PASSING TRAINS PT 46; IC49 PT 3

 The conclusion of IC49...

A number of Hapag Lloyd containers are in the train, including these two. Note that the top box on the next well is an open top riding a reefer box.

A variety of containers ride in a Trinity 40' well car. Because of the 40' wells, 45' containers have to be top stacked on 40's.

A rebuilt Thrall well car has a ZIM open top in the top position. This was formerly a 48' well car, but was cut down to a 40' well car since 48' containers are now rare.

The variety of companies, colors and container types are evident from this photo; conventional 40' steel boxes (both standard 8'6" height and high-cube 9'6" height), open top containers (with the blue tarps) and even a reefer box (the white container).

A new MAXI I well car carries a pair of K-Line containers among others.

China Shipping, COSCO, and MCC represent the Chinese element. China Shipping and COSCO recently merged to create Cosco Shipping, as seen by the light blue container.

Another Cosco Shipping box presents a better look at the new corporate image, as it rides below a Hatsu Marine box.. Note they're riding in another rebuilt 48' well car; this one a Gunderson.

The final car is yet another rebuilt Thrall 48' well car, with a K-line 45' box atop an orange Uniglory 40' box.

PASSING TRAINS PT 46; IC49 PT 2

 IC49 stopped in Hillsdale for an unsecured container. Now, the container is re-secured, and the train is back on its way to Chicago...

ET44AC's 517 and 528 roll on through Hillsdale Yard after the stoppage.

As they pass downtown and leave the yard, the engineer opens up the throttle, the railroad equivalent of "hitting the gas."  Soon enough, they will have IC49 moving at track speed -45 mph.

The head end of the train is comprised of ONE containers, both 40' and 45'. The second 45 footer is a K-Line box.

Two MOL containers; a grey 40' box with the latest logo, and a green 45'box with the older logo.

Magenta and white ONE containers, with a MOL reefer -leased from SEACO.

More ONE's, with a non-standard grey K-Line box -most K-Line containers are red.

More MOL, K-Line and ONE, with NYK Line -all the (Japanese) partners who joined to create ONE (Ocean Network Express). Orange Hapag Lloyd containers are in the top positions following.

Several of the Hapag Lloyd containers are open-tops. These two are stacked atop CMA/CGM containers; note the first one has "eco container bamboo flooring" on its side. Bamboo grows faster than most trees, and is thus more readily renewable. Note also, that these containers are riding in an early Trinity well car, still in its as-delivered paint, but "patched" with the new red "heritage" logo, placed over the original "TT" logos.

More of IC49 next week.

PASSING TRAINS PT 46; IC49 PT 1

 The headlights of the engine leading IC49 (Baltimore-Chicago international container traffic) round the curve.

Led by a pair of brand-new ET44AC's, the train is not running at it's usual speed, but slowing down as it enters Hillsdale Yard.

As lead engine 517 pulls in, a crew awaits the train's arrival. When IC49 passed the local in Dale City, they noted that the doors on one of the containers appeared to be open.

As the train  comes to a stop, it becomes clear that the crew of the local was, unfortunately, right; one of the top containers has, indeed, been broken into.

One of the men inspects the compromised container, while both Supervisor Dale Williams and security man Brad look on. Apparently, numerous cases of Nike's -including Air Jordans- have been stolen. Neither the shipper nor the AP&W's claims adjusters will be happy.

Now, closed with a security tag placed on the door, the container is released, along with the rest of the train. Once in Chicago, the container will be placed in hold for further inspection. Since the container was still locked when it was loaded in Baltimore, it is believed that the theft occurred during an hour-long delay entering a congested Miller Yard in Cumberland.  At least the train re-started before the thieves could steal all the cases. Meanwhile, someone in the Cumberland area is getting ready to make a small fortune, either online or on the streets!

As the train gets underway once again, Brad and another man watch for more "unsecured" containers. Sitting in 40' wells, the bottom containers are impossible to open up, but the top ones are a different story, as we have seen.

More of  IC49 next week.

TOWN LIFE PT 27

A warn afternoon, perfect for a drive with the top off the Jeep!
 

The UPS Freight semi turns the corner on its way out of town after making its daily stops.

The USPS mail car is parked on County Lane, while the mailman makes his rounds. He usually walks around the entire block, instead of driving around it.

A Greyhound bus, painted in the attractive "Love Your Journey" scheme, leaves out of town. It picked up a passenger; a Navy recruit headed to Pittsburgh, where he'll catch the Amtrak to Chicago and start boot camp at Great Lakes (the last Navy boot camp left).

Charlie's Produce is making a delivery of fresh fruit and vegetables to the Super Market.

A family is coming back home after spending a week camping at Youghiogheny Lake, a local favorite summer pastime.

Another favorite summer pastime; the car show! A number of old rides and hot rods gather at Dairy Queen. This is a frequent occurrence on warm weekends -especially when it's sunny!.