I was out railfanning Zenith yard this morning, and it looks like a freight came in overnight and left JM 34765:

My source in the yard office told me it had come in on an empty car waybill. There's always an imbalance of loads into New Jersey, although the JM itself would probably keep its own empty, since they wouldn't have to pay per diem on it. I guess maybe the PRR or Jersey Central shipped it back to get rid of the per diem payment on the empty car, but it's wound up on the LF&NW, which will have to find a load for it!

It looks like somebody had an order for an empty boxcar, though, because the first shift switcher was switching it out a little later:

More photos to come!

Great start!!!! That's a nice logo for the JM. Definitely looking forward to more!!!!

The Jersey Mercantile empty is going to American Tool & Die in Woollett for a load of machine tool parts. Woollett is the next important station west of Zenith. Depending on the day, it's served either by the main line local that covers the whole main line, or by a turn from Zenith. Today it's going via the Woollett Turn. This is normally a New Haven, Boston & Maine, or Boston & Albany job. A New Haven RS-3 and caboose will work it today.

However, Zenith Yard is a cramped, outdated facility, and some switching has to be done on the main line. The yard switcher, an L&N RS-3, spots the JM box with a V&O box also going to Woollett and then pulls away to make room for the Woollett Turn's power:



The power and caboose for the turn move into sight. However, Zenith being the place it is, things aren't that simple. The two boxcars are going to be shoved to Woollett, and to get into position, the loco and caboose will need to run around them via the Zenith Connector, a loop that goes north of downtown:




More photos to come!

The loco and caboose have run up Main 2 to CP Connector, where they will loop around and back to the main line on the other side of downtown:

Here they are running down the Zenith Connector:

The loco and caboose continue around the Zenith Connector, which runs under the main line here:

They rejoin the main on the lower level at the Zenith passenger station, a postwar monstrosity:

Then they seesaw past Zenith Tower to get to Main 2, so they can reverse back to the short train, including the JM box, that will be shoved to Woollett:



More photos to come, now showing Jack's boxcar in action!

What a cool layout!

Thanks !

The RS-3 and caboose continue to shove back on Main 2 under the main line bridge above them:

And then go under the home signal for the tower ahead:

And finally make the joint at the other end of the short cut that will be shoved to Woollett:

And shove out, switching over to Main 1:

More to come!

Very nice pictures, thanks to all!
And a very good idea for us all, the community - this model exchange. Congratulation!

On the way to Woollett, the shove continues up Main 1 past the suburban station at West Zenith:





Just one more installment to go!

Past West Zenith, the line goes into Tunnel 1

And here's the Jersey Mercantile box coming out the other end of the tunnel:

Once the train gets to Woollett, it pulls a Milwaukee Road box from the team track and a PRR box from American Tool & Die:



And finally sets out the JM box at American Tool & Die. It will get a load of machine tool parts for Regina Manufacturing on Mike Kieran's Penvan Railroad.

Nice

Beautiful layout..!!
I'm curious about that control tower...It's got a Chinese look to it...

Let's see so' more of the layout..!!

It's New Haven tower, called the "pagoda" style, a Crow River kit. I'll have more to say about towers.