P.C.C.M. 46M, Welcome to Elkhart.

Greetings and welcome to segment 46M of the Penn Central Car Movement (P.C.C.M.) series. We left Neal and his A.P.R.R. on segment 46L. His local RC-2 was making deliveries to online industries Cargill and Tropicana. http://atlanticpacificrailroad.blogspot.com/2018/04/pccm-46l-deliveries-to-cargill-tropicana.html

Now we turn our attention farther West to Elkhart, Indiana. Site of a large Hump and Classification Yard used by the Penn Central.

Prior to the Penn Central, parent roads New York Central and Pennsylvania Railroad had made Motive Power Pool arrangements with several connecting Mid-Western railroads. One of these being the Burlington Route (CB&Q). One could find PC power roaming as far West as Denver or North to the Twin Cities. On the other side, one could find Burlington units in the New York City area. One common connection that was popular in the Pool Power arrangements was Chicago, IL, to Elkhart, IN. For the Western connection on the P.C.C.M. series, Elkhart makes a perfect gateway. Several trains ran between Elkhart the other major PC terminals including Selkirk and Weehawken. With the opportunity to hitch a ride out West on the Burlington, Santa Fe and Rock Island from Elkhart.

Elkhart was located in an ideal location to process shipments of bulk commodities from the Mid-West, such as grain and other agricultural products. Along with manufactured products from the East and Upper Mid-West industrial centers.

Some other commodities that would go through Elkhart, included cement and fertilizers.

Another popular commodity in 1973 that several railroads were involved with, was the export grain being sent to the Soviet Union.

For this segment, we are interested in shipments a little bit closer to home. Two of those are from John's N.Y.C.T.L. Including an Empire Belt boxcar filled with some fine Heileman Beer. Being sent to Centennial Beverage Distributors in Denver, CO.

Another car being sent from the Ford Plant on the NYCTL is an empty tank car for the Celanese plant in the Globeville section of Denver.

From Ralph's Kings Port Division, a real treat for the livestock at Denver Union Stockyards, spent grain products made from fine Cavendish Ales. Left over from the brewing process, Cavendish is being a "green" manufacturer and using the excess grain for livestock feed.

For the trip West to Chicago on train BN-1, the Burlington has provided two Chinese Red hood units.

The first unit is a rattle can custom painted Bachmann GP30, number 944.

The second unit is an airbrushed Athearn Blue Box General Electric U28B number 109. The local Yardmaster is disappointed with the selection of road power. He's not a fan of either GP30's or General Electric locomotives. Both the Penn Central and Burlington Management know the reliable history of the GP30's and their continued good service.

Much to the Yardmasters dismay, the Penn Central side of the motive power includes two General Electric units for the trip to Chicago. He figures the guys in Chicago will have to deal with the locomotives and their supposed issues.

Aside of their grungy and dirty appearance, Penn Central's U33C's 6540 and 6557 should be reliable power to the trip to Chicago. Both are Athearn Blue Box Special Edition locomotives.

That's all from Elkhart. We'll next see our section of cars in Denver on PCCM 46N. Thanks for reading!!!