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10-21-02

Rail News-

New Jersey Transit-
    After years of waiting, the Montclair Connection finally opened on September 30, 2002.  It did not turn out the be the instant success that was hoped for.  Passengers west of Montclair Heights must now transfer for Hoboken and New York trains at Montclair Heights (there are not many through trains due to disapproval of diesel service by the township of Montclair).  In addition, passengers at Benson Street, Rowe Street, and Arlington stations have faced tough choices with their commutes as these stations were abandoned in favor of the new routing.  The line is now known as the Montclair-Boonton Line and features mid-day off peak service to New York Penn Station (there was previously no midday service on the Boonton Line)

    The AAI corporation in Maryland which has been rebuilding NJT's Comet IIs and IIBs has gone out of business.  As a result the remaining unrebuilt Comet IIs will be rebuilt by Alstom in Hornell, NY.

    With the completion of the Montclair Connection, the ALP46 Locomotives and Comet V Coaches have entered into regular service on the Hoboken Division and the Northeast Corridor (including NJCL).

New York & Greenwood Lake-
    The NYGL Railroad had expressed interest in operating over the eastern portion of NJT's former Boonton Line.  Trains would run between the NYGL headquarters at Benson Street and serve the abandoned stations of Rowe Street and Arlington.  Several challenges are preventing the NYGL from starting this service.  As a result, the NYGL has filed a lawsuit against NJT saying that NJT did not provide enough notice prior to termination of service at the three now defunct stations.

New York, Susquehanna, and Western-
    On Friday, October 11 and Saturday October 12, 2002, a self propelled coach from Colorado Railcar was on display on the NYSW.  The car, basically a modern-day Budd RDC would be used for proposed service between Hawthorne and Sparta.

Norfolk Southern-
    On October 16, 2002, NS ran it's last train over DB Drawbridge.  The bridge, once used daily by NJ Transit, saw a drastic service cutback once the Montclair Connection opened.  After the final NS run, the bridge was opened and will remain in that position.

Site Updates-

Equipment Rosters:

NJ Transit Active Equipment Roster: Updated!

Photo Galleries:

NJ Transit Light Rail: Photo added of Hudson Bergen Light Rail at Liberty State Park.

Railroad Guides:

Movable Bridges of New Jersey: Updated!

Railroad Maps:

Passenger Railroads of New Jersey: Updated and all new!  Now includes complete maps of South Jersey Light Rail, Hudson Bergen Light Rail, as well as Montclair Boonton Line and SEPTA connections.

Railroad Timelines:

NJ Transit Equipment Timeline: Updated!

8-12-02

Rail News-

New Jersey Transit-
    NJT has announced the following events for their 2002 Try Transit Week:
    September 23: New concourse at NY Penn Station opens.
    September 28: Hudson Bergen LRT reaches Hoboken Terminal
    September 29: 2002 Hoboken Festival (on a Sunday this year)
    September 30: Montclair Connection finally opens for service, Benson Street, Rowe Street, and Arlington stations close.

    The first Comet II Cab to be rebuilt by AAI corporation in Maryland was returned to NJT in June 2002.  Cab 5135 returned as trailer 5441.  Despite this conversion, the cab section (including the original numbering and NJ logo) is clearly visible.

    During July 2002, NJT tested the catenary on the Boonton Line between Walnut Street and Montclair Heights with several electric trainsets.  This testing was done to simulate heavy traffic flows anticipated once the Montclair Connection is completed.

    During August 2002, the first ALP46 electric locomotive, #4605 entered into revenue service.  This locomotive is being tested in revenue service between Hoboken and Dover.

Cape May Seashore Lines-
    Between July 31 and August 5, 2002, Canal Drawbridge over the Cape May Canal was inoperable due to high temperatures and mechanical problems.  During this period, there was no service to Cape May City.

Site Updates-

Freight Schedules:

Manville Yard: New Schedule Online!

Photo Galleries:

Amtrak: Photo added of AEM-7 911 at New Brunswick Station.

NJ Transit Locomotives: Photo added of GP40FH-2 4132 at Kingsland Station.

NJ Transit Rolling Stock: Photo added of Comet III Cab 5009 (post MTA trade) at New Brunswick Station.

Railroad Timelines:

NJ Transit Equipment Timeline: Updated!

Train Wrecks of New Jersey, 1833-1899:  New Timeline Online!
 
 

4-4-02

Rail News-

New Jersey Transit-
    NJ Transit executive director Jeff Warsh has announced his resignation, following a request by governor McGreevy that he do so.  Replacing Warsh will be former Amtrak director Warrington.
    It has been announced that NJT will once again delay the opening of the Montclair Connection.  The project was supposed to be completed in May, however, the Comet V order has been delayed as well, causing the Montclair Connection scheduled opening date to be pushed to September.  (source- Star Ledger)
    On April 1, NJT train and bus fares went up an average of ten percent.  The NJT Board of Directors passed the fare increase in January.

Conrail-
     On February 9, a local freight on the NEC derailed near Linden, causing delays to Amtrak and NJT service.  The train ripped down the catenary and cross catenary, which in turn forced both Amtrak and NJT to use diesel power.  In addition, signal systems were down due to the electrical problem, causing delays on the Raritan Valley Line and North Jersey Coast Line as well.
    On April 8, the Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus Train will travel to Atlantic City.  The train will be transferred from Conrail to the Southern Railroad of New Jersey at Winslow Jct.  (source- Railpace)

CSX-
    CSX has unveiled a new paint scheme for it's locomotives.  It consists of a royal blue body with yellow lettering, similar to the Baltimore and Ohio paint scheme.

PATH-
    The PATH train that was abandoned the morning of September 11, 2001 has been recovered from the World Trade Center Site.  The train suffered only minor damages.  The lead car (#745) was pulled from the wreckage with only a broken window.  The cars will most likely be sent to a museum.

Site Updates-

Photo Galleries:

NJ Transit Locomotives: Photo added of GP40FH-2 4140 at Benson Street Station.

NJ Transit Rolling Stock: Photo added of Comet I Cab 5110 at Kingsland Station

Railroad Timelines:

Train Wrecks of New Jersey, 2000-Present: New Timeline Online!

Train Wrecks of New Jersey, 1950-1999:  New Timeline Online!
 
 

1-22-02

Rail News-

New Jersey Transit-
   NJ Transit issued new schedules on January 13, in an attempt to ease congestion and overcrowding on New York trains.  As a result, many trains were cancelled, combined, or re-routed.  Some trains no longer stop at stations that they previously did.
    The NJT Board of Directors agreed on January 7 to implement a new six-year fare policy initiative , which was revised from its original proposal following public hearings held throughout the State of New Jersey.  The new fare policy initiative is the first step NJ TRANSIT will take to close a projected $3.1 billion operating and capital budget gap identified in the Corporation's "Call to Action" five-year strategic plan. The fare policy initiative will generate an additional $38 million annually. (source- NJT)

Conrail-
     The Ford Motor Company has announced it will close it's Edison Assembly Plant.  The Plant is served by Metuchen and Linden Yard traffic. The Edison Assembly Plant assembles Ford Rangers.

Site Updates-

Equipment Rosters:

NJ Transit Active Equipment Roster: Updated!  Now includes Comet V Numbering series as well as a guide to NJT Paint Schemes.

PRSL Motor Car Roster: New roster online!

Freight Schedules:

Metuchen and Linden Yards:  New Schedule Online!

Railroad Guides:

Freight Yards of New Jersey:  Updated!
 
 

1-2-02

Rail News-

New Jersey Transit-
   NJ Transit encountered a minor derailment on December 20, 2001.  GP40PH-2 #4108 struck debris in the Port Morris area and derailed.  The Boonton Line train was carrying ten passengers, none of which were hurt.  4108 suffered minor damage.
    The Bridgewater Rail Station, which a few years ago had limited Raritan Valley Line service, was dedicated on December 18, 2001 to Arthur L. Reuben, a man who not only helped make the station into a regional transit hub, but also worked to ensure that rail service throughout New Jersey would continue to operate and expand.  This is the second time this year NJ TRANSIT has honored Art Reuben. He was inducted into NJ TRANSIT's Hall of Fame nearly five months ago. Both honors are posthumous; Reuben died in 1999.  Bridgewater Station was renovated in 2000 with a lighted shelter featuring heaters and vinyl windows on the eastbound platform. Work on the eastbound -- or Newark-bound -- side also included a new concrete walkway and plaza. On the westbound side, a right-of-way fence was erected along the entire parking lot. The station also includes new historic lighting, stairs, a ramp accessible to customers with disabilities and a newly paved parking lot. Bridgewater Station's facade is designed to match the nearby Somerset Patriots Stadium.  (source- NJT)
    In anticipation of the opening of the Montclair Connection in spring 2002, NJ TRANSIT began testing overhead wires that provide power to the connection’s new signal system this week. The signal system will control train movements along the present Montclair Branch -- between Roseville Avenue in Newark and Bay Street in Montclair -- as well as through the 1,500-foot connection between Bay Street Station and Pine Street in Montclair and on the current Boonton Line from the vicinity of Pine Street to the vicinity of the Great Notch Station. The 25,000-volt catenary wire, which will provide electrical power to trains, will be activated at a later date.(source- Railpace)

Pine Creek Railroad-
     The New Jersey Museum of Transportation’s Pine Creek Railroad, located at Allaire, NJ, has purchased two East Broat Top hoppers from the Mount Union Yard. The hoppers were purchased to acquire the trucks, brake gear and some draft gear. The bodies were left in the yard. (source- EBT)

Site Updates-

Equipment Rosters: NEW!

Cape May Seashore Lines Illustrated Roster: New roster online!

NJ Transit Active Equipment Roster: New roster online!

Raritan River Railroad All Time Roster: New roster online!

Freight Schedules:   Formerly Train Logs

Photo Galleries:

CSX:  Photo added of the Brown's Yard Santa Train at Jamesburg.

Norfolk Southern:  Photo added of the Brown's Yard Santa Train at Jamesburg.

Railroad Guides:

Freight Yards of New Jersey:  Updated!

Railroad Histories:

Amboy Secondary/ Browns Yard:  Updated!

Carrol Park & Western:  Updated!

NJ Transit:  Updated!

Raritan River Railroad:  Updated!

Railroad Timelines: NEW!

NJ Transit Equipment Timeline: New timeline online!