P.C.C.M. #72 Part 5 - Freight Delivered!

Welcome back to the continuation of P.C.C.M. #72 on the Atlantic Pacific Railroad. 

This is a 3 layout virtual op session. The inbound freight to Rock Ridge came from industries in and around Empire City via the Sir John's N.Y.C.T.L. and the industries in and around West Mill on PC Ralph's Kings Port Division

Today we're going to get those freight cars delivered to the consignees in and around Rock Ridge.

AP Train #RC-3 gets the first dispatch out of Rock Ridge...

Heads to the signal and proceeds with an approach aspect...

Here we see AP Train RC-3 heading to C&P Restaurant Supply & Shapeless Steel...

Train RC-3 will make stops at C&P Restaurant Supply and Shapeless steel and make deliveries only, make the turn and head back light.

AP Train RC-2 shoves back on the West Harold Secondary and waits for clearance from the tower operator to start the deliveries...

Meanwhile, AP Train RI-1 gets the orders to head out...

An approach aspect is given to the crew and they head out. The assignment for this train is Ideal Auto Parts and Marcal.

The first stop is Ideal Auto Parts. The plant has been busy, so they need to pull some loaded freight out and return them to Rock Ridge to be forwarded to other Ford factories in Kentucky...

The caboose is cut and left on the main...

The cars are pulled, dropped off on the main and added to the caboose..

The inbound cars are dropped...

Next move is to drop cars at Marcal. However, there are loaded cars that need to go out as well...

A quick move to do a run around on the south end of Marcal is being executed..

The cars are pulled and now AP #300 can spot the 2 cars at Marcal...

The cars are spotted, the loads are now being picked up and will be added to the outbound cars from Ideal Auto Parts....

They shove back, pick up the cars and will now head back to Rock Ridge Yard...

Here's the video of Train RI-1 heading back to Rock Ridge Yard...

Meanwhile, over on the West Harold Secondary, AP #302 is starting to make his moves. The reason for the delay was due to AP #300 was on part of the main and east end of the secondary, so the train was held to play it safe. Safety first as they say!

A short run around on the main and AP #302 will proceed to shove both sets of cars to C&P Restaurant Supply and Shapeless Steel...

The pull back to drop the cars at C&P has begun...

Cars are spotted on track 2....

Now they head over to Shapeless Steel...

As the train heads over to Shapeless Steel, we see Train RI-1 passing West Harold Tower en route to Rock Ridge Yard...

The cars are dropped and they'll head back light...

The work on the West Harold Secondary is done and now the crew will return to Rock Ridge Yard...

A quick roll by CP South and they head down the west ladder from the north...

Track 1 has a lone PC caboose sitting there waiting for its next assignment. The PC and AP will pool certain cars when needed. This is one of them...

AP Train RI-1 has returned to Rock Ridge and will drop cars on a number of west ladder yard tracks...

AP Train RI-1 passes CP Rock and proceed up the west ladder to drop cars in the yard..

There are a few other cars that need to get delivered. A pair of KP&W loaded coal cars need to be taken to R.M.O. Electric as well as one car for Tropicana..

The car for Morton Salt will need to be delivered as well.. 

Look who shows up at the yard! AP #900 and 1/87th engineer Mark will pick up the 3 cars and take them back to the power plant. So what about the box car? We shall see as the switcher isn't qualified (nor is the engineer for that matter) on Tropicana tracks!

A green signal and they head out...

Looks like one of the plant workers is lending a hand at the switch...

The coal cars are dropped on inbound track 3...

Now the switcher has cut away from juice car and heads back to the power plant..

So how will this car get taken over to Tropicana? 

Here's how! Tropicana MP15 #24 will pick up the lone car. This engine usually works the Tropicana facility and rarely makes it's way out of the area..

Here we see Tropicana #24 pick up the car...

Now that the car is dropped on one of the inbound tracks, AP #24 is back home...

The last move before AP #300 can head back to east ladder track #2 (engine holding track) is to spot the Morton Salt covered hopper at the Morton Salt facility in Rock Ridge..

However, this requires the car to be shoved on to east ladder track 14, so AP RS-1 #200 is going to pull the car and drop it at Morton Salt...

AP #300 heads back to track 2...

Now home with sister engine #302...

AP #200 making the move...

The car is spotted and will get loaded in time for the next P.C.C.M...

RS-1 #200 now off the ladder and home on track #2. 
We're done!

It's a wrap for P.C.C.M #72 on the the A.P.R.R. Don't forget to check out the rest of the inbound freight being delivered by  Sir John's N.Y.C.T.L. and PC Ralph's Kings Port Division

Thanks for reading and check back often for more Penn Central Car Movements as well as new and exciting things happening on the A.P.R.R!!

P.C.C.M. #72 Part 4 - Delivering The Inbound Freight

Welcome back to the continuation of P.C.C.M. #72 on the Atlantic Pacific Railroad. 

This is a 3 layout virtual op session. The inbound freight to Rock Ridge came from industries in and around Empire City via the Sir John's N.Y.C.T.L. and the industries in and around West Mill on PC Ralph's Kings Port Division

We left off with the freight from both railroads being sorted in Rock Ridge Freight Yard.

Today we'll start to build the freight that will head out to the consignees in and around Rock Ridge. 

Today's road power consists of a pair of AP GP38-2 engines. AP #300 will work Ideal Auto Parts and Marcal. Once he gets routing from the yardmaster and tower, he'll go out as AP Train RI-1. At the throttle is 1/87th Engineer Steve and 1/87th brakeman Stuart. Not sure why 1/87th Stuart is Steve's brakemen. History has proven these two should not be working together. We shall see....

AP #302 will head out working Shapeless Steel and C&P Restaurant Supply, Once cleared to head out will work the industries as RC-3. 1/87th Engineer NJ John along with 1/87th brakeman Norman will handle this run.

AP RS-1 #200, The Spirit Of Jay, will start building the freight for both road jobs. 1/87th engineer Bob has his brakeman JP riding shotgun. They'll get these trains ready to go and on time! 

First pull are the 2 Empire Belt (EBRR) freight cars to Ideal Auto Parts and get loaded with electronics and auto parts. These will go back to Ford in a future P.C.C.M. 

The next pull are 2 cars for Marcal. EBRR 358160 has bulk paper from Moore & Co. in Empire City. KP&W #15368 is loaded with bulk paper.

A caboose is added to the train and they'll head out and proceed to CP South and check in with tower operator 1/87th Rich. 

AP Train RI-1 holds short of CP South Tower. 

Meanwhile, RS-1 #200 is busy building the local for Shapeless Steel and C&P Restaurant Supply. A pair of EBRR 50' gondolas from Gervais Pipe in Empire City loaded with pipes to Shapeless Steel. They'll add additional fittings to the pipes to be used on construction sites around Rock Ridge.

PC #30063 from Canton Box Co. on the KP&W is loaded with packaging materials for C&P Restaurant Supply. NP Reefer #473 has a full load of frozen food for the refgrigeration division at C&P. 

A caboose is picked up from west ladder track #1 and the train will be ready to head out. 

AP #302 picks up the freight and heads over to the south exit of Rock Ridge freight yard. 

Both trains are now at CP South and will hold until clearance is given. 

We'll hold it here for today. Stop back tomorrow as both locals head out to deliver the freight to the consignees around Rock Ridge as well as the deliveries that are within the Rock Ridge Yard Limits.

Thanks for reading!

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!