P.C.C.M. 33D / Dispatch of train EC-3

Greetings All,

Today we'll focus our attention on train EC-3, the afternoon Empire City Turn. As the virtual ops have grown in scope over the last year the train schedule on the New York Central Train Layout has also changed to meet the demands of shippers and interchange partners. 

Case in point are the Empire City Turns. Originally a once a day local originating at Terminal Yard that worked industries in Bedford and Empire City the train schedule has been altered for a morning and afternoon Empire City Turn and streamlined with only a few local industries to work in Bedford while going to and from North Side Yard on it's scheduled transfer runs.

The former NSY or North Side Yard transfer trains originating at North Side Yard have been annulled.  The heavy workload in Empire City dictates a full time crew stationed there to handle the switching duties of the industries located within Empire City limits.

In the past my freelanced Empire Belt RR performed the Empire City duties and ran transfer trains to Terminal Yard. But with no motive power or rolling stock of their own their corporate identity was a big non factor to the action. I'm hoping to rectify that down the road and we may see the Empire Belt ride again soon!

So with the housekeeping done let's check out the action;

1/87th scale Engineer Ed has the EC-3 job today. Double E waits for the hostler to get his engines in place. Today's EC-3 is quite colorful by Penn Central standards. A red P GP-30, standard white PC GP-30 and an orange C GP-40  are today's power.  
Double E was pleased to get this job as it usually has several late model engines for motive power. With the limited stops E.E. has been known to open them up when he gets a chance to high ball thru the straight tracks at Bedford NY. EC-3 leaves Terminal Yard and it's departure is recorded on the ACI reader to the right.

EC-3 meets the Coal Job at Bedford NY. The Coal Job is another newly added train needed to meet the demands of ramped up coal production at Hudson Coal

No high balling for now as Double E and his crew pull PC 50' boxcar #229036 from Berk enterprises and several cars from Hostess / Wonder Bread. PC 229036 is loadedwith packaging material for Cavendish Fine Foods & Distillery in Mayfield NY

Next stop for EC-3 is switching out Heileman Brewery

With the Bedford chores complete EC-3 is on the High Line heading towards North Side Yard.

EC-3 hits Hohman Ave and Double E gives the workers at Walsh Steel Wool Products an impressive horn show to let them know the boss is in town.

EC-3 arrives at North Side Yard

With EC-3 tied down on track#2 the 1/87th scale trainmen exchange pleasantries and the North Side yard guys offer their lunch recommendations. 

E.E. and his crew opt for Moriarty's Pub-Restaurant to satisfy their appetites and maybe wet their whistles as well.

With EE and his men at beans the N.S.Y. switch crew get busy

Freight cars including PC 229036 that are heading back to Terminal Yard are shoved into track #1 for the next leg of the Empire City Turn.

The N.S.Y. switch crew has done some preliminary blocking of freight cars as evidenced by the three boxcars going to the Kings Port Division being coupled together.

Now known as Train EC-4 EE has run the engines back to the Hohman Ave side and coupled up to the freight cars on track 1. EC-4 is stopped at Hohman Ave while the train builds air pressure and Double E takes this time to give 1/87th scale Larry D his lunch review.

The NSY crew has tacked on EC-4s caboose and the trainmen get ready to hook up the hoses and disconnect from the BAR car.

EC-4 heads towards the High Line on it's way back to Bedford and Terminal Yard.

Bedford Tower operator 1/87th scale John B hand up orders for EC-4.

And we see EC-4 meets the Coal Job again at Bedford after the Coal Job pulled several strings of loaded coal hoppers from Hudson Coal. 

The PC hoppers with their new ACI labels are loaded with coal for Corning Glass Works in Corning NY

Meanwhile EC-4 is climbing the grade to Terminal Yard while the grazing deer don't even raise their heads.

EC-4 arrives at Terminal Yard and it's day is over after they secure the train on track#1 

Thanks for reading!

P.C.C.M.33C / Train Movements at North Side Yard

Greetings All,

Today we'll follow the crew at North Side Yard as they make the moves needed to get the inbound and outbound freight cars into the right places and trains.

The P.C.C.M. 33 series is the first series where we are putting together a rail traffic management form that Ralph V prepared. The R.M.T.F. is designed to maximize the freight cars used for the virtual ops on our layouts. So we'll be moving cars to destinations for loading or unloading that may not head out of the basement this round, but the next round. Once up and running the R.M.T.F. should enhance our virtual ops and solo home operating sessions. We'll keep everyone updated as we get this project off the ground.

First thing to do for this installment is to review the Dispatch Sheet(also prepared by Ralph) to the left, the note paper with the cars needed to be moved and the switch list put together from the note paper. 

1/87th scale Sir Neal and Conductor John will be working North Side Yard for the foreseeable future. Power for today will be an ALCO RS-2 and EMD Calf unit.

The NSY crew starts to get the yard in order and sort the cars.

A little ALCO turbo lag is evident as 1/87th scale Sir Neal throttles up. 

1/87th scale Conductor John is on the back porch protecting the shove. We're heading towards Hohman Ave to work the yard from this side.

PC 77047 is being pulled from track 3. Next we'll grab NYC 80775 sitting empty on track 1 to the right.

We've headed over to Neal's Lumber and Hardware to pick up empty EL 40' boxcar #73510

We're down at Red Wing Milling pulling NYC covered hopper 892010 loaded with Soy Flour for Blue Ribbon Flour in Kings Port NY

With a string of cars we're backing up towards the West Side with 1/87th scale conductor John manning the caboose porch.

With the train dropped just past Hohman Ave to the right we're picking up empty B&M RBL #110. This car will be forwarded to the Kings Port &Western to be sent to the Corning Glass Works. 1/87th scale conductor John is on the ground ready to connect the hoses.

1/87th scale conductor John connects the air hoses from B&M 110 to the caboose  while we temporarily block Hohman Ave.

 We're on the move thru the West Side reverse curve.

The next move for us is to pull this TP&W 40' boxcar from Walsh Steel Wool Products loaded with steel wool scraps for Boom's Ready Mix in Kings Port NY

With the TP&W car tacked onto our train on the EC viaduct we work the Moore & Co siding.

NYC 50' boxcar 80775 is spotted at Drywell Inks for loading with barrels of ink consigned to Canton Box in West Mill NY.  

We've finished our work by spotting BAR 40' boxcar# 5226 for loading at Neubaum's Coffee & Tea Importers, and PC 77047 and EL73510 for loading at Moore &Co. These cars along with NYC 80775 above will be featured in the next P.C.C.M. that originates on the N.Y.C.T.L. when they are pulled loaded from these shippers.

With our work done we head thru Empire City taking the scenic route back to North Side Yard.

 We've circled Empire City and are back at the Hohman Ave entrance to North Side Yard

1/87th scale Sir Neal has shoved the cars into track#3 and the guys are tying down the engines and caboose on track #1 in the distance.

With the morning's work done the time honored question of "You wanna eat?" is asked. Sure, where?

Where else...Dominick's Little Italy Restaurant! There is certainly something delicious on today's All You Can Eat menu!

Thanks for Reading!

P.C.C.M. 33B / L.I.R.R. Interchange

Greetings All,

The Long Island RR transfer train rolls thru Bedford NY on the way to Empire City's North Side Yard. The five cars behind the PC boxcar went out to Long Island industries in an earlier P.C.C.M. 

The LIRR Transfer makes it's way onto the Cornelius Vanderbilt Memorial Bridge. In the distance we can see 1/87tth scale PC Ralph's Corvette convertible parked at the Bedford Park Yard office.

The LIRR arrives at North Side Yard

and makes it's way to the thru the yard on track#3. The cars on track #2 will be going heading out to with the LIRR engine. 

The LIRR has left track 3 and reversed direction. A few of the cars brought in by the LIRR like the two empty gondolas will be needed as the action continues this round.

The LIRR transfer leaving North Side Yard gets a wave from Hohman Ave Tower Operator 1/87th scale Larry D.

Leaving the yard limits.

Crossing the Empire City viaduct

And heading towards it's home rails

Thanks for Reading!