GE DEMO UNIT PT1

Towards the end of 2004, impending EPA regulations forced GE and EMD, the nation's two major locomotive builders, to redesign their respective line-ups. GE's demo unit was tested on the AP&W's Pittsburg Division in western Pennsylvania, passing through Hillsdale.

The new locomotive is here! GE 2005 is the new prototype demonstrator for the forthcomming Evolution Series. A GE rep brags about his company's latest model to the Hillsdale gang while waiting for the operating crew.

GE 2005 is a 4400hp engine; officially an ES44AC (Evolution Series, 4400hp, AC traction motors).

Built to meet tougher emissions standards, the new engine also boasts improved fuel economy as well -it has a 12-cylinder engine instead of the 16-cylinder of its predecessor, the AC4400.

The new, larger radiator not only provides improved engine cooling, but reduced emissions as well thanks to its split air/water cooling systems which provide cooler intake air to the engine. The smaller engine allows for the needed increase in cooling capacity.

Earl is on the front platform talking to the GE rep before heading inside to check out GE's latest -and to put her to the test with a loaded train!

IN THE YARDS PT9

It was previously reported that the power plant was shut down due to a failed turbine. However, this short train sitting in Hillsdale Yard tells a different story.

SD40 3163, a boxcar and an Engineering Department caboose accompany a loaded heavy-duty flatcar back from the power plant.

Norman and several other men observe the load; a worn-out boiler! The new boiler took a different route to the plant; the old one is headed for Wilson Steel Works in nearby Dale City for scrapping! With four trucks providing up to 200 tons of capacity, the flatcar is more than up to the task.

Sewells Point, the AP&W's Research and Test Car, sits in Hillsdale Yard one afternoon. Since the car will be here overnight, the men check the car over. They will check it again tomorrow before they leave -there's alot of electronic gear onboard!

At night, the car is illuminated by the new lights on the west end of the yard. The Budweiser sign stands out in the background!

The lights are left on in the interior, allowing a look inside at the desks and computers that the engineers use on the road. Usually placed on the tail end of the train, Sewells Point has sensors that monitor train handling performance at various speeds, helping the railroad run its trains safely at speed -critical for company that makes its money on fast freights!

TURN ON THE LIGHTS PT3

I have now put in the rest of the streetlights along Main Street (for now)...

Here they are, installed along the near side of Main St. They only go to the end of the plywood board, not the end of the (still un-finished) street. The houses on the end are still in the dark.

The second two lights I installed, across from the KFC and Domino's.

The same scene at night.

Main Street at night!

Now Hillsdale can really come alive at night. More lighting has been planned for Bank Street, along with a few vehicles with working headlights! While I could add vehicles with working lights along Main and other streets, for one thing it would get expensive due to the number of vehicles. Plus, not all vehicles can be equipped with headlights. Finally, I regularly swap out cars and trucks on the layout, so having them wired into place is impractical. Due to the relative inaccessability of Bank Street, however, lighted vehicles can be used since the cars on that street rarely even get touched!

TURN ON THE LIGHTS PT2

As noted in a previous post, I replaced the foam board underneath Main Street and replaced it with a length of plywood.
Here is the layout while the work was in progress. I also redid the back side as well, so now the grass strip has been moved. The two building halves on the back portion are not going to stay there; I don't know where this building will go once it's completed.

The buildings along Main Street have been put back in place; now the road can go back, along with the vehicles. Then the yard and main line will be clear for that freight train to pass through! With a solid board underneath, I was now able to drill holes and add streetlights.

The previous post showed the new twin lights on the west end of the yard; now here's the new twin lights on the east end.

With both ends of the yard now lighted, the workers can see what they're doing at night -and spot suspicious activity as well; vandalism of cars in the yard was starting to rise.

The first of the Main Street lights went up across the street from the alleyway behind The Pub. Given the location, any extra lighting in this area is a plus!

TURN ON THE LIGHTS, PT1

I've been busy recently adding lights to the layout, as you'll see...
One of the maintenance workers looks up at the newly installed twin light at the west end of Hillsdale Yard.

The new night scene.

Another shot, with a bit more exposure to show how bright the area now is at night. One of the reasons Hillsdale Yard had relatively light traffic at night was the lack of lighting, which makes switching difficult and dangerous. Now operations can be run around the clock more efficiently!

A final view of the new light.

An overall night shot. Of course, many more lights have been added, so stay tuned!