The A.P.R.R. Celebrates An Anniversary!

Greetings followers of the Atlantic Pacific Railroad! This weekend is the 5 year Anniversary of the A.P.R.R. in its present form - a new layout and new controls!

I can't believe it's been only 5 years since the A.P.R.R. went live with a new layout and converted from DC to DCC. Some of you may remember pics of when I started to build the first layout in this room. This is from layout #1 back in 2007.  

First image is the south wall...

North wall which was the yard area...

The section on the left was the area for a tremendous stub passenger terminal...

A view of the old passenger station. This section was 15 feet long and 4 feet wide...

The layout ran fine, but I designed it for running trains with some sidings. Operations and DCC were not a thought. 

Fast forward to 2012 and I was introduced to some guys from the local hobby shop. I was taken to a friends house, where I saw not only DCC, but a helix in operation. That summer, I flew to Atlanta to not only see the National Train Show, but to meet two fellow model railroaders, one being Sir John and another guy from South Carolina. All of us had met online from a site called Trainlife. Sir John and I had met earlier in the year at one of NYC's Irish Bars in midtown Manhattan.  I had shown them some track plans that night and the three of us had a great time. In 2013, I started construction on the new and improved layout, which is a 2 track, 2 level layout with a 2 track helix, lower level staging, fully operational engine terminal with a turntable, and most important, a fun railroad to run!

In October 2014, the A.P.R.R. held its first end of the month operating session, which was very interesting to all of the guys. No one had seen so much trackwork in a small area, yet when they started to run trains and switch industries, a railroad was born!

This was the Cargill area, without the cork painted. 

Rock Ridge Yard, again without the cork being painted...

Look familiar? This is the Reynolds Intermodal Container Terminal...! 

This was the first panel I had made that controlled both West Harold and Little Jamaica. This lasted less than a year as it was so busy to look at and operate, that it confused me, and I designed it!!

This is the new panel after cutting it in half and making it smaller. and easier to operate. An additional feature that was added to the railroad were signals for both interlocking areas...

West Harold Interlocking Control Panel

Little Jamaica Interlocking Control Panel 

A railroad wouldn't be complete with an engine in its maiden launch, right? APRR #300 - A GP38-2 diesel...

And the first APRR Caboose - #50

A railroad needs its own freight cars as well. Sir John, a man of many talents, offered to open up his N.Y.C.T.L. Patti-O Paint Shop and he painted the first set of APRR box cars... The first car out of the shop, #60358 was sent to some of the first followers of my railroad. 

Sir John was challenged again by A.P.R.R. management and painted more freight cars for me. Hopper cars were done in both A.P.R.R. and his Empire Belt Railroad.

You can never have enough box cars!! 

And his latest masterpiece of work, the 57' Mechanical Reefers for our railroads....

While 5 years may not seem to be so special to most people, it is for me. My trains run well, I host operating sessions 6-8 times a year, which includes the Sunday monthly operating session, a Wednesday mid-month bring your trains to run session, and on occasion, a weeknight operating session. 

That being said....

HAPPY 5 YEAR ANNIVERSARY TO THE ATLANTIC PACIFIC RAILROAD!

P.C.C.M. 50L - Part 4 - The A.P.R.R. Delivers The Freight!

Welcome back to P.C.C.M. 50L Part 4. The three A.P.R.R. Freight locals are on the road heading out to their consignees, as directed by 1/87th Sir Larry.

The first local out of Rock Ridge Yard was AP Train RC-3, headed over to Cargill and Tropicana. First stop, Cargill Grain and Corn Syrup Facility, the largest in East.

The covered hoppers are now at Cargill, train RC-3 can finish the job and head over to Tropicana with 4 RBL Box cars. Once these cars are dropped, Train RC-3 is finished and will run back to the yard as Train RC-4 without any loads.

The cars are delivered, and the engine makes its way back to the south end of Rock Ridge Yard.

A quick stop at South Tower, and then RC-4 will back into on of the A/D tracks to set up for its next job. 

AP #2360 back in the yard. 

Next train that headed out was AP Train RM-1, the Marcal Turn with a drop off for Shapeless Steel. Two Penn Central gondolas from KP Steel with coil loads were needed, so the call was made. Cars for C&P Restaurant Supply, and of course Marcal will be delivered, and 2 cars will be picked up at Marcal and Freihofers Bakeries, then taken back to the yard. 

AP GP35 #363 starts to cut cars outside of C&P Restaurant Supply. Once the cut is made, he'll do a run around to shove the cars into the building. 

Heading back to C&P with the other cars dropped outside of Marcal, the train can proceed to finish the move into C&P property.

Once cut, a little west of C&P Restaurant is Shapeless Steel with 2 coil car loads.

The cars are dropped, a quick run back to Cargill, and now the 2 freight cars, one by Freihofers and one by Marcal need to be pulled in order for the loads to be dropped by the Marcal loading doors.

The cars are dropped, and the last part of the job is to pick up the caboose and head home. 

 The caboose is on the will now head back to Rock Ridge as AP Train RM-2

We turn to the other part of town outside Rock Ridge and await Train RT-3, with 1/87th Norman at the throttle near the Three Amigos Secondary

The cars are dropped at Three Amigos Warehouse and will head back light as Train RT-2. A quick stop to talk to the tower operator at West Harold, and 1/87th Norman will be on his way!

A short time later, Train RT-2 is back at Rock Ridge Yard. A short conversation with 1/87th Sir Larry, and the caboose will be parked on Track 1, the caboose track, then AP #100 will head over to the east side of the yard to track 2 with and shut down on the engine track. 

1/87th Norman climbs down, gives 1/87th Sir Larry a wave across the way, and this job is done!

My part of P.C.C.M. 50 is now complete. If you haven't seen P.C.C.M. 50 In its entirety, you should check out all of the other railroad layouts that participated in the very enjoyable and historical tribute to the Penn Central Railroad!

John R. and his N.Y.C.T.L.

Ralph V. and his K.P.D.

Brian and his Ralston Creek Railway

John B. and his Model Railroad layout

Thanks for reading!

P.C.C.M. 50L - Part 3 - Trains Are Made Up to Deliver Freight

Welcome back to Part 3 of P.C.C.M. 50L! The freight has been set off on various classification tracks in Rock Ridge Yard. 1/87th Sir Larry, master of the yard has the assignments of the day. There will be three trains made up that will head out. 

First train to be made up is Train RC-3, the Cargill turn. This will handle freight primarily for Cargill as well as dropping off cars for Tropicana. AP #100, an SW1500 will handle the moves to create this train. Sir 1/87th Ralph is at the throttle with 1/87th ATJOE on the head. 

The cars were blocked pretty much as needed. However, due to space in the yard, they needed to place other cars on the track. Not a problem for this crew. The cars for Tropicana are pulled first, then AP RS-1 #200 will pull the covered hoppers that are on the east side of the yard and tack them on the end. 

AP U28B #2360 will pull this heavy loaded train out of the north end of the yard, and run a short distance to Cargill and Tropicana. Since this area is under the control of Rock Ridge Yard, no caboose is needed to make the move. 

Train RC-3 departing the north end of Rock Ridge Yard.

Next up is Train RM-1 headed over to Marcal with an additional stop at Shapeless Steel, since it's on the same Little Jamaica Secondary. 

1/87th Sir Larry is making sure the AP Crew knows what the order of the day is for this train.

Train RM-1 heads out of Rock Ridge Yard to the Little Jamaica secondary, under control of Tower Operator John B. 

The last train of the day is a 2 car train for Three Amigos Warehouse with goods from Peerless Appliances. Handing this short run will be 1/87th Norman, another local engineer within the AP crew. 1/87th Norman also doubles as the official A.P.R.R. staff photographer. 

An AP caboose is added to the train. Since it will going out on the main, a caboose is mandatory. 

Now ready, AP Train RT-1, the Three Amigos Warehouse Turn, awaits the signal and will be on its way...

Next up, the delivery of freight to all consignees in and around Rock Ridge!