FEL 31

First off, on this Memorial Day weekend, I just want to say hi to my fellow vets; we helped make America strong, and will continue to do so (Congress willing)!
Now, on to the story!

Returning back from Farmingdale, SD70MAC 8663 rolls FEL31 through town on its way back to Uniontown.

Several members of the yard crew stand by to give the train a "roll-by" inspection as is passes through.

This profile shot of 8663 shows off its new logo. There are actually two different logos; one has a 'dulux gold' star, the other has a metallic gold star. Most locomotives, like 8663, are receiving the dulux gold star, while many of the freight cars and MOW equipment are receiving the metallic star.

Behind the hoppers on the head end, are the loaded tank cars of ethanol. From Uniontown, they'll head to points south for distribution.

Farmingdale Ethanol being an ADM facility, ADM-owned tank cars are common in this train.

Brad watches the train pass by as well. He, too, is trained to spot any problems with passing trains -it's his job!

FEL30

Train FEL30 -the Farmingdale Ethanol train- rolls into town.

Power for the train is SD70MAC 8663, carrying the new logo.

Typical of the hopper cars on the head end is this Trinity Rail -built car. With a capacity of 5161 cubic feet, the car is carrying corn for the ethanol process.

Behind the hoppers of corn are the tank cars for the finished product; ethanol.

Lastly, more covered hoppers bring up the rear; most have corn for the ethanol plant.

PASSING TRAINS PT3

GECP-91; a Cumberland-Pittsburgh grain extra; rolls through the yard with empty hoppers returning to the mid-west.

The second unit, AC4400 8900, has the new logo.

GE-built AC4400's are the predominant power in the area; they are also frequently seen on CSX's ex-B&O line in southern Pennsylvania. 8919 and 8900 are 2002 graduates of Erie,  Pa. (GE's locomotive plant) and are two of 600 purchased by the AP&W during the model's 10 1/2 yr domestic production run.

Brad watches the train roll past. He, too, is a model railroader; think he enjoys his job most days?

The new logo is now on this covered hopper. Unfortunately, so is some graffiti.

This car also has the new logo -and is still "clean".

Near the end of the train, are these dirty hoppers, owned by The Andersons. Started in 1947 by Harold Anderson and his family in central Ohio to serve local farmers, today the company has its hands in grain, ethanol, rail shipping (with thousands of rail cars) and various other plant specialties. Like most of the other cars in this train, these hoppers were unloaded at one of the East Coast ports for export overseas.

IN THE YARDS PT4

As another train passes through, the cars from last week's extra to Cumberland sit in the yard.

A look inside the cars shows the evidence quite well; they were hauling gravel for sure!

As seen in the lead photo, the passing train is also carrying some gravel loads; here is a close-up of one of the cars.

A view of another car. Notice the shape of the loads; the cars are loaded by conveyor belts. Herzog  leases out freight cars for maintenance-of-way service, and also provides rail defect detection and rail grinding services.

Brad talks with Dale Williams about local goings-on, as two other men look on.

An excursion train leaves town with a string of old heavyweight passenger cars, including this Solarium car on the rear. While open platform observation cars were popular at first, when train speeds began to pick up early in the 20th century they were not a lot of fun -like standing out in a wind storm! Thus, the advent of the fully enclosed observation, with its large end windows for rear-ward viewing. On some railroads, the car was called a Solarium because of these windows.

THE TRASH TRAIN

Hauling trash has become a very profitable venture for the railroads, and the AP&W is no different.

A trash train from Pittsburgh rolls into Hillsdale, as Bob rolls out on his bike.

The 5000hp of the single SD80MAC is sufficient to pull the train. This is an ex-Conrail unit, as identified by the red class lights on the nose.

The train rolls under the bridge as it heads out of town.

Most of the cars and containers are the orange equipment of DSE. These containers are hauling Municipal Solid Waste (MSW).

Loaded on special open-decked 85' flatcars, the 20' containers are loaded four to a car. Due to their 12' height, they are too tall to be used in double-stack well cars like standard containers, which are only 8.5' - 9.5' high. They are also too tall to be transported by trucks as well!

At the tail end of the train, some blue containers on a black flatcar show up; finally some variety! Everyone will be glad to see this train pass; while the containers are sealed shut, there is still a "whiff" of the contents following the train!

IN THE YARDS PT3

AC4400 8890 sits in the yard between assignments. In addition to not having the new logo yet, she also has a unique two-tone paint scheme.

Ricardo and Matt meet before heading out aboard unit 3163. Today's train is a rock train from a nearby quarry going all the way to Cumberland!

The string of rock hoppers is trailed by a caboose on the rear. The rock is headed to a gravel company in the Cumberland area.

Extra HCRT22 (Hillsdale-Cumberland Rock Train) rolls out of town. The trip will take about 2 1/2 hours, and the two men will be paid "a little extra" for the trip there and back!

Back in the yard, a string of gondolas sit, waiting to go to Wilson Steelworks. Behind them is a string of cars heading out to City Fizz, including several tank cars.

One of the gons has been updated with the new logo. The new look is slowly, but surely spreading!