P.C.C.M. #79 Part 1- A Call For Coal - - And More!

Welcome to Penn Central Car Movement #79 on the A.P.R.R. For this P.C.C.M. We're going to have three layouts join in for this move - in one weekend! We're going to run a Coal Train Virtual Op with Sir John's N.Y.C.T.L. and PC Ralph's K.P.D. Both railroads are packed with plenty of details and action.

You know, they say "Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend", but Coal is by far the man's best friend, for without coal, some diamonds may never exist!

We start out with a call that went out to 1:87 Sir John of the N.Y.C.T.L. as follows...

1:87 Sir Neal – Hello Sir John! We have a request for more coal immediately. Can Hudson Coal load right away?

1:87 Sir John – Hello Sir Neal! Yes, Hudson Coal has track space to load.

1:87 Sir Neal – Great! While you’re at it, can we get some ballast from T&R Gravel?

1:87 Sir John – Hold on, let me see if we have a crew to head over and pick up a load.

(Pause on the phone)

1:87 Sir John – Yes Sir Neal, we can get that for you.

1:87 Sir Neal – Great, and while you’re at it, can we get 4 covered hoppers filled with sand from T&R as well?

1:87 Sir John – Really? That’s a tall order. What can the N.Y.C.T.L. expect to get in return for this?

1:87 Sir Neal – Don’t you worry. The next manifest train to you will have a freight car with some goodies from Freihofers, Tropicana and some special treats from C&P Restaurant Supply!

1:87 Sir John – Okay, we will expect it on the next run. 

1:87 Sir Neal – One last thing. We need this train turned around in 24 hours from the time you get it. Is that possible?

1:87 Sir John – For that turn around time, I will want some special goodies that only ShopRite carries, if you know what I mean. You know what I like…

1:87 Sir Neal – You drive a hard bargain. Consider it done!

1:87 Sir John – Great. Now send me the train!  

1:87 Sir Neal – Yes Sir! Thank you again Sir John! Have a great day.

1:87 Sir John – You too, Sir Neal.

Now that we have the agreement in place, let's see P.C.C.M. #79 in action!!

AP #900 with 1:87 JP in the cab

1:87 JP will pull 6 empty coal cars for Hudson Coal

Meanwhile EB 8163 with 1:87 Dan on board is pulling 4 empty covered hoppers to send to T&R Gravel, thanks to some great negotiations between both the A.P.R.R. & the N.Y.C.T.L. management...

Getting ready to round the bend at Little Jamaica...

EB 8163 arrives at Rock Ridge Yard...

Meanwhile, AP #100 with 1:87 NJ John in the cab pulls the 4 empty ballast cars that will be added to the train heading to T&R Gravel..

Back over at R.M.O. Electric, 1:87 JP has the empties ready to take over to the yard...

Let's watch the run to the yard....

1:87 JP gets greeted by some of the day crew, as they await the empties..

Now that all of the cars are in the yard, the crew starts to build the outbound train..

AP #100 gets the cars blocked per instructions from someone named 'Wet Willie' who called the AP Rock Ridge Yardmaster with specific instructions for this train...

The cars are blocked and awaiting the road crew to take the train to Terminal Yard. Since this train will make one stop in Selkirk for a crew change, the Penn Central dispatched the engine and caboose...

PC 6533 with caboose 26403 are on outbound track 2.  

AP #105 with 1:87 Norman shoves the cars up to 6533..

The caboose is added and PC Extra 6533 will be ready to go...

Next stop, Selkirk and then on to Terminal Yard!

An inbound to Rock Ridge from Morrisville, PA Yard has both trains meeting at West Harold Interlocking. Some of these cars will find their way to Three Amigos Warehouse. Others will head to Marcal, Freihofers and ShopRite. 

Check back Sunday for the conclusion of P.C.C.M. #79 and both outbound and inbound on Sir John's N.Y.C.T.L. and PC Ralph's K.P.D.!!

Thanks for reading!