Hilton and Mears leasing supporting Andrews Lumber…
Several months ago HMLX 1000 was leased to Andrews Lumber, a shortline out west. They were experiencing a short term increase in traffic and we were happy to help with our roots in logging railroading…
You never know where a HMLX leasor will turn up, send in your sightings and we’ll share them here - or if your in need of power, either to cover a short term increase in demand or a failure in one of your regular locomotives then get in touch and we’ll be happy to discuss offering one of our flexible fleet on lease. Get in touch via the contact form, 1000 should be available for new contracts in the fall. Until next time, more soon…
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| Alan Sewell photo. |
1000 is today our only RS1, but was one of a trio we inherited when we took on the Ballard and Wantage back in the late 70s as Hilton Mears forest products looked to diversify into railroading, specifically shortline operations. In time our experience and customer focused results driven approach led to HMLX becoming a terminal operator in the North East and Canada as well as offering power by the hour to customers - but Andrews Lumber is new, a further expansion and a demonstration of our intention to become the partner of choice for shortlines and industries across the continent.
Local rail-fan and old friend Alan Sewell sent over these photos, showing old 1000 still wearing her work worn Ballard and Wantage patched New Haven scheme, working hard in the mill complex, supplementing the Alco switchers normally employed by ALCo.
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| Alan Sewell photo. |
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This reminds me of someone I used to know in the US. His local friends used to rotate operating sessions at each other's homes. At the start of every session they used to put cars from their own railroad on the hosts interchange track. Their cars would eventually arrive back on their own layouts a couple of sessions later.
ReplyDeleteThanks Ian, that is the sort of thing…
DeleteHi James
ReplyDelete"HMLX#1000 has been operating well holding down the run to Longview Junction. However a recent visit showed the Andrews Forest shops at Jennis were completing the rebuild of at least one of Hartford and Cowlitz the damaged GPs so that may go back into service soon and relegate #1000 as spare and possibly will then come off hire . Traffic does remain high so this might then be delayed for a while" and so it says in my alternative universe.
In the almost real world it has been fun running #1000 for sometime and I hope to operate it on the Thameside Model Railroad Group's Essex Belt Line at the NMRA British Convention before it returns to Wales
Best regards
Alan