Freight Trains on the APRR

The APRR handles all types of freight as it services various industries in and around the metropolitan area. All freight train sets originate in staging, head to the main part of the layout (upper level), then off to whatever types of goods they’re hauling.

On the APRR, we have many types of freight trains. They’re classified as follows:

Dedicated Trains-these trains head to one specific destination, and do not pick up or drop off any cars other than its assigned destination.

Mixed Trains-these trains carry various types of freight cars, whether it’s a box car, flat car, coil car, etc. These trains always end in Rock Ridge. They’re handed off to the yard crew, who then proceed to break it down to be classified and assigned to a local train which will take it to its final destination.

Let’s take a look at the dedicated trains on the APRR.

Our first train is the one and only Tropicana Juice Train, one of the favorite on the layout and during operating sessions, is often fought over. In real life, Tropicana runs up to NJ 3x a week, Cincinnati 2x a week and once to LA. The NJ run is a true dedicated train from Bradenton, FL, home of Tropicana. We do have some senior operators and they’re given first right of refusal. If they pass on it, its fair game. This train has 15 cars on it with 3 CSX GP40 units on the lead. The facility has 7 tracks; 2 for the facility, 2 for inbounds, 2 for outbound and one for the switcher, owned and operated by Tropicana. It runs up from staging, and will go thru Rock Ridge around the other side, past Cargill where it will stop opposite the Juice plant. The operator will then take out as many cars he sees fit, swap out the outbound & empties and set off the new arrivals. Once switched, he’ll proceed head out to the main plant in Bradenton, FL (staging).

The next dedicated train on the APRR is the Auto Rack train. There are 10-12 auto racks on the train in staging. It heads up top, the dispatcher sends it to the main line, where it will head to Miller’s Auto Rack Terminal. There are 3 tracks in the terminal which can handle 18 autorack cars. The operator of this train can switch out as many as he wants to, then head off into the sunset (staging). In order for this long train to be switched out, there’s a CSX engine in the yard at the ready to assist in the moves.

Dedicated train number three is the intermodal train. It has about 20 cars on it with 2 engines and a caboose. The destination is Reynolds Intermodal Terminal, located on the peninsula of the layout. There’s a set of CSX switchers at the ready to assist in the switching of this 4 track industry. Once switched, it heads out back to staging. This train does not go thru the yard since it’s a dedicated train.

The last dedicated train is really a thru train. It’s a TTX Hi-Cube freight train powered by an SD90MAC engine, 17 cars and a caboose. This train will only run when a new person comes to an operating session and has never seen the railroad. He’s given this train with an engineer who shadows him. Once he comes up, I run him and his train all over the railroad, so he sees it all. Once I’ve decided he’s seen enough (or begs for mercy), I send him back down to staging and the train is put away. There are other times when my second in command will want to just run a train and he’ll take it out and traverse the layout.

There’s one more train that may become a dedicated train. Cargill is one of the largest, if not THE LARGEST industry on the APRR. In the past, it’s been serviced from Rock Ridge. This will probably change and become another dedicated train, run thru Rock Ridge or around the other side past Tropicana to get to Cargill. We shall see….

The mixed trains really don’t need an explanation. It’s a mix of whatever is on a train. They head from staging to Rock Ridge, and will do one of a few things. The train will terminate in Rock Ridge, and that operator will take another train from Rock Ridge back to staging. Another move this train can do, is drop off cars, pick up other cars and then head back to staging. The last option is to drop off and/or pick up cars and then work some industries, depending on the type of mixed train they’re assigned.

It doesn’t matter what trains are run on the APRR. It’s always a fun time and enjoyable by all who operate my railroad. Isn’t that what it’s all about?