More updates on the railroad

Greetings followers of the Atlantic Pacific Railroad! With less than 3 months to the NMRA/NER layout tour open house, I've been trying to get things finished on the layout, in between work, travel, and some family issues as late that needed to be addressed. 

At the end of May, here’s what I still needed to do for the railroad prior to the layout tour. 1  – Build the flat that will go under the main display case. 12 sections of DPM featuring a closed warehouse with cathedral windows. 2 – Install the engine house building, the middle sanding and fuel racks. Add the tracks in and around the engine building and wire them in. Build the panel to control the area (this is easy). Paint the surrounding wood top in that area. 3 – add the fueling racks by the oil tank tracks. 4 – Add the Mi-Jack Kits (need to build two of them). 5 – Make the skirting that will go around the lower level to hide what is under the layout. I may use black outside ground cloth and add Velcro to it to save on going out to buy actual cloth material. If I have time, add the rest of the subway line to go over to the Amtrak Station, even if it’s not running, it would be in place…

Fast forward to today, and some things have been worked on. The engine house is in its final position and the tracks need to be put in place that lead to the turntable. The way they will line up will look something like this:

I decided to tackle the auto rack yard as its a major area on the railroad. I had the Walthers Distribution kit sitting on the shelf for a long time and finally put my mind to it. The auto unloaders needed to be painted. They come in a light blue, but photos and visuals that I have seen show it in yellow, so that's what I did. Also added the guard shack and office to the area.

Another area that I wanted to work on is the peninsula where I have the Three Amigos warehouse and the tank cars. I got to thinking about the oil tank I had there. Started to look at the tank cars I had and really didn’t see many oil tank cars. I have corn syrup cars by Cargill, vegetable tank cars, LPG tank cars and more. I had a nice supply of the LPG tank cars so I picked up the kit to add some LPG tanks to the railroad on the peninsula. Then I started thinking if this would be prototypical in the real world. So I reached out to my friend here, NJ John, as well as my friend Steve. We tossed it around and it could be prototypical. The LPG tanks could supply gas to heat the Three Amigos Warehouse, according to Steve. Last Thursday I went up to the hobby shop and NJ John was there. We talked about it with a couple other guys there as I told them I wanted to put a barrier, like they have on the highways to protect the tank cars and the warehouse. They do make concrete walls in HO scale, but I wanted to see if I could make it out of wood. The answer was YES! 


I bought some balsa wood 3/16” thick by 2” high by 36” long. I cut the balsa wood down to 10’ HO scale height. Also bought some 3/16” strips and cut them to fit on the wood every 2” to show the concrete wall is built in sections. 

Once cut, I gave it a coat of gray primer. 

Now dried, this gave me an idea on how it would look. However, the gray primer still shows the wood lines and it’s really not looking realistic. The guys at the hobby shop said to get a textured spray paint in an ivory/tan color or close to it and give it a coat, possibly two. Home Depot is my friend and I know that store eyes closed. Found some paint and here’s the result.

I think it came out great. The ends need to be touched up, just not sure if I can. Also, the wood is slightly warped so it will need to be glued down. Now that I have the separation, I can put a road for trucks to come in and out of the area. Also painted the cork the dark gray. Now to add some piping on the ground and finish building the propane tanks, which I started.

Other than adding the pipes, this area looks 50 times better.

Still need to tackle other items on the list. We head out in less than a week for a vacation with my brother and his family, as well as a wedding in central Florida. Then back home with less than 2 months to go. 

More updates to follow as they happen!

Freight Trains Arriving at Rock Ridge Yard Fast and Furious!

Greetings followers of the Atlantic Pacific Railroad and Penn Central Car Movements!

Freight deliveries were running late to the industries in and around Rock Ridge that the A.P.R.R. services. Our astute rail photographer caught some of the action heading to Rock Ridge Yard.

Here we see train WR-3 heading to Rock Ridge Yard. Talk about fast freight!

Our photographer had to jump in his vehicle to catch up to him, being the true railfan that he is, especially since he's getting paid in food, courtesy of C&P Restaurant Supply, he made a mad dash for the yard. This guy has credentials from the A.P. for an 'all access' pass to the property. Insurance is his issue, not the A.P.R.R.!

So what happened to train WR-1? How did train WR-3 get to Rock Ridge before WR-1? Our photographer reached out to 1/87th Sir John, Senior Manager of the A.P.R.R., vacationing in sunny Georgia, about the delay. We were told by him that management has the absolute right and authority to hold trains and/or prioritize them as needed and when needed. He also added and we quote him here "Do you want to make something of it?" 

That being said, he waited for train WR-1 to arrive, and that train was met by train WR-3!

Since Train WR-3 came in from the south, and WR-1 came in from the north, a little traffic jam was taking place. Good thing 1/87th John B. was in the tower at CP South. He directed train WR-1 to proceed thru the yard and was going to hold him by CP South and let his yard crew break down the WR-3, then pull in WR-1. Next, 1/87th Sir Larry summoned  1/87th  Engineer Ralph and his trusty conductor 1/87th ATJoe to break down the train on the west ladder of Rock Ridge Yard. 

Train WR-1 held at CP South, the yard crew breaks down the train on to the west ladder tracks. AP#200 RS-1 'Spirit of Jay' is called in to sort the cars. With 1/87th ATJoe riding the caboose, the team carefully maneuvers thru the yard to get this train out of the way. 

AP cars dropped on the main arrivals track for further classification...

They shoved the train up towards the north end of the yard to give them some runaround room to break down the train. 

The NP reefer from John B. Malabar District will be sent to C&P Restaurant Supply once the train is sorted. Some fine dining food from the west will make it's way to some fine restaurants in and around Rock Ridge. 

And the crew is still at it! Talk about working the rails!

 With the last car put away, PC 7675 makes his move to the engine storage track in Rock Ridge to await its next assignment. 

The work is finished, and the crew will get a much needed rest. AP #200 is tied down for the day. Another crew will pull in train WR-1, break it down, sort it, and make way for the train RT-5 Rock Ridge Local Turn, to make the deliveries from both trains...

More to follow!

Freight Arriving at Rock Ridge Yard

Greetings followers of the Atlantic Pacific Railroad and Penn Central Car Movements!

Train NE-2 left Weehawken for Selkirk and train WR-1 headed out to Rock Ridge Yard. At Weehawken, freight is always coming and going from Chicago, Maryland, Pennsylvania and beyond.

The A.P.R.R. was waiting for some freight coming to Weehawken, but there was a delay in Conway, PA, and train CNJ-2 from the Conway East Yard was held up in Metuchen, NJ. A.P.R.R. management reached out to the PC management in Philadelphia and a deal was made to have the freight brought up from Metuchen to Weehawken.

Extra CNJ-2 arriving at Weehawken with the overdue freight...

There were a couple of freight cars from another train that were headed to Mike's Lumber and to American Hardware that needed to go to Rock Ridge. Someone in Weehawken left them off train WR-1. They will be added to the next train heading to Rock Ridge.

Some yard moves being made to add to add two freight cars for arriving train Extra CNJ-2 

A new A.P. crew will take over PC GP38 7675 and head out to Rock Ridge. The A.P. has pooling rights with the Penn Central. Besides, the PC will take any an all funds for their coffers as we know they do need it! 

Now ready to go, AP train WR-3 will head out to Rock Ridge with the late freight. They'll have company at Rock Ridge as train WR-1 should be at Rock Ridge Yard.

Next up, work in and around Rock Ridge Yard. Stay tuned for updates as they happen!

P.C.C.M. 48E Changes at Weehawken for Selkirk and Rock Ridge

Greetings followers of the the Atlantic Pacific Railroad and Penn Central Car Movements! We continue with train RW-2, which arrived at Weehawken. AP #2360, a U28B engine, is waiting to return to Rock Ridge Yard. 

The hold up is the arrival of train train NE-2 from Potomac Yard. This train has mixed freight headed for Rock Ridge and areas in and around New Jersey. A pair of GP40 engines brings this train into Weehawken.

Penn Central GP40 engines 3141 & 3111 are cut from NE-2 and a crew change is made.

 AP U28B #2360 is cut from RW-2 and couples up to train NE-2. This cut of cars will head to Rock Ridge as train WR-1.

Penn Central GP40 engines 3141 & 3111 now couple up to the freight from NE-2 and will head out to Selkirk and beyond. 

Now that train NE-2 is on its way to Selkirk, train WR-1 can depart back to Rock Ridge with freight for Ideal Auto Parts, Shapeless Steel, Cargill and more!

The A.P.R.R. has concluded its part of P.C.C.M. 48 and we now pass the train off to Ralph and John R. for their portions of this series. All aboard!

P.C.C.M. 48D Rock Ridge Yard Readies Train RW-2 To Weehawken And Beyond

Greetings followers of the the Atlantic Pacific Railroad and Penn Central Car Movements! P.C.C.M. #48 is well under way. Trains left John B.'s LA Taylor Yard and on to Brian's Ralston Creek Railroad. Cars were interchanged and then sent east to the A.P.R.R. where cars will head to Rock Ridge, Selkirk and on to John R.'s Empire Belt RR & N.Y.C.T.L. In addition, cars from Rock Ridge will head to Ralph's Kings Port Division. 

There's been a lot of action and train movements in and around Rock Ridge Yard. New engines have arrived, new freight cars have arrived, and the expansion of the Richmond Hill Engine Terminal has been keeping the crew very busy.

A number of freight cars had been moved to Rock Ridge Yard earlier due to a shortage of train crews. However, a few remained and needed to be picked up and brought over to the yard.

A.P.R.R. SW1500 has started to build train RW-2, pulling 2 KP&W cars to head back to Peerless Appliances from Three Amigos Warehouse. B&M #105 was loaded at Freihoefers and will head with a car load of those famous Chocolate Chip Cookies for Ralph's Grocery. 

Meanwhile, A.P. #200 RS-1 'Spirit Of Jay' heads over to C&P Restaurant Supply to pick up some cars headed to Pilgrim State via the Empire Belt who will hand it off to the L.I.R.R.

Back over in Rock Ridge Yard, ACFX Morton Salt will head over to Ronzoni in Long Island City. Maybe the E.B. will have his crew send back some boxes of pasta for the boys at Rock Ridge. Saturday night is pasta fiesta for the management of the A.P.R.R.! This car will be added to the train by A.P. #200.

With moves being made, a quick run over to Tropicana for a pick up that fresh Tropicana Juice to head out to Ralph's Grocery. 

The train being built in Rock Ridge getting readied, A.P. #100 heads back out over to Cargill to pick up some Penn Central Covered hoppers for the Cargill plant in Empire City. 

Still hard at work, A.P. #200 picks the Morton Salt car and adds it to the train.

With all of the additional engines bought by the A.P., more sand is needed, so a couple of P.C. PS-2 covered hoppers will head back for reloading at T&R Gravel in Empire City. 

Last, but not least, EB 358160 will head over to Pilgrim State with more food supplies from the C&P Restaurant Supply. 

Train RW-2 is just about ready to head to Weehawken. However, due to a shortage of crews, a call was sent out to for A.P. engine #2360 a U28B made for hauling plenty of freight. A.P. #200 will drop the train off at the yard limits for Rock Ridge and #2360 will pick up his freight and head to Weehawken. 

At South tower, A.P. #2360 picks up his train orders and gets ready to head out. 

A.P. #200 is back in the south end of Rock Ridge Yard, out of the way, and now train RW-2 can head out to Weehawken.

A 'Clear' signal is given to RW-2 from the tower master at Little Jamaica and we're on our way!

Next stop, Weehawken!

Train RW-2 arrives at Weehawken. 

A new crew with a set of engines will take the train out for the KP&W and E.B.RR. Stay tuned!