PENN CENTRAL
This page is devoted to the Princeton Junction station area. The junction is for the short branch to the town of Princeton itself, located about 3 miles west of the mainline. A one or two car MU train shuttles back and forth all day. It is commonly known as the 'dinky'. The mainline through the station at the junction is on a long straight-away and most through passenger trains operate at full track speed. Today that is around 100 mph.
Although Amtrak has limited the number of freights operating on the NEC today, this was the Penn Central's mainline to the New York area and freights were very common.
To begin, a few miscellaneous shots mostly from 1974.
On a grubby March 3, 1974, there was quite a bit of action at Princeton Jct. Beginning with several freights including 4800 "old rivets" with an Alco switcher followed by a pair of GP30's on a another eastbound. Then a passenger eastbound followed by a E-44 powered freight.
While
the dinky waits, a parade of trains pass by.
Metroliner action. The high speed trains began under the PRR in the late 1960's
GG1 freight trains. Amtrak used the higher numbered G's, while most of the 4800's remained in freight service. The last shot in this row is a former Virginian, N & W, New Haven E-33 motor. The electric units were called 'motors" on the railroad.
February 17, 1974
A GG1 passenger train gallery. 4939 was the highest numbered GG1.
The Dinky. Waiting at the junction and also at the Princeton station.
Diesel freight action. GP35's, ex-PRR GP9's, and a former PC GP38 lettered for Conrail in 1977.
The big cheese boxes were the E-44 units. So called because someone thought they reminded them of the Velveeta cheese box. First there is a meet with the westbound crossing over from track 2 to track 3. A few others and the Tropicana juice train in 1975.
Finally to round out things, a few miscellaneous shots. The new Arrow MU cars were undergoing initial brake tests here on 8-11-74. The Amtrak GG1 900 is leading a train of PRR P-70 coaches. A lone 'G' on a TV train meeting an Amtrak westbound and lastly a light set of E-44's head west with 4414 painted in Conrail blue on the point on 8-29-77.
May 1976.
Finally, a good look at Nassau tower as it is currently.
Today, Princeton Junction remains a good railfan spot. With the new Acela trains picking up where the Metroliners left off. and even more frequent local service provided by NJ Transit, there is much to see. Freight service is very limited unfortunately, but you may get lucky.
Both 6-2-2006.
I will be adding a full page devoted to more current material in the near future.