the virtual railroad operations is the single best thing to happen to my layout and modeling. I've learned a lot about the prototype and have met some very nice people who follow along with the blog and operations.

I want to give a big thank you to PC Ralph, Sir Neal, ATJOE1972, John Bruce and the late Engineer Ed for having been virtual op participants over the years. I want to thank also all of the readers, especially Kar Knocker, Robert R. and Smokey Alco who regularly check in on our Penn Central virtual operations and have allowed themselves to be represented in 1/87th scale.

Thanks for reading and watching!!!

See you soon!!!

Penn Central Car Movements #90 / Part 2

 Greetings All,

Welcome Back to Penn Central Car Movements #90

The PCCM 90 virtual op with my NYCTL layout interchanging freight cars with PC Ralph's Kings Port Division continues today.

We open day two at the Empire Belt RRs North Side Yard with PC Ralph preparing to work the Morning Industrial Job (MIJ) that is powered by the 5,350 HP GP18-GP9-GP18 consist.

The MIJ crosses onto the Empire City secondary track to access he local industries.

First stop is Empire City Cargill to pull this Cargill covered hopper loaded with barley for Cavendish Fine Foods in Mayfield NY.

The next move is at Ralph's Grocery Warehouse to pull empty Rock Island boxcar #35062 and empty PC boxcar #77047 for their next PCCM loads.

Watch as PC Ralph and the MIJ make a long pull and shove move in and out of the east side industries.

Two empty gondolas, KP&W #2140 and MCRR #350623, are spotted at Gervais Pipe& Fitting for their next PCCM loads.

Empty EL boxcar #73510 gets pulled from Neal's Lumber & Hardware for its next PCCM load as Sir Neal holds traffic.

Now working the midtown industries the MIJ is at Red Wing Milling pulling NYC covered hopper #892010 loaded with flour for Freihofer's Bakery in Rock Ridge NJ. 

PC Ralph brings the MIJ west to work the west side industries.

Empty NYC boxcar #80775 is pulled from Drywell Inks for its next PCCM load.

The NYC 80775 gets spotted at Moore & Company for its next PCCM load fulfilling an empty car request. Nice move by the crew!!

TP&W boxcar #627 is pulled from Walsh Steel Wool Products loaded with steel wool scrap for Boom's Ready Mix located in West Mill NY.

With the switching work done PC Ralph gets the Morning Industrial Job back together for the return to North Side Yard.

The MIJ heads back to North Side Yard.

The MIJ comes back into North Side Yard with Sir Neal and conductor John giving it a rolling inspection.

It's early afternoon at North Side Yard. Conductor John has the waybills in order, PC Ralph has switched the yard and Sir Neal has coupled his U-Boats to the EBRR transfer train to Terminal Yard

Over at Terminal Yard Alco Joe prepares to board ex NYC RS1 #9909 to take out the Bedford Turn, Train BT-27. Kar Knocker has given the train his blessing and engine hostler Wet Willie gets his first atta boy of the year from Alco Joe for assigning the RS-1 to this train.

The BT-27 rolls out of the yard and conductor Murray gives the guys and railfans a wave.

Back in Empire City Sir Neal has been notified by the dispatcher he will have a clear shot thru Bedford to Terminal Yard if he leaves now. The three U Boats accelerate out of the yard with Train EB-2.

EBRR Train EB-2 heads to Terminal Yard.

 

We'll close it here for today with Sir Neal having brought the EB-2 power to the fuel rack and greeting engine hostler Wet Willie with a friendly "fill er up and clean the windshields" as Kar Knocker looks on. Rumor has it the PC lent U25C #6500 to the EBRR with barely enough fuel to make it to the engine terminal. Are you surprised!

We'll pick it back up tomorrow with Alco Joe and Train BT-27 working the Bedford Industries.

Be sure to follow the action on PC Ralph's Kings Port Division!!!

Thanks for reading and watching!!!

See you tomorrow!!!

Penn Central Car Movements #90 / Part 1 / Year Seven and the Outbound Cycle Begins

Greetings All,

Welcome to Penn Central Car Movements #90

Welcome to the first virtual op of 2022 as we begin the seventh year of PCCM virtual operations which started on February 3rd 2016. The very first virtual freight car interchange between my NYCTL and PC Ralph's Kings Port Division can be traced back to my blogpost from August 06, 2014! 

The original PCCM freight car interchanges were by email until we switched the the blog format. We've certainly come a long way since those humble beginnings!

PCCM 90 will feature my NYCTL layout interchanging freight cars with PC Ralph's Kings Port Division. Sir Neal's Atlantic Pacific RR is on a winter hiatus and should be back for PCCM 91.

We begin year seven with the return of the 1:87 scale Penn Central management and trainmen who have diligently been working both Terminal Yard and Bedford Park Yard.

The Empire Belt RR team led by 1:87 Senior Engineer Sir Neal and PC Ralph are also returning along with LIRR engineer Jimmy Alco.

Jimmy Alco gets the honor of opening the PCCM 90 action bringing LIRR Freight Train MA-3 from Fresh Pond Yard thru Bedford NY towards Empire City and the Empire Belt RRs North Side Yard.

LIRR Train MA-3 rumbles thru Bedford

Jimmy Alco gets clearance at Bedford Tower to enter the High Line and Empire City

Train MA-3 arrives at the Empire Belt RRs North Side Yard with PC Ralph inspecting the incoming train.

Jimmy Alco has dropped the MA-3 consist on track 2 and rolls out of the yard shoving his outbound pickups past the ever watchful Sir Neal and conductor John.

Jimmy Alco makes a quick run to Pizza Land for calzones to go! 

Jimmy Alco is back on board his Alcos and brings the outbound train west to collect the caboose.

LIRR Caboose #12 is coupled on and LIRR Train MA-4 prepares to head back to Fresh Pond Yard.

LIRR Train MA-4 passes Bedford Tower as the tower operator gets a whiff of hot calzones from the engine compartment of the lead unit.

Train MA-4 heads back thru Bedford to Fresh Pond Yard.

Next we turn out attention to the Penn Central's Bedford Park Yard where engineer Robert R is ready to board ex PRR Baldwin S12 #8195 and get to work.

The first pick up is Lehigh Valley boxcar #66392 loaded at American Hardware Supply with paint and paint supplies for Amalgamated Container Corp (ACCO) located in Mayfield NY.

A non PCCM EL boxcar gets spotted at American Hardware Supply.

Robert R's next stop is the Bedford Park Ford Plant to pull out a trio of empty 60' boxcars. 

The NYC, KP&W and PC/TOC cars are going back to ACME Auto Products also located in Mayfield NY for reloading. 

Train BP-12 (Bedford Park to Terminal Yard) heads to Terminal Yard.

Robert R brings the BP-12 into Terminal Yard as both Kar Knocker and Big Mike inspect the inbound train.

Big Mike, running the Yard Job, sets the BP-12 cars onto track #2.

Robert R has coupled the Baldwin S12 to three 86' boxcars that came in earlier on the FAST 50. Kar Knocker has cleared the train for departure which is now identified as Train BP-41 (Terminal Yard to Bedford Park). 

Train BP-41 heads back to Bedford Park Yard.

We'll close it out for today at the Empire Belt RRs North Side Yard with the EBRR trainmen preparing to get their yard and trains in order. Note "borrowed" ex PRR U25C #6500 in the EBRR consist.

We'll pick it up tomorrow with the Morning Industrial Job being powered with an EBRR GP18-"borrowed" PC GP9- EBRR GP18 consist.   

The EBRR-PC consists above were the idea of 1:87 scale Senior Engineer Sir Neal to balance power and fuel consumption on both EBRR trains moving the tonnage in a two layout virtual op. 

The U23Cs (2250 HP) and U25C (2500 HP) give that consist 7,000 HP which should be fine for transfer service in this two layout PCCM. The GP18s (1800 HP) and GP9 (1750 HP) provide 5,350 HP which should be more than sufficient for the switching service in a two or three layout virtual op.

Be sure to follow the action on PC Ralph's Kings Port Division!!!

Thanks for reading and watching!!!

See you tomorrow!!!

Penn Central Historical Society 2022 Calendar Three Photo Challenge

 Greetings All,

Today we celebrate the 54th anniversary of the Penn Central with our inaugural, 

Penn Central Historical Society Three Photo Challenge 

As Penn Central Railroad Historical Society members and Penn Central Car Movements virtual op participants PC Ralph, 1:1 Sir Neal and I are going to do our best to replicate three photos from the PCRRHS 2022 calendar.

With photos from all 12 months in play I chose photos from the months of March, June and December.

Here is my first entry using the March 2022 photo by David Beach. The caption reads in part " Penn Central E8A #4304 leads a three car Train 53 past McKinley Tower in Canton, Ohio."

Penn Central E8A #4317 leads a three car train past a Hohman Ave Tower which was moved to facilitate the photo. The E8A, NYC baggage car, ex PRR and NYC coaches are consistent with the photo.

My next challenge photo is based on the June photograph by Stephen J Salamon. The caption states in part "On June 9, 1973, an eastbound local behind GP9 7397 works the DT&I interchange." 

GP9 7412 pulls a single green covered hopper with a trainman riding the freight car stirrup past the moved again Hohman Ave Tower. The photo is consistent with the action, a tower and train consist. 

My third and final photo challenge photo is based on the December photograph by Lou Adler. The caption states in part "In winter of 1969 a pair of GP40s and a former F7A lead a train westbound under the DT & C&O bridges at Miller Rd in Dearborn MI. The tri-levels are loaded with Chevrolet Novas..." 

GP40s 3007, GP40 3175 and former NYC F7A pull trilevel auto racks under the highway overpass. The white PC GP40, orange C GP40, NYC F7A and trilevel auto racks are consistent with the photo.

Be sure to check out PC Ralph's and Sir Neal's Three Photo Challenge Photos!!!

This was a lot of fun and we plan to do the same with the thrice yearly PCRRHS 2022 POST magazines. The magazines and calendar are available thru the PCRRHS society store. 

Thanks for reading!!!

See you soon!!!