PASSING TRAINS PT33; THE OIL TRAIN

With all the hoopla over unit oil trains lately, now one passes through Hillsdale!

This train is short -note the single unit pulling it.

That unit is 1960; the Erie Lackawanna heritage unit.

An old GATX Airslide covered hopper serves as a buffer car on the front end of the train.

The "oil cans" are Trinity Rail Car's latest design, equipped with end shields to help protect against punctures in derailments.

The yard crew waves as they prepare to inspect the train as it rolls past, looking for any problems that may lead to trouble.

While relatively short, the train may seem endless to those watching. How many of those riding past on County Lane or in the buildings alongside are holding their breath at the prospect of a fiery derailment?

The end of the train has another GATX Airslide and a BNSF hopper for rear-end buffer protection.

The train heads out of town, and on its way east to an unloading facility in Delaware.While this train was only 23 cars long, in the future not only will there be more such trains, but they will be a lot longer; 75-100 cars. While the route through Hillsdale was chosen due to the fact it traverses largely rural areas, the onus is still on making sure the AP&W doesn't add to the list of oil train derailments. This route will be inspected more often than required to reduce the likelihood of tragedy.

PASSING TRAINS PT32

Continuing last week's train...

After all the Hub boxes, here is a spine car with a Sea Star and a Universal container load.

More Hub boxes.

An EMP box and a pair of JB Hunt boxes, with a trio of trailers on the end.

The first trailer is actually a container on a chassis; this is actually more common than one would think!

The EOT flashes as the last car rolls past. The caboose has been gone from mainline trains for nearly thirty years, yet they still seem "naked" without one!

PASSING TRAINS PT31

Train ND39, the New York City -Dayton, Ohio intermodal train rolls into Hillsdale.

The lead unit is a late-model GE unit; ES44AC 9485.

The second unit is an even newer GE, Delaware & Hudson heritage unit 1990.

The train stops for a rare crew change; normally, the crew stays on board the entire run, but a derailment caused a lengthy delay, necessitating the crew change.

Once underway again, the train displays a load of HUB Group containers, as well as a few ex-STAX containers now owned by CSX.

A pair of Swift boxes are mixed in -riding in an FEC car which stands out among the TTX cars.

Still more HUB containers, in white and red.
As is usually the case, this train is long enough for two posts; see you next week!