LOCAL HLP20

An AP&W M.O.W. truck waits for train HLP20 (Hillsdale Local, Pete's Plastics). Pete's Plastics is a major customer for the railroad, receiving 3-5 car loads of plastic pellets every 2-3 days, along with a weekly tank car of solvent. They also receive an occasional boxcar of supplies and even send out a boxcar of products every now and then. They make plastic drink bottles and flatware- including the infamous 'spork'.

Crew chief Mark Davis waits by the truck while Earl stands on the 'front porch' of SD40 3163, ready to call it a day.

The two maintenance trucks sit parked on the dirt acess road waiting on HLP20. Note the EOT rack on the back of the pick-up, with an EOT ready to go.

Like many railyards, Hillsdale gets its fuel from local suppliers. Here, the delivery driver talks with Sam while waiting for the yard job to get back. Since Hillsdale only has one permanently assigned locomotive, there are no fueling facilities. Unit 3163 will receive it's fuel directly from the tanker!

Delivery completed, the driver pulls out of the lot and heads for the highway. This is a daily trip for him- twice on real busy days.

CHANGES TO THE CITY

I've recently made some changes to the layout.


This is an "under-construction" view of the new Delta building in downtown Hillsdale.

These photos show the completed building, after painting and installation of the windows. The Delta building is ten stories tall and holds office spaces for numerous area businesses.

At the far end of the layout, I put in a row of houses to fill in the area. These will probably be temporary; then again, who knows?

UPDATES

Sam, Bill and Earl gather outside the maintenance shop at the start of the day. Now there's Coke and Pepsi vending machines outside the shop! Could a snack machine be next?

I recently added lighting to the warehouse. This is a night shot of the area.

A large tractor-trailer makes a turn from Market Street onto Commerce Street, headed towards the industrial section of town.

A new building! I recently completed this small two-story building and placed it on the layout. Joe's Radio is now open and ready for business!

A Roadway Express truck makes a local delivery.

A NEW LOOK, NEW STORES

AP&W SD40 3163 has received a face-lift.
BEFORE: This is the unit as it appeared in the mid-90's, just after the snowplow was painted white for increased visibility.

AFTER: This is the unit as it looks today, after the addition of ditch lights to the front end. As for the white-painted snowplow, you now see the reason why most railroads don't paint their equipment white!

The Kibri Apartment Building has finally found a new tenant! Olde English Flower Shop has moved into the end storefront on the right. Note the flowers set outside. A the other end, Cut & Curl Beauty Shop is now open for business as a woman converses with her husband before entering. Reportedly, someone is looking at one of the remaining two storefronts for a health-food store.

IN THE YARDS PT 4

SD40 3167 idles in Hillsdale Yard between jobs. Work caboose 12 is also in the yard, with the crew relaxing on the deck.

Two covered hoppers sit in the yard. The Engelhard hopper is headed for a paper mill in nearby Dale City, while the CSX hopper is headed to a glassworks plant with a load of sand.

This boxcar was painted by the Wisconsin & Southern to celebrate model train manufacturer Athearn's 60th aniversary last year. It was found in Hillsdale yard waiting to be sent to a food processor in Dale City for loading.

AP&W AC4400 8919 sits in the yard between runs. Primarily used on coal runs, the big unit can also be found on manifest freights, unit grain trains, and even intermodal trains. One of 50 units delivered by GE in 2002, 8919 meets EPA Tier 1 emissions standards. It was also one of the first units to wear the post-9-11 paint scheme of solid earth brown with black frame, walkways, hand rails, trucks and underbody.

Two tracks over are a string of high-cube 50' boxcars destined for the local paper mill and designed to carry stacked rolls of paper. Finally, on the outer track, are two cars for Smitty Lumber; a flatcar of wallboard, and an all-door boxcar loaded with wallboard as well.