IN THE YARDS PT 4

SD40 3167 idles in Hillsdale Yard between jobs. Work caboose 12 is also in the yard, with the crew relaxing on the deck.

Two covered hoppers sit in the yard. The Engelhard hopper is headed for a paper mill in nearby Dale City, while the CSX hopper is headed to a glassworks plant with a load of sand.

This boxcar was painted by the Wisconsin & Southern to celebrate model train manufacturer Athearn's 60th aniversary last year. It was found in Hillsdale yard waiting to be sent to a food processor in Dale City for loading.

AP&W AC4400 8919 sits in the yard between runs. Primarily used on coal runs, the big unit can also be found on manifest freights, unit grain trains, and even intermodal trains. One of 50 units delivered by GE in 2002, 8919 meets EPA Tier 1 emissions standards. It was also one of the first units to wear the post-9-11 paint scheme of solid earth brown with black frame, walkways, hand rails, trucks and underbody.

Two tracks over are a string of high-cube 50' boxcars destined for the local paper mill and designed to carry stacked rolls of paper. Finally, on the outer track, are two cars for Smitty Lumber; a flatcar of wallboard, and an all-door boxcar loaded with wallboard as well.

SMITTY LUMBER

One of the local business in Hillsdale that receives rail service is Smitty Lumber. About once or twice a week, they receive a carload of lumber; such as this centerbeam bulkhead flatcar loaded with Lignum wood, wrapped to protect the lumber from the elements (and graffiti!).

About once or twice a month Smitty Lumber also receives a carload of wallboard, such as this bulkhead flatcar loaded with USG wallboard. It, too, is wrapped for protection.

One of Smitty Lumber's new GMC flatbed trucks heads into town to make a delivery. They also have box trucks as well as a tractor-trailer for large deliveries; including pallets delivered to local shippers.

Another local rail customer is R O Packing Inc. They receive a boxcar or two a week of paperboard and/or cardboard material and make finished boxes and packaging products. They sometimes ship products out by rail as well, especially to distant customers- one of their biggest customers is a mail-order operation in New-York.

TOWN LIFE PT2

A Union Ice truck waits for traffic to clear before pulling out the alley after making a delivery to The Pub.

The Sheriff and two other cops take a lunch break together at the Hickory Pit.

A cabbie waits for traffic to pass before getting back into his cab. Was he just buying a plane ticket?

One of J&S trucking's new Peterbuilt 389's rolls down Main Street, past the company's old location (now the Domino's), showing why they moved to the outskirts of town. Imagine trying to drive one of these giants into and out of that parking lot daily!