Train sets!

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Thanks for the update Arthur

Hello again all, here are some updates regarding the Phoenix Line Railroad's locomotives. As of 4:15 PM CDST on 10/28/2020, units 8276 and 3535 have been tested and have proven to be operable. Unfortunately the 8276 suffered some damage during this test but it was minor and has been repaired. 

Unfortunately the 3535 has shown some signs of mechanical issues, but such isn't that big of a deal as it has been assigned to the railroad's main yard at Hillside (alongside slug 6534). Former Conrail SD40-2 6406 is the next locomotive to be tested, and I will do what I can to keep you all informed of the test's results. I should also mention that the railroad's SD60M's (5566 and 2448, its pair of C44-9W's (2522 & 2520) and its AC4400CW (8635) were all working perfectly the last time they were tested. 

Unfortunately the railroad's pair of SD45's (7604 & 6144) as well as two of its other SD40-2's (7835 and 772) cannot be tested at this time due to unforeseen complications due to the railroad's current financial crisis.

Please stay tuned for further updates as the Phoenix Line Railroad's story continues.

Hello again all, got some more updates to share

As of 9:40 AM CDST on 10/31/2020, the railroad's former Conrail SD40-2 (the 6408, which I had incorrectly numbered as 6406 in the post preceding this one) has passed the test. The railroad has put offers out for help in terms of getting the issues being experienced by the 3535 and 8827 fixed and, while there has been a response, no action has been taken due to safety concerns related to "The Damned Virus" (as I chose to call it). Work on the branch line (now officially renamed as the Arlee Branch) has also been delayed by this.

Lastly, the loading of grain and malt barley at Rustyville's Cargill grain elevator as well as its transport from this industry continues for the time being.

Please stay tuned for further updates as the Phoenix Line Railroad's story continues.

Thanks for the update Arthur

DJJosh wrote:Thanks for the update Arthur

I always try and do my best regarding this matter. 

Unfortunately there is still no news regarding the PLRX's 3 former CP Rail heavyweight MOW cars at this time (1:10 PM CDST on 11/1/2020) but they are being kept safe in Rustyville's passenger car yard. None are being used for anything at present, but the plan to use the baggage area of 404910 as a storage area at some point in the near future remains in place.

Hello everyone, got another update for you all!

As of 3:15PM CST on 11/4/2020, the railroad's newest former Cargill hopper (TLDX 7505) has now received its first load of grain. It has yet to be removed from Rustyville's Cargill grain elevator at the present time however. Unfortunately its newest cylindrical hopper remains in storage, as it hasn't been renumbered yet. Also the former MILW covered hoppers purchased by this railroad hasn't been delivered as yet but the plan to get this task accomplished remains in place.

Please stay tuned for further updates as the Phoenix Line Railroad's story continues.

Thanks again for the update Arthur

Hello everyone, here are some updates regarding the railroad!

1.) As of 3:05 PM CST on 11/10/2020, covered hopper 7505 has carried at least two loads of raw grain now. Unfortunately the railroad's 2nd 604301 cylindrical covered hopper and cylindrical covered hopper 397024 remain in storage at this time due to the railroad's currently ongoing financial crisis. Its former MILW covered hopper (whose road number I've forgotten at present) has yet yo be delivered.

2.) Work related to the railroad's Arlee Branch has resumed, but its only planning work. Unfortunately I have no idea when (or even if) track construction work will actually start. I will admit that the mayor of each town that will gain rail access via this branch line have expressed frustration about the delay however.

3.) The three former CP heavyweight maintenance-of-way cars remain in storage in Rustyville's passenger car yard at this time. Issues with their couplers and/or coupler gearboxes continues to be the reason for their continued stay in storage, but two of the cars are seeing some minimal usage in spite of this. The railroad's plan to bring them into regular service with its track maintenance train continues to remain in place as well.

Please stay tuned for further updates as the Phoenix Line Railroad's story continues.

thanks for the update art

Hello everyone, here are some updates regarding the Phoenix Line Railroad. As of 2:30PM CST on 11/13/2020, the situation looks like this:

1.) Former Colorado & Southern 2-10-2 908 has been taken for a run on the main line recently, but such was only a test as its train was only 3 boxcars.

2.) Planning work for construction of the Arlee Branch continues, but such work is going agonizingly slow for reasons currently unknown to me.

3.) As usual the loading of grain and malt barley at Rustyville's Cargill grain elevator and the transport of these products away from this industry contnues.

4.) So far there has not been any sign of the railroad's "Local Freight", Stack & Trailer Pack", "Oil Train", or Wreck Train" operations on the main line but I will do what I can to inform you of any developments in regards to these PLRX services.
 

Please stay tuned for further updates as the Phoenix Line Railroad's story continues.

Thanks for the updates Arthur

Hello again everyone, here's another update involving the Phoenix Line Railroad.

As of 11:35AM CST on 11/16/2020, planning work for the future construction of the Arlee Branch continues (albeit very slowly). Unfortunately the railroad's financial crisis goes on.

Please stay tuned for further updates as the Phoenix Line Railroad's story continues.

Hello everyone
Not much to report today (11/21/2020) but the loading and transport of grain and malt barely goes on.

Thanks for the updates Arthur

Hello again all!

Sadly the construction of the Arlee Branch is proceeding slower than anticipated but this continues to be out of my hands. I will say that one of the track ramps that allow access to this line is in place however. There's also been some progress regarding the railroad's locomotive fleet and its group of heavyweight passenger cars but all of the BS in the world atm is making things very difficult to get these issues sorted out.

Please stay tuned for further updates as the Phoenix Line Railroad's story continues.

Thanks for the update Arthur

Hello everyone.
Don't have a lot to report today (11/30/2020) but, unfortunately, financial issues and the efforts of the construction group leader to try and limit these are causing a lot of frustration (which has been exhibited quite frequently in the past couple of weeks). At the same time however, loading of grain and malt barley at Rustyville's Cargil grain elevator and their transport from this industry continues.

Hello everyone.

Got some new regarding the railroad to share (as of 9:25AM CST on 12/1/2020). Its probably expected now but construction of the PLRX's Arlee Branch continues to go slower than originally thought. Also, I've been forced to pack my 3 former CP Rail heavyweight MOW cars away again (and find a place to hide them for a while as well) as this has become a source of major frustration and other issues (the details of which I won't talk about, due to their extremely personal nature). On the plus side, the loading of grain and malt barley at Rustyville's Cargill grain elevator and their transport from this industry continues.

Please stay tuned for further updates as the Phoenix Line Railroad's Story continues.

Hello again all!
Work on the Arlee Branch is continuing at this time (12:05PM CST on 12/4/2020), but its only planning. Timberneck Gulch will be getting a lumber yard while Oakdale will receive an unloading track as well as storage space for cars and the elevator switcher. As for Arlee, its supposed to be getting a paper mill as its main industry and source of freight traffic, but the exact date remains anyone's guess at this time. 

Please stay tuned for further updates as the Phoenix Line Railroad's story continues.

Thanks for the updates Arthur

Hello again everyone!

The railroad may be getting another locomotive soon (as of 2:15 PM CST on 12/6/2020)! There has been some debate about the PLRX purchasing a former CN Rail GP9 (unit no.'s 4418 or 4422) or a former CN Rail GP38-2W (unit no.4777). If purchased, the 4777 will replace former Conrail GP38-2 8276 as power for the railroad's Wreck Train.

Also, due to some heated debate, the railroad has been forced to remove its trio of former CP Rail heavyweight MOW cars from sight. On the plus side, former CP Rail SD40-2's 6057 and 5415 have been active on the railroad's mainline again recently (powering a short train of empty and loaded grain hoppers). Also, loading of grain and malt barley at Rustyville's Cargill grain elevator and transport from this industry continues.

Please stay tuned for further updates as the Phoenix Line Railroad's story continues.

Hello everyone!

Got some more updates related to the railroad to share with you (as of 11:05AM CST on 12/8/2020). Work on building the tunnels that will be used by the Arlee Branch has started now but it may be a while before track work on this branch line actually starts. The two towns and village served by this line will be getting stations regardless however.

Unfortunately the railroad's three former CP Rail heavyweight MOW cars remain in deep storage at this time, but there is a chance that they could be returned to open-air storage at Rustyville at some point in the future. There's also been a delay in regards to the delivery of the new locomotive (which is former CN Rail GP38-2W 4447). On the plus side, the loading of grain and malt barley at Rustyville's Cargill grain elevator and their transport from this industry continues.   

Please stay tuned for further updates as the Phoenix Line Railroad's story continues.

Hello again everyone!!!
As of 2:50PM CST on 12/11/2020, work on the Arlee Branch continues. Not surpassingly Rustyville's covered water tower had to be demolished in order to accommodate this construction. A replacement covered water tower will probably be built in Oakdale but such is a project for the near future. Rustyville's depot may also have to be demolished (according to the railroad's master builder) but such remains to be seen at this time. 

Naturally all of the cars and trains stored on the tracks near this building had to be moved and, unfortunately, grain service from Rustyville's Cargill grain elevator has been disrupted. Such is a temporary measure though, and the freight operations performed at this industry will resume soon.

Hillside may also have to lose its water tower as well but its also anyone's guess for now. If this does happen, a replacement will most likely be built in Arlee. Also, the railroad's newest cylindrical covered hopper, its three former CP Rail heavyweight maintenance of way cars, and its wreck train remain in storage at this time. 

Lastly, the railroad's newest locomotive (former CN Rail GP38-2W 4777) and its 4th "Railbox" boxcar (its exact number is currently unknown to me) will probably arrive on 12/14/2020. According to my information, this boxcar is going to receive new reporting marks as well as a new road number. 

Please stay tuned for further updates as the Phoenix Line Railroad's story continues.

Thanks for the updates Arthur

Hello again everyone!!!

It turns out that I was wrong about the locomotive and boxcar, as both arrived over the past weekend. I for one am happy about getting this locomotive as it will be one of only three wide-cab locomotives on the railroad. Unfortunately no track work has been done as of late, but I suspect that several of life's other priorities is responsible for this (my dad has become convinced that someone is coming into his backyard at night now, and is wanting to make the back gate more secure as a result).

Grain service on the railroad is still disrupted as a result of new track construction but such isn't entirely unexpected. 

Please stay tuned for further updates as the Phoenix Line Railroad's story continues.

Hello again everyone, got some more updates to share!

As of 10:40 AM CST on 12/16/2020, the bed for the main track through Timberneck Gulch is in place but the town's depot, its secondary platform and lumberyard have not been built and/or installed yet. While the general area for the town of Oakdale is in place, there are no buildings (an ADM grain elevator & rail depot) or rail facilities (a storage yard for loaded & empty grain hoppers as well as a spot to keep the elevator switcher when its not in use) located in this area yet. I have also learned that a covered water will be built in this town to replace the one in Rustyville (which was demolished to accommodate the platform holding Oakdale) but I'm not sure about when this will happen.
  
There are plans to have some bridges installed above Hillside as well, but when this will take place remains unknown at this time. Unfortunately grain service remains suspended, but such cannot be helped as the outbound track at Rustyville's Cargill grain elevator is being used to store the railroad's Track Maintenance Train. This train will be getting new power soon actually, but such is on hold at present due to the continued construction work being performed on the Arlee Branch.

This work has also forced the railroad to completely relocate Stackville's passenger platforms, but they won't have to move all that far away from their original locations. The future of Hillside's water tower also remains uncertain at present but, if it will have to be demolished, a replacement will be built in Arlee. 

Please stay tuned for further updates as the Phoenix Line Railroad's story continues.