THE 4TH WEEKEND, PT 1

 Over the 4th of July weekend, Hillsdale saw some interesting visitors...

As is often the case, the three America Units are on the point of a passing intermodal. However, the train is stopped for a meet with another intermodal...

A Shipper's Special, SPM4000X1, rounds the curve into town.

A pair of NS AC44C6M's roll into Hillsdale Yard.

The "shipper" of the Shipper's Special? Maersk Shipping!

NS 4000 is one of the two original AC44C6M's; standard cab C40-9's rebuilt with new wide cabs and AC traction motored trucks, replacing the DC motored trucks. There is also a new auxiliary "cab" with the AC cabinetry, displacing the a/c unit from behind the cab to underneath it. There was also an upgrade in horsepower, from 4100hp to 4400hp, as well as new electronics. This unit, and her sister 4001, were nick-named the "Sonic Bonnets" due to their unique paint scheme.

NS 4004 is another one of the original rebuilds, but she and her sisters 4002, 4003, and 4005, received black "manes" instead of blue. 4004 and 4005 have the blue edging, signifying their rebuild at NS' ex-Conrail, ex-Penn Central, nee-Pennsylvania Altoona shop. 4002 and 4003 have Tuscan edging, as they were rebuilt at NS' ex-N&W Roanoke shop. With a modest fleet of almost 200 Dash 9's now approaching 30 years old, the AP&W is testing NS' rebuilds to see if there would be an advantage to rebuilding it's own fleet versus buying new locomotives.

The meeting of engines. The America Units are a decade younger than the NS units, but the rebuilding qualifies the AC44C6M's as "newer!"

The America Units are in charge of CHINYC1136X, and the train is loaded with reefers and hot UPS and FedEx shipments. Normally, this train would take priority over the Shipper's Special, but trackwork has thrown the proverbial "Monkey Wrench" into the train scheduling.

Lots of FedEx traffic, along with reefer containers. The AP&W's preferred loading pattern is to have the reefer containers top-stacked, to protect the reefers from road grime.

More reefer boxes and FedEx and UPS dry boxes.

More of SPM4000X1 next week.