SPRING WORK PT1

Spring time is a time of work for the railroads, and the AP&W is no exception...

Work on the parking lot commences, along with a few utility upgrades. Here, a small tracked dump machine is being used for moving dirt around the site.

The utility truck and excavator sit at the end of the drive. Underground fiber optic cables are being replaced in the area, an upgrade that will provide faster internet service to the people of Hillsdale!

After the utility work is finished, the crew bus shows up for the rail work in the area.

Several dump cars loaded with rip-rap sit next to loaded woodchip hoppers.

At the other end, is a flatcar loaded with an excavator.

The excavator will be used to help shore up the right-of-way along the Youghiogheny river, including replacing rip-rap along the banks. (And yes, the flatcar gained reporting marks and data between photographs! What an improved RR shop can do...)

Jordan spreader X784 gets prepped for work. The venerable unit was built in the 1950's, but still gets the job done, both plowing snow (in the winter) and re-cutting drainage ditches (in the spring and after heavy rains). More on X784 next week.

SHOP UPDATE

Lately, work has been done on the shop building, both interior and exterior...

A vending machine and a "NO SMOKING" sign now adorn the break area.

More signs have been added to the east end: a "SAFETY FIRST" sign on the entrance door, and a "CAUTION SOUND HORN" sign next to the overhead door.

Two views of the main shop interior. The large "SAFETY" sign is new, as is the orange workbench. There is also a deck drain by the door, along with more "NO SMOKING" signs. Back in the '60's, nearly everyone smoked; now most workplaces are "smoke-free".

The far end of the shop has now been (mostly) completed, with the addition of the second floor. The office is on the left, the break room is on the right, and the bathroom is on the first floor, on the left. Yellow I-beam collision posts both support the second floor and protect against damage from errant freight cars. Now, we need a safety railing for the walkway, and stairs to get there!

The new break room has several vending machines and a refrigerator. Now if I can find an HO scale microwave oven...

The office is complete with the mandatory filing cabinets, fax/copy machine and computer, which finds Carla hard at work keeping up with files, parts and work orders. While she would like to have a window in her office, at least she has more space than she would in a typical office cubicle!

EASTER TIME

Easter is here!

Several of HIllsdale's homeless people gather outside the Salvation Army for the free Easter meal. While best known for its Christmas kettles, the Salvation Army works year-round to help those in need.

A large crucifixion statue has been set-up in the church's yard to celebrate the occasion. That's one way to attract attention to the holiday!

Morning services have let out, and the faithful are heading home.

The Hickory Pit Bar-B-Q is open for business, serving Easter Brunch. Note the brand-new Range Rover; a visitor from Alabama.

Easter Sunday for most wouldn't be complete for most without the Easter ham! Proud Bird Trucking delivers the goods to Hillsdale.
Easter celebrates both the resurrection of Christ and the springtime renewal of the earth from the dormancy of winter. The railroads, too, undergo a renewal in spring; the need to renew their physical plant after a harsh winter! The AP&W is no exception, as we will see in the coming weeks. Stay tuned!

IN THE YARDS PT41

Spring is finally here!

Chris and his wife, Hanna talk to Frank. Hanna is expecting their second child this summer.

Norman (in the pink shirt) talks with several other workers, including soon-to-be-retired Billy Ray (hands in pocket). Billy Ray has worked for the railroad for over fifty years as a mechanic, and has seen the evolution of locomotives from the EMD 645 and GE FDL engines of the mid 60's to the latest Tier 4 engines from both manufacturers. Now, he gets to work on something much simpler; his 1965 Ford F100!

Genset 300 gets fired up for the start of the day. Carl will do the honors as engineer today, while Jason will join him as brakeman. The string of hoppers behind the engine will be delivered to the paper mill in Dale City and both loaded and empty cars will be brought back.

As the latest "blue train" rolls past, a pair of workers leave out the machine shop on the way to the yard office. It seems that the HVAC system isn't working properly -and Maggie, like most women, works better (and is easier to get along with) when she is comfortable at her desk!

Dale Williams gives information to Will about upcoming work around Hillsdale Yard. After the cold, hard winter comes the spring thaw -and rains! There will be LOTS of work to do around the area, both in and out of Hillsdale.

Briggs talks with Lance while Jake goes to the truck to drop the side panel so Lance can unload the crates. New parts have arrived at the shop in anticipation of future work to be done on various pieces of equipment. While the shop stays busy year-round, spring is especially hectic as Maintenance of Way equipment comes out of storage for the annual right-of-way rehabilitation ritual. And we shall see the both the MOW equipment and rehabilitation in the coming weeks.

SCHNEIDER NATIONAL PT2

Last week, SDN39 rolled into Hillsdale. This week, it finally rolls out!

A rare white Schneider container stands out among the string of orange.

The white container may be a second-hand acquisition; they don't always get repainted.

This car has the new red TTX logo.

For comparison, here is the old TTX logo; white letters on a black background. Note also the different font.

Instead of being on the head end as usual, the double stacks are on the tail end.

Contemporary railroading -the double stacked containers in well cars- roll past old relics of railroading's past; the red caboose and the steam locomotive. Even in today's high-tech world, history lives on!