New York - New Jersey Ops #1 - Part 1

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

It’s a new year, and time to start a new type of virtual operating session.

I’ve teamed up with my good friend, Sir John and together we’re creating our own virtual op train movements called ‘NY-NJ Ops’! We’re focused on the Penn Central era with some overlaps into the Conrail era. Together we shall create some creative and interesting train movements from my layout to his and of course from his layout to mine. Sir John’s layout is aptly named 'New York Central Train Layout'. Links to his blog posts will be on all virtual op session blog posts. 

Without further delay, here’s the inaugural post for my start of our NY-NJ Ops!! Let the outbound begin!

It's a great day at Rock Ridge Yard. Yardmaster 1:87 NJ John has assembled the crew for today's work. 1:87 Engineers Kai, Dan and JP will be running engines to gather freight to head out to Terminal Yard on the NYCTL and beyond.

AP SW1500 #101 will be handled by Kai. AP SW1500 #110 is handled by JP and AP MP15's #106/107 has Dan in the seat. AP SW1500 #102 will be handled by Dan.  Conductors on each engine are whoever is available and each engineer can pick his conductor.

In order to get to American Hardware, they'll be pulling these non- NYNJ Op cars for delivery to the Philadelphia area yard...

The 2 APRR Box Cars will get delivered to the American Hardware on the NYCTL. The 2 Empire Belt Box Cars will be heading to Neal's Hardware on the NYCTL. All 4 cars have bulk hardware...

The yard engine picks up all 6 box cars...

Kai has dropped the cars on A/D track 'C', which will have the cars for one of two trains heading to the NYCTL...

Dan is already in position...

Over at Cargill, JP will be pulling 2 covered hoppers. The Hostess covered hopper will be delivered to Hostess Bedford and the NYC covered hopper will head to Quaker Oats...

JP awaits the turnout and signal to proceed over to Rock Ridge Yard...

...He has the signal and heads over to the yard...

JP had a short run and is back on the Cargill property...

AP GP38-2 #307 has arrived at Rock Ridge Yard to pick up freight cars heading to the Morrisville, PA Yard for distribution and further routing. 1:87 Scale Engineer Norman brought the engine up from the Richmond Hill Engine Terminal...

There's a string of tank cars will be dropped off at Weehawken, NJ Yard for storage. The gondolas will be dropped off at Allied Steel in Newark, NJ...

AP Caboose #79, on lease from the NYCTL and painted by the Patti-O Paint Shop will be added to the train...

AP Train RW-3 is ready to depart Rock Ridge Yard...

AP Train RW-3 heads out to Weehawken, NJ....

Back at the yard, AP GP38-2 # 303 with engineer 1:87 Engineer Jim will be picking up some freight from C&P Restaurant Supply and Marcal...

Jim will drop off some non NY-NJ op cars over at both industries...

Jim heads out as AP train RE-2...

...And proceeds to Marcal and C&P...

Over at Marcal, 4 APRR box cars loaded with paper products will be delivered to Key Food. In addition, a pair of EB box cars will go to Key Food with paper products. The LV Box car will go to A&P warehouse in Elmsford, NY with paper products. AP #303 will drop off a pair of empty box cars to loaded as needed...

The box cars are pulled on the outer tack adjacent to Marcal. A run around to get the other cars are in progress as the industry holds 2 cars....

Jim will move the cars by Freihofers in order to get to these cars...

Now that the cars are pulled, Jim heads over to pull 3 AP reefers and 3 EB reefers. They will head to Pilgrim State Hospital with frozen meals...

Jim is also dropping off some empty reefers to be loaded for future movements...

The moves are completed and will head back to the yard...

AP train RE-2 heads back to the yard...

Jim has arrived at the yard...

The yard crew breaks down the train and spots them for the outbound moves. Some cars go on track 'B' and some are spotted on both tracks 'A' and 'C'...

Jim ties down on East Ladder track 2. The work is completed for today...

We'll cut it here for today. Tomorrow we'll have the crew pick up the cars at Ideal Auto Parts as well as sending out an 'Extra' to the Penn Central Morrisville, PA Yard.

Check out Sir John's New York Central Train Layout for his outbound progress.

Thanks for reading!

 

P.C.C.M. #114 Operation Blue Comet - Conclusion

Welcome back to the conclusion of Penn Central Car Movement #114 - Operation Blue Comet!

This move supports our friend Steve in Wisconsin and his 'Blue Comet Presentations' which builds O scale train layouts featuring Lionel Trains as well as some other model trains to put on display, repair and run. His displays have been featured in his hometown area to the delight of many folks, young and old!

We're going to wrap up the final inbound portion of Operation Blue Comet on my railroad.

1:87 Yardmaster NJ John is expecting the arrival of the train from Terminal Yard with materials and displays from Blue Comet Presentations. These are being worked on in some leased space at All-City Storage on the NYCTL. 

Extra 7848 approaches West Harold Interlocking...

...And has the approach signal to the next block, Little Jamaica Interlocking...

Little Jamaica Tower Operator 1:87 Bob is holding the train until he receives clearance from the Rock Ridge Tower operator and NJ John...

PC Extra 7848 heads to Rock Ridge Yard...

The PC crew checks in with CP South Tower operator 1:87 Rich T for routing into the yard...

Penn Central Extra 7848 arrives at Rock Ridge Yard...

Meanwhile, another Penn Central Train arrives at West Harold. This is the TOFC train from Albany Station with trailers from the NYCTL and from the Boston & Albany Springfield Sub, which serviced West Springfield, MA and East to Boston**

Penn Central Extra 6039 moves on to the West Harold Secondary, which serves the Reynolds Intermodal Terminal...

Penn Central Intermodal crew starts to pull the cars for the yard. But first, they need to pull the caboose. Since this yard is a stub end (no through tracks), they'll need to shove the cars into the yard...

The caboose is added to the engine and then the crew will start their work...

Let's watch the action at the Reynolds Intermodal Terminal...

The crew spots the cars on track 2 and the MiJack crane is ready to unload...

Back over at Rock Ridge Yard, 1:87 Engineer Kai starts to break down the inbound train. It won;t remain in the yard for long as all of these cars will head over to Three Amigos Warehouse and have the freight unloaded for future work, and when the time comes, have train displays all over the Rock Ridge and throughout New Jersey!

The Penn Central crew grabs their caboose and heads out...

The crew heads out for Weehawken to be serviced and readied for their next job...

Next stop...Weehawken!!

Back over in the yard, a pair of AP RS-1 units being readied to do a run to Three Amigos Warehouse to drop the eight cars from the NYCTL. 1:87 Engineer Dan with conductor Jim W will have this designated at AP RT-3...

Dan drops the caboose and Kai will pull it back so they can grab the outbound cars...

And moves to the West Ladder to pick up the freight cars..

Kai gives them the caboose and they're ready to depart...

Dan checks in with Rich T...

Awaits the signal on track 1 since they'll be running against traffic. Little Jamaica Tower Operator Bob will hold all mainline traffic so RT-3 can get to Three Amigos...

And they're off...

AP Train RT-3 on the move...

A short time later, Dan arrives on the West Harold Secondary. They need to pull some non-PCCM box cars so they can drop the inbounds. They need to hold as a couple of cars are still being loaded before they pull the cars. So they wait...

Approaching West Harold is Penn Central 2370 to pick up some freight for Weehawken. With the amount of freight to and from Rock Ridge, the PC decided to make daily runs from Weehawken to Rock Ridge Yard. Rich T has them at the yard limits on track 1...

They arrive in the yard...

They cut the caboose..

Kai pulls the caboose...

And adds it to the outbound freight cars on the West Ladder...

A quick pick up with 5 cars...

Holding at the yard limits...

...And they crew heads out...

Next stop...Weehawken!!

Back over at Three Amigos, the warehouse crew finally loaded the last box car and Dan can finally get to work...

First pull track 1..

Next pull track 2...

Outbound cars are on the secondary track. Now Dan can shove the cars on both tracks..

First drop on track 1...

The rest of the cars on track 2...

Dan reassembles the outbound train and heads back to the yard...

Dan bids the tower operator farewell and heads out...

AP Train RT-3 awaits the signal into the yard...

Checks in with Rich T...

And is greeted by the crew, including NJ John wondering why they took so long. Dan says "Blame the warehouse crew!"

Kai pulls the cars and drops them on West Ladder track 7...

Gives Dan the caboose and parks his engines on East Ladder track 2...

Kai is back on West Ladder track 1 and ties down. The crews have delivered the freight, took care of the yard, and head home...

A final view of Rock Ridge Yard, courtesy of 1:87 Norman, the official APRR photographer. We're still trying to figure out how he gets these great views of Rock Ridge Yard!!

It's a wrap  for Operation Blue Comet and P.C.C.M. #114 on my railroad! 

A special tanks goes out to Steve and John for bringing this wonderful idea to our modeling world and making it happen. Thanks again to Ralph for being a willing participant and his help to bring it to life via our virtual ops sessions...

Don't forget to check out all of Penn Central Car Movement #114 on both John's New York Central Train Layout and Ralph's Kings Port Division Railroad

Thanks for reading!!

**Towns and Nature Blogspot - for reference