Atlantic Pacific Railroad

Saturday, April 17, 2021

Florida Update - April 17, 2021

Greetings followers of the Atlantic Pacific Railroad and my blog!

It's been over a year since I was down in Florida, or as my friends call it "The Southern Command", due to the current world situation...

The window of opportunity came up and we took advantage of it, even if it's for a couple weeks....

As I walked into the train room, I felt that I lost touch of what I was working on and more important, the track plan for switching the layout. One thing for sure; the railroad was operational. There were no electrical issues, the DCC system worked fine, and the engines all moved around without cleaning the track (we did clean the track after I saw the layout run).

For those of you who may have forgotten what the Florida layout looked like, here are a few photos..

Lower level freight yard...

Propane and tank car Transload area on the left in the photo..

Lower level center will have a couple industries to switch...

The corner shows the future cement plant. Florida has plenty of these facilities as any type of residential or commercial building is built with concrete. Something that has to do with hurricanes. Hmmm....

The infamous "helix" to get to and from the upper level...

This photo shows the pellet transfer area and plastics factory on the lower level. Upper level shows the lumber yard..

Warehouse on the lower level corner, grain facility on the upper level..

Another photo of the lumber yard area...

Grain industry..

This will have an aggregate facility to handle Ortner hopper cars filled with sand and other materials as well as cement hoppers..

Another industry..

Need my juice facility, just not as large as the NJ structure. Another warehouse adjacent to it...

This is the upper level yard where cars will be dropped or picked up that service the industries on the upper level...

Just as I left it, March 17, 2020...

A few things have come into my mind, and one of them is do I really want to continue to have passenger trains running on the layout, as its really designed for freight operation. It's a point to point layout, so this keeps me thinking...

My friend Sir John of Georgia made a suggestion to put a large structure in front of the passenger tracks on the upper level to give the impression the passenger cars are going to a far and away place. put some type of scene divider. He suggested a tunnel entrance, I'm thinking an overhead road adjacent to the building going from the front of the layout to the wall. Definitely considering this option before I pull the plug on the passenger train operation. I have Tri-Rail train which has an engine and 3 passenger cars, one of which is a cab coach. The Amtrak train would have to be a push pull with an engine on each end as I have 5 Amfleet coaches down here. While it may not be as prototypical as I want, its my railroad!

One of the areas I started to work on while I was here was the lumber yard area. The original Walthers Kit Walton & Sons lumber yard was nice, but this layout is more modern. Late last year Walthers announced a Lumber Transload kit, which I picked up for a good price and brought with me.

I have built the sheds and will build the office and lumber loads that go with it, once I do a rattle can run. Here's the area on the upper level west wall...

The roadway area needs to be painted a light gray or something to simulate concrete. The office that i need to build has a white roof from the kit, and that needs to be painted as well...

There's an office from another kit I had in NJ and that came down in 2019..

The kit has 2 ramps and concrete sections for trucks and fork lifts to move. I'll have to trim some to size so it fits the space...

Three tracks - one for centerbeams, one for Thrall door box cars, and the one in the front for box cars, including HI Cube 40' & 60' versions..

I'm pleased with this area. The Walton & Sons buildings will head back north and I'll add them to the layout. Once I do the final painting and assembling of the lumber, I'll look at other areas where I can build a kit in a short time. I don't want to spend all of my time in there as management wants to get out and head to places that no model railroader has gone to before...

Thanks for reading!

Sunday, April 11, 2021

P.C.C.M. #82 Part 6 On The A.P.R.R. - Delivering The Freight!

Welcome back to the continuation of Penn Central Car Movement #82 on the Atlantic Pacific Railroad. A three part virtual train layout move with Sir John's N.Y.C.T.L.and PC Ralph's Kings Port Division.

**Before you read on, management HIGHLY suggests that you use the rest room, get your drink or libation and some munchies as this is a long post...! And now, on to the blog post! **

Today the crew at Rock Ridge Yard will build 2 local trains to deliver the freight. Another move withing the Rock Ridge Yard limit will take place as well. Here's today's work schedule for Rock Ridge Yard...

The yard crew starts the build. 1:87 Dan is working AP 106.

AP 107 has 1:87 scale Norman working the yard area ....

Cars are being moved for each train....

AP 304 is at the north end of the yard, holding at CP Rock as they add cars to the engine...

AP 105 with 1:87 scale Jim shoves a caboose on the end of the train...

AP 304, now designated as AP Train RC-1 awaits on Rock Ridge Yard departure track 1, holding at the yard limit sign...

Next up, more moves in the yard. AP 302 is in the yard and will take out the freight for Ideal Auto Parts and C&P Restaurant Supply. Since he'll be running light back to Richmond Hill Engine Terminal, they'll take the 4 PS-2 hoppers loaded with sand from T&R Gravel on the N.Y.C.T.L. to the terminal and load up the sand silos...

Let's watch some yard action.....

AP 106 pulls the 4 PS-2 sand hopper cars for the train. The Corning covered hopper will head out on another non-P.C.C.M. move...

The caboose is added to the train...

AP 302 heads out of Rock Ridge Yard...

AP 302, now at the Rock Ridge Yard Limit sign will head out as AP Train RI-4...

Both trains depart the yard and head out!!

AP Train RI-4 makes a stop at Ideal Auto Parts to drop off LV box car from Delco in Flint, MI via the K.P. & W....

AP #302 spots the car at Ideal Auto Parts...

Next stop is Marcal Paper where a pair of AP RBL Box cars from Moore & Co. and the PC box car from Terminal Warehouse. All 3 cars are loaded to the rafters with bulk paper made at industries located in Empire City..

The cars are dropped and they train will head out...

Since AP Train RI-4 has made it's local deliveries, the next stop for them is Richmond Hill Engine Terminal. They're bringing the 4 PS-2 covered hoppers loaded with sand to the terminal..

Now they can head out...

AP 302 heading out to the engine terminal, passing Little Jamaica...

Now passing West Harold Interlocking. AP Train RC-1 is being held at the tower waiting for clearance to work Three Amigos Warehouse.....

West Harold Tower Operator 1:87 scale Joe give the crew a quick hello and tells them they have the secondary track..

AP Train RC-1 backing on to the West Harold Secondary...

Now the move can be made..

Let's watch the spotting of 3 cars at Three Amigos Warehouse....

And now on to C&P Restaurant Supply....

The crew will spot the HRC Box car from Reynolds Beverage on C&P track 2 while the six 57' reefers get dropped on track 1..

The last set of cars are dropped and AP Train RC-1 will head back with caboose in tow to the yard...

A quick stop at CP South to check in...

And AP Train RC-1 is finished...

Back on the west side of Rock Ridge Yard AP #106 will take a short run over to AP Cargill with the Hostess covered hopper for a reload which will get turned around back to EC Cargill, then drop a pair of KP&W coal cars from the the LV via West Mill...