P.C.C.M. #114 Operation Blue Comet - Conclusion

Welcome back to the conclusion of Penn Central Car Movement #114 - Operation Blue Comet!

This move supports our friend Steve in Wisconsin and his 'Blue Comet Presentations' which builds O scale train layouts featuring Lionel Trains as well as some other model trains to put on display, repair and run. His displays have been featured in his hometown area to the delight of many folks, young and old!

We're going to wrap up the final inbound portion of Operation Blue Comet on my railroad.

1:87 Yardmaster NJ John is expecting the arrival of the train from Terminal Yard with materials and displays from Blue Comet Presentations. These are being worked on in some leased space at All-City Storage on the NYCTL. 

Extra 7848 approaches West Harold Interlocking...

...And has the approach signal to the next block, Little Jamaica Interlocking...

Little Jamaica Tower Operator 1:87 Bob is holding the train until he receives clearance from the Rock Ridge Tower operator and NJ John...

PC Extra 7848 heads to Rock Ridge Yard...

The PC crew checks in with CP South Tower operator 1:87 Rich T for routing into the yard...

Penn Central Extra 7848 arrives at Rock Ridge Yard...

Meanwhile, another Penn Central Train arrives at West Harold. This is the TOFC train from Albany Station with trailers from the NYCTL and from the Boston & Albany Springfield Sub, which serviced West Springfield, MA and East to Boston**

Penn Central Extra 6039 moves on to the West Harold Secondary, which serves the Reynolds Intermodal Terminal...

Penn Central Intermodal crew starts to pull the cars for the yard. But first, they need to pull the caboose. Since this yard is a stub end (no through tracks), they'll need to shove the cars into the yard...

The caboose is added to the engine and then the crew will start their work...

Let's watch the action at the Reynolds Intermodal Terminal...

The crew spots the cars on track 2 and the MiJack crane is ready to unload...

Back over at Rock Ridge Yard, 1:87 Engineer Kai starts to break down the inbound train. It won;t remain in the yard for long as all of these cars will head over to Three Amigos Warehouse and have the freight unloaded for future work, and when the time comes, have train displays all over the Rock Ridge and throughout New Jersey!

The Penn Central crew grabs their caboose and heads out...

The crew heads out for Weehawken to be serviced and readied for their next job...

Next stop...Weehawken!!

Back over in the yard, a pair of AP RS-1 units being readied to do a run to Three Amigos Warehouse to drop the eight cars from the NYCTL. 1:87 Engineer Dan with conductor Jim W will have this designated at AP RT-3...

Dan drops the caboose and Kai will pull it back so they can grab the outbound cars...

And moves to the West Ladder to pick up the freight cars..

Kai gives them the caboose and they're ready to depart...

Dan checks in with Rich T...

Awaits the signal on track 1 since they'll be running against traffic. Little Jamaica Tower Operator Bob will hold all mainline traffic so RT-3 can get to Three Amigos...

And they're off...

AP Train RT-3 on the move...

A short time later, Dan arrives on the West Harold Secondary. They need to pull some non-PCCM box cars so they can drop the inbounds. They need to hold as a couple of cars are still being loaded before they pull the cars. So they wait...

Approaching West Harold is Penn Central 2370 to pick up some freight for Weehawken. With the amount of freight to and from Rock Ridge, the PC decided to make daily runs from Weehawken to Rock Ridge Yard. Rich T has them at the yard limits on track 1...

They arrive in the yard...

They cut the caboose..

Kai pulls the caboose...

And adds it to the outbound freight cars on the West Ladder...

A quick pick up with 5 cars...

Holding at the yard limits...

...And they crew heads out...

Next stop...Weehawken!!

Back over at Three Amigos, the warehouse crew finally loaded the last box car and Dan can finally get to work...

First pull track 1..

Next pull track 2...

Outbound cars are on the secondary track. Now Dan can shove the cars on both tracks..

First drop on track 1...

The rest of the cars on track 2...

Dan reassembles the outbound train and heads back to the yard...

Dan bids the tower operator farewell and heads out...

AP Train RT-3 awaits the signal into the yard...

Checks in with Rich T...

And is greeted by the crew, including NJ John wondering why they took so long. Dan says "Blame the warehouse crew!"

Kai pulls the cars and drops them on West Ladder track 7...

Gives Dan the caboose and parks his engines on East Ladder track 2...

Kai is back on West Ladder track 1 and ties down. The crews have delivered the freight, took care of the yard, and head home...

A final view of Rock Ridge Yard, courtesy of 1:87 Norman, the official APRR photographer. We're still trying to figure out how he gets these great views of Rock Ridge Yard!!

It's a wrap  for Operation Blue Comet and P.C.C.M. #114 on my railroad! 

A special tanks goes out to Steve and John for bringing this wonderful idea to our modeling world and making it happen. Thanks again to Ralph for being a willing participant and his help to bring it to life via our virtual ops sessions...

Don't forget to check out all of Penn Central Car Movement #114 on both John's New York Central Train Layout and Ralph's Kings Port Division Railroad

Thanks for reading!!

**Towns and Nature Blogspot - for reference