AMERICA UNITS ON MEMORIAL DAY

This Memorial Day weekend, what better sight to see than the America Units?

With 1776 in the lead, as usual, the trio rolls into town, with yet another intermodal train, CDB47, their normal assignment.

Among the cars in the train is this Gunderson Maxi IV stack car. No, TTX hasn't adopted a new paint scheme! This car is a former Pacer Stack Train car that Trailer Train purchased when BRAN divested itself of rolling stock. A similar situation occurred in the 90's, as shippers Maersk and K-Line owned stack cars for a period, before leaving the car ownership business.

Another TTX-owned car is this one. It, to, is a 'pre-owned' car, this time ex-Providence & Worcester.

Another TTX Maxi IV, this time in the normal yellow, but with graffiti.

Yet another Maxi IV, but this time owned by the Arkansas & Oklahoma.

The train is ended by still more Maxi IV's, the near one is BNSF, the last one is TTX, and both, like most of the train, are carrying Schneider boxes, in both traditional orange and white.

PASSING TRAINS PT30

A very short DN39 Dayton, Oh.-NYC intermodal train rolls through town.

Short enough to be headed by a single engine, DN39 passes through the yard. When the train is this short, you know traffic is down!

Among the cars are these two 48' Husky-Stacks, adorned with the latest TTX logo.

The growth in international traffic, with the increase in 40' boxes, led to the re-introduction of Gunderson's Maxi I stack cars in the early 2000's. Originally built in the late 80's, these cars had 40' wells, but were quickly supplanted by Maxi III's which had 48' wells to accommodate domestic containers. The modernized versions are virtually identical. As you can see, 52' boxes can accommodated in the top position -but not in every well! 

The 48' Husky Stacks seen earlier are now being rebuilt into two sizes, including the 40' well cars for international (40'/20') boxes, several of which are seen here.

The other size for the rebuilt Husky-Stacks is a 53' well, similar to the one seen here, although this FEC car is new-built unit.

A Gunderson Maxi III car, with 48' wells. This car has been superseded by the Maxi IV, with 53' wells to match the 53' domestic boxes that are now standard, and the re-introduced Maxi I, seen earlier. So far, these cars haven't been rebuilt, but time will tell if they last much longer in service.

The final car is the only spine car in the train. It is loaded with three different types of trailers; a TIP Leasing 48' van, an AP&W 53' van and a CR England 53' reefer.

PASSING TRAINS PT29

An unscheduled extra, behind a single SD80MAC, rolls into town. With 5000hp, the engine is sufficient for the short train.

The first car is a specialized car that the real railroads don't need; a motorized track cleaning car! Clean track is obviously very important to reliable model train operation, but even more so when running DCC/sound-equipped engines. Cars such as this make the chore easier, and more realistic. Now, if I would just install the grab irons...

CRLE 10453 is a typical weathered boxcar, with a bit of graffiti.

A blue tank car. CELX 11262 has the number 1173 on its placard (above the right truck), identifying it as hauling ethyl acetate. Ethyl acetate is used as a solvent, as well as for cleaning circuit boards, decaffeinating coffee and tea and even in perfumes.

Schnabel car ACMX 502 returns from its trip to Delaware. In addition to having the two halves connected for a shorter car, it also now has painted wheelsets.

Behind the Schnabel car, is a string of molten sulfur tank cars.

While all four cars are black with yellow bands, note that the TILX car on the left has a brighter, and narrower, band than the CGTX car on the right, which also has conspicuity striping.

The balance of the train is filled out with orange DSEX flatcars hauling empty trash containers.

EXCURSION SEASON BEGINS

With the turn of the seasons into spring, the time for excursions has begun!

While not the 611, the famous class J, number 34 has been around for well over a century and can still earn her keep! And besides, can you ride an open-air car behind the 611? We think not!

The short train rolls on to Cumberland.

Other excursion steamers may be bigger, faster, and more powerful, but number 34 has a elegant charm all her own!

On board the cars are several women enjoying a pleasant Mother's Day ride; a gift for Mom indeed!

Finally, two views of a water tower kit I received from a friend (thanks Chuck) and recently completed. Weather or not it stays in this location remains to be seen, but it seems to be a good fit here.