IN THE YARDS PT5

Sam and Jim converse before Sam gets back in the yard tractor and takes the trailer to another storage lot. Apparently, the internet warehouse now carries Athearn products!

Later, Briggs and Lance talk outside the shop. Looks like a new shipment of parts has arrived.

With internet security being a big issue these days, STCS, Satellite Telecom Security, has been called in to upgrade both the computer system and the software.

A visitor to the yard; NS 8888, one of their unique standard cab Dash 9's.

Since it is equipped with a standard cab, the a/c unit is on the roof, instead of under the cab, as with a safety (wide) cabbed unit. The NS was the only railroad to order GE's Dash 9 with the standard cab, but they quickly switched over to the wide cabs; reportedly, GE made the wide cab "standard", and the standard cab an extra-cost option in an effort to lower costs and streamline production.

At the rear, the unit features ditch lights. Sadly, these units are no more, as they have all been rebuilt into AC44C6M's; new locomotives with AC traction motors -and brand new wide cabs. In 2013 8888 was repainted into NS' then-new "horsehead" scheme, then was rebuilt in 2017. Both jobs were done at the ex-Conrail Juniata shop in Altoona, Pa.

Smitty Lumber is delivering a load of plywood to the Hillsdale Shops. The boards will be used for repairing boxcar and trailer interior walls.

The trailer dropped off last week now sits alone in the lot. While now retired from interstate hauling duties, it will still see usage storing parts and other materials - a mobile warehouse.

Tie replacement is an ongoing thing on railroads, and the AP&W is no different. Here, a centerbeam bulkhead flatcar is loaded with brand new ties.

And the old ties fill a string of gondolas beside it. Note the string of empty rock hoppers beside them.

A Case excavator sits on a flatcar at the end of the string of gons. Originally designed for demolition service, it is now in used tie collection service; not only is the grapple good for collecting piles of ties, but the elevating cab makes it easier for the operator to see over the tops of the gons.

TOWN LIFE PT6; TRUCKS

 

One of the new ONE containers rolls into town. ONE (Ocean Network Express) was formed in 2018 by the merger of NYK, K Line, and MOL.

An Alliance Shippers reefer rolls out of town after delivering to the grocery warehouse.

Another container, this one a 45' K Line box, leaves town -in an all-red semi combo!

Yet another reefer semi leaves town, this one a pink semi owned by a local operation that just delivered a load of organic apples to the grocery warehouse. Pennsylvania was the #2 state in organic food sales in 2016.

Another day cab gets ready to turn the corner with a 53' CIE Intermodal container. The silver car will have to back up to allow him to do so!

A brand-new Kenworth T680 parks an old 53' Wabash plate wall trailer in the lot of Hillsdale Yard. While the Wabash plate wall trailers were common in the mid -late 90's, they have been succeeded by newer designs, and now this one is used for storage.

Later, that same tractor is seen pulling an Amazon Prime trailer, headed for the internet retailer's warehouse -guess whose products are now offered on Amazon?!

GPL11

 GPL11 has returned from Dale City...

Led, as usual, by SD40 3163, the train rolls around the curve, and into Hillsdale Yard.

Loaded boxcars of paper rolls are on the head-end.

Followed by empty woodchip hoppers.

And empty tank cars.

An OMYA car is in the mix.

A pair of SHPX cars precede the caboose.

The last stand of the venerable caboose is on locals, like GPL11. And it's not even in the traditional red!

FEL31 PT3

 We conclude FEL31 with a look at the empty grain hoppers...

Some are blue, like this one, sub-lettered ADM GRAIN CO.

Some are yellow, like this one. Note that only the ADM letters are on the side, and that the "Molecule" logo is much larger and moved forward to the larger body panel.

Others are grey, like this one. Note the ADM lettering is smaller, and in a different location.

And then some have the newer "leaf" logo, but are still grey.

The rainbow continues.

More trains next week!