There is a Car Float connection between the PC/KP&W and the LF & NW. Coming in from West Egg, the "Robert H." is shoving Barge #3 into the apron at West Mill.



It's the seasonal grain rush and the float is full of loaded covered hoppers.


Cars are coming from all kinds of roads and locations to unload at the massive Empire Grain complex which looms right behind the Float Yard.


Among them is XTRX 76983.


"Cappy" Foster, the Floatmaster, has his work cut out for him as the Float Yard quickly fills to capacity this time of year. He's in that salvaged baggage car that serves as his office, pulling his hair out and drinking WAY too much coffee!


Fortunately he has a solid crew in the form of Yard Engineer Tommy Catone and Brakeman Wil Washburn with their venerable switcher.


More to come soon! Tommy and Will need to unload the Float pronto!

Tommy and Wil get to work, first by pulling 76983 and a second car off the float

...leaving two battered NYC covered hoppers on that side...


...and then moving forward to pull two more cars from the other track...balance is everything in this game!



...leaving four cars on the float...

We'll let Tommy and Wil deal with the remaining cars on the float later. Right now they are busy doing the back and forth moves to set the first four cars on an interchange track. These four cars are bound for Empire Grain, which is right across the tracks, but its a Penn Central job. A local will be coming later this afternoon to move them. In the mean time, to get to the interchange, 76983 is backed up the float lead and briefly ties up traffic on local streets.


Now being pushed into the interchange track, the car is dwarfed by Empire Grain's silos...


Tommy and Wil cut loose of the cars and head back to the float to finish unloading.


Next up....the Penn Central local!

The float is unloaded and cars are ready for KW-5 (Kings Port to West Mill, Northbound). A little later in the afternoon the train is seen arriving, headed by a GP38-2.


The loco uncouples from the grain cars it brought from Kings Port's Williams Yard and moves to pull some empties from Empire Grain first.



After the empties have been pulled and set forward of the turnout leading to Empire Grain, the GP38-2 does a couple of back and forth moves to reach the Float Yard's interchange track, and couples onto #76983.


After #76983 and three other cars were pulled out the loco did a runaround move to get in front of them, and then backed into the covered hoppers KW-5 brought from Kings Port. All going to be spotted at Empire Grain. Car #76983 is now the 4th one behind the Geep as it takes the switch into Empire Grain.




Then its just a matter of reversing into the sidings at the elevator and #76983 is in place. After unloading it will head back home.....

One more installment.

The seasonal grain rush, the usual general maintenance freights, and a day of no float sailing due to bad weather and winds, led to a very full Float Yard. As they like to say around the yard at times like this, "Cappy ain't happy!" Cappy Foster, the Floatmaster, is trying to deal with the situation as best he can. He made a call to the Penn Central to let them know that the West Mill Float Yard cannot accommodate any more traffic today. Empire Grain needs the unloaded cars, including #76983, picked up today because more are coming. The PC decides to pick up the cars and take them to Williams Yard in Kings Port until the Float Yard can take them for passage back to West Egg. (This may also give me an excuse to photograph John's car on other parts of the layout! )


Penn Central Train WK-6 picks up the cars. A GP38-2/ GP35 combo backs into the Empire Grain siding to pull #76983.


After a runaround move the train heads back to Kings Port, passing by Canton Box...


...and rolling under GERN Industries...

During the journey to Kings Port we see the car pass a small Boy Scout encampment at Marion....



...and Hedberg Aggregates


Entering the Kings Port area...






...and the the car ducks under the overpass and stops at Williams Yard. It will be sent back to West Mill in a day or two when the float is ready to go for the trip to West Egg.


It's been a pleasure hosting your car John!

Great photos Ralph, I always enjoy your ops run throughs.

Cheers,

Kev