GECX DEMOS PT5

From last week...

A string of empty AEX hoppers lead the way after the tank cars; the rear end of the train has all of the empty hoppers that delivered the corn to the facility.

Like the tank cars, many of the hoppers are ADM-owned.

Note the contrast between newer and older paint on the cars. The car on the left has been recently repainted, and has ADM's new logo, while the car on the right still has its original paint from the 80's.

A partially-repainted CPLX hopper and a NOKL hopper are also in the mix. The CPLX car is a Canadian-style cylindrical hopper, common north of the border, but also common in the US. This car is owned by CP Rail, hence the partially covered "Pacman" on the end of the car. The NOKL car is a former Transport America car, hence the white stripe on the end.

This blue CATX car is leased to the UP.

Another NOKL car, this one ex-CNW, and a BNSF car fill out the train.

The EOT flashes to show the end of the train. Till next time, the end!

GECX DEMOS PT4

Another look at the GECX ET44AC pre-production units in town...

GECX 2039 leads FEL31, the ethanol train, westbound to Uniontown.

On the head end, as usual, are loaded covered hoppers of DDG pellets, including this trio of North American Ethanol cars.

These are followed by loaded ethanol tank cars, with these ADM cars being typical.

The train passes traffic on County Lane on the left and a mostly empty yard on the right.

After the string of hoppers up front, the string of tank cars follows behind.

Since Farmingdale Ethanol is an ADM facility, ADM cars dominate the train.

Not all the cars are ADM of course; a number of the tank cars are leased from TILX.
Next week, the rest of the train.

IN THE YARDS PT35; NIGHT SHOTS

One night in Hillsdale Yard...

One of the GECX ET44AC test units stops in Hillsdale Yard for a crew change during a night run with an east-bound unit coal extra.

The lights shine upon the closed shop door and a stored plastic pellet hopper.

The cabooses and the coal gons are highlighted at the opposite end of the yard.

Another view of the cabooses and the parked vehicles in the lights.

The parking lot, work shop and "bathroom facilities".

The yard office. More lighting is planned for the south end of the yard, around the shop building, to facilitate nighttime work -and improve worker safety.

IN THE YARDS PT34

Another trip around the Hillsdale Yard...

With the fall maintenance season here, M.O.W. equipment sits in Hillsdale Yard.

Stacks of tie plates sit on the ground, ready to use.

More equipment sits at the ready. All three of the machines in front are modified to handle railroad ties.

A signal maintenance worker prepares to get into his truck. The bucket truck is perfect for changing burned-out light bulbs in the signal heads, especially ones mounted in over-the-track signal bridges.

Veterans Day Weekend brings unit 91101 through town, with a short tribute train.

The Armed Forces Tribute boxcar.

The POW/MIA car brings up the rear.
And once again, happy Veterans Day to my fellow vets!

TOWN LIFE PT27

It's fall in Hillsdale...

A local farmer transports a pair of hay bales in the back of his pickup.

With only two bales, it's obvious that he doesn't have a very large herd of cows!

An early  90's Toyota Supra sits on County Lane on an early fall morning. A weekend morning, judging by the lack of traffic.

A Verizon truck is parked next to the Domino's Pizza. It must be lunch time!

Lunch time, indeed, as seen by this work truck out side the Hickory Pit Bar-B-Q.

A trucker has parked his semi in front of Domino's. With a long trip ahead of him, he'll probably be getting a large pizza!