CARPACK 4

Looking at cars in Hillsdale Yard...

Two tank cars, loaded with hydrochloric acid, wait to be delivered to Wilson Steel. While a steel mill receiving tank cars is unusual, hydrochloric acid is used in "pickling" steel to remove rust -a helpful use for a mill that recycles alot of old steel!

A close-up of UCLX 30065.

A close-up of UCLX 30002.

Note that while the two cars have the same paint scheme, designed to identify the cargo from a distance, the markings on the cars are completely different! In addition to steel treatment, hydrochloric acid is also used in water treatment chemicals and road salt.

Ricardo and Jason check out several flatcars loaded with trash containers.

Fortunately, not only is it a very short string, but the containers are also empty -otherwise the smell might be a bit strong! There has been talk about moving trash from Pittsburg to Virginia through this area, as AP&W's line is more direct than either CSX's or NS. There may soon be more -alot more -of these cars passing through!

FEL 30 PT2

Last week, train FEL 30 stopped to pick-up a pair of tank cars. Let's continue...

After riding out of the siding in the hopper car, the crewman drops down to throw the switch after the train has cleared the siding.

Switch thrown, he moves out of the way, so the train can safely back up. Note the stored Amtrak Material Handling Cars on the siding behind him.

The other crewman supervises the connection, and connects the air lines. Then he radios the train crew that the train is ready. It will take a few minutes to pump up the air lines throughout the train, then they'll be on their way.

As the train rolls out, we see more tank cars, as well as some boxcars along for the ride to Farmingdale.

More boxcars, including these well-worn cars. These loads of recycling paper will be dropped off at the paper mill on the way to Farmingdale. Normally they would be dropped off here and delivered by the Hillsdale crew, but since this train is going that way anyhow, it makes better sense to let this crew make the delivery. But don't worry, the Hillsdale crew will still have plenty of local work to do! And they may soon have a new engine to help do it with!

PASSING TRAINS; FEL30, PT1

The new ethanol plant in Farmdale is starting up! Train FEL-30 (Farmdale, Ethanol plant, Local) enters Hillsdale Yard to pick up a pair of tank cars on the way to Farmdale. While this train is classified as a local, it actually comes out of Uniontown, 25 miles west, due to yard capacity.

Unit 8919 leads the train into the yard. Loaded grain hoppers are on the head end; as expected they are ADM-owned.

The ethanol cars are next. These cars won't be found on the head end regardless of whether or not they are loaded due to the highly flammable cargo they carry.

The new tank cars will be cut in ahead of the the ones in the train. One of the yard workers has uncoupled the train to allow the crew to pick up the add-on cars.

Another crew member guides the engineer to a smooth coupling up with the tank cars. He will then connect the air hoses and release the brakes on the parked cars so they can be moved once the air pressure has been pumped up. Note the covered hopper is an ex-Rock Island car purchased by the CNW; when the Rock went bankrupt and ceased operation in 1980, nearly all of its equipment went up for auction. In addition the the CNW, a number of Rock Island cars were bought by the APRR as well.

As the train moves out of the siding, the carman rides the ladder of the hopper to the siding switch, where he will throw it back to the main so the train can be re-assembled (next week!).

TONY'S GARAGE

Tony's garage has been a long-time fixture in Hillsdale. Let's take a look back...

Here is the lot, circa 1970. While most of the cars and trucks are 50's-60's, the Cadillac station wagon is a brand-new '70 model!

And here is a very young Tony, learning the ropes from his dad, Tim, and his uncle, Mark. The panel truck belonged to Roy Wilson, who was the local handyman for nearly 50 years. By some estimates, he "improved" about one-third of the houses in town, as well as many of the offices downtown. This truck served him well, and he took care of it in return.

And now, Tony passes the family trade down to his son, Tony Jr.

The wrecker for a local towing outfit sits in the lot, waiting for the next accident- or illegally parked car! Appropriately, the towing outfit is owned by Mark's son, Marlon.

A flamed Dodge minivan hot-rod is ready to go. All of the modifications are street-legal, except one; the red-tinted windows! While Tony likes to work on the classics, Tony Jr. prefers the newer stuff -especially if he can customize it!