P.C.C.M. 72 Part 3 On The A.P.R.R. - Inbound!

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

P.C.C.M. 72 is a three layout virtual operating session with Sir John and his N.Y.C.T.L. and PC Ralph and his Kings Port Division. Last week trains were dispatched from both layouts to the A.P.R.R. The crew will meet the train at Weehawken. Train VW-1 and Extra Train 2327 were both heading to Weehawken. A decision was made to add the freight from 2327 to VW-1. A swap out of both crew and motive power at the siding in Fort Montgomery, NY (CP43 on the River Line), and the train will head to Rock Ridge. 

A quick stop at the north end of Weehawken shows train VW-1 with a pair of GP38-2 engines consisting of #7983 and #8045. While it may be difficult to read, below the number 7983 is the name 'COLLINWOOD', a Collinwood, Ohio based engine.  Engine #8045 shows the name 'ENOLA' below the number, an Enola, PA based engine. 

Some prototypical background on the engines, courtesy of Athearn: By the early 1970s, many first generation diesels were reaching the end of their service lives. The most common replacement locomotive became the GP38-2. EMD began production of the 16-cylinder, non-turbocharged, 2000 horsepower engine in 1972. Unlike the GP38's engine which drove a generator to supply power to the traction motors, the GP38-2s prime mover drove an alternator which produced AC electrical current that was rectified to DC to power the four traction motors. Another major change for the GP38-2 was the introduction of the “dash 2” modular electrical cabinet. For the past 40 years, the GP38-2 has worked main line freights, locals, switching jobs, yard service, helpers, snow fighting trains, and hump power. Many remain service today.

Here we see PC Train VW-1 arriving Weehawken Yard, NJ from Selkirk Yard in Selkirk, NY.

Train VW-1 has arrived in Weehawken. They'll terminate here, and the train will get a new set of engines and crew. 

Looks like AP GP38-2 304 and AP U28B #2360 will take the freight to Rock Ridge Yard.

A swap of motive power..

With the AP motive power in place, AP Train Extra 304 will head out to Rock Ridge Yard...

AP Extra 304 is held at West Harold Interlocking. A call to the tower operator and the signal is up!

Here we see AP Extra 304 heading thru West Harold Interlocking en route to Rock Ridge Yard

AP Extra 304 checks in with CP South Tower and Rock Ridge Yardmaster 1/87th Rich. He'll pull the train thru the yard, cut away from the cars, and head to Richmond Hill Engine Terminal for servicing.

Now that the freight is in the yard, they'll need to be sorted in the yard until they head out to the consignees. 

There are 3 ballast cars from T&R Gravel located on the N.Y.C.TL. They will remain in the yard until needed.

AP #201 pulls them off the train and spots them on east ladder track #4

AP #200 continues spotting cars on the west ladder. First spot on west ladder track #5

A lone 86' box car gets dropped on track #7

The rest of the cars will get dropped on west ladder track #11

Here we see AP #200 sorting the last set of cars on west ladder track #11

Cars are spotted. One last drop, AP caboose #58 to track #1

Looks like 1/87th Sir John has stopped by to check on the yard and crew. "Looks Good!" he tells the guys and heads out to the office. 

AP #200, now out of the way on east ladder track #2. The work is done...

We'll cut it here for today. Check back tomorrow to see the freight delivered in and around Rock Ridge Yard. 

Don't forget to check the inbound part of P.C.C.M. #72 on both N.C.Y.T.L. and the Kings Port Division 

Thanks for reading!