IN THE YARDS PT16

A short "parts" train sits in Hillsdale Yard, ready for a trip to a local power plant.

The first car is an empty "idler" flatcar, used to add extra braking to the short, but heavy train.

The second car is a heavy-duty, four-trucked, flatcar, carrying a brand-new turbine to replace the plant's old one.

The last car (before the caboose) is a depressed center flatcar, designed for tall loads such as this compressor segment. While the load would actually still be within modern-day clearances if it was on a regular flat, the 'drop-center' flat allows it to fit within the older clearances still found on most secondary lines. While the load is 12' tall, the flatcar deck is only 2' high, instead of the normal 4'; at 14' total height, the loaded car is shorter that the locomotive!

The run to the power plant will be handled by Ricardo and Bill. While a short run, it is an unscheduled extra -thus, per union contract, it comes with a small pay bonus!

PASSING TRAINS PT18

The westbound Steel City rolls through town with it's typical short train.

What's atypical is the last car, a seasonal addition; a dome car for fall tree watchers!

An unscheduled extra out of Uniontown arrives in Hillsdale, with cars for local delivery. The first two cars are going to Dale City; the paper mill and Johnson Foods respectively.

There are also four tank cars of molten sulfur for Keystone Fertilizers, a local fertilizer plant (sulfur is used in fertilizers among other things). The last two cars are for RO Packaging.

Two of the sulfur cars. Note that while both are owned by TGOX, they are painted -and stenciled- differently. Along with fertilizers, sulfur is also used in paints, detergents, fungicides, paper, glass and explosives(!).  The cars are insulated to keep the material in its liquid state -250-290 degrees!

FALL EXCURSIONS PT2

Another fall train...

The star of this fall is engine 1645! Built in 1942, the big 2-8-4 locomotive is one of two members of the APRR's K-4 class of Berkshire engines remaining -and the only one still operational. Keeping up an 82-year-old steamer requires a small army of workers; here a relative skeleton crew performs the final preps to get her ready, as the engineer and fireman wait by the cab to board her.

With the ongoing restoration of N&W J 611 and UP Big Boy 4014, steam excursions may be the "in thing" in the near future!

Here she comes! Traveling between D.C. and Pittsburgh 1645 rolls westward under the bridge.

As appropriate for a fall train, domes dominate the short train, including this ex-Santa Fe full dome.

While only a five-car consist, it still makes a handsome train behind the equally handsome engine.

The ex-Santa Fe full dome car dates back to 1954, when it was built by Budd for the San Francisco Chief as a "Big Dome", with a bar, lounge and crew dormitory on the lower level. After its Santa Fe days, it went to Auto Train; after Auto Train's demise, it went through several more owners before ending up with Railcar Charter Service, who restored it to its former glory.

The other two domes are ex-APRR, veterans of the Alton Limited; a Chicago to St. Louis train the the APRR inherited from its 1947 acquisition of the Alton Railroad. The train was upgraded in the mid-50's with stainless steel cars from Budd Car Co., including these domes. While many of the railroad's passenger cars were sold off in the 70's, some remained, and are now part of the AP&W's business/excursion fleet.

Bringing up the rear are the Railcar Charter Service's other two cars. While not giving as impressive a view as the dome cars, they do offer more style and comfort.

VETERAN'S DAY TRAIN

To celebrate our nation's veterans, the AP&W is running a special train, EVDS14 (Extra, Veteran's Day Special), across the system...

While a short train, it is still a very special one!

SD40 3174 is a replacement for the engine originally scheduled to pull this train; engine 91101, a specially painted GE Dash 8-40B that, unfortunately, is out of service with engine trouble.

Next up is a full-dome passenger car, honoring the Prisoners Of War and the Missing In Action. The slogan on the side says it all!

The boxcar honors the branches of our nation's military.

Lastly, the caboose is a replica of the actual caboose owned and operated by Camp Pendleton, as it looked during the Desert Storm era. As a side note, the real caboose is currently on display at the USMC Mechanized Museum at Camp Pendleton.

To all my fellow vets, Happy Veteran's Day!

FALL EXCURSIONS PT1

Once again, it's fall. Time for some "foliage trains"!

The Dinner Belle engine is parked outside the shop, overhauled and ready to go! It must be a cool day; note the door is closed behind the engine.

Later, we see engine 1 leading DB-P 103, the westbound Dinner Belle, on her way to Pittsburgh.

 Car 100 is one of two ex-Union Pacific dome cars in the train; both were bought, along with a third sister, from Auto-Train when the latter went bankrupt in 1981 and sold off its assets. Compare the location of the dome on this car with the dome location on the other car.

 Car 104 is an ex-New York Central dining car. It has no actual kitchen; it is a full-seats car, with a 68-seat capacity. It is used to serve the extra passengers who ride during the fall. This car, and sister 105, once served on the world famous 20th Century Limited; not only do they no longer serve exclusive clientele, they also no longer see either New York City or Chicago!

 The actual kitchen is in this dining car, #102, another ex-UP car purchased from Auto-Train.

The final car, #110, is the other ex-UP dome car. It has been heavily modified by the AP&W; the most obvious change is the (highly popular) rear picture window, but the interior layout has also been reversed, placing the dome at the rear of the car. The seats in the dome have also been replaced -with recliners!