The Pennsy - Six Miles West of Altoona and More

[ACL1504]

I'm going to do a crossover on The Pennsy of the F&SM hopper.

The sun was pokiing it's shinny head through the Pennsylvania woods. Three men, all of whom have no desire to work, were up early. At least one of them was excited. Clem was poking the fire with a long branch being as he was to lazy to even stand.  Slim had his head in his hands and leaned back on his log pillow. You see, Slim decided that poking the log to get the fire going was to much like work. On the other hand, the most excited of the three was Jim. He was standing by the fire banging out a tune on his banjo.

He was singing, "Tis comin round da mountin, here tis come. Tis comin round da mountin, here tis come. F&SM hopper tis comin round da mountin, comin round da mountin, here tis come." Clem said, "Be quiet Jim, ya want the local PoPo to eared ya and took usin in?" Jim replied, "I's ain't worried, nary one bit cause I'd eared the F&SM hopper is comin round da mountin. I just gots to see its."

[ACL1504]

In the mean time, the famous F&SM hopper was spotted on a siding behind Langford Wood, also known for selling high quality lumber and roofing materials.



What this photographer finds interesting is the fact Langford and his Babe aren't waving at the hopper. And by the way, where is Jose. I expected to find him in the woods with the other three non workers. You see they all have in common that everyday is Saturday.

The hopper was sent to the Pennsy, Six Miles West of Altoona, PA by the Atlantic and Southern RR. There is certainly no telling how long the hopper will stay behind the lumber company.

[ACL1504]

At some point during the day, the hopper was moved to the coaling tower to drop the coal. Here a Pennsy H10 consolidation pushes the hopper back to the coaling tower.



The brakeman is attempting to get the attention of the coal tower operator to verify the coal is to be dropped here.




Horace, the angry coaling tower supervisor, is waving his arms saying, " The hopper is empty you idiot, get it out of here, can't you see I've got huge Pennsy locos to service."






The hopper was then spotted next to the huge Pennsy T1- duplex.

[ACL1504]

Look at those massive M1 mountains double heading up the grade. They are pulling a long coal train up the Gallitzin Grade. I wonder if the hopper is in this train?



It appears the Pennsy recognized the famous freight car and place it directly behind the Pennsy M1s.

[ACL1504]

A few hours later, the hopper is spotted coming out of Tunnel Hill. Look at the smokey haze. That smoke is still coming out of the tunnel.





WOW, lookie here, the hopper is now seen behind the Langford Wood and Lumber Yard. Who is that guy anyway? Don't tell me he is the guy with the Babe that waves at the F&SM hopper.



Where is that Jose guy? Must be sleeping somewhere cause we know he ain't working.

[ACL1504]

Here we are at AR Tower. All Pennsy trains must stop here to perform a brake test before going down the Rat Hole.

Hey, it that an express ACL reefer in the train? Yep, sure nuff.



But where is the F&SM hopper? Oh, there it is behind the Pennsy Shark B unit.



Here the hopper goes into the Rat Hole.

[ACL1504]

The hopper is now well past Altoona and passing Kattanning Point headed for the very famous Horse Shoe Curve.



How lucky are we? Its a fly over Horse Shoe Curve. We see the F&SM hopper on track 4 behind three Pennsy freight units.

A Pennsy passenger train is passing in the opposite direction on track 2 being pulled by two Tuscan Pennsy PA units.

And there is the wonderful Pennsy K4 Pacific # 1361.

[ACL1504]

This car is so famous that it takes two massive Pennsy SD40's to spot it for the next pickup.



Hey, I think that is Danny Raymond, (Raymo) watching the switching moves. Nice car there Raymo.




The travels of the traveling hopper car have come to an end on the Pennsy, Six Miles West of Altoona. The car is waiting to be sent to the Morristown and Eire Railroad oddly enough in Phoenix, AZ.

[tct855]

Wow!  Great pics and story line Tom.  Thanks for sharing.  I know the f&sm hopper is relatively a new car, but boy it's really making some miles of revenue service for the Franklin & South Manchester Railroad.  I know George has been keeping track of all things FSM etc.  T...

[PennsyJ1]

Thank you Tom for moving copy of the pic's to The Pennsy thread. This extends the history of our layout.
Thanks again!!

Bill & Kris

[ACL1504]

Wow!  Great pics and story line Tom.  Thanks for sharing.  I know the f&sm hopper is relatively a new car, but boy it's really making some miles of revenue service for the Franklin & South Manchester Railroad.  I know George has been keeping track of all things FSM etc.  T...

Thommy,

You are very welcome. I just wanted to get the story line and pictures on The Pennsy-Six Miles West of Altoona and More for Bill and Kris.

I'm happy to know George is tracking the F&SM hopper.

I love this hobby and all the wonderful friends I've made through the years.

Tommy

[ACL1504]

Thank you Tom for moving copy of the pic's to The Pennsy thread. This extends the history of our layout.
Thanks again!!

Bill & Kris

Kris and Bill,

You two are most welcome. I'm always happy to be a part of history. And, thank you both for hosting the hopper.

Tom

[PennsyJ1]

After visits and many discussions on SCALE with ACL Tom, and watching the great job you all do with building structures I decided to give it a try. To insure that I was serious about this venture I gave away 10 or so buildings. There are now  a lot of empty lots on the layout. It's time to get started.
The HO SCALE INVESTMENT COMPANY purchased the under scale gas station property near Gallitzin Pa. A major excavation was needed to make way for the new gas station by Fos Scale Models. This is my version of Tower Gas. Kris worked on the scenery and we both worked on the details.











I think I have the bug to do more. Empty lots on the layout do not look good.
Bill

[jimmillho]

Cool looking gas station Bill.  I guess Kris did all the Scenery.

Jim

[PennsyJ1]

Cool looking gas station Bill.  I guess Kris did all the Scenery.

Jim

Thanks Jim, once I got the rocks in place I just turn her lose. She loves making the trees and setting up all the greenery that goes along with the area.
Bill