IN THE YARDS PT 15

 On this Labor Day weekend, a look at life in Hillsdale Yard...

Genset 300 peeks out from the shop early in the morning, while one of her three engines is being worked on. Each of the engines produce 700 hp, and come online as needed to power the train being pulled, hence saving fuel vs a single 2100 hp engine. However, over time, the engines didn't stand up to railroad usage, and failures became more frequent. The Genset concept was good in principle, but not in practice, and most have been sidelined or retired outright after only about a decade of use. 300 is on borrowed time.

The shop crew workers chill out on break. In addition to a pair of 10 min regular breaks, they also get an hour lunch. Nice to have a union job!

On of the repair trucks is seen here. Most such trucks have raisable rail wheels, but this one doesn't.

A string of new 68' RailGon gondolas, loaded with pipe from Wilson Steel, await pick-up from a passing westbound through freight.

At the other end of Hillsdale Yard, a string of gons loaded with scrap metal, and a string of woodchip hoppers await departure on eastbound locals; the gons on DBW10, the hoppers on GPL10.

A crew bus sits at the end of the driveway. With fall on the way, a lot of work is being done locally to prepare for winter, meaning extra men are being brought in.

Work crane C528 has also been brought in, along with an old MC&K gon.

3163 is about to get fueled up -with Snake Oil!

Refueling job completed, the semi leaves the yard. "If you want good oil, get Snake Oil!"