What Was News In 2003

Gerald's Railroads Of New Jersey
What Was News In 2003

Site News:

-Would you like to increase traffic to your website? Join the Commuter Railroads Webring, located on the Webrings page!

-Please bookmark http://www.losthistory.net/transit383 , not http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/Forest/3191

Latest Updates:

8-17-03

Rail News

New Jersey Transit-
    NJ Transit was hit hard with problems in the month of July with everything from service shutdowns, major delays, derailments, and equipment failures. This string of events prompted NJT to launch a 15% ticket refund for monthly pass holders. (source- Star Ledger)
    NJ Transit's Arrow III Multiple Unit Fleet has been the subject of great controversy lately. Following the derailment of train 3920 traveling to New York on July 14, 2003, the Arrow III has been plagued with problems. The 7-14 derailment was believed to be caused by an overheated bearing, which caused the wheel on car 1368 to overheat and come off the train. The train had stopped at Edison for an emergency test of the wheels, however the test showed there were no problems. A similar situation occurred the week after, but the train was stopped at Hamilton and a test showed the wheel was overheating. These incidents caused NJ Transit to pull from service all 230 of their Arrow IIIs. Emergency testing and repairs occurred at the Meadowlands Maintenance Center and all but 90 of the cars were returned to service. The remaining 90 needed to undergo repairs before being returned to service.
    Secaucus Transfer Station has opened for displaced Harmon Cove commuters. These passengers are transported to the Transfer via a shuttle bus. In anticipation of the Grand Opening of Secaucus Transfer on September 6, 2003, NJ Transit initiated a major service increase on the Main and Bergen County Lines. The schedules went into effect on August 4, 2003. (source- NJ Transit)

Site Updates

Photo Galleries:

NJ Transit Light Rail: Photos added of South Jersey Light Rail at Camden.

Railroad Timelines:

NJ Train Wrecks, 2000-Present: Updated!

NJ Train Wrecks, 1950-1999: Updated!

Back to Gerald's Railroads Of New Jersey

6-18-03

Rail News

New Jersey Transit-
In anticipation of the opening of the Secaucus Transfer and subsequent rerouting of Bergen County Line trains, Harmon Cove Station will be the next station that NJ Transit closes. Beginning Monday, August 4, trains will no longer stop at the Harmon Cove Station. The Secaucus Transfer is scheduled to open close to Labor Day. Harmon Cove follows the stations of Benson Street, Rowe Street, and Arlington to be closed. These three stations were closed with the completion of the Montclair Connection. (source- NJ Transit)
Hazlet Station can be added to the list of stations with high level platforms. On May 27, 2003, the construction at Hazlet Station was completed. This included expanded and improved parking, construction of two 800-foot high-level platforms for easier boarding of trains, installation of heated she lters and overhead canopies, improved pedestrian access and lighting, and installation of artwork that represents past and present scenes in Hazlet and the surrounding Bayshore region . (source- NJ Transit)

Site Updates

Railroad Guides:

Freight Yards of New Jersey: Updated!

Railroad Maps:

Conrail Browns Yard Division: Updated!

Photo Galleries:

NJ Transit Rolling Stock: Photo added of a Comet IV Cab at Upper Montclair.

Back to Gerald's Railroads Of New Jersey

4-18-03

Rail News

New Jersey Transit-
    Union (Townley) Station on the Raritan Valley Line is scheduled to open on Sunday, April 27, 2003. The station, located on Conrail's Lehigh Line, is the closest station on the Raritan Valley Line to Newark Penn Station. Townley Station will consist of a 3,000-square-foot, fully accessible station building, a center island high-level platform, a pedestrian tunnel, an elevator to access the platform and a 467 space commuter parking lot. (source- NJ Transit)
    Also opening on April 27, 2003 is a transfer platform at the future site of the Montclair State University Station. The platform will have no public access and will only serve passengers transferring to Montclair Midtown Direct trains. When completed, the station will have a large parking garage, public access, and serve the University. (source-NJT)
    After a billion dollars of spending and having the start up date pushed back several times, the South Jersey Light Rail System linking Trenton and Camden is now expected to open in Fall 2003. It was previously scheduled to open in Summer 2003. In addition to the construction fiasco, the latest ridership statistics fall well short of covering the costs of the line. New Jersey Transit is considering offering free rides during the first few months of service to attract passengers. (source- South Jersey News)

PATCO-
The Port Authority Transit Corporation (PATCO), a subsidiary of the Delaware River Port Authority (DRPA) is conducting the Route 55 to Philadelphia Corridor Transit Study to assess transportation needs and opportunities in southern New Jersey and Center City Philadelphia. The transit benefit area extends from 30th Street to Penn’s Landing in the City of Philadelphia to the Camden Waterfront and the areas of Gloucester and Cumberland Counties along Route 55 in Southern New Jersey. (source- DRPA)

PATH-
The PATH Exchange Place Station in Jersey City will reopen for service on June 29, 2003. The station was closed after the World Trade Center attacks of September 11, 2001. The station was overhauled and fitted to become a terminal station in order to partially resume service on the line to the World Trade Center. Service to lower Manhattan is expected to resume by the end of 2003. (source- PATH)

Site Updates

Railroad Timelines:

Train Wrecks of New Jersey, 2000- Present: Updated!

Train Wrecks of New Jersey, 1950- 1999: Updated!

NJ Transit Equipment Timeline: Updated!

Photo Galleries:

NJ Transit Rolling Stock: Photo added of a Comet V Cab at Upper Montclair.

Back to Gerald's Railroads Of New Jersey

1-19-03

Rail News

PATH-
A rush hour PATH train bound for 33rd Street NY rammed into a bumper at Hoboken Terminal on Jan. 17, 2003. Minor injuries were reported, but there was no disruption of service.

Rahway Valley Historical Society-
The Rahway Valley Railroad, which connected the Lehigh Valley Railroad in Roselle Park and the Central Railroad of New Jersey in Cranford with the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western in Summit, was one of the most successful short lines in US history, even turning a profit during the Great Depression. During its lifetime, it was instrumental in the development of Kenilworth, site of its headquarters, as well as Union, Springfield, and other towns along its route. Created c. 1895 as part of an industrial development project in New Orange (now Kenilworth), it was acquired in 1904 by Social Register publisher Louis Keller to provide passenger rail service to Baltusrol Golf Club, of which he was a founder. Later run as a freight-only line, the Rahway Valley was vital to industry in the area, with customers ranging from small fuel companies to Monsanto Corp. As customers switched to truck freight, moved away, or went out of business, the Rahway Valley Railroad withered to the point that service ended entirely in 1992.
A battle is underway to determine the future of the Rahway Valley Railroad's rights-of-way, as Union County seeks to possibly reactivate the line (along with the New Jersey trackage of the Staten Island Railroad), while the towns along the route seek to prevent this and otherwise dispose of the remaining land. Whether as part of some future railroad route, as part of a rails-to-trails program, or as parcels of real estate granted to neighboring properties, the historic Rahway Valley Railroad is on the verge of being lost forever. In light of these developments, the idea came about to form a Rahway Valley Railroad Historical Society to preserve and commemorate "New Jersey's Streak o' Rust." Interested persons are needed to help found the society, which will seek to gather or borrow artifacts, photos, and other items in order to mount exhibitions in local museums and historical societies, with the eventual goal to acquire a small exhibit space of its own (preferrably in the Rahway Valley Railroad's lone surviving station on Mountain Ave. in Springfield). Interested parties should contact Alan Binenstock at [email protected]

Site Updates

Equipment Rosters:

NJT Active Equipment Roster: Updated!

Photo Galleries:

NJ Transit Locomotives: Photo added of an ALP46 at Upper Montclair.

Back to Gerald's Railroads Of New Jersey

1-6-03

Rail News

Morristown & Erie-
The M&E has purchased several pieces of passenger equipment lately. Included are several ex-Amtrak FL-9s, ex-Amtrak Heritage coaches, and ex-NJT Comet I Coaches.

New Jersey Transit-
   NJ Transit has announced that the Transit Shoppe will go out of business. The store located in Newark Penn Station and online sales have not produced high enough revenues to justify continued operation. (source- Bergen Record)
    NJ Transit has also placed a $250 million contract for the purchase of 100 bilevel rail cars to begin revenue operation in 2006. The contract was awarded to Bombardier, the builder of NJT's Comet II, III, and IV coaches (Comet V is built by Alstom).
    NJT has announced that it plans to build a transportation hub in Mountain View near Willowbrook Mall. Included will be a 2000 space parking deck as well as bus and rail connections. A new rail station will be built at the location.

New York & Greenwood Lake-
The NY&GL continues to fight to provide service on the abandoned portion of NJT's former Boonton Line between Benson Street and Hoboken Terminal. Jimmy Wilson, head of this railroad, is fighting a series of court battles against NJT in order to provide the rush hour passenger service. (source- Associated Press)

Site Updates

Railroad Guides:

Movable Railroad Bridges of new Jersey: Updated!

Railroad Timelines:

New Jersey Train Wrecks 1950-1999: Updated!

Photo Galleries:

NJ Transit Rolling Stock: Photo added of a Comet IV cab at Benson Street Station.

(c)-2003 Gerald Oliveto

Back to Current Updates

Back to Gerald's Railroads Of New Jersey