TTX FREIGHT TRAIN

We had a great operating session this past Sunday. My senior operator on the railroad, NJ John, knows my railroad just as well as I do. After the session was over, he took out the TTX freight train for a run. This train consisted of a Kato SD90MAC engine in CEFX (leased unit) on the head with 17 TTX Hi-Cube Box cars plus a caboose. After he returned the train to staging, he made the comment that I needed make this a longer train. 

I knew I had some other TTX box cars stored away as well as some others on the layout. It turns out I had 9 of the 60' Gunderson freight cars in the same TTX logo. 4 were on the layout and 5 were still in boxes. 

Not to let a suggestion get away from me, I brought up the current TTX train from staging. Added the 9 box cars and then brought up from the engine terminal a Kato SD80MAC in CSX. 

Once the CSX engine had the 9 cars behind it, a quick move with both engines was made. CEFX was cut away from the other cars. CSX took its 9 cars and coupled up to the rest of the freight cars, then CEFX coupled to the front of the CSX.

Here's the video of the train running the railroad from the lower level heading up the helix, passing Rock Ridge freight yard, and then back down to staging.

https://youtu.be/lu5EoSDL7ys

Hope you enjoyed watching it as I enjoyed making it!

P.C.C.M. #40E - PC Train WV-2 departs Weehawken to Selkirk

As we wrap up the first part of this three layout move, Penn Central SD45 #6197 will depart Weehawken Yard with freight from Rock Ridge, en route Selkirk, and on to Ralph's K.P.D layout and then on to John's N.Y.C.T.L. layout. This train will depart as PC WV-2.

PC #7675, it's run finished, uncouples from train RO-2, and heads over to the siding so PC #6197 can couple up and head out...

 PC #6197 is slowly moving off track 2, crossing over at CP JW.

A slow move back, a couple up to the train. Once the air brake tests are completed, WV-2 will be on their way!

  Once WV-2 leaves, PC #6533 will head out south and west to Philadelphia and beyond for other points on the Penn Central System

The tail end of WV-2 clears the siding at CP JW, and makes its way out of Weehawken, heading north to Selkirk.... 

The action will continue on the incredible and very awesome looking Kings Port Division of the Penn Central Ralph's Incredible Railroad!!

Thanks for following the Penn Central Car Movements!!

P.C.C.M. 40D - Train RO-2 Departs Rock Ridge

The action continues on the A.P.R.R. as the crew of train RO-2 (Rock Ridge to Weehawken), is getting ready to depart the yard.

Penn Central GP38 is going to lead the train south out of Rock Ridge on to Weehawken.

 Coupling up to the freight...

 PC #7675 is now deaparting Rock Ridge Yard, crossing over at CP South.

 Taking the crossover with caution, as this train has many cars behind him still coming out of the yard...

Tower Operator 1/87th John B., now at Little Jamaica, holds train RO-2 out of Rock Ridge until the route is set...

 The 'Clear' signal is given, and RO-2 is on the way...

 Approaching West Harold, with a clear signal in front, RO-2 highballs it thru the interlocking!

 A little while later, RO-2 is on the final approach to Weehawken....

 Passing thru some arrival tracks, AP#600 is idling, awaiting his next assignment....

 Approaching the the Weehawken lead at CP BE, RO-2 slows down thru the maze of trackwork ahead of him...

 And slowly pulls into the last few lengths of track he needs in Weehawken. 

The crew powers down, and notices a pair of SD units idling along side. These will be used to take the train out of Weehawken to Selkirk. To be continued....

P.C.C.M. 40C - The Rock Ridge Local Heads Out For A Run

In this segment, we continue with picking up freight that will head out to the KPD K.P.D. and the N.Y.C.T.L.N.Y.C.T.L. 

A.P.R.R. GP38-2 #301 along with A.P.R.R. Caboose #50 head out to pick up freight from various industries serviced by the railroad.

First stop - Freihofers Bakeries. Freihofers is known for their Chocolate chip Cookies as well as baked breads. I wonder if the crew will have a box of these fine cookies ready for them? If so, they better share as Yardmaster Rich T. will be expecting a little treat! 

 The crew cut the caboose and box car and heads over to C&P Restaurant Supply to pick up a couple cars that will be delivered to various industries on the N.Y.C.T.L.

The cars are picked up and they head back to get the caboose and box car. Now on to Three Amigos Warehouse for the last stop before heading back to the yard. In order to get to the warehouse, the crew heads out on the main, under the jurisdiction of the tower operators at West Harold and Little Jamaica. 

#301 is being held outside West Harold as he needs the siding for the tracks that lead to Three Amigos.

 Finally, after a few minutes, he's given the 'Approach' to the lead at West Harold.

 As #301 enters the siding, he's stopped by 1/87th tower operator John B. The crew lets him know that he needs to drop the caboose in order to pull the two cars. Then 1/87th John B. asks for some Freihofers! Boy, does the word get out quickly!!

 The crew is getting ready to cut the caboose..

 And #301 backs into the siding by Three Amigos..

The cars are coupled up to the engine. One of the 'Boys' who runs the loading dock at Three Amigos is watching all of the action. I hope the crew wasn't snacking on those cookies as then everyone will want a sample!

 The final goodbyes are said and they head out....

 A quick move to pick up the caboose and they're off to the yard!

 Before the crew heads back to the yard, it seems the brakeman on board called in a '10-100' stop at Baskerville Jct. A quick stop was made, and they head back out....

 #301 has come back to Rock Ridge and is heading in via the west ladder with all freight intact.

 A drop of the caboose, which will be moved by the yard crew and #301 heads down the ladder where he'll leave the cars picked up for the yardmaster to build the train, which will head out to Weehawken.

#301 is back on the engine track, nose to nose with AP #100

Next up, departure of freight train RO-2, Rock Ridge to Weehawken. Stay tuned!

P.C.C.M. 40B - Continuation of freight movement on the A.P.R.R.

There's a lot of freight that need to be picked up at various areas in and around Rock Ridge. Now that the coal cars and the Morton Salt hopper are in the freight yard, Yardmaster Rich T. can send out the crew to pick up some loads at Cargill, and from Tropicana.

A.P.R.R. #100 heads over to Cargill to pick up the Hostess covered hopper, as soon as he gets the clear signal to head out...

 And we're on our way!

Once there, a couple moves have to be made. The Cargill covered hopper, needs to remain on the property as it needs to be loaded. Seems the earlier crew forget to have the car readied to be picked up...

The Cargill car is shoved back to the loading track and #100 will pick up his load and head back to Rock Ridge,,,

A clear signal means he can return to the yard. Somewhere is a conductor hanging on to the rear of the freight car as this move, while a short one (about a 1/87th mile), is still a slow and dangerous move. We think once this crew gets back to the yard, Senior Conductor 1/87th Larry will have a talking to the crew on how they left the yard without a caboose!!

The car is dropped on the ladder as AP #301 is getting ready to head out to pick up more freight...

There's another pickup on the outskirts of Rock Ridge Yard. A load of delicious Tropicana Orange Juice is headed to Ralph's Grocery..

#301 is heading onto the Tropicana Property to pick up the car from Outbound track #2. Tropicana stages all of it's inbound and outbound freight. They have Tropicana MP15 #24 on the premises at all times. A backup engine, an EMD NW2 #5821 can be called from A.P.R.R. Richmond Hill Engine Terminal if needed, or when #24 goes in for routine servicing. 

Tropicana #13068 is picked up and heads back to the yard. The car will be dropped on the west ladder for the yard crew to add to the train.

Next up, a run out to Freihofers, C&P Restaurant Supply and the Three Amigos Warehouse!

Stay tuned!