We're going to pick up the action at Rock Ridge Yard. There's quite a few things going on today. The Yard Crew needs to classify Extra Train 2350 with freight from the N.Y.C.T.L. from and then send out the freight to the consignees along with the cars from WV-2, which had freight from the KP&W as well as a couple cars that were added to the train in Selkirk for points south.
Here's today assignments. There's a lot of freight that needs to be moved and 1/87th Sir John has called for additional motive power to handle the deliveries. In addition, there's supposed to be a special excursion train heading thru Rock Ridge later in the day, which will stop all train movement for a few...
Extra Train AP 2350 and AP 2340 have cut away from the train that was delivered yesterday. The daily Engine Terminal crew will run back light for servicing and fuel.
AP #100, under the controls of 1/87th Mark with his new brakeman 1/87th Kai riding shotgun, will pull the 6 covered hoppers from Empire City Cargill on the N.Y.C.T.L. They'll be shoved over by AP #200 RS-1 to drop them off at the Main Cargill Terminal outside of Rock Ridge Yard. It's a short run for that crew...
A short time later they're back at Rock Ridge and AP #100 starts to build an outbound train with the help of 1/87th Kai. Kai is new to the AP and 1/87th Mark knows the territory well. Kai will be in good hands with Mark!
1/87th Mark and Kai have finished pulling the cars for this train. AP RS-1 #200 has 1/87th Norman at the cab with 1/87th Jim as his brakeman. 1/87th Bob has AP #105 on track 1 to pick up a caboose for the train.
AP RS-1 #200 Spirit Of Jay has been idling on east classification track 2 awaiting instructions from CP South Tower Operator / Yardmaster Rich.
1/87th Norman starts the shove over to Cargill outside of the yard.
The cars are getting shoved on to Cargill inbound track 1.
As they pull away, they spot an unfamiliar engine! This isn't the usual GE 44 tonner at R.M.O. Electric!
The crew gets a little closer for a better look! It's AP 900 and 1/87th Engineer Ken tells the guys about the return of the engine to the property. The engine paint shop up in Dedham, MA has sent the engine back with a new paint scheme, in line with the rest of the AP engine fleet. Looking along are 1/87th Norman and Jim. 1/87 Norman climbs down to get a photo of this beauty, since he is the official photographer of the APRR!!
With the covered hoppers on the siding, AP #200 will head back to the yard for its next assignment.
Back at the yard, the local is being assembled by the yard crew. AP #200, which will go out as train RT-2 will drop off cars for Shapeless Steel and C&P Restaurant Supply.
There are 3 50' Empire Belt cars from Ralph's Grocery in Empire City on the N.Y.C.T.L. getting dropped off at C&P Restuarant Supply, along with an EL reefer and BAR reefer, both from Empire Products. AP RBL #60358 has canned good from Van Winkle Canning on the KP&W for C&P as well.
Gervais Pipe sent 3 gondolas with pipe loads to Shapeless Steel for one of their customers in Rock Ridge.
Another engine has arrived from the Richmond Hill Engine Terminal, AP GP50 #500, the ole grinder is at the ready. In the cab is 1/87th Steve and his brakeman today will be 1/87th Bill G., another seasoned railroader. These two guys work well together.
These guys will drop off 3 freight cars on the Rock Ridge Secondary for Tropicana. Once cut off, the Tropicana Switcher will spot them on the Tropicana property.
Ready to head out, their train will be designated as AP Train RT-2, the Tropicana / Three Amigos Turn...
Here we see train RT-2 heading over to Tropicana to drop off the 3 cars from International Paper on the KP&W. Once cut, they'll head back thru the yard and depart Rock Ridge Yard for Three Amigos Warehouse.
Train RR-1 awaits departure on Rock Ridge departure track 2. Why track 2? Wait and see...
Tropicana MP15 #24 will come off the property to pick up the three box cars.
The Tropicana crew stops for a minute to admire that newly painted engine. It's a beauty!
Here we see the 'Juice' switcher spot the cars on the Tropicana inbound track.
Back in the yard, AP #105 shoves the Morton Salt covered hopper from the Ronzoni plant on the LIRR to the Morton Salt facility to fill reload the car. This car will go back out on a future P.C.C.M. The KP&W sent over Corning Covered Hopper Pennsylvania Glass Sand Co.'s Millville Plant in Cumberland, NJ. That car, while sitting in the yard, will move south in a future P.C.C.M.
AP #500 is heading back thru the yard to depart as AP Train RT-2. Next stop will be Three Amigos.
It looks like both trains are being held on the departure tracks. Train RR-1 on the left and train RT-2 on the right. A call from the Little Jamaica dispatcher tells them an excursion train is passing thru the Rock Ridge area on mainline track 1. Since both trains need that track for a short time, the excursion train takes priority..
Here's the excursion train passing thru by the passenger station by Rock Ridge,,,,
Now that was a special treat for the fans of Rock Ridge as well as the crews of the APRR!
The excursion train has moved on, so both trains can depart. Train RT-2 will head west on to the main line track 1 and then back into the West Harold North Secondary track by C&P Restaurant Supply. This track services a number of industries, including Shapeless Steel. Train RR-1 will head west off departure track 1 to main line track 1 and shove on to the West Harold South Secondary track which serves both Three Amigos Warehouse and Tank Train loading / unloading tracks.
Here we see both trains heading to their destinations.
Train RR-1 passing C&P Restaurant Supply...
Train RR-1 is now on the West Harold North Secondary Track. Since the engine needs to shove these cars, a quick run around is needed to finish the job.
Backing on to the West Harold North Secondary...
Let's watch the quick run around for AP #200...
Once in position, AP #200 will carefully shove the cars in to C&P Restaurant Supply then complete the rest of the run with a final drop off at Shapeless Steel..
The job is done, and they'll return light to the yard. Well done 1/87th Norman, as usual!!
A quick stop at Little Jamaica Tower so the tracks can be aligned for them to head home...
Over on the south side of West Harold Tower, AP Train #RT-2 has stopped to pick up one of the other tower operators. Must be a shift change...
AP #500 pulls 3 cars out of track 1 and will drop them on the secondary track by the tower. This particular secondary area has two tracks to do a run around, hence not tying up the main...
Now that the track is cleared, they can drop off the two box cars from Peerless Appliances, loaded with, of course, appliances!!
The cars are spotted and now they'll return to the yard with the 3 box cars...
Train RT-2 has arrived at the yard and will tie down for the day. The next crew will spot the cars.
The crews from both trains gather as the shift is over and it's time to call it a day!!
This concludes the inbound portion of P.C.C.M. 66 on the A.P.R.R.
Make sure you check out the entire P.C.C.M. on Sir John's N.Y.C.T.L. and PC Ralph's KP&W!
Thanks for reading!
