BACKDROP EXTENDED

Nothing like a two-week plant shutdown to give you time to work on the layout! As you can see, I have extended the backdrop farther along the wall, also expanding the overall feel of the layout.
This view shows the backdrop extension. This looks much better than white-painted cinderblock!

The backdrop now goes nearly to the end of the wall. It previously ended before the ceiling support beam.
While I was at it, I decided to finally assemble and paint a Blair Line billboard I'd had sitting around for about two years! This is the result.

THE LOCAL

SD40 3163 pulls into Hillsdale yard with a short freight. This view shows the white-painted snowplow, an early attempt to increase visibility at grade crossings.
This shot shows the Operation Lifesaver graphics applied to this unit- the only SD40 so marked.
This going away shot shows the first two boxcars in the train. The first car is a 'newsprint' car, so named because it was designed to carry rolls of newsprint paper. Now the Daily Examiner can keep printing the news!

With a M.O.W. utility truck parked in the foreground, 3163 heads out on another local run.


With another string of boxcars in tow, 3163 heads for the industrial park in Dale City.

IN THE YARDS PT3

Three loads of sewer pipe sit in Hillsdale yard. The cars were originally built to carry pulpwood, but the railroad also found them good for carrying large pipes as well.

Like most modern railroads, the AP&W sees its share of freight car graffiti!

THE M.O.W. LOT

The new shop for the work crews now has air conditioning, after one was installed in the previously un-modified rear door. Now, will it see a coat of paint?Sam looks on in amazement at Bill's old 'Junkyard Dog'. Judging by the 'Coat of Many Colors', the truck may well have been assembled at the junkyard!

Jim finishes his breakfast- and Bob finishes his nap- in the back of the truck while Bill and Ray discuss the day's work.
This car hauler got lost while looking for the Chrysler dealership. While there is a Ford dealership in Hillsdale, the Chrysler one is 10 miles south in Dale City. Judging by the number of cars on the truck, business is a bit slow.

IN THE YARDS PT2

GP50 4087 pulls a special movement train through Hillsdale. The generator is heading to the Gulf Coast to provide power for a storm-damaged area.

How to move an over-sized load? With a GP50, a M.O.W. boxcar, a gondola, a heavy-duty flatcar, a track-cleaning car(!) and two cabooses.

The AP&W's business car, the CHEROKEE, sits in Hillsdale yard on a warm summer afternoon.

A businessman waits on the platform of the car. Converted in the late 50's by the APRR from a Budd coach, the CHEROKEE was named after one of the AP's passenger trains at the time. It often travels in the company of the AP&W's other business cars, bringing up the rear. Today, however, it's traveling solo. The Cherokee name was also used to promote fast freight service.

The next day, a Union Pacific GE ES44AC (called a C45ACCTE by the UP) sits in Hillsdale Yard alongside a short string of ethanol tank cars. The ES44AC is GE's newest locomotive, designed to meet the latest EPA emissions regulations. Though the AP&W has purchased 400 of these engines- and 300 of EMD's equivalent SD70ace's- unfortunately, few are seen in Hillsdale. The newest power currently seen are GE AC4400's built in 2000-20003 and EMD SD70MAC's built in the late 90's. These units were displaced from the western half of the system by the newer deliveries and have, in turn, displaced older engines in the Hillsdale area.

IN THE YARDS

Three locomotives roll into Hilldale Yard to pick up a short string of piggyback flatcars.

The flats are loaded with UPS trailers.GP50 4087 leads the consist. One of 25 built in 1980 for AP&W predecessor APRR, it was delivered as AP 4687 and used primarily on fast TOFC freights. Like most railroads, the AP&W found EMD's 50-series units to be troublesome; most were retired by 2000 and either returned to their lessors or sold.

The other two units, GP40-2's 2650 and 2649, are also ex-AP units, 4640 and 4649 respectively. Two of ten units delivered in 1979, they were also purchased for fast freights and TOFC (Trailer On FlatCar) service and joined 40 other GP40-2's delivered in 1977. After the merger, they continued in this service into the early 90's, when they were supplanted by new GE C40-8W's and EMD SD60M's and placed in general and local freight service. Many are still on the roster today.

MAIN STREET PT4

Here is a view of downtown Hillsdale during the early 80's.This is Hillsdale today. Vehicles change, but the city stays the same.

The view down Main Street. Note the hedges along the yard, I still hadn't finished placing them when this picture was taken. This does show, however, the edge of the foam board that I was trying to hide from view. The above photos show the end result.

The delivery truck for Funiture & More is parked out front and ready to be loaded for a local delivery (for a fee of course!).

The afternoon rush hour.

MAIN STREET PT3

A young couple prepares to place an order at the KFC take-out, while a construction worker from across the street head in to get lunch for the crew.

While the utility work across the street goes on, a man places an order at Domino's.

Another view of Domino's. Note the phone stand on the side, along with the '72 Chevy.

A group of bikers hang out behind The Pub. Along with the two bikes there is also a customized Ford F100 parked out back. Note the window A/C unit cooling the upstairs office.

This is a view of the J&S Trucking Company office shortly before it was torn down in 2001 to make way for the new Domino's. After fifty-five years in this spot, J&S moved to a new location just outside of town that had more room for their truck fleet. The new location also is easier to get in and out of with 70' + tractor-trailers!

MAIN STREET PT2

A local florist checks out a vacant storefront at the Kibri apartments. A new business moving in?

Diners eat at the Hickory Pit Bar-B-Q. The spare ribs and pulled pork sandwiches are quite popular!

A view of the downtown block. From left to right; Miss Amy's House of Candy, the Hickory Pit Bar-B-Q, Wilson Insurance (now vacant), and The Daily Examiner.

Utility construction is in progress as the work crew has blocked off one lane of Main Street.

The utility crew prepares to go to work replacing a broken gas pipe. Across the street can be seen the KFC and Domino's Pizza carry-out restaurants.

MAIN STREET

This is a shot of Main Street looking towards the Market Street intersection. Looking from the left; we see The Daily Examiner, The Pub, and the furniture store.

Here we see the furniture store. In the background is the former Bradley Building, currently being refurbished for a new use (stay tuned...).

These are the Kibri Apartments. Currently, only one of the street-level shops are occupied, but hopefully the other three won't be vacant for long. Next door is the former First National Bank building. It, too, is currently vacant.

Here we see the World Travel Service Agency. Around the corner is Cooper's Insurance Agency.

TOWN LIFE

Two men load a sofa in front of the furniture store on Main Street.

Mr. Sanders and his wife kiss goodbye before they each head off to work.

Two women stop to chit-chat while one walks her dog. Meanwhile, the couple in the pickup head for the trails to go ATV ridding.

Two men sit in front of the travel agency discussing the news while an elderly couple fawns over an infant nearby. Meanwhile, a kid tries to talk his mother into going into Miss Amy's candy store, named- appropriately- 'Death By Chocolate'!

A MOW work crew relaxes on the rear deck of caboose #12 as a supervisor checks up on the day's accomplishments. Meanwhile, a coal drag rolls through Hillsdale Yard headed back to the mines.