OVERSIZED MOVEMENT

Hillsdale sees a fair amount of 'special movement' trains due to the relatively generous clearances of the line through town.

An "extra-clearance" special movement passes through town with an industrial cooling unit. The extra gondolas on either end of the train are 'idler' cars added to improve the train's handling while in transit (extra weight and braking).

The car is a depressed-center flatcar, designed for carrying excess-height loads. This industrial load is also extra-wide, so careful routing is needed to get it to it's final destination without side-swiping anything along the way!

As is usually the case on special movements, a manned caboose brings up the rear. Along with locals, special movement trains are the only other trains that still merit cabooses.

Back in the M.O.W. parking lot, Jake heads over to the yard tractor to get started on the day's work. At the other end of Hillsdale Yard is a trailer park where semi-trailers are stored when not in use. Many are used trailers awaiting resale or lease, others are stored due to the slow business
environment.

A trailer is pulled from storage. Sold to a local contractor, it will be used for storage purposes itself!

LAYOUT UPDATE

A new business has arrived on Market St. Tenth World Comics is now in place and open for business! Reportedly, the two upstairs apartments will soon be up for rent.


As you can see, the new building is between the parking garage and the Super Market, filling in this area quite nicely.

Another spot that has been filled in is the area beside the hotel. Thanks to the 'planting' of trees, the open area has become a woodland, helping to hide the trains as they come into -and out of- the back of the layout and also helping to make the layout look a little bigger.

Also helping to hide the trains along the back of the layout is this new group of trees visible between the Delta Building and the Bradley Building, actually placed behind both. Just tall enough to hide the tallest rolling stock, they not only help to add depth to the scene, but also some 'environmentally correct' greenery to the city!

What's next for the layout? I plan to at least finish the backdrop. I would also like to cover up the visible gap in the backdrop behind downtown (see above photo) with a tall building flat. Some more scenery/buildings along the back half of the layout would also be nice. And my ultimate goal is to add working street lights!

TOWN LIFE PT6

A loaded tractor-trailer heads out of town with a covered piece of machinery.

Trash day! A city truck makes its rounds. It's a dirty job, but somebody's gotta' do it!

Short lengths of rail sit in the yard, ready for use. Their primary use is to get the track back in action after a wreck or derailment; like most Class 1 railroads, the AP&W uses continous welded rail on it's main lines. Lately, when the rail gets replaced on the main, the old rail is starting be re-used on secondary and branch lines. The continous rail-often as long as a mile- saves on the use of rail joint bars (which join the sections of rail together) and provide a smoother ride.

The gang gather at the end of the day to swap info about track work, train movements, equipment conditions, sports scores, politics, etc.

The boys at the warehouse work on another car. Someday Tony hopes to get his own garage; but until then, he'll just have to make do!

STEAM EXCURSION PT4

AP 1645 begins her journey west bound with the excursion train. In three hours, she will be arriving in Pittsburgh, Pa.



A view of the dome cars on the head end of the train as it passes through Hillsdale Yard. Speaking of domes, notice all the tank cars in the yard as well. The white cars are for kaolin clay slurry, headed for R&O Packing Inc. -kaolin clay is used to make the shiny coating often used on smaller boxes/packages. The black tank car is for ethanol, a product moving in ever increasing numbers through the area.

A look at the train as it snakes through the yard. Thirteen stainless-steel cars make for one long - and impressive -train! Since excursion trains don't run often - and steam-powered ones even less frequently - this train is well-patronized. Between railfans, tour groups, on-line shippers' VIPs, and even retirees old enough to remember (and wanting to re-live) the pre-Amtrak days of rail travel, the train is carrying almost 500 passengers!

STEAM EXCUSION PART 3

1645 has been added to the train, the connctions made and tested, and we are now ready to go.


A view of the head end of the train, showing the dome cars. The nearest car is the diner.

Before the excursion leaves, a freight train passes through the yard.

Pulled by two AC4400's, the freight is a solid train of loaded auto-carriers headed east to distributers.

After the freight passes, the excursion departs. Bringing up the rear is a domed observation car.