IN THE YARDS 15

A string of stored Amtrak MHC's sit in Hillsdale Yard. Amtrak's decision to drop non-passenger traffic in 2001 led to the storage of most of their freight cars; the AP&W picked up a number of 60' express boxcars and RoadRailers in 2002. These cars are being evaluated for possible use by the AP&W as well, perhaps in MOW use or possibly even in business train/excursion service.

And speaking about passenger service, an old heavy-weight coach sits here as it waits for the start of the fall excursion season.

On the freight side of things, a trio of bulkhead flatcars sit in the yard loaded with steel plates from Wilson Steel.

After a long, slow journey to the Port of Baltimore, CEBX 801 finally unloaded its transformer. Now its on its way home back to the midwest. Due to its massive size -even unloaded, it still overhangs on curves- its still on a long, slow journey across the country!

AC4400 8890 sits with a drawbar-connected flatcar set. This special set allows the transportation of 3 57' trailers; otherwise, the two cars could only carry one 57' trailer each. The center trailer spans the two cars. In this instance, however, the first flatcar is carrying two 45' containers on chassis while the second flatcar is carrying a 53' container on a chassis; multiple hitches (five total) enable a variety of loading possiblities. This car was pulled from a passing CDB47 due to a defective wheelset. Its now repaired and ready to head out on the next passing CDB47, later on in the day.

PASSING TRAINS 8

An eastbound empty coal train, Extra EC8663, rolls through town. On the AP&W, all unit coal trains are extras -unscheduled trains. The "EC" stands for "East-bound Coal", and the number is the lead locomotive, SD70MAC 8663.

As the engines pass through, they are followed by a long silver string of hopper cars. In a different era, this train would have been pulled by three 3000hp locomotives; but today, the two 4000hp SD70MAC's, with their more powerfull AC traction motors, are sufficient to do the job.

The EOT brings up the rear on the last car. This train is headed back to a mine in southwestern Pennsylvania, where it will load-up and head back northwest to a power plant in western Pennslyvania.

After Amtrak dropped the Steel City Express in 1988, the Capitol was the only train between Pittsburgh and D.C. -and it was a long distance train between D.C. and Chicago. However, with the popularity of Amtrak's regional train between D.C. and Central Virginia, Amtrak and the AP&W agreed to try a new regional between D.C. and Pittsburgh. Since the Capitol travels over CSX rails, the two don't overlap, and the new regional train now gives passenger service to Uniontown once again. This is one of the first trains to leave D.C. for Pittsburgh.

Then again, sometimes the two trains DO overlap! A delay on CSX's main means that today, the Capitol Limited travels over the AP&W -and through Hillsdale! Sam and Norman watch as the westbound train rolls through. The Capitol is easy to tell from the regional train; in addition to the extra length (and two locomotives), the Capitol also has Superliners!

PASSING TRAINS PT7

Another look at passing trains through town...

Yet another intermodal train! This one, ND39, is heading eastbound for Dayton, Oh. One of four intermodal trains that pass through Hillsdale, ND39 is New York City to Dayton, the return train is DN39. The sight of a pair of GE Dash 8's on an intermodal is increasingly rare these days, as these engines are now 20 years old!

The first car is an all-purpose stack car, capable of hauling containers or trailers, as seen here.

This train is almost solid Schneider trailers and containers.

Some of the newer white Schneider containers are in the mix, breaking up the string of orange.

As the train leaves town, note the Allied Van Lines container -it fits in perfectly with the orange Schneider equipment!
The ND/DN39 is often the eastern counterpart to the Schneider train that CSX  and KCS operate in the  Midwest, between St. Louis and Dayton. ND/DN39 also stops in Baltimore, and Columbus, Oh., on the way to and from Dayton. In the future, however, this train may be combined with the TKC/KCT35 Trenton-Kansas City train; with more operators using containers versus trailers, the usefulness of an all-trailer train is now questionable, plus the additional stops made by ND/DN39 make it more attractive to customers who are not shipping all the way to Kansas City.

AMERICA UNITS, PT6

With the 9-11 anniversary this week, let's take one more look at the units painted to honor the ones lost during the attacks; the America units.

The units roll eastward through town, with a train of autoracks, instead of the usual intermodal loads. Occasionally, the units stray onto other trains, but they are still kept together.

As usual, they draw a crowd whenever they come to town. Notice that 1776 is missing its flag on this side. This discrepancy has since been corrected.

A solid train of AutoMax's follows the units through town. The flexibility of the AutoMax, it can be configured as a bi-level for pickups and SUV's or as a tri-level for autos, has made it quite popular for the AP&W, which has 500 of them.

Dale points out the graffiti on the side of one of the cars to Norman as the train passes. At least most of the train is clean -for now.

The other workers notice the graffiti too. "If I catch any of my boys doing this, there'll be hell to pay", says Chris -and the other guys agree.

IN THE YARDS PT 14

Like all railroads, the AP&W requires constant maintenance and upkeep to stay in top running shape. Since this the Labor Day weekend, let's honor some of the men who help keep the railroad running...

Dale Williams, the Hillsdale Yard Supervisor, gives out work assignments at the start of the day. His men are competent and capable, making his job easier!

A lone worker hammers loose spikes back in place.

Later, another worker comes over to help. Watch your hands, that's a 10lb sledgehammer!

In the lot beside the shop, two men converse about the day's work while a third prepares to open the  rented storage container. The excavator will be used on grading/drainage projects along the main; no word on whether or not the riding mower will be put to use on railroad property!

Norman talks to the driver of the crew shuttle bus at the end of the day, before he departs the yard. A traveling work gang is doing upgrades along the main line between Uniontown and Cumberland. After a long day, the track workers are tired, but after a good night's rest at a local hotel, they'll be ready to go again in the morning!