IN THE YARDS PT14

Last week, DCL9 returned from Dale City. Now the work begins...

The caboose is left on the main while the train gets switched. The crew will be done by the time the next through freight comes by.

Will throws the switch and guides the engineer as he backs the train into the yard track.

The entire train is parked on the long track, as all of the cars are headed west. They will be added to a  passing freight that will be coming through later.

 Will checks the reefer units to make sure they are off -no need to be running if the car's empty!

With the train secured in the yard, gen-set 300 returns to the caboose to clear the main for passing traffic.

As Will checks the reefers in the background, Jason helps the engineer back into another track, to clear the main.

Engine and caboose secured, Phil and Jason talk things over. The day is not quite over yet, but close to it!

TRAIN DCL9

Local train DCL9 has returned from Dale City...

Gen-set 300 rolls into the yard, trailing several big reefers from Johnson Foods.

Brad watches as 300 pulls in with CEFX 992125 behind it.

Sister car CEFX 992142 carries the graffiti that all too often plagues these cars.

A pair of tank cars follow, having been emptied of their loads of vegetable oil.

After the tank cars, a string of hi-cube boxcars, loaded with rolls of paper from the paper mill, brings up the rear. Normally, the loaded cars would be on the head-end, but these were picked-up on the way back to Hillsdale and so were tacked on to the end of the train to simplify switching.

TOWN LIFE PT10

Another day of traffic along County Lane.

A Flying Eagle tanker rolls up County Lane, pulled by a new Freightliner Coronado raised-roof tractor (often referred to as a 'condo' due to the spacious interior; you can actually stand up beside the driver's seat!).

A man walks to  his truck after leaving Quidd's Bank. Fortunately, his trip was short, otherwise he may have gotten cited for parking too close to the fire hydrant!

The first of two new businesses on County Lane; a new Subway restaurant has opened up in the Kibri Apartment Shops.

The second new business; a T-Mobil outlet. Now all the shop spaces are (finally) occupied.

As noted in the last post, Main Street is now the downtown street, while the old Main st. is now County Lane. The reason for the change is simple; most downtowns have a 'Main Street', and Hillsdale's downtown street didn't have a name. And since the main strip leads out to the county, it's now County Lane!

DOWNTOWN CHANGES PT5

More changes to downtown...

Downtown, before.

Downtown, after. While several buildings have moved around, the real change is the addition of a new building block beside the Perfect Perk Cafe.

Three new buildings now sit on (the new) Main Street.

A photography studio and a plumbing outlet occupy two of the three buildings; the third one is currently vacant.

Tenth World Comics has been moved down the block, while the small tan building has been relocated from the other end.

Vic's Barbershop has moved next to the convenience store, while the big tan building has moved back to this end.
More new businesses have moved into town on (the new) County Lane. Stay tuned...

PASSING TRAINS PT13

Train GM407, an east-bound unit grain train, rolls into Hillsdale Yard.

On the head-end are hoppers from smaller midwestern railroads, including the two Iowa Interstate Railroad cars seen here, as well as the yellow Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern cars behind them.

Virtually any grain movement in America will include a string of BNSF hoppers; the BNSF being one the top grain haulers in the world!

Behind the BNSF cars (and also in front of them) are AP/APW hoppers.

One of the interesting cars is the first one. While it's still in it's as-delivered lettering scheme for original owner C&NW, the paint has faded from the original dark green to this blue-ish color! Many other ex-C&NW hoppers are still in dark green , but with new reporting marks as surplus hoppers have been sold off by new (as of 1996) owner Union Pacific.

Members of the yard crew inspect the train as it rolls through. Note the newer AP&W hopper has 'CHTT' reporting marks; the next hopper has 'AP' reporting marks (not seen).

The tail end of the train is all AP hoppers. GM407 runs between Chicago and Baltimore; the return train is GM408, usually all empties, but occasionally with several loaded reefers of imported fruit.