PASSING TRAINS PT53, (1)

Train NP71 rolls into Hillsdsle behind a pair of AC4400's.

As the train passes through Hillsdale Yard, a string of two bay covered hoppers is seen on the head end,

Returning from the Northeast, these cars carry everything from sand to cement, roofing granules and lime. Note the pair of pink Halliburton hoppers -they really stand out among their grey counterparts!

Still more hoppers! Some of these cars also carry corn syrup solids -used in McGriddles!

A well-worn pair of three-bay hoppers.

A Winchester & Western hopper. a carbon black hopper, and a tank car for hydrochloric acid (hence the brown band).
More to come...

TOWN LIFE PT34

A local refuse truck makes its morning rounds.

The lake patrol heads back to the lake after getting their boat shopped with new motors.

A Big A Construction truck heads in for fuel while working a job outside of town.

A motor grader owned by the city of Hillsdale heads out on a job. An area is being cleared for a new park.

A man leaves the clothing store with his purchase. When the weather is nice, even men enjoy shopping!

A young woman enjoys ice cream, while a older woman enters the convenience store. The difference in ages is apparent by the choice of clothing of each woman!

INDEPENDENCE DAY (CONT.)

The rest of  the Independence Day train...

The first two Auto Max cars are adorned in the latest logos of both the AP&W and the BNSF.

More Auto Max's are in the as-delivered scheme for the AP&W.

This TTX car is the lone tri-level car in the train!

A Canadian Pacific rack leads a string of articulated bi-levels.

A pair of NS racks. Note that the cars have white-painted roofs, instead of unpainted galvanized steel.

More NS racks, this time a pair of articulated racks.

More articulated bi-levels, this time owned by TTX.
On a sad note, on the 4th of July, my friend and fellow Navy vet and model railroader Charles "Chuck" Hladik passed away. The water tower on the layout, seen at the extreme right of the photo, was given to me, in kit form, by him. Farewell and flowing seas my friend.

INDEPENDENCE DAY

My health issues are mostly behind me; I am now free to continue modelling!

The America units roll into town with AT57, the Detroit-Baltimore auto train. Today's train is carrying SUV's to the east coast.

While 1776 is in the lead as usual, 1976 and 1876 are reversed from their normal order.

The head end is loaded with Gunderson AutoMax cars, from both BNSF and the AP&W.

The train stops for a crew change, before continuing east.

As the train leaves Hillsdale, it passes an old company truck from the 80's, still lettered for predecessor Appalachian Railroad!

The string of AutoMax cars stretches long. A look at some of them as well as other cars next week.