Empire Belt GP30s

Empire Belt GP30s
The EBRR GP30s round a curve on the Empire City Belt Line.

Saturday, July 6, 2024

Freight Car Spotlight #1-2024 / Penn Central MOW Tank Car #70752

 Greetings All,
Freight Car Spotlight #1-2024
Penn Central MOW Tank Car #70752

Welcome to another post in the ongoing freight car spotlight series. Today the spotlight will fall upon Penn Central Maintenance of Way tank car #70752.
Prototype Info
General American Transportation Corporation (GATC) produced  three compartment 6,000 gallon tank cars on the "Type 30" riveted underframe from 1928 to 1942. The three compartment designed allowed for consignees to to receive up to three different grades of products, such as oil or chemicals.
Photo from PCRRHS Society Store.

This was  important for manufacturing industries where a single car could deliver multiple types of lubricating oils in smaller quantities. These tank cars lasted for more than forty years and were in service into the 1970s.
Model Info
The Tangent Sale Models GATC 6,000 gallon three compartment tank car is a visually distinct model that includes intricate underframe details such as full brake piping, truck brake beams and different brake wheel options that are accurate for each paint scheme. 

Working with the Penn Central RR Historical Society Tangent Scale Models produced two PC MOW tank cars # 70752 and #70755 exclusively for the PCRRHS. The model features true to life colors and hyper accurate lettering using exact fonts and lettering placement.
Photo from PCRRHS Society Store.

The ready to run tank car comes with free rolling metal wheels inside a Tangent 50 ton spring plank truck with Kadee scale couplers. The Penn Central model three compartment tank car was used in captive service for dirty and clean lube oil. The models have now been released for purchase by non members thru the society store.
Here is the 70752 right out of the box.
A slightly blurry close up shows the car has a lot of prototypical details. The car is not precisely accurate according to the society but it is a high quality close enough for me model.
The 70752 looks right at home delivering clean lube oil and taking away dirty lube oil from the Terminal Yard engine terminal.
The obligatory roster shot on the Empire City viaduct.

Final Thoughts and Comments
The Tangent Penn Central tank car is a good running and good looking model that performed well right out of the box. Although in captive service the car is fully lettered for interchange service and includes an ACI plaque. Kudos to the PCRRHS and Tangent for bringing this exclusive model to market from the society store.

Additional Resources and Links
Penn Central Historical Society Tank Cars 
Penn Central POST Magazines
Penn Central Historical Society store

Thanks for reading!!!
See you soon!!!


Sunday, June 30, 2024

Penn Central Car Movements #106 Part 3 / Conclusion of Operations

 Greetings All,

Welcome Back to Penn Central Car Movements #106!!!

PCCM 106 a one weekend three layout virtual op with my layout interchanging freight traffic with Sir Neal's Atlantic Pacific RR and PC Ralph's Kings Port Division concludes today with the arrival of a steel products train from Kings Port Steel and the interchange of this train with the Long Island RR. 

The action starts today in Empire City with the EBRR trainmen watching Extra 4348 from Selkirk come thru town on its way to Terminal Yard.
Extra 4348 East from Selkirk heads to Terminal Yard.
Extra 4348 rolls into Terminal Yard.
FP7s 4348 and 4369 join their brethren in the engine terminal.
The Extra 4348 freight consist has been inspected and the engines are coupled on for movement to North Side yard as Train EC-1 but the guy's attention is drawn to the right.
Here's what has drawn their attention!
Back to the PCCM action PC Train EC-1 is on the move thru Bedford.
Train EC-1 arrives in North Side Yard.
Let's enjoy a close up of this good looking steel products train from Kings Port Steel as it arrives in North Side Yard.
Alco Joe and Conductor Murray check in with the EBRR guys.
Alco Joe and conductor Murray head back to Terminal Yard caboose lite as Train EC-2.
A little while later Long Island RR Train MA-3 from Fresh Pond Yard to North Side Yard rolls into Bedford, NY.
LIRR Train MA-3 heads to Empire City via the Bedford Secondary
Train MA-3 arrives in North Side Yard.
LIRR engineer Jimmy Alco checks in with the Empire Belt gang from the cab of his Alco C420 as he moves to couple up to the Kings Port Steel products train.
LIRR Train MA-4 is ready to depart North Side Yard with a long train of Kings Port Steel!!
LIRR Train MA-4 departs North Side Yard.
The MA-4 rolls thru Bedford.
Train MA-4 heads to Fresh Pond Yard.
Put it in the books!!!
This concludes the PCCM 106 operations on the NYCTL. Be sure to catch all the action on Sir Neal's Atlantic Pacific RR and PC Ralph's Kings Port Division.

Thanks for reading and watching!!!
See you soon!!!

Saturday, June 29, 2024

Penn Central Car Movements #106 Part 2 / TrailVan Trains

  Greetings All,

Welcome Back to Penn Central Car Movements #106!!!

PCCM 106 a one weekend three layout virtual op with my layout interchanging freight traffic with Sir Neal's Atlantic Pacific RR and PC Ralph's Kings Port Division continues today at the Kings Port & Western RR's Williams Yard where "The Steel Job" will be busy working Kings Port Steel delivering raw materials and picking up finished products for shipment. 

Meanwhile the first Penn Central PCCM TrailVan trains running between Terminal Yard and Rock Ridge Yard via Selkirk will make their inaugural runs.

We pick up the action at the Terminal Yard T.O.F.C ramp where Big Mike is putting together Train TV-107.
The head end of TV-107 is coupled onto the hind end.
TV-107 is brought to the departure track to await power.
Over at Bedford Tower empty coal hopper train Extra 6309 heading to Terminal Yard gets orders to "hold for two" on the Bedford Secondary Track.
Extra 6309 takes to the Bedford Secondary and TV-107 departs Terminal Yard.
Extra 6309 holds for two!
Penn Central Train TV-112 rolls into the T.O.F.C. ramp.
The TV-112 power arrives in the engine terminal.
Later that day Extra 6309 arrives at Terminal Yard.
Meanwhile Big Mike is hard at work on the T.O.F.C. ramp with the TV-112 consist and building Train TV-109.
Train TV-109's T.O.F.C. cars are placed on the departure track.
The power is coupled on and the crew is onboard doing their standing air test. Railfans will get a special treat today with APRR GP38 #358 leading the four unit power consist.
Over in Empire City PC 2232 leads TV-108 from Selkirk as it passes a slow moving freight as it heads towards Terminal Yard.
TV-108 passes Bedford Tower.
TV-109 is ready to go.
TV-109 departs Terminal Yard.
We're going to have a meet in Bedford!
Next stop Terminal Yard!!
Next stop Selkirk!!
That concludes the TrailVan action for today. We'll pick up tomorrow with a large steel products train from Kings Port Steel making its way to Terminal Yard and an interchange with the Long Island RR.

Be sure to catch all the action on Sir Neal's Atlantic Pacific RR and PC Ralph's Kings Port Division.

Thanks for reading and watching!!!
See you tomorrow!!!

Friday, June 28, 2024

Penn Central Car Movements #106 Part 1

 Greetings All,

Welcome to Penn Central Car Movements #106!!!

PCCM 106 will be a one weekend three layout virtual op with my layout interchanging freight traffic with Sir Neal's Atlantic Pacific RR and PC Ralph's Kings Port Division.

This weekend we are focusing on "Feeding the Furnace" at Kings Port Steel with scrap metal and the shipping of steel products from KP Steel to both the APRR's Rock Ridge Yard and my Terminal Yard. So let's get started!

PCCM 106 opens up at Bedford Tower with Train TY-4 from Selkirk getting orders on its way to Terminal Yard
TY-4 heads down the Bedford Secondary.
TY-4 rolls into Terminal Yard.
The TY-4 power ties down in the engine terminal which has some color today.
Back in the yard Big Mike and Kar Knocker talk things over prior to getting the TY-4 freight consist inspected. Penn Central SD9 #6908 will be the yard power this weekend.
After the train has been released Big Mike shoves a string of eight empty PCCM gondolas into track#4. They will be going to the Long Island RR for loading via the EBRRs North Side Yard .
A little while later Alco Joe reports for Train EC-1 that will take the PCCM traffic going to the LIRR to North Side Yard. Engine hostler Wet Willie remains in the good graces of Alco Joe as he supplies a pair of Alco RS32s for today's EC-1.
Train EC-1 is on the move!
Alco Joe and conductor Murray check in with the EBRR train men.
The PC guys head back to Terminal Yard caboose lite as Train EC-2.
With Train EC-2 gone it's time to get North Side Yard in order for the pending arrival of Long Island RR Train MA-3. PC Ralph will do the honors in the EBRR U23Cs.
PC Ralph has shoved the freight traffic for the LIRR to the other end of the yard for easier pick up by the LIRR crew. This a perfect time to grab a few slices at Pizza Land!!
PC Ralph and conductor Rocky better hurry as Long Island Train MA-3 is heading their way thru Bedford!!
LIRR Train MA-3 rolls thru Bedford to North Side Yard.
Our old friend LIRR engineer Jimmy Alco checks in with the EBRR trainmen as he builds up the air on Train MA-4 that will take the PCCM empty gondolas from the APRR to several Long Island industries for loading. Rocky, is that pizza sauce on your shirt?
LIRR Train MA-4 departs North Side Yard.
Train MA-4 is cleared past Bedford Tower.
Train MA-4 heads to Fresh Pond Yard.
A short time later PC Ralph puts together Empire Belt Train EB-2 that will take the PCCM gondolas of scrap metal and some non PCCM traffic to Terminal Yard.
Train EB-2 departs North Side Yard.
The EB-2 heads to Terminal Yard.
After delivering Train EB-2 to Terminal Yard PC Ralph and Conductor Rocky chat with the PC yard guys before heading to North Side Yard caboose lite.
With the EBRR guys back in North Side Yard Big Mike pulls the non PCCM traffic from the EB-2 freight consist.
Before working the PCCM gondolas of scrap Big Mike grabs this LV boxcar to act as a buffer to protect the crews because some of the loads are above the height of the gondola sides and ends.
Big Mike couples up to MCRR gondola 350623 and two others loaded with PCCM scrap wheels loads.
The PC 525702 loaded with scrap wheels is coupled up to the PCCM gondolas of scrap from Train EB-2 that are going to Kings Port Steel.
Big Mike couples up to a caboose for today's trip. NYC boxcar 164000 is being used a buffer to protect the crew in the caboose.
The train of PCCM scrap metal traffic for Kings Port Steel is placed on the departure track.
Engine hostler Wet Willie has coupled on a pair of FP7s to power the train that will be identified as Extra 4369 West.
It's time to go!! Extra 4369 West departs Terminal Yard.
Next stop Selkirk!!!!
Tomorrow Sir Neal and I will run Penn Central TrailVan trains between Terminal Yard and Rock Ridge Yard via Selkirk which will be a PCCM first while PC Ralph will be busy switching out Kings Port Steel.

Be sure to catch all the action on Sir Neal's Atlantic Pacific RR and PC Ralph's Kings Port Division.

Thanks for reading and watching!!!
See you tomorrow!!!