Bruce,

Participants wanting to use the bubble-wrap method may wish to consider putting the car in a zip-loc bag before wrapping it. This way, in theory, if the car is broken, the parts stay inside the bag and are not lost to the packaging gods.

In a fit of "gotta get organized" a couple of days ago I opened several mint cars, removed them from their factory vacu-formed packaging, and noted that grab irons, steps and couplers were casualties before I had opened the box!

To quote a professor I once had, "you pays your money and you takes your chances!" :erm: :erm:

Pete

in Michigan

who should be preparing his car instead of typing![:I]

I have weathered my first rolling stock. I'm not a natural at this but I think it's acceptable. I had a really hard time making the inside look dirty and not just 'painted'. I may have to put a load in this when it returns home from it's journey!

OK, here we go. The chief dispatcher at Jacksboro Yard has been notified that HHRR-leased U.R.T. reefer #27215 is to be pickup at Putney by the first southbound freight out of the yard this morning. That would be the job of old #293, headed out just after dawn.

Not usually a lot of activity on the Hudson Highlands on a Sunday morning but I knew the scheduled southbound would be through about 7AM, so I made a point to be down at Putney Yard with camera in hand bright and early. I wasn't there 10 minutes when #293 burst from Putney Tunnel into the glare of the bright early morning sun.



She rumbled on past me with a short consist, slowing to take the siding.



Then, cutting loose from the cars, she made a runaround maneuver and began backing through the zig-zag of turnouts in Putney Yard to reach the waiting reefer.



Brakeman Bill McConkey was kept pretty busy aligning turnouts and then positioned himself to direct the engine crew in coupling-up to the outbound.



Once coupled-up, I watched #293 get back on the main with its new charge, runaround and re-couple to the other waiting cars and pause a few minutes while making an air test. Then, with the clank of straining couplers, she began to move forward, slowly at first but then gaining speed as she passed me.



While waiting for the air pressure to build up, the engineer of #293 informed me that the train orders call for #27215 to be dropped at Brewster Yard for interchange with the Hudson River & Western (the HHRR's parent company), to be routed westward for the long haul to Andy Keeney's home road.

CNJ999

Well interchange team this evening Christopher (Crispy) and I prepared his car for onward shipping. Here it is getting switched in the yard ready for collection and interchange to another line.



Just so you know what you are getting here, my 8 year old train buddy has been trying his hand at weathering freight cars for some time now. It is probably his favorite part of the hobby. This particular box car has been weathered with A/I mixture, paints and weathering powders. To say he is excited about the prospect of seeing his boxcar on railroads all over the country is an understatement.

It should be going out this week, so look out Bill it is on its way to Colorado, which makes perfect sense since it is heading West on a CB&Q hot freight.

I was on the way downtown when I noticed a car spotted at Elwell Electric, so I found a parking space, checked to make sure I was on the public road, and tried to grab a couple of photos. I was just in time -- the switcher was nosing in to make the pickup.



Fortunately my "car camera" has a telephoto function, so I was able to get a closer shot.



I did some asking around, and found out that the car was on the way to American Tool & Die, Putney NY, on John Bortle's railroad. Since the next departure will be after dark, I won't be able to grab any pix. Oh, well, there's always next time!

Pete

in Michigan

I finally got around to finishing a car for the interchange.

It was spotted on the Reading local as it passed Castle Rock tonight.



P2K GP7 – Reading



Athearn RTR 60” Flat with two Stake Bed trucks - TTX - The 2008 Interchange Car from the RK&M.

WOW! . .We certainly have some great looking cars. Can't wait to see them in person.

Looks like the Napa Valley Wine Carid="maroon"> is making its way upgrade with

an SP SD35 at point. It's not a long train by any means of the imagi-

nation, but it is going through some beautiful territory, thanks to my

resident artist.



BTW, please don't pick the flowers!

Reefer EXP 57 was spotted about to cross the river and head west towards Illinois this evening.

h

I'll be looking for it.

Peteid="blue">, . .These are my parting shots of NVRR #1256id="maroon"> filled to the brim with Napa Valley's Best,and

her 'brother box' who happens to be headed South. BTW, the tanker is filled with three different,

premium wines (Note bottom three pictures, the dome markings from left to right, A, C, & B each

with their capacities).

Here is my Shippers Car Line covered hopper making its way to the interchange tracks. It will be on its way to Florida on Monday. (I spent all morning clearing last nights snow, or it would have gone out today.)

Allen,

I'll look for it later next week; I'm in Florida trying to escape the ice that Andy is dealing with. Home mid-week....

Pete

who should be in Michigan

Bruce, . .Nice weathering job on your Shippers car. It looks like it needs to go to the shop for some touch-up.