PASSING TRAINS PT12; IC209 PT2

 The conclusion of IC209...

BTTX 880182 is a Thrall articulated bi-level autorack.

Its companion, BTTX 880175, shows off its "scribble".

ETTX 710380 is a tri-level autorack with a lot more graffiti than a "scribble".

TTEX 161178 is a "Long Runner" drawbar-connected pair of flatcars.

The center trailer straddles both flatcars. Note that the deck of the car the trailer wheels are riding on has been widened to allow for the trailer wheels to swing as the car-set navigates curves; this is the "B" car; it has the brake lever which sets the brakes for both cars. The "A" car has warning stripes to alert the loading crew to make sure the trailer's landing gear is raised -also to allow for swing clearance. This car actually has three hitches; the "B" car has two. The set can carry either four 45' or shorter trailers or three 48'-57' trailers.

The replacement for the Long Runner flats are the TTAX Twin 28'/Triple 57' spine cars. While longer than the Long Runners, they are lighter and much more versatile -they can also carry containers.

The "Twin 28" capability is shown here, as a variety of UPS trailers are loaded, including 28' containers on chassis.

Another look at the Long Runner flat, with its load of three 57' trailers. Trailer Train rebuilt standard 89' piggyback flatcars into Long Runners during the early 90's after 53' trailers became legal in all 50 states. By combining two flatcars, three long trailers could be carried, as opposed to only two (one per flat). With thousands of new 53'/57' spine cars being purchased, along with the growth of domestic 53' container traffic, the number of piggyback flatcars has declined dramatically since 2000; very few are still in service, with most having been converted to general service -especially hauling long steel and pipe loads.

IC209 has lots of UPS traffic headed back west.

The EOT flashes as the train rolls through. With the upcoming holiday season, and an increase in on-line sales and shipments, there will be plenty of intermodal traffic for the AP&W to carry!

PASSING TRAINS PT12; IC209 PT1

 Another westbound freight rolls through Hillsdale...

The headlights of the next train round the curve under the bridge.

Train IC209, the Trenton-Chicago mixed intermodal, rolls behind a pair of AC4400's, with 8919 leading the way.

Auto racks are on the head-end, many loaded with European cars. Here we see a pair of NS racks, with a Conrail unit behind them.

The Conrail unit.

A BNSF Auto Max, the only one in the train.

An ex-Santa Fe rack.

A BNSF rack in an early paint scheme; yellow with green & blue cross logo.

Another BNSF rack, this one in brown with large logo on a logo panel.

As the train heads off, we see that there are articulated bi-levels in the train as well. We'll look at these and the rest of the train next week.

TOWN LIFE PT7

 Recent weeks have seen some unseasonably warm temperatures in Hillsdale, and the residents have been taking advantage...

The Dairy Queen is still seeing brisk business, as people are enjoying the nice weather. However, once the temps drop, there won't be too much demand at a walk-up window!

A pair of Big A Construction trucks sit at the end of the access road. Late season road work is ongoing in the area, while the temperatures are still warm -hot asphalt and cold weather don't mix too well!

Another day of traffic in town.

An old van brings back memories of the '70's/'80's when custom-painted vans were all the rage. This one is still "old school"!

You know it's still warm outside when a woman drives around with the top down on the convertible!

Bob and Will converse at the end of the day. It's Friday, and both are looking forward to the weekend, especially Bob. The weather is still nice, so Bob is still riding his chopper!

An RV heads out for a weekend at the lake. Nearby Youghiogheny Lake is a popular getaway for the locals -and it is only about an hour's drive.

Claire calls her friends as she waits for her husband outside the Hickory Pit Bar-B-Q. They're meeting for lunch today, as they take time out from their busy schedules for each other.

FALL STEAM!

 As the leaves turn, the last excursion train of the fall rolls through behind big steam!

Extra 1645 rolls through Hillsdale on its way from Pittsburgh to Cumberland.

Engine 1645, a 2-8-4 Berkshire, leads the way.

Car 11, the power car, is next, providing head-end-power to the train.

A Santa Fe full-length Big Dome #551 is the first passenger car.

B&O's Moonlight Dome is next.

The next full-dome car is the Appalachian car Tennessee.

Next is the Milwaukee Road's Super Dome car #53.

The final two cars are operated by Railcar Charter Service, including this observation car.

The return trip occurs later that evening.

With all of the domes in the train, the spectacular colors of southwestern Pennsylvania were in full view!

Next week, a look around town.

INT THE YARDS/CARPACK

 A look at some of the freight cars that pass through Hillsdale Yard...

A pair of well-worn boxcars sit in the yard, after returning from the paper mill. They carried scrap paper to the mill, now they are loaded with new paper products, including cardboard boxes.

An ex- Golden West Service car also sits in the yard, having also been loaded with paper products; in this case, paper towels.

A pair of cement hoppers sit in the yard, waiting to be picked up by a passing freight.

The first one is a leased GATX car, showing its age with the rust along the upper side.

The other hopper is a Blue Circle Cement car. They both delivered to Allante Ready Mix.

A trio of carbon black hoppers sit in the yard, after being picked up from Pete's Plastic. A large order for black sporks was the reason they were there. Note the roof of the first hopper is almost solid rust! It is obviously the oldest of the bunch, and was, in fact built nearly 20 years before the other two. It still has its as-delivered paint, which is why there is so much rust on the car after 40+ years.

A lone plastic pellet hopper sits in the yard. While it still has yet to receive the FRA-compliant conspicuity striping, is does have the modern scourge of vandalism on the side, along with rust streaks.