PASSING TRAINS PT57; GM408 PT2

Last week we saw GM408 enter Hillsdale. More of the train...

Another hopper with CHTT reporting marks and the new 'star' logo, but with the all-too-common graffiti.

A hopper leased from GATX. The Union Pacific uses CMO reporting marks for leased hopper cars.

Another GATX hopper, this one with GATX reporting marks. It is also a larger hopper than the previous one; 5188 cuft vs 5161 cuft.

An end-to-end comparison of the two designs; Trinity 5161 on the left, and the slightly larger Gunderson 5188 on the right.

Another Trinity 5161 is this hopper with minimal lettering. The CEI, formally the Chicago & Eastern Illinois, was purchased by AP&W predecessor APRR in the late 60's, along with its subsidiary the Chicago Heights Terminal & Transfer (CHTT). Like the UP's CMO hoppers, these CEI cars are leased.
More next week!

PASSING TRAINS 57; GM408 PT1

Hillsdale has a new visitor... from another country!

Canadian National SD40-2W stops just inside the yard limits with the inbound DCL9. While Canadian locomotives may seem out of place in southwestern Pennsylvania, remember that the CN purchased the US Steel-owned Bessemer & Lake Erie in the early 2000's. Still, the sight of a Canadian-built SD40-2 -with a wide cab no less- is a rare treat for the local railfans. They'll be eager to get their shots of this one!

As usual, DCL9 has lots of reefers from Johnson Foods.

The reason for the stopped local; a passing GM408, behind a pair of GE ES44AC's, the lead unit wearing the 'star' scheme. Chris is at track side, to perform the traditional roll-by inspection.

The second ES44AC is a leased Citirail unit. Its silver and blue paint with yellow handrails and striping provide a colorful contrast with the solid brown 'dip job' of the lead unit.

A pair of hoppers with 'star' logos and CHTT reporting marks lead the way. With a train of empties, only two locomotives are needed. Of course, whether empty or loaded, a true railfan enjoys the cars behind the engines; without them, the motive power is useless!
More next week...

IN THE YARDS PT42

A line utility truck sits outside the shop, as a worker takes his break. Not long after this photo was taken, the company erected the awning over the break area.

Phil got into a car wreck, and is now on crutches as he makes his way to the office. Unfortunately, he'll be out of work for several months with a broken leg -and his car was totaled. The good news is that the other driver was at fault, so he will get compensation for his car and injuries - the law office of  Gerrard Dimplemann will make sure of it!

A three-unit spine car got dropped off by a passing intermodal train due to a brake defect. The car will be repaired in the shop and returned to service as soon as possible; those containers are loaded!

This delivery truck, used to ship parts between the AP&W's various shops in the Pittsburgh Division, is painted as a tribute to the Rock Island, which AP&W predecessor APRR tried to acquire after the UP-RI merger was dismissed. The APRR still wound up with a large amount of the Rock's assets, as it and the UP were the two biggest share holders at the time of its 1980 shutdown.
In addition to this truck, there are other Rock-inspired pieces of equipment around the system, including a GE Dash 9-44CW painted in the Rock Island's 1950's black and red scheme.

Jake prepares to climb into the cab and roll off with a storage trailer. The tractor is lettered for APMT (APpalachian Motor Transport), the trucking subsidiary of the APRR. It still exists today under the AP&W, moving trailers and containers around the system, and offering local pickup and delivery to customers from intermodal hubs. Both the tractor, a KW T600A and the trailer, a Pines 45' van, date back to the mid 90's (hence the reason the trailer is being used for storage).

A much newer semi is this brand-new Volvo VNR300. Behind it are a pair of 20' containers on chassis, and in the far left distance, you can see an old Ford LNT 9000, from the 80's!

TOWN LIFE; PT58 TRUCKS

A man on a motor scooter rides up County Lane.  Even though it's warm out, he still wears a jacket; the rushing wind of  being on a scooter at 35mph can chill you out real quick!

What will also chill you is being passed by a semi going in the opposite direction! A JB Hunt rig rolls by with a well-used container. While JB Hunt keeps most of its equipment in good shape, some of their containers can get pretty grimy and rusty over time. (I weathered this container based on a actual one I saw and photographed.)

A much cleaner container is this MOL 40' box. This is the new scheme, replacing the old silver container with the crocodile logo. In 2018, MOL merged with NYK and K-Line to form ONE (Ocean Network Express), with pink containers! They also have grey containers with pink lettering. However, given the number of containers already in use by the three companies, the old paint schemes will be around for years to come. Note the tractor is a Freightliner Cascadia day cab with rear wheel covers to improve aerodynamics (and save fuel).

Another Freightliner Cascadia, this one with a high-roof sleeper, works for Transport America. Like other trucks, it is headed for the warehouses to drop off  merchandise for the internet retailer.

Hillsdale's newest vehicle is this Mack LR side-loader refuse truck. It replaces the old rear-loading truck the city used for many years. In addition to being easier to load -the truck loads itself- it is also more efficient; note that only one man is needed, not two! Note also that instead of an articulating arm, this truck uses a vertical track -ideal for tight alleyways.

HAPPY FOURTH!

I can't give you an HO scale fireworks display, but I CAN give you the America units!

Unit 1776 leads another train east, followed by her compatriots.

Another view of 1776.

Trailing unit 1876.

And 1976.

The three climb uphill and on towards Baltimore.
Happy 4th of July!