ROCK TRAIN PT2

The conclusion of last week's rock train...

Several Herzog cars are present; these are ballast cars headed east.

Another look at the Vulcan and AP&W two-bays. Note that the two cars are carrying slightly different types of rock; the AP&W cars are carrying crushed white granite, while the Vulcan cars are carrying crushed gravel similar to the ballast under the tracks. Note also, that the Vulcan cars have painted wheelsets, while the AP&W cars do not.

After the Herzog hoppers, is a string of Herzog gons with broken rock loads.

These loads are headed to a facility in eastern Pennsylvania to be crushed up for use in asphalt.

On the tail end of the train are two cars that are actually related to the fracking scene in western Pennsylvania; a pair of two-bay covered hoppers that are now emptied of their sand loads.

CRDX 21066 is a recent Trinity-built car.

WSOX 804849 is another recent Trinity car -but note the differences in stenciling and reflective stripe placement.

ROCK TRAIN PT1

From time to time, a unit 'rock train' passes through town. This train operates as an extra -E-RM107; Extra, Rock-Movement(!) 107.

Today the train is led by a pair of leased CITX SD70M-2's.

On the head-end are a trio of side-dump cars. These cars are carrying rip-rap; the loads will be dumped alongside the right-of-way where the railroad travels along the Potomac River bank in northern Maryland.

Behind the dump cars are a string of Ortner hoppers.

Unlike the previous two, this one has the 'APW' on the sides above the numbers. It also has an Operation Lifesaver decal in front of the number, which moves the number back a panel. The end "porches" help spread the weight out over a greater distance for higher capacity; due to the density of the load, 100T of rock can be very heavy!

After the Ortner cars, are a string of conventional 2-bay hoppers.

Several are owned by Vulcan Materials. They are traveling to Vulcan's York facility. The grey paint almost matches the gravel loads!

THE BLUE TRAIN PT3

Finishing the "blue train"...

One of several "Cold Train" reefers in the train, NRDX 13005 shows off its painted wheelsets.

NRDX 13087 shows off its roof weathering -including the exhaust streak from its reefer unit. As-built, these cars had traditional full roofs; after being rebuilt with semi-trailer-style reefers, the end of the roof was cut open to allow better ventilation for the new units.

Once again, ADM hoppers roll through town.

Four-bay and three-bay hoppers are in the consist. And, of course, they are blue!

The only boxcar is this plug-door car. QOCX 193 is a Quaker Oats- owned car.

In this era of trains ended by tiny EOT devices, this train has a welcome variation; a blue caboose! This, of course, is a fantasy paint scheme -on a fantasy train no less. Yet, not only does it match the rest of the train with its light blue color, but how appropriate is an "Athearn" caboose on a model railroad?!

THE BLUE TRAIN PT2

More on the solid blue train rolling through Hillsdale...

The first car is actually two; GATX 46794 is a drawbar connected "paired" car. Both cars are single-bay Airslides. During unloading, the piping on the sides of the unloading bays are connected to air lines, which then send air into the car through a special fabric which, in turn, aerates the load, allowing it to more easily slide out of the car. Hence, the name: Airslide. These cars were developed in the 60's for powdery loads that have a tendency to cake up -such as flour, talc and sugar. In the late 80's, GATX began semi-permanently connecting pairs of these smaller cars to meet a demand for higher-capacity cars by shippers. Italgrani is the company that is leasing this set.

The next two cars are the larger, two-bay versions of the Airslide hopper.

Like the "paired" car set, the two bigger cars have the "GATX AIRSLIDE" on the end.

Another pair of two-bay Airslide hoppers.

These two cars, however, have the minimal lettering of the mid-80's. Interestingly enough, the previous cars were painted in the mid-90's -colorful editions after these "plain-Janes" were done!

THE BLUE TRAIN, PT1

Once again, another "why not" train...

A new train -solid blue- rolls into town.

Like the other fantasy train, this one is pulled by a pair of leased GATX SD40-2's.

A close-up of the lead unit.

A profile shot.

The second unit. Both units were originally purchased by the Missouri Pacific in 1976 for unit coal train service. Due to this, the units were equipped with dynamic brakes -a rarity for MoPac engines. MP successor UP returned the units to GATX in 1994 at the expiration of their leases, and they have been in lease service ever since.GATX leases more than just locomotives, of course. Stay tuned for more...