PASSING TRAINS PT 38; SDN40 PT 2

 SDN40 continues from last week...

The first of several MAXI IV well cars in the train, DTTX 732000 carries a mix of exterior post and corrugated containers.

Along with graffiti, DTTX 724792 also carries a white Optimodal container.

A pair of NSC-built single-well  cars split the articulated cars.

An ex-Pacer Stack Train Maxi IV now carries CIEX reporting marks -along with another white Optimodal container. The dark orange container underneath it is an ex-Martin box; the roof is still white.

Another MAXI IV car with a white Optimodal container, this time on the bottom of a another ex-Martin container; note the roof is still, indeed, white.

Another CIEX well car, this time a three unit drawbar-connected NSC well car. Yet again, there is a white Optimodal container, as well as another ex-Martin container.

Another pair of single-well cars, this time Gundersons. The first is a "patched" 53' well car, the second is an FEC 53' all-purpose well car, with a red HUB Group container in the bottom position.

Next week, the last of SDN40.

PASSING TRAINS PT 38; SDN40 PT 1

ET44AC 517 takes on a new crew, as the old crew gets into a truck to head off the clock and rest.
 

New crew on board, 517 gets revved up to continue its journey to New York City, with SDN40.

Joining 517 is frequent companion 528; they are seen together more often than not. (5-17 and 5-28 are my parent's birthdays.)

The third engine is ex-Santa Fe Dash 9 BNSF 660, whose 30-year griminess contrasts sharply with the two brand new ET44's. While BNSF had 20 of its Dash 9's rebuilt into AC units in 2015, further conversions have not been made, unlike with NS, which has had dozens of its Dash 9's rebuilt into AC machines over the past several years. Thus, not only does 660 still carry its as-delivered Santa Fe number, but also its original DC equipment. However, it still does its job of moving freight, as it is doing here, helping move SDN40 eastwards to New York City.

DTTX 655215 is the first car of SDN40. A 53' well car like most of the others in the train, this Thrall-built single well car carries both a standard orange Schneider container, and a rare white Optimodal container.

The second car, DTTX 54041, is another Thrall single well car, but one unlike any other. A 48' well car, it is one of 75 members of TTX's TWF10 class of well cars. Unlike conventional railcars, the TWF10's are supported by leaf springs on the sides of the car ends instead of the center plate. The springs rest on the side frames of specially designed trucks, providing a smooth, stable ride. Note the bottom container is 40'. At least it is orange!

Another look at DTTX 54041. Built in 1991 at Chicago Heights, Ill. (coincidentally, also the location of a Ford Stamping plant), the TWF10's use Waggon Union bogies, which have a very short wheelbase -and no springs; thus the use of leaf springs on the car itself. Note the appearance of the ends, as compared to the conventional cars on either side of it; the TWF10's are nicknamed "battleships" due to their appearance. Unfortunately, the unique design was not repeated, as conventional cars are much easier to maintain. Also, because of this, these cars are slowly being retired instead of being rebuilt, like their other 48' brethren; they would actually have to be re-engineered due to the unique load-bearing design of the ends.

More of SDN40 to come next week.

IN THE YARDS PT 13

 

SD40-2 1946 rolls into Hillsdale with a local freight.

Not long afterwards, she was equipped with PTC; note the new silver box behind the a/c unit.

A string of sulfuric acid tank cars, seen above behind 1946, sits in the west end of Hillsdale Yard. With all of the attention lately to the toxic derailment in Ohio, the AP&W makes sure that safe handling of chemicals and other haz-mat is a priority; not only for the safety of locals and crew members, but also in the interest of public relations and image -as well as the huge cost of clean-up after a wreck.

A pair of hi-rail -equipped MOW trucks sit on the rails in the yard. Apparently, track inspections are underway.

A 60' TBOX boxcar full of paper products from the paper mill in Dale City awaits pickup by a passing west bound freight. Most of these 60' cars have the new red "Heritage" logo (see previous photo), but this one still has the old "black box" logo.

Lance heads back inside the shop after dumping some scrap metal in the dumpster, while several other men enjoy their break under the awning.

James poses next to the rescue truck. Modernized and upgraded, it serves as a mobile command center in the event of a wreck, derailment, or other mishap. Fortunately, it is rarely needed.

TOWN LIFE PT 21

 

A VW Rabbit with custom blue rims sits outside Christy's Pet Shop.

On a warm day, a woman rides her Jeep CJ-7 Golden Eagle with the top off.

The 80's; a newly re-painted Chevy C-10 shortbed is parked on County Lane.

The 80's part 2; a Kenworth K100 Aerodyne pulls a Rock Island Lines reefer trailer into town. After the Rock Island shut down in 1980, the APRR acquired their trucking subsidiary, the Rock Island Motor Transport (RIMT) and merged it into the AP's Appalachian Motor Transport (APMT). Coincidentally, the K100's colors match the original colors of the Rock Island's freight diesel locomotives!

The 80's part 3; a custom-painted van rolls along.

Back to today; a Ford F350 Heavy Duty, decked out with a brush guard, roll bar with lights, CB antenna, and an ATV in the bed. 

A crowd has gathered in front of Dairy Queen, with cars from today to yesterday. Note the hot rod and the classic Cadillac Eldorado convertible!

CARPACK; DODX FLATCARS

 A string of DODX flatcars are sitting in Hillsdale Yard...

All of the cars are from the 40xxx series of heavy duty flats, including GRE (General Railway Equipment) built 40573, still in it's as-delivered olive green.

40501 is in the 2001+ Cascade green, similar to that used by BN. This car was built by Ortner Freight Car.

40564 is in the late 90's urethane green. This car was also built by Ortner.

40059 is in the Cascade green. Note that unlike the other flats, this one does not have a recess behind the side grab irons, identifying it as an FGE-built car. Yes THAT FGE, which built and operated refrigerator cars! They also built cabooses for several railroads.

40486 is also in Cascade green, but was built by Thrall.

40573 still has it's deck numbers painted on the deck. Of course, due to the normal wear and tear of loading and unloading, these eventually wore off, leading the Army to find a new solution.

40501 and the other flats have the deck numbers welded on the deck surface, surrounded by the white rectangles.

40564 shows the same deck detail. Note also that the decks have openings for container pedestals, but often times these are missing, due to the fact that they rarely actually carry containers.

The 40xxx series of flatcars were delivered from 1981-1987 by the four different builders mentioned above, with the FGE cars being the first in 1981, followed by the Thrall cars in 1982-83, Ortner cars in 1985, and finally the GRE cars in 1987. Designed for heavy duty loading, they are the only cars in the DODX fleet that can carry two M1 Abrams tanks: the 41xxx series can only carry one, and none of the other flats in the fleet are strong enough to support the weight.