THE HIGH POINT AND ROME RAILROAD

[legostudios34]

Only 2 trains running on the entire railroad right now...

MGA 2307, GMTX 9055, ATN 5387, and HPR 501 lead HPR 246. Clear signal Jacksonville. 77 loads, 24 empties. This is the longest train HPR has ever run. Business is great.

HPR 219 and 424 lead Extra 219 East. Clear Woodlawn. 12 loads, 19 empties. Extra 219 East is a extra section of 246.

In other HPR News...

High Point and Rome has acquired ex-Maryland and Northern, exx - NYC RS32 115. Its has been numbered HPR 320 and is expected to arrive on the railroad Friday.

Also, High Point and Rome will be trying out a new GP35MAC concept at High Point. The first unit will be rebuilt from HPR 727, which has been instorage since it was bought from DTCX. It was damaged in a wreck and has been nothing but problems. Some features that will be included are AC traction motors, wide safety cab, upgrade to Dash 3 specs. If successful, this will probably be done to the GP35s in the 700-707 series, as these are the oldest units to not have undergone a rebuild on the roster.

HPR 702 has been scrapped at High Point. Its engine basically blew up 3 years ago, and it has sat on the High Point Deadline ever since. The Alco trucks, however, and in very good condition and have been saved as a replacement for RS32's trucks as they fail (Bad traction motors are a problem with this unit, M&NT told us about it. This will allow them to be replaced as needed.)

[legostudios34]

High Point and Rome has cut service to Dallas, GA, Effective Immediately. As the renewal for the track lease between Rockmart and Dallas is needed tomorrow, the decision to cut has been made as NS wants too much money for the amount of traffic HPR runs. This means trains 119, 220, 240, 315, and 420 have been permanently cut. Although this might seem like a big loss, 119, 220, and 240 only run weekly and 315 and 420 are locals/switch jobs. HPR has applied for abandonment of the 1.4 mile long Dallas Division, which branched from the NS line to the Dallas Yard. Dallas yard would be included. HPR, however, is currently in negotiations with the state of Georgia for the ex-CSX right of way that has been turned into a trail. This would restore service to Dallas, as well as provide a line into Atlanta.

As for train location updates -

119 did not run today, as service to Dallas has been stopped.

HPR 400, 500, and 501 lead HPR 224. Clear signal Ragland. 56 loads, 14 TOFCs, 21 empties.

HPR 218 leads HPR 242. Clear signal High Point Wye East Leg. 17 TOFCs, 1 load, 3 empties.

HPR 424 and 426 lead HPR 145. Stop signal Rockmart Track 2. 35 TOFCs, 4 Autoracks, 16 loads, 15 empties.

HPR 91 and 99 lead HPR 123. Stop signal Wellington Track 2 (To meet 224). 24 loads, 19 TOFCs, 46 empties. (Both heritage units on this train!!)

HPR 733 led 141, now in the yard at High Point. 15 TOFCs, 4 loads, 2 empties.

HPR 448, 449, 451, and GMTX 9055 (DPU) lead HPR 143. Clear signal Green. 98 coal loads, 0 empties.

Lots of trains...

[legostudios34]

HPR 91 and 733 lead HPR 246. Clear signal High Point. 47 Loads, 18 TOFCs, 16 empties.

HPR 424, 425, 714, and 426 lead HPR 145. Clear signal Irondale JCT. 23 loads, 9 TOFCs, 21 empties.

[legostudios34]

HPR 400 and 999 lead HPR 145, now approaching Piedmont. Clear signal Baert. (4 miles west of Piedmont)

[legostudios34]

HPR is quiet tonight. Just one short train running.

HPRX 320 (The new RS32) and HPR 425 lead HPR 246. 14 loads, 15 empties. Clear signal Piedmont. A nice all Alco consist for once over our normal EMDs.

[legostudios34]

While the operations side of HPR sleeps (No trains running until 5:00 AM tomorrow) The HPR Scheduling and Logistics department is hard at work. With the recent downgrade of most of the tracks on the Birmingham District to 25 MPH, most trains have been impossible to arrive on schedule. I'll post a link to the updated schedule as soon as it's finished.

[legostudios34]

HPR 101, 448, 449, 451, 701, and GMTX 9055 lead HPR 143. 98 Coal loads, no empties. Clear signal Clarkwood.

HPR 45, 3, 705, qnd ATN 5387 lead HPR 145. Clear signal State Line. 51 loads, 44 empties.

HPR 732 and 218 lead HPR 242. 15 TOFCs, 4 loads, 1 empty. Arrived at High Point yard 13 minutes ago.

[legostudios34]

High Point and Rome is currently in negotiations with Norfolk Southern to purchase the NS Cedartown district between Cedartown and Senoia, GA and the NS Griffin District between Griffin and Macon. Also, we are negotiating with NS for a purchase of the ex CoG ROW between Senoia and Griffin. This would give High Point and Rome a line to Macon AND allow for an interchange with Florida East Coast at Macon, which would allow the dream of a Miami to Birmingham intermodal to become a reality. There is, however a problem with this routing: No double stacks or Autoracks are allowed on the NS Griffin district, meaning the intermodal would have to be single stacks or trailers.

I'll post a map of the future expanded HPR later today. Also, I'll post some route mileage stats.

[legostudios34]

The updated HPR map after this purchase is complete.

[legostudios34]

HPR has completed negotions with Norfolk Southern for Cedartown to Macon. The final price (including the 18 miles with no track between Senoia and Griffin) is 37.8 Million USD. HPR will be recieving a 28 million dollar grant from the state of Georgia to resume and improve rail service through this area of the state of Georgia, bringing the direct cost for HPR down to 9.8 million. (We could have recieved another 5 million dollar grant to institute passenger service on this line, but we do not want to have to deal with PTC)

Track crews will start work between Senoia and Griffin Monday to rebuild the abandoned tracks to 25 MPH standards. The first trains, coal trains to Wansley, GA, are expected to start operating on Tuesday (Wansley is located on track that is already in service, near Carrolton, GA. A coal train to Yates, Ga is scheduled for Wednesday.

[legostudios34]

HPR 500 and 501 lead HPR 101. 34 Autoracks, 27 TOFCs. Clear signal Bowling Alley.

HPR 449, 450, 451, 101, 100, and GMTX 9055 lead HPR 244. 98 Coal Empties. Clear signal High Point Wye.

[legostudios34]

HPR 701, 714, 722, and 733 lead HPR Z001 (The current symbol for section one of Wansley Coal Loads) with 731 and 726 as manned DPUs. 50 Loads, No Empties. Track Authority 002 from Cedartown to C341 on the Main Track, No switches or restrictions. Left the Diamond at Cedartown at 0640 Hours.

EBIR 900, HPR 221 (New F40PH) and 709 lead HPR 22X (Saturday 202). Clear signal Cedartown Diamond 0702 Hours. 22 TOFCs, 31 Autoracks.

Also, roster has been updated to show the two new GP40-3Fs (F40PH's with HEP removed for freight service)

[Saturnalia]

Your slug conversions are nearly done. Will ship Thursday.

[legostudios34]

HPR 600, 717, 714, 604, with 602, and 704 as the DPU lead HPR Coal Extra 600 south from Rome to Wansley, GA. 55 coal loads, no empties. Track authority from Cedartown to Bremen, left Cedartown at 8:47 PM

HPR 700 leads HPR Maintenance special 700 South. This train is putting out ties and rails between Senoia and Experiment. The roadbed has been finished, which is why track is now being laid. Left Senoia at 7:54 PM, has been averaging a little less that .5 miles an hour.

[legostudios34]

HPR 606 and 320 lead HPR 123. Clear signal Woodlawn. 16 loads, 24 empties, 3 TOFCS.
HPR 424 and 425 lead HPR 224. Clear signal Leeds. 20 loads, 19 empties, 7 TOFCs.
HPR 707 leads HPR 143. Clear signal Seney. 3 TOFCs, 2 Loads.
HPR 716 leads a very late HPR 202. Clear signal Piedmont. 64 TOFCs, 7 Autoracks. HPR 218 was leading but cut out and would not restart near Leeds. The second unit, 716 was put on the front and led the train to Jacksonville, where 218 was cut off. No power was available at Jacksonville, so 716 is allowing the train to limp to High Point where another unit will be added.
HPR 448, 449, 451, and GMTX 9055 lead HPR 145 with HPR 450 as the DPU. Crew on duty at Rome. 98 Coal Loads.

[legostudios34]

All rail and ties have been re-lay between Senoia and Griffin. A crew is called for a Ballast extra that will depart High Point at 2:30 AM tomorrow. HPR 999 will lead 32 ballast hoppers. Expected arrival to Senoia is 7:00 AM, which will give crews daylight to work in.

[legostudios34]

The HPR inspection train is preparing to depart Whitesburg, GA to run south all the way to Macon. It will be the first train on the line between Griffin and Macon in over a month and the first train between Senoia and Griffin in over 20 years. The consist is HPR GP40X 219, HPR Passenger Car P001, HPR Passenger Car P004, a HPRX boxcar, and a HPRX Maintence flatbed. Tonights inspection run is being done in the dark so as to not create bias to the way a certain area of track looks, this is to see how it runs. Tomorrow the train will return in daylight to High Point. If all goes well the new FEC/HPR intermodal between Miami and Birmingham could have its first run next Friday.

[legostudios34]

Schedule update coming soon... It'll just be on paper so I'll have to scan it in, I can do that tomorrow night.

[legostudios34]

HPR 91, the New Georgia Railroad heritage unit has been shopped at High Point for a paint redesign. The paint design, which worked alright for F-Units did not work well on 91, so it will be repainted, as it is time for its 180 day inspection anyway.

[legostudios34]

HPR 15X (Extra 145, actually the Circus Train) is the symbol for this years RBBB Blue Unit Circus Train. It has been delivered by NS at Rome and the HPR Power is switching onto it now. Due to leave Rome at 6:30 PM. Power is HPR 99 (BSRR Heritage Unit), 700, and EBIR 900.

Schedule:
Rome, GA - Leave at 6:30 PM
High Point, GA - Arrive 7:30 PM, Bypass Yard, Leave 7:32 PM
Cedartown, GA - Arrive 8:15 PM, leave 8:16 PM
Jacksonville, AL - Arrive 9:30 PM, stop at yard, water animals, Leave 10:15 PM
Wellington, AL - Arrive 10:45 PM, Leave 10:45 PM
Irondale, AL - Arrive 2:00 AM, Interchange to NS.