HOLIDAY WEEKEND PT 1

 It's the Fourth of July weekend! Some get a four-day weekend, while others have to work on Monday...

Lots of beer will be consumed; so the beer trucks are rolling!

The America units are back in town with an intermodal train, IC208.

And meeting them is freshly out-shopped ET44AC 530; the Memorial unit! It, too. is leading an intermodal train, IC49.

The America units and 530 aren't the only special units in town. GP40 50 is fresh from the shops as well, painted gold to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Operation Lifesaver -an organization dedicated to grade crossing safety.

The Hillsdale Yard crew gathers to witness a rare event; two trains led by commemorative engines meeting each other around the time of the Fourth of July -with a third one in the yard!

Next week, we'll take a quick look at both trains, but until then HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!

IN THE YARDS PT 15

 

Her excursion run finished, 1645 is inspected in Hillsdale Yard.

The crew is ready to get on board and fire her back up for the trip back home to Cumberland, where she was built in 1942, and has resided ever since.

Security, as always, is paramount; vandals could do some serious damage -and not just with spray cans- to a steamer. Brad has kept a close eye on 1645 overnight as she stayed in Hillsdale, and actually chased off several would-be trespassers -who had cameras in hand!

This machine will be used to re-fill 1645's tender with coal. While a gondola full of coal would be easier, today it will be trucked in.

A local contractor has arrived with a load of coal for 1645. While not nearly enough to fill her tender, it will be enough to get her back home, as she will be running light.

Meanwhile, on the other end of the yard, sit several modern diesels -including a pair of brand-new ET44AC's.

There is also a string of empty corn syrup tank cars just returned from City Fizz. Visible are two of the four.

MEMORIAL DAY STEAM EXCURSION PT 2

 A special Memorial Day steam excursion between Pittsburgh and D.C. passes through Hillsdale...

A baggage-lounge car is behind the head-end power generator car, providing accommodations for staff and their equipment.

Appalachian dome car "Kentucky" used to travel between Chicago and Pittsburgh on the Iron Maker -so named because the train not only went to Pittsburgh, but also passed through Gary, Indiana, another steel city. At the time, clearance issues prevented the car from operating all the way to D.C., but now it can!

Full dome car "Tennessee" once traveled between Chicago and Miami, Florida on the Joanne Jackson; a jointly operated train between the APRR, MC&K (Memphis, Chattanooga & Knoxville) and FEC (Florida East Coast).

Former B&O car "Moonlight Dome" is a Budd-built "Strata-Dome", that is actually a sleeper! It originally operated on the B&O's Capital Limited between Chicago and Washington D.C.

The final two cars are privately owned by Railcar Charter Service, including this ex-New York Central Club Lounge car.

A round end observation brings up the rear. This car was originally owned by the Great Northern, and ran on the Empire Builder between Chicago and the Pacific Northwest.

IN THE YARDS; PT 14

 

SD40-2 1947 rolls in -wrong main- with a transfer freight from Cumberland. This unit will soon be re-assigned to Uniontown.

An eclectic mix of power sits in the west end of Hillsdale Yard, including a visiting Farmrail GP38-2.

The tail end of AT57W rolls through, past a parked TTX boxcar.

GM408 stops for a crew change on its way to Baltimore.

The Air Products man has arrived to service the shop's welding tanks.

The UPS driver makes yet another delivery of office supplies.

HIGH & WIDE PT1

A "High & Wide" movement is entering Hillsdale!

Rounding the curve into Hillsdale Yard is Extra 2029.

The train is led by Wabtec-painted GECX ET44AC demonstrator 2029,

The load is a transformer being shipped to the Port of Baltimore for export. The opposing track is clear to allow for the extreme overhang of the loaded car as it rounds the curve.

The massive load rides between the two halves of a massive Schnabel car.

Already moving slow due to the load, 2029 slows down even further, as it prepares to stop.

The "A1" end of the car.

The "A2" end of the car.

Caboose HDTX 4726 brings up the rear.

Next week, Extra 2029 will back into the long siding and tie down for the night.