PASSING TRAINS PT 44; NP71 PT 3

 NP71, continued from last week...

An empty centerbeam bulkhead flatcar, returning for more lumber to haul out from the western forests.

And behind it, an empty BNSF boxcar.

A string of empty PPRX (Phillips Petroleum) tank cars, returning west after unloading gasoline.

A Canadian National boxcar, sub-lettered DWC, heads west with a load of paper products.

A pair of TBOX boxcars are also loaded with paper products.

A pair of new GNTX RailGon 68' gondolas carry pipe loads.

A pair of recently re-painted DODX flatcars are among the empty flats which make up the end of the train.

Another look at the DODX flatcars. The 40xxx series flats are the only cars that can carry two M1 Abrams tanks, thus the 6-axle trucks. Delivered in 1981 in olive green, many were repainted in the late 90's in urethane green. Since 2001, they have been repainted into this lighter shade of green, similar to the old BN "Cascade Green." Even into the 2010's, you could still find examples in all three shades of green!

Next week, a final look at NP71 as it heads out of town.

PASSING TRAINS PT 44; NP71 PT2

 Train NP71 has entered town behind POW/MIA unit 531. A look at more of the train...

A pair of TTX TBOX cars, the second one is a patched ex-UP car.

More TBOX's.

An empty kaolin tank car, followed by an empty plastic pellet hopper.

More empty hoppers, followed by a BNSF reefer.

Three BNSF reefers are in the train, headed home for more produce. Washington apples perhaps?

Here we see the BNSF autorack again.

A close-up reveals the reason it's headed back west; one of the doors has been damaged. As a result; the car has been bad-ordered.

The reefer unit on BNSF 793282 is running, as indicated by the light on the unit. (Click on the photo and you'll see it at the bottom of the unit.) This car is carrying a load of imported wine.

Sister car 793324 is also carrying wine; note the light on its reefer unit is also lit. Note also that this car has a Thermo King reefer unit, while the other two cars have Carrier units.

The final car, BNSF 793284, is empty, so the reefer unit is turned off. These big cars have a cubic capacity of 7883 ft. With two cars carrying wine, a lot of "spirit" on hand! Fortunately, they also have cushioned underframes, so the bottles stay intact on board.

As usual with modern day trains, there's plenty more to come. Until next week!

PASSING TRAINS PT44; NP71 PT1

 NP71, the eastbound manifest between NYC and Pittsburgh, rolls into town...

Leading on this Memorial Day is ET44AC 531, the POWMIA unit.

Ex-GECX ET44AC 2032 -the Veteran's Unit- is in the yard, making this a special day for the Hillsdale Yard crew!

A pair of loaded plastic pellet hoppers are on the head end.

A pair of boxcars loaded with paper products.

A potash hopper and a chemical tank car. Both are empty, like most of the cars in the train.

A pair of reefers returning to the Midwest.  These are former CEFX cars; now owned by Cedar Grove Logistics, the "E" has been replaced by a "G" in the reporting marks.

A pair of empty autoracks, one owned by the Utah Central, the other by BNSF.

A boxcar and a tank car carrying anhydrous hydrogen fluoride.

An empty VTTX flatcar and a string of boxcars.

More of NP71 next week, until then...

Enjoy your Memorial Day!

TOWN LIFE PT 25; MOTHER'S DAY

It's Mother's Day in Hillsdale! A look at the local scene...

 The Hickory Pit Bar-B-Q is busy, as the local moms get treated to brunch specials.

KFC is also doing business. No one wants to cook on Mother's Day!

Dairy Queen also has customers; a mom treats her two kids at the window, while another woman enjoys her cone on the way back to her car. And, since it's Sunday, one of the local hot rods sits in the parking lot as well.

One man gave his wife a real treat; a limousine ride to the beauty shop, followed by a trip to a cabin on Youghiogheny Lake! Their young son is with his grandparents; after tonight, he might soon have a sibling!

Another mother is being treated to a limo ride through town as well.

Two young women enjoy a shopping trip to Jackie's Fine Fashions. There are several other women inside the store checking out the latest fashions as well.

The Pub is also busy this Mother's Day, as men treat the women in their lives to dinner and drink.

Happy Mother's Day!

TOWN LIFE PT 24; TRUCKS

 

A semi, with a walking floor trailer, rolls out of town. Mulch is in great demand in the spring, and this rig delivered!

Another semi brings a load of John Deere tractors to town. That red International Lonestar tractor is sharp!

A black Kenworth T880 has a large trenching machine on its trailer.

The machine is headed to a repair shop just outside of town for an engine overhaul, before heading back east.

A livestock semi leaves town, with a load of cows for a local dairy farm. The driver missed the exit, so he had to turn around in town and head back out!

A blast from the past! A 80's era 45' trailer is pulled by an even older 1970 Mack R700. Both are still going strong in this late 90's photo.