TOWN LIFE PT15

A Schneider National semi rolls down County Lane. Notice that the tractor now has aerodynamic wheel discs over the drive hubs; Schneider has been installing these on many of their trucks in recent years in an effort to reduce fuel consumption.

Another truck, this time a pickup, rolls down County Lane, as a few pedestrians stroll on the sidewalk.

Yet another semi headed downtown. Note the red hubs match the red cab! Meanwhile, the homeless group gathers in front of the Salvation Army for the free lunch.

A UPS Freight semi turns onto County Lane for the trip back to the terminal; he is done with his deliveries in town.

The west end of County Lane is a bit busier; more traffic (foot and vehicle), more businesses, and -of course- more construction work! Will they EVER finish working on that sewer?

CARPACK VOL2

A look at cars in Hillsdale Yard...

Head End Power car 11 sits in the yard between excursion trips. This is the generator end of the car -note the screen on the end of the car at the top, below the "WESTERN".

A view of the vents on the end of the car. A small 700hp engine powers a alternator that generates 800kw of power for train lighting and heating/cooling. A 500gal fuel tank is installed in the other end of the carbody. Car 11 was converted from a retired heavyweight baggage car that was in M.O.W. service as a tool and supply car.

Southern 528332 is now over 40 years old, but still in her as-delivered paint scheme! Now she has painted wheelsets to match her weathered paint.

Sister car 407036 is now painted for Norfolk Southern; she, too, also now has painted wheelsets.

NOPB 7103 is a modern boxcar: outside braced, minimal lettering, and vandalized. NOPB is the New Orleans Public Belt railroad, and yes, this car also now has painted wheelsets.

Here, she sits in the yard as the ADM train passes by. Next to her is another "tagged" boxcar, this one a "home road" car -APW 302110.

ADM TRAIN PT3

The last of the ADM train...

One of the corn syrup tank cars. This is a "jumbo" 19,000 gal car; note the inset ladder on the side. Due to loading facility spacing, these newer, larger tank cars are the same length as earlier cars, just wider. The indented ladder allows the car to meet clearance rules regarding car width so it can operate in a regular train.

One of the vegetable oil cars. Note that this car has both the new "leaf" logo, and reflective striping. And both cars have gone through "wheel painting 101".

Three Evans 4780 cuft covered hoppers, in blue.

And three more Evans hoppers, in grey, with the new logo to boot.

While hard to see here, the distinguishing feature of the Evans cars is the fact that the roof has corrugations, similar to those found on the ends of boxcars.

The end of the train has two more ACF 5701 hoppers, both with the new logo, but in different locations on each car. A caboose brings up the rear. All told, the train featured 28 hoppers and 11 tank cars -and I still missed a pair of hoppers I had!

ADM TRAIN, PT2

More of the ADM train...

A look at one of the big blue hoppers, with a 5700cuft capacity.

More big blue hoppers; note the two different logos.

A trio of Airslide hoppers; two with ADM Milling logos, and the third with the current "leaf" logo.

A trio of dark grey hoppers, all with the current "leaf" logo.

The start of a string of corn syrup tank cars. Note the first one lacks the visibility striping the other two have.

More tanks, all with the current logo and visibility striping. As will be seen, not all of the tanks have the new logo, nor are they all corn syrup cars. Stay tuned...

THE ADM TRAIN, PT1

Sometimes, as a model railroader, you just say "what the heck?!" With a large collection of ADM cars, why not run them in a train, just for the fun of it?

The ADM train rolls into town.

A pair of GATX SD40-2 lease units are on the point.

The first hopper is massive Trinity 6351 cuft hopper, the next four are older ACF cars in the solid blue scheme.

More ACF hoppers, in grey and yellow.

Still more ACF hoppers, in blue and a different shade of grey.

Even more ACF hoppers, this time lettered for ADM Milling Co. And, of course, more to come...