Train sets!

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Thanks for the update Arthur

Thanks for the updates Arthur

Hello everyone, got some exciting news to share (as of 3:40PM CST on 11/27/2021).

1.) With track work in Timbrneck Gulch's lumberyard now complete, it has been accepting inbound cars. So far this location has hosted some reefer cars and a newsprint boxcar as well as some of its intended cars. There is one car left to visit this location however, and I'm not sure when this will take place.

2.) The yard in Hillside has engine storage tracks now, but the 4008 is using one as we speak so there's not too many of these left now.

3.) Sadly the railroad's "Expo" unit has been having some issues with its rear truck on the yard's main entry switch at Hillside but this has been solved by the unit traveling over the switch slowly.

4.) Hillside may be getting a car dealership at some point in the near future. Known as Import Motors, this will sit next to a rail spur that allows delivery of Auto-racks that will be loaded with imported cars and trucks. Unfortunately the town of Arlee will have to move its depot and water tower, but these don't have to move all that far.

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

Thanks for the update Arthur

Hello all, here's some more updates about the PLRX (as of 10AM CST on 11/29/2021).

1.) The space for Import Motors has been established now, and track work to provide it with space for two auto-racks as well as parking space for a locomotive is underway.

2.) Speaking of locomotives, the railroad's 1571 has been undergoing some testing as of late due to some unexpected mechanical issues.

3.) The last car to visit Timberneck Gulch has done so now and, while it was brief, I am certain that such will be happening again at some point in the future.

4.) The railroad has a brand new passenger service now. Known as the Tourist Special and consisting of former CP Rail 4073 (a 4-6-2 Pacific-type steam locomotive) and the former CP Rail 119 (a Budd 62-seat-coach which was originally assigned to the railroad’s Officer’s/V.I.P Special), it will take tourists on tours of the PLRX’s mainline between Rustyville & Hillside as well as the Arlee sub during the summer. It doesn’t provide food service but such isn’t an overly big deal as the depots in Rustyville, Timberneck Gulch & Arlee are big enough to help with this.

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

Hello everyone, got some more update for you (as of 4:00PM CST on 12/4/2021)!!!

1.) The future site of Import Motors can accept shipments of inbound cars and their associated parts now, as track work in this area is now complete.

2.) There is a new bridge in place now and its being used by the railroad's Arlee Branch.

3.) A restaurant called White Tower may be opening its doors at some point but I'm not sure where this will happen.

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

Thanks for the update Arthur, I did see it post twice there not sure if you noticed that or not

DJJosh wrote:Thanks for the update Arthur, I did see it post twice there not sure if you noticed that or not

There has not been a double post from me in here Josh. My last two posts have been somewhat similar however. Moving on, the Phoenix Line Railroad now has a pair of new locomotives  (as of 12/5/2021).

Former CN Rail 6613 (an EMD F9B)
Former CP Rail 8443 (Alco RS-3)

The railroad has already made plans for the 6613 (it will replace the 5043 as secondary power on the Phoenix Flyer), while a use for the 8443 has yet to be found. 

Please stay turned for further updates as the PLRX's story continues.

TigerTankFan wrote:

DJJosh wrote:Thanks for the update Arthur, I did see it post twice there not sure if you noticed that or not

There has not been a double post from me in here Josh. My last two posts have been somewhat similar however. Moving on, the Phoenix Line Railroad now has a pair of new locomotives  (as of 12/5/2021).

Former CN Rail 6613 (an EMD F9B)
Former CP Rail 8443 (Alco RS-3)

The railroad has already made plans for the 6613 (it will replace the 5043 as secondary power on the Phoenix Flyer), while a use for the 8443 has yet to be found. 

Please stay turned for further updates as the PLRX's story continues.

Thanks for the update Arthur. Thanks the update on the double post thing as I read it too fast and it does look similar but still two different posts. My fault there I did read it again more slowly this time

Hello everyone, here are some new developments associated with the railroad (as of 11:50AM CST on 12/12/2021).

1.) The town of Oakdale is growing now as it has a public restaurant and service station. The latter business is supposed to have gas pumps too but their installation has been delayed for unknown reasons.

2.) Oakdale may be getting a bus service as well but such remains unconfirmed at the present time.

3.) Stackville's intermodal yard is undergoing an expansion but work on this has been agonizingly slow as of late.

4.) Unfortunately there's been NO update on the situation regarding this town's paper mill, but such can't be helped at present.

5.) Hillside may be getting a factory at some point in the near future.

6.) The engine maintenance facility may receive some sort of physical building soon but nothing is confirmed.

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

Hello everyone, here are some more updates for the railroad (as of 11:55AM CST on 12/15/2021).

1.) the 4053 may be reassigned to the Track Maintenance Train at some point in the near future but nothing is guaranteed right now.

2.) Unfortunately Rustyville may be losing its passenger depot but there has been some STRONG opposition in response to this.

3.) The railroad's covered water tower has been relocated to Arlee, as the developers of Oakdale have felt that it was too imposing.

4.) Oakdale's restaurant, which is named White Tower, has now officially opened for business.

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

Thanks for the update Arthur

thanks For The update art

Hello everyone, here are some updates for the railroad (as of 12/25/2021)!!!

1.) No work is being performed on the railroad today, due to it being Christmas. Work will be resuming in the new year however. 

2.) the railroad has managed to acquire a 2nd rail crane and its boom tender car now. This unit (former CN Rail 60359)  has a 200-ton lifting capacity and, along with its tender car (former CN Rail 664459) joins the Track Maintenance train. Unfortunately this may force the railroad to remove the 60' bulkhead flatcar from the train but nothing has been settled as yet.  These cars may replace the ones currently being used by the Wreck train as well but, as already mentioned, nothing has been settled as yet
 
3.) The railroad also has managed to acquire two center beam flatcars through a lease agreement.  These cars (TTX Corporation nos. 87174 & 87176) will be used to carry processed lumber over the PLX's rails, but not that often due to their length of 72' (which may cause clearance issues).

4.) There are plans to construct locomotive maintenance/storage buildings in Hillside at some point in the not-too-distant future. These are a single track shop building and a two-stall engine house. The latter building is a style used by steam locomotives, but such isn't that big of a deal.

5.) The service station in Oakdale may be changing owners at some point. Its most likely going to be rebranded as Imperial Oil but such remains to be seen at this time. Also, continued delays and other priorities mean that this business still hasn't received its gas pumps and signage tower yet.

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

Hello everyone.
As of 1/11/2022, the railroad's situation looks like this.

1.) The railroad's workers have returned to their jobs after a two-week break.

2.) Sadly the service station in Oakdale still hasn't received its fuel pumps yet but such is due to other obligations/priorities.

3.) Work on at least one of the locomotive maintenance buildings for Hillside has started now but, not surprisingly, the other obligations/priorities that were mentioned earlier will most likely create issues for this project as well. 

4.) Interestingly, the railroad's two center beam flatcars have been tested but haven't seen actual service yet. Such is also the case with its new rail crane and its boom tender. 

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

Hello all, got some more updates (as of 10:50am CST on 1/13/2022)

1.) Work on Hillside's locomotive maintenance building has been completed now, and it has received its first locomotive.

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

Thanks for all of the updates Arthur

Hello everyone.
Not much to share here (as of 11:35AM CST on 1/17/2022) but I will say that construction of a two-stall engine house in Rustyville has begun. There is nothing to show for now but such cannot be helped. 
The railroad's main yard will also be getting an engine house at some point in the near future, but this one will be a single track deal and have an entryway on both ends of the building.

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

Hello everyone, here are some more updates related to the Phoenix Line Railroad (as of 2:15PM CST on 1/19/2022).

1.) The two-stall engine house has been constructed now but, according to what I've been told, it and the maintenance shop will be switching places. 

2.) Unfortunately the above event means that the track in the locomotive maintenance area will have to be completely removed and redone. Its going to take a while to get this work finished, but there is no other option.

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

Thanks for the updates Arthur

Hello everyone, here are some more updates about the Phoenix Line Railroad (as of 12:10PM CST on 1/24/2022).

1.) Work on the track in the railroad's maintenance has been completed now, and it has played host to at least one locomotive since. Former Conrail 8276 is the latest locomotive to receive service this area. Former CP Rail 5020 is filling in at the Oakdale grain elevator while this work is taking place. 

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

Hello everyone, here are some updates (as of 11:55AM CST on 1/29/2022).

1.) Hillside now has a food business. This is a KFC (or Kentucky Fried Chicken), and its got parking spaces.

2.) The 8276 has returned to Oakdale now, but the 3571 is receiving work in the shops now. The railroad's lone AC4400CW may be the next locomotive to be run through the shop but I'm not 100% sure about this.

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

Thanks for the updates Arthur

Hello everyone.

As of 2:10PM CST on 2/7/2022, there's not too much happening on the railroad as of late. Its lone AC4400CW has been rotated through the car & locomotive shop now but there may be more action on this at some point in the very near future. It continues to look for some more intermodal cars, but this search remains fruitless for now. 

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

Hello everyone, here are some more interesting updates about the Phoenix Line Railroad (as of 5:05PM CST on 2/11/2022).

1.) Former CN Rail SD40-2 5937 & former Conrail SD40-2 6408 have taken a run on the railroad now but, unfortunately, the latter had some mechanical issues. These are being worked out in the railroad's car and locomotive shops as we speak however.

2.) One of the railroad's ACF hoppers (whose number escapes me at present) is being washed in the other maintenance area. Such is done to make sure that a car remains looking its best.

3.) There are plans to have the 1571 returned to service, but these are delayed due to its need for wheel cleaning (which hasn't happened yet).

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

Thanks for the updates Arthur