THE 60'S PT2

Once again, back to the 60's...

A wrecker outfit was often stationed in Hillsdale, until the early 80's, when most of the "big hook" cranes were retired.

The crane is still steam-powered from its 1940 build date; it will be retired as such in 1980.

A gondola is used as a holder for pre-fabricated track panels; a 40' car for the then-standard 39' track sections. The pre-fabricated track panels helped to quickly get the line back up and in service after a derailment.

A flatcar is also ready for track panel sections, and the tank car holds water; both for the steam-powered crane and for use in putting out any potential hot spots while cleaning up a wreck.

Finally, a boxcar holds tools and supplies, while a "drover" caboose holds additional supplies and the clean-up crew.While infrequent, wrecks did occur, amd each season nad its headaches. During the fall, wet leaves on the rails caused a loss of traction, leading to slipping and minor derailments of motive power. Winter was another bad time, with ice on the rails, and heavy snow was known to derail trains that tried to push through it. And heavy rains in the spring or summer could cause a washout or mis-alignment of the track -which wouldn't be known until the approaching train went through it (and derailed).

Nothing but trucks outside the shop! Note the two Dodges, especially the red A100; Dodge converted a van into a pickup basically by cutting down the body!

During this time, the furniture factory was  still in operation; note the string of double-door boxcars on the siding. Note also, the DT&I boxcar; it will be headed to Ohio. The DT&I itself will be purchased by the Appalachian RR in 1980, and merged into the AP&W in 1986. The Southern, of course, merged with the Norfolk & Western in 1982, to form the modern Norfolk Southern.

THE 60'S, PT1

Now, for a look back at Hillsdale in the 60's...

Traffic on the bridge, including a classic Ford Fairlane.

Before it was Tony's Garage, it was State Line Farm Supply. The lot is full of farm equipment, and a truck has entered with a load of feed bags. Note the original appearance of Tony's tow truck as it passes by its future home.

Several 50's classics are seen here, including a '57 Chevy Bel Air, a '53 Cadillac Eldorado convertible and a '49 Mercury coupe.

A then brand-new delivery truck for Smitty Lumber rolls past the lot for J&S Trucking. Note the intermodal trailers lined up. Of course, today this lot is now Domino's Pizza.

A 50's Buick pulls an Airstream camping trailer along County Lane, behind a tanker delivery truck.

The tanker is a 40's vintage Chevy, working for Phillips 66. While still going strong here, it will soon be retired and replaced. Behind it is a mid-50's Ford Fairlane.

GPL 10

Train GPL10, the local to the paper mill in Dale City, prepares to depart...

Some of the boxcars are seen in this view.

A string of hi-cube boxcars sits in the yard as well.

Amid the boxcars are several kaolin tank cars and woodchip gondolas.

Gen-set 300 begins with the loaded woodchip cars; the heaviest of the bunch.

Then the boxcars are added.

Among the cars are these two Canadian cars for carrying newsprint.

As usual, the tank cars are last. This is for ease of switching at the mill; the tank cars will be going into a separate part of the mill beyond where the boxcars are dropped off. In fact, the whole train is blocked for the mill; the woodchip gons will be dropped off first, then the empty boxcars for loading, then the loaded boxcars for unloading, then finally the kaolin tank cars for unloading. The process is largely reversed for the cars returning back to Hillsdale, except that the empty tank cars are placed behind the loaded boxcars for better handling.

SNOW APPROACHES

Winter weather is on the way!

A pair of snow blowers sit outside Glover Park Hardware. At the start of the week, there were five!

One of the city's trucks just got a tune-up at Tony's Garage, and is now ready to go -snowplow, salt spreader and all.

A much larger plow truck also is ready for the snow. This one will plow the highway (Pennsylvania Route 281).

As two shop men sit outside on break, the snow shovel is at the ready behind them, along with a salt container beside the a/c unit. Luckily for them, the parking lot will be cleared by a local contractor with a plow; otherwise that would be a lot of shoveling!

Another shovel and salt box sit outside the office. Again, the lot will be plowed by a contractor.

Dale Williams talks with Paul. Note yet another snow shovel in the bed of the utility vehicle!

The railroad has broken out the Russel snowplow, X 11. Obviously, serious snowfall is expected!

The usual gang has shown up at the Salvation Army shelter. Not only will they get a hot meal, but they will also get much needed shelter from the coming storm.

PASSING TRAINS PT40; GOING HOME

Amtrak engine 188 leads the Steel City Express eastward to Pittsburgh.

Returning travelers home from the seaboard, the train has the usual Amfleet coaches.

But, tacked onto the end, are a pair of private cars.

Railcar Charter Service teamed up with Amtrak over the holiday to offer private service between Pittsburgh and Washington, D.C.

With their classy purple and silver paint, the two cars add an elegant touch to the train. And when was the last time you saw an observation on the end of an Amtrak train?!