NEW ADDITION

 A new structure has recently been added...

A new shed is being built for the MOW vehicles.

The foundation has been poured and the support beams have been erected, as the workers begin the process of spreading the gravel approaches to the stalls.

The bulldozer operator is ready to climb back in his equipment and begin moving the gravel as soon as the dump truck finishes unloading. The dozer will do all the heavy shoving, the other workers will simply finish the surface and edges.

The contractor's trucks sit off to the side. The first truck has a water tank for dust control.

The walls and roof are up, and the approaches are finished.

The bulldozer is loaded onto the trailer, and the men are finishing up.

The completed structure. Walls and roof are tan, the interior is white.

The bulldozer is hauled off, and the rest of the contractor's workers, trucks and equipment will soon follow. Job well done!

IN THE YARDS PT 18

 Final week of the year, Hillsdale Yard is still busy...

A Union Pacific reefer, ARMN 111482, awaits delivery to Johnson Foods.

Its companion, ARMN 111177, is still clean of graffiti. Both are loaded with fresh produce from California.

TILX 252705 is carrying vegetable oil.

GACX 8176 is specially painted for Feeding America.

CITX 775259 is a fellow pressure-differential hopper, both are carrying flour.

A pair of corn syrup tank cars round out the string. More such tank cars will soon show up for delivery to City Fizz -soda consumption hasn't slowed down any!

THE HOLIDAY RUSH

 The last days before Christmas...

Downtown traffic, including a semi which just dropped off goods at the Super Market.

Another delivery for the Super Market; the Real Thing.

The UPS driver with a package for Miss Anne's Candy Store. The store makes old-fashioned hard candy, which is quite popular this time of year!

A bigger UPS semi rolls goods from KIDCO out of town. If it's overnight, UPS will get it there!

An A&R bulk semi with flour for Hubbard Bakery rolls in. A lot of holiday cakes and pastries are being baked and sent out!

Holiday travel includes Greyhound.

One of the two plastic hoppers for Pete's Plastics.

The other hopper has a large, colorful "Christmas" graphic painted on its side.

A large ex-Golden West boxcar for Pete's and an MR&T hopper loaded with crushed slag for Hillsdale's road department (used for traction coating on icy roads and bridges). 

A pair of tank cars loaded with anhydrous ammonia for Keystone Fertilizers, to replenish the local supply for area farmers.

UTLX 952566 has the newer style long platform, which is safer than the older style walkway along the top of the car without handrails, like the other car.

And to all: MERRY CHRISTMAS!

THE CHRISTMAS TRAIN

 

The annual Christmas Train arrives!

The two engines now have PTC equipment installed; note the long antenna domes on the roofs.

As the train rolls past, notice the colorful "Christmas" graffiti on the hopper in the yard!

Rounding the curve, we see something different...

A trio of new cars!

A North Pole Ornament Artisans car and a Claus Candy Cane Company car are two colorful additions to the train.

And a colorful reefer carries cookies for Santa. He can't work without his cookies!

The two Polar Express cars are carrying, as usual. eager kids enjoying their Make-A-Wish dream come true with a train ride!

And, of course, caboose 1256 brings up the rear.

Santa's helper waves as the Christmas Train passes through. Due to the added cars, the train will no longer fit in the yard without fouling the main, so it keeps going. The kids of Hillsdale House will be driven to meet the train in Dale City, so they will still get presents -and meet Santa!

IN THE YARDS PT 17

 The Hillsdale crew is assembling a local run to Dale City...

A cut of loaded woodchip hoppers is first up. Chris plays brakeman, while Ricardo is the engineer.

Chris watches as the loaded hoppers (finally) move out of their siding.

Kaolin tank cars are on the other end of the "paper mill" string. Here, Chris has thrown the switch for the next siding, and waits for Ricardo to back onto it.

A set of reefers for Johnson Foods is next.

The cars are coupled. Next, Chris will join the air lines so Ricardo can release the brakes on the reefers and move the cars.

Note there are two tank cars in the local. The string of boxcars is next to be added.

The two Railbox cars are headed to Johnson Foods as well; loaded with packaging for all the products that they sell.

A third Railbox car is headed to City Fizz, with a load of plastic bottles. The Johnson Foods cars will be dropped off first, so being at the end of the train won't be a problem.

Chris watches as the train backs up to the boxcars.

The couple is made. Again, Chris will connect the air hoses, so that Ricardo can pump up the air and release the brakes for movement.

With the train assembled. Tim places the EOT on the rear. The Dale City local -trains GPL10, DCL8, and DCL12 combined- is now ready to head out!