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September 6, 2003

Dear Mr Jordan,

Thanks for the e-mail and special thanks for posting my message on your fantastic site. I hope the information will be of some use to those who are keeping records of the area.

After I read your e-mail it occurred to me I might have another titbit of RR memorabilia for your files.
 

PLEASE NOTE: THE ATTACHMENT IS TAKEN FROM A PAGE IN A SPECIAL 50th ANNIVERSARY BOOK PUBLISHED IN 1954 HIGHLIGHTING THE INCORPORATION OF THE BOROUGH OF HAWORTH, NJ, …IT HAS NO ISBN AND WAS NEVER COPYRIGHTED SO IF YOU WISH TO PUT IT ON YOUR WEB SITE THERE ARE NO RESTRICTIONS.

My memories, which I enclose, are probably too mundane for sophisticated train enthusiasts, however it’s fun thinking back through 50+ years when I type.

                 ********THE WEST SHORE LINE********

I lived in Haworth, NJ from 1952 to 1970. As young lads I, and several of my friends would spend hours near the Haworth train station waiting for trains on the West Shore Line to pass. In the early years steam locomotives, bellowing huge amounts of smoke that the burning coal gave off, pulled the trains. As I recall it was the combination of the sweet smell of that smoke, the roar of the engine the shear beauty of that monstrous wonder and the friendly return wave from the engineer which propelled a bunch of 10 year old kids into a world of fantasy and awe, which by my recollection was 1000 times more exciting than any of today’s computer games or special effects movies. The best part was it didn’t cost a thing except our time, which we were more than willing to spend.

The Haworth train station was kind of a RR generic. It was (at that time about 55 years old) constructed of wood with a main waiting room equipped with wooden benches and a pot-bellied wood-burning stove, which glowed red in the cold winter months. At the north end of the building was a smaller closed in area, which was the domain of the stationmaster. Like a ship’s captain he was the law and order of his domain. Fortunately he didn’t seem to mind kids hanging around as long as they didn’t cause trouble. We rarely did cause trouble. A report of trouble from the stationmaster to our parents (he knew them all, of course) meant an embarrassed father applied the leather strap. The stationmaster sold tickets and attended to other matters stationmasters do. One of the many chores was to hang the sacks of outgoing mail from a rack at the side of the tracks. As a train passed the sack would be grabbed from the rack. Mail being delivered to Haworth was contained in a very heavy canvas
 s sack, which was tossed off the train as it slowed and then the sack was hefted on a wooden cart with large iron wheels. The cart was then dutifully dragged the 75 yards or so by Mr Duncan Shaw to the US Post Office where it was sorted by the Postmistress (Mrs Duncan Shaw) and placed in post boxes for residents to pick up. There was no house-to-house mail delivery in those days.

We, kids, had a special viewing platform. Between the station and tracks was a 6-foot wide waiting area with a wooden railing on the trackside. I suppose it was to keep errant commuters from falling onto the tracks, but it was the perfect height and the top was just wide enough to make it a very comfortable seat for a 10 year old.

Going south, about 200 yards was a one-lane, wooden automobile bridge over the tracks. Complete with a gadget with tassels on it about 100 feet before the bridge to warn any RR worker who might be standing atop of a car to duck. To my knowledge the bridge still exists today. Beyond that, in Dumont, was a fairly large marshalling yard with about 6 sidings where various types of idle cars such as  boxcars, coal gondolas and tank cars were stored. It was a virtual paradise for 10 year olds. Days were spent foraging over, under and inside the cars in hopes of discovering some treasures such as RR lanterns, flares and the most coveted prize of all; the RR torpedo. In my old age I now realize how dangerous a pastime this was. Fortunately, these implements harmed no one I knew of. Often our forays were interrupted by the cry of: “Chickee, it’s the railroad dicks!!” and we would scamper in, as many directions as there were kids. We were not to be deterred however and after the all cl
 ear was sounded we were back to our ventures. Placing pennies on the track for flattening was another favorite pastime.

Believe it or not the arrival of the evening commuter train was a great social event. Wives parking along Haworth Avenue and Terrace Street waiting for their husbands often exchanged gossip as their children played in the train station park (Now occupied by a bank). Looking back now the 1950’s were certainly well depicted in later sitcoms like “My three sons”

Alas, the great smoke belching steam engine was replaced by the less (in my opinion) diesel engine in the mid-to-later 1950’s and the commuter service was discontinued sometime in the 1960’s. The West Shore Line was to many young lads, myself included, who lived nearby its tracks like the Great Mississippi River was to Huckleberry Finn and his companions.

Thanks Mr Jordan for allowing me to share these memories with you.

Best Regards,
 

Edward Rafferty

October 2, 2002

New York & Greenwood Lake Railway equipment parked in Passaic, New Jersey on Sept. 24, 2002.  Two GP7 road switchers and an NW-2 yard switcher.  Behind these was the ex-EL/NJDOT #3372 U34CH (no picture) The colors on this unit were very faded.  Here's a picture of the lead tracks coming into this small yard. A passenger car, covered hopper and tank car were set on the far side of the yard.  We will, in the future, pass this location again and take more pictures.
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Early 1970's NYS&W #240 Alco RS1 switcher.  (Photo courtesy of Nick Latzoni)
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1972
A view from the Gateway II building in downtown Newark, New Jersey overlooking the PATH and old PC mainline next to McCarter Highway.
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Auto Train Terminal in Florida in 1973
This series of pictures of the Auto Train facilities and equipment were taken in Florida in 1973 when the original Auto train services were still being used prior to Amtrak's takeover and when the services were at their peak efficiency and cleaniness.  The motive power was General Electric U36B's.  With them were Northern Pacific steam generator units and switching the yard was a Baldwin S-12 rumored to be ex Erie Lackawanna unit.  The consist of these trains were dome cars and auto carrying box cars filled by using a drive up ramp.
--
1977 around Croxton Yard, Secaucus, New Jersey
Conrail had not yet taken complete control, at least paint wise, so my camera and I went on a picture tour trying to find anything of worth and taking a picture of it.
Even if it wasn't in the merger, a picture was taken.
SRR33194 Southern Railroad a 40' single sliding door box car.
SRR503971 Southern Railroad another single sliding door box car in March 1977
SOO17444 Soo Line single plug door box car in March 1977.
Rock Island blue single plug door box car in June 1977.
Railbox 11421 single sliding door 50' box car (no date).
Another Railbox car (no date)
Railbox cars lined up off Interstate-95 near Baltimore Harbor Tunnel entrance on August 26, 1995.
PC268420 single sliding door 40' hi-cube box car in January 1977.
Central Vermont 402532 single plug door 50' box car in June 1977.
Canadian National 400860 single plug door 50' box car in January 1977.
Union Pacific 77227 54' covered hopper in two different pictures of March 1977.
Another Union Pacific 54' covered hopper at Royce Chemical in Rutherford, NJ in January 1977
Reading open hopper (no date).
TOFC loads and Trailer Train 89' flat cars in January 1977.
Penn Central      L&N VermontEmpty flat
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July 11, 1993
Tioga Central

My daughter Kim went to Cornell University in the early 90's and we made many trips during that four years to Ithaca, New York usually in the dead of winter (not recommended).  The route lead us through the town of Whitney Point, New York and after spotting an apparently static train a couple of times on driving up there at night, made sure that we would be in Whitney Point during daylight hours.

On the above date, I stopped and took nine pictures of the train sitting on the siding.  Strange train with the railroad name "Tioga Central" on each piece of equipment painted to resemble Lehigh Valley schemes I believe.  I was aware that I either was in or close to Tioga county in New York State.  In any case, I didn't recognize any of the cars as being originally from the DL&W, Erie or E-L.  The entire train seemed abandoned with weeds growing up around it and it had seen it sitting here over four or five months, but I proceeded, being a loyal train nut, I took pictures.

Two engines seemed to be power for this train.  A low hood Alco RS3u #506 (ex-D&H) painted in bicentennial colors and an Baldwin S-12 #14 were in front.  Next was a full baggage car #454, then what looks like a diner #370, another car, maybe a coach #372, coach #212, and a car that could be a sleeper or maybe a club car #500 named "Cornell Club".  I think this train was supposed to be Cornell red, but it was very faded and more of a box car red.

Here are more pcitures of the Tioga Central equipment from the Rail Fan website.
Diner   Blue Lightweight Coach  Silver Lightweight Coach    Ticket Office
Baggage Power Car slightly bent
 
 

From: "Jon Scaptura" <jscaptura@stny.rr.com>
Subject: Re: (erielack) DL&W 1949 Equipment    Sent: 3/28/2000

Here's a little history on the Tioga Central.  The railroad was formerly headquartered in Flemmingville, NY, on the former Lehigh Valley Auburn branch.  Sometime in the late 1970's,  the excursion started with an 0-4-0 switcher and a coach on a short stretch of siding.  After the Lehigh Valley was absorbed into Conrail,  Tioga County's department of economic development took ownership of the line.  Jim Meade, who's father had operated the mini-excursions, was chosen to operate the freight runs on the line.  #14, an Alco S-2 was leased as motive power.  Over the years, Jim began operating rail excursions with the help of volunteers from the Tioga Transportation Society.  My father and I were volunteers in the late 80's, and received training as brakemen.  There were two consists,  one in Cornell Red,  and the other in a forest green-ish color.  One was used for the dinner and breakfast trains, which ran from Owego to North Harford,  and the other for excursions between Flemmingville and Newark Valley.  Sidings at Flemmingville and Newark Valley permitted the trains to pass, allowing simultaneous runs.  The RS-2 and RS-3's were acquired in the late 1980's. The RS3u came from the D&H still painted in its Centennial scheme.  Photos of this engine can be found on George Elwood's page in the D&H section.

In the early 1990's,  the contract ran out,  and another operator was chosen for the line.  Jim was allowed to continue the excursions for another season,  before the Owego and Harford took that over as well.  Since insurance couldn't be extended to any of Jim's property,  the train no longer stopped at the Flemmingville station (which Jim owns), and the transportation museum there closed.  Excursions on the line now operate under the name "Tioga Scenic".

Jim stored his equipment in Whitney Point for a while,  before finding a new line to operate on in Wellsboro Pennsylvania.  Since Wellsboro is in Tioga County Pennsylvania,  it was a natural choice to keep the name.  The Tioga Central now maintains a regular schedule of excursions and dinner trains on the Wellsboro and Corning Railroad.  Freight operations are handled by the W&C.

You can get complete histories of the equipment at 'their web site' along with photos and timetables.

Hope this helps you update your page.

Jon Scaptura

Thanks, Jon.  Appreciate your history input.  JJ.

July 8, 1995
Steamtown, Scranton, PA.

On a bright and shiney Saturday, we drove to Scranton, PA to visit the "not quite officially open" Steamtown, USA now a United States National Park.  Some of the highlights of the visit were an excusion ride from Scranton, PA to Moscow, AP and return behind the ex-Canadian National Railway steamer #3254.  Here are three pictures of this engine from the front, the side and the tender end. I found it strange that this being a National Park, to be pulled by an ex-Canadian engine was somewhat disturbing that our (USA) national heritage of railroading has been so lax that we don't have an American engine to pull excursion trains out and about our railroad national park.
In the yard at Scranton, PA we found two engines that represented the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western history of Steamtown.  It must be stated that neither of these engines are ex-DL&W, but have been painted to resemble DL&W engines of the same type.
Here is the SW-8 #500 from the front,rear and both sides.  Next we have the GP7 #514 in various poses in front of the engine house and repair shed were she was pushing and pulling ex-Boonton coaches around the yard.  Other pictures of "real" ex-EL, Erie and DL&W equipment taken this day appear on the EL prototype page
.
December 22, 1995
-
While waiting for my daughter coming home for Christmas, to step off a northeastbound train in Metro Park, New Jersey on a chilly December evening, I snapped some pictures of Amtrak trains headed northeast and southwest.
Another Amtrak train whizzes through Metro Park with a long consist of cars headed southwest.
A small Amtrak (not NJT) train follows the long one southwest.
.Here is Amtrak engine #923 arriving with its consist and my daughter from the southwest.
.

  June 11, 1996
.
These are pictures taken at the New Hope & Ivyland Railroad site in New Hope, PA.  Here they have excusion trains that run up and down the Delaware River on the Pennsy side.  On this day, I was lucky enough to see a visitor to the site, the "Ace 3000" the Timken Roller Bearing Companies 4-8-4 steam engine #614.  Based on the sign on the engine, the engine was owned and operated by the Chessie (now CSX) System and restoration was supported by the Foster Wheeler Corporation and the American Tool Company.  I suspect that this maybe the same engine of Erie fame running as #1111 (called the four aces) making 28 passenger and 28 freight runs on the Erie in 1932 and 1933?  Is this also the C&O #614 from the Hoboken to Port Jervis excusions?
Anybody know for sure of this engines history, let me know.  Answers below...
In addition to the Ace 3000 I took pictures of the New Hope and Ivyland's #40 steam engine, an RS2/3, another RS3 #204, an EMD one stack diesel SW-8?? switcher and a Baldwin VO-1000 switcher in the
background, and Reading Company coach #1220.

June 24, 2002 - Stopped at the New Hope & Ivyland site in New Hope, Pennsylvania to take pictures of these two coaches sitting at the station platform.  Looks like a coal tender, a GP-30 and another coach on the tracks further north from the station.
 
 

7/10/01 -Hey Joe!
Nice pages and pictures.  The pictures you have from your visit to the NH&I of ACE 3000 are of C&O 614.  This locomotive was not "Four Aces" #1111.  1111 was eventually sold to the Northern Pacific Railroad after Timken was done with it.  At the end of steam, NP tried to find someone who wanted it or could buy it but to no avail.  It was scrapped.  Hope this helps.  Joshua K. Blay
Thanks Joshua. Another mystery solved. -JJ
May 11, 1997
-
Thought to be Tabor City or Chadbourn, North Carolina (not sure where we were?) -
F units in red, white with yellow stripes painted Carolina Southern
Switcher painted in green and white Baltimore & Annapolis
Streamline passenger car "Krista Falls"
Another unidentified streamline passenger car
If anyone knows exactly what and where this site is, please email me
at my email and let me know.
At 09:13 PM 10/15/99: From the background in the shot of the "Krista", you are in Chadbourn,NC. I have visited here several times, and this is where the equipment has always been. You are facing south, behind the former ACL freight station. The passenger station has been moved about 150 yards west of this location and turned catty-corner  to the tracks, with an SAL WV caboose lettered ACL on display behind it. The depot has been fully restored in the correct colors, with seperate (but equal) waiting rooms. Hope this info is of help.  Russell Underwood
Thanks Russell,  I wasn't sure where I was because we "just came upon the scene" and stopped the car for pictures.
.
October 10, 1997
.
During the year of 1997, there were fantrips taken almost every summer and autumn weekend with the C&O 614 steam engine from Hoboken, NJ to Port Jervis, NY along the Old Erie mainline. In October of that year, I stationed myself at Waldwick, NJ to catch some pictures of this steam monster charging up the main.  There was, of course, the usual Saturday action of NYMTA and NJT commuter trains on the same tracks.  I got there early and took some pictures of NYMTA eastbound train #70 from Port Jervis to Hoboken and NJT train 1703 from Hoboken to Suffern, NY.
.
Click on the underlined areas to view pictures of these trains.
.
Here is train #70 motive power #4185, the full consist and the cab control coach.
.
Then there was train #1703 westbound to Suffern with NJT #4104, its four coaches
and the cab contol coach #5127.
.
Another commuter train showed up with NYMTA #4189 but I couldn't figure out what
train number it was according to the schedule.
.
Then the star of the show and day showed up as the westbound  signals turned green and from the east end of the station, a glimmering light and a puff of steam heralding the arrival of C& O 614.
The front end of the steamer passed in front of me and then a string of various passenger cars including Iron Horse Enterprises maroon RPO, Norfolk & Southern RPO, streamline silver corrogated coach #5996, a maroon striped corrogated sided Morristown & Erie coach, a bunch of NJT Horizon commuter coaches, a silver Pennsylvania RR coach, some more NJT Horizon coaches, a  New Jersey Railroads coach, some more NJT Horizon coaches and bringing up the rear a maroon (or is that tuscan red)  Pennsylvania observation car.  Then it all was gone as the train continued westbound for Port Jervis.  This series of pictures was taken while the train glided past me at 30-40 mph so I couldn't get shots of everything.  Twenty or thirty railfans all trying to get pictures, the noise of the steam engine and the fact that it didn't stop, all contributed to the lack of more pictures of the engine.

January 1998
.
This was thought to be a DL&W Boonton coach painted Black River & Western #322 behind the Lambertville Station Restaurant January 1998.  The car is named "John L. Bishop". This is a composite of two photos put together. Sorry about the quality.   "That's not a Boonton coach, or built by Pullman; looks CNJ maybe, with those distinctive Bethlehem Shipbuilding battens and metal joints."  -Mike Del Veccio- 5/15/99  Thanks, Mike.  In researching this further, we found out that this is, as Mike says, an ex-CNJ car used as a "bar" car on the BR&W.   You can visit them at BR&W Home Page for details.

 Lebanon, New Jersey - February 1998

While driving around my local area, I ran through Lebanon, New Jersey where on the old Conrail line (nee Lehigh Valley) passes and the NJT line to High Bridge goes through.   I spotted three passenger cars at the old Lebanon station (now a private company office as I was abruptly told when I entered the building to find out about the cars).
The cars were a Pullman heavyweight coach in tuscan red or maroon with yellow striping on the bottom and a silver/black roof; a corrogated stainless steel car #1456 with red stripe down the window area; and what appeared to be an ex-Sante Fe dining car with no markings on it parked next to an old industrial spur.
 

March 30, 1998
Wandering around as I do sometimes, I decided to stop off at the siding on the Morristown and Erie in Whippany, New Jersey to see what was stored there.  I had passed by here on Interstate 287 a number of times and noticed some engines and cars parked on the siding below the interstate.  Here was an interesting collection of memorbilia of the past.  I walked down one side and then up the other taking pictures as I went and the pictures here are as I walked.  First a Central of New Jersey (Jersey Central Lines) RDC #556 with stainless steel corrogated sides, then an ex-EL U34CH #3372 GE commuter engine dark blue, gray and red from the first generation of push-pulls; next a GP7 done up in Jersey Central colors #1524 green with yellow stripes;  and behind that one of the E8A done in Erie green/graygreen (see streamliner tour for more pictures of this).  Down the next line was a Reading #492 RS2/3 in green and yellow; followed by a flat car and Bucyrus Erie large crane in black and yellow; next a New York Susquehanna & Western black and yellow box car;  and then at the end, a Swift Company reefer #SRLX 25048 in rough rusty shape.   All in all, a small gold mine from the past.

Tue, 17 Oct 2000
Hi Joe, ...
...Ex Santa Fe car is not a dining car,  it is in fact a 6 double bedroom lounge car.  Passenger car 1456 at Lebanon NJ. Feb. 1998.  Was originally built as a 14 roomette,  1 drawing room, 2 double bedrooms, or it's a 14 roomette 4 double bedroom.  If its the later, the car could have belonged to the NYNH&H ... they had 8 of these cars.   If its the other type, there are several western USA railroads that had them as well, IGN, T&P, MP, SLSF,KCS.  Having said that it would appear that this car has been modified into some type of sleeper lounge car.  But that's as far as my thinking goes on this car.
Regards,
Fred Shannon
Great Western Passenger Car Details --
URL: <mailto:GreatWesternPasenger@homestead.com/homepage>GreatWesternPasenger@homestead.com/homepage
e-mail: <mailto:coachyard@homestead.com>coachyard@homestead.com

Thanks Fred - Again these cars were beyond my knowledge as I have enough problems keeping track of the Erie Lackawanna "stuff".  Thanks for your help.  -JJ
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March 30, 1998
Wandering around as I do sometimes, I decided to stop off at the siding on the Morristown and Erie in Whippany, New Jersey to see what was stored there.  I had passed by here on Interstate 287 a number of times and noticed some engines and cars parked on the siding below the interstate.  Here was an interesting collection of memorbilia of the past.  I walked down one side and then up the other taking pictures as I went and the pictures here are as I walked.  First a Central of New Jersey (Jersey Central Lines) RDC #556 with stainless steel corrogated sides, then an ex-EL U34CH #3372 GE commuter engine dark blue, gray and red from the first generation of push-pulls; next a GP7 done up in Jersey Central colors #1524 green with yellow stripes;  and behind that one of the E8A done in Erie green/graygreen (see streamliner tour for more pictures of this).  Down the next line was a Reading #492 RS2/3 in green and yellow; followed by a flat car and Bucyrus Erie large crane in black and yellow; next a New York Susquehanna & Western black and yellow box car;  and then at the end, a Swift Company reefer #SRLX 25048 in rough rusty shape.   All in all, a small gold mine from the past.

June 26, 2002 - The B&O 412 is still around at the Black River & Western in Flemington, New Jersey.  Along with some covered hopper cars spotted on a siding.
 

  -
Around Easton, PA August 23, 1998
On returning from a golf outing in Pennsylvania, I saw something moving along side of the road on what I believe was an old Lehigh Valley line around Easton. PA.  It turned out to be a Conrail self propelled crane and TTX flat car ,  I chased it in the car and took pictures of it on the fly, one hand on the steering wheel and one hand on the camera.  Pardon the picture blurs.
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Picture of the Central of New Jersey Blue Comet Observation Car named "BIELA" in Clinton NJ 8/23/98.  Same car, same day, 3/4 end view of car.
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     The Erie Streamliner Tour of Northern New Jersey
September 19, 1998
    -
 This group of pictures is of the Erie painted E8A engines at a variety of locations throughout
northern New Jersey. The tour started in Hoboken under the shed.  This was a day of
miscommunications.  I live out in western central New Jersey and had planned to go to Peapack-Gladstone to catch a regular commuter train to Hoboken and then board the Streamliner tour.  I diligently checked the posted (on the web) New Jersey Transit (NJT) schedules for arrival in Hoboken before the "Streamliner" departure time.  I then calculated and planned lead times to get up (we're talking real early, like 5 AM), get ready, have breakfast and get the train out of Peapack that AM.  When I got to Peapack-Gladstone, I found that earlier in the week, NJT the schedules had changed and the train I had expected to take in 5 minutes, had left 4 minutes before I arrived.  There were about six bewildered railfans sitting on an almost empty train at Peapack waiting to go.  When I realized what had happened, I jumped back in my car and hit the road again, this time directly to Hoboken.  I noticed three or four others doing the same thing at the station.  Needless to say I didn't get in as much "railfanning" as I had planned that day, spent too much time driving, not to mention the enormous amount of money I spent parking my car in the Hoboken area.  The best laid plans, etc, etc...  After inventing some new curse words I made my way to Hoboken,  I arrived with almost 3/4 of an hour to kill prior to departure time. That gave me some time to take pictures of the terminal area, which can be seen on the Right of Way page and some others on the EL Prototype page, but I'll link the ones that show the E8A's to this commentary.  These may not be in the right order of the tour (memory failure).
                                                -
 The train's consist: Erie E8A's #834 & #835 (actually ex-NYC & PRR), a stainless steel ex-New York Central parlor car marked "New Jersey Railroads" #5450, a series (I think seven) of the NJT Comet coaches used in regular commuter service and NJT #4116, an FP40-dash-something??  I'm not up on today's diesel designations.
                                                -
   The route:  up the Mainline to Waldwick, down the Bergen County Line to Bergen Junction, where the train changed direction on the wye, then up the Boonton Line and return down to Hoboken.  A very ambitious schedule.
                                                -
                                             First site:  Hoboken Terminal
 E8A's #834 & #835 in resplendent green/graygreen and yellow awaiting to be dragged out of Hoboken terminal by NJT #4116
                                                -
                  Second site:  Mainline, Kingsland Station, Lyndhurst, New Jersey
The first staged run-by (keep the railfans behind the lines) of the E8A's from west to east.
                                                -
                           Third Site:  Mainline, Ridgewood, New Jersey
Lunch time!  Quickie at Dunkin' Donuts (three with coffee). Only four pictures.
Close up of #834.
                                                -
                           Fourth Site:  Mainline, Waldwick, New Jersey
A run-by again as the E8A's charge down the main to the east in front of the Waldwick station.  From  here back to the Boonton Line junction, the E8A's were in charge of the tour.
                                                -
              Fifth Site:  Unknown industrial area, Boonton Line, Boonton, New Jersey
(OK, Paul [and anybody out there who knows], what customer was this on the Boonton Line?
4/28/00 - By the way, I see the Boonton excursion shots. This location is really
better known as "West Boonton." The industry is now "Adron," but used to be
known as "Norda Chemical Company" (get it? Adron = Norda backwards!). They
have always made flavors and fragrances, and often the plant area smells
like strawberries or chocolate. The facility has been there since DL&W days,
but it last received rail service around 1979. Even in EL days, they very
rarely received cars (tank cars of stinky chemicals)

 - Paul

OK Paul,  I knew you would eventually come through!!! -JJ

What the heck is this??  It's the best picture I could get through the window of our coach while we were passing the Erie painted RS-3 #935, actually in New York & Greenwood Lake livery on the main.
-
            Sixth Site:  International Trade Zone, Boonton Line, Mount Olive Township, New Jersey
A multitude of pictures with waterspray in front of them as they did a run by for the crowds.
This was a great place for pictures and the crowd of railfans there, I believe, enjoyed it as much as I did.  Well groomed lawns, a very scenic view and much needed porto-potties.
                                                -
                   Seventh Site:  Mainline, Harmon Cove, Secaucus, New Jersey
Another run-by from the HX Tower/bascule bridge in the meadowlands to the high rise apartments in Harmon Cove.
                                                -
 The tour was supposed to go up to Suffern, but due to time constraints never got there. Not really a big disappointment.  All in all, this tour rated, on a scale of 1 to 10, gets an 8 mostly for site selection.
-
After the tour, on March 30, 1999, I found one of the Erie E8A's (#835) on a siding in Whippany, New Jersey and you can join me as I take a walk around it.
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Gettysburg, PA - Feb. 23, 1999
Ex-DL&W?? 4 wheel bobber caboose in front of the "Lincoln Train Museum"
Stainless steel fluted side passenger car and real short Mail/Baggage/Express car?
Here's a close up of the short mail car.
This stainless steel car seems to have Pennsy or NYC roots?
Coach and combine of vintage age.
Stillwell coach 508 painted white, blue with red stripe under windows.
Another Stillwell coach 619, note "box" like structures on roof believed to be air conditioning.
Streamline passenger car painted dark blue with two yellow strips (VIA car).
Another shot of the same car from the other end.
Date: Tue, 10 Aug 1999 14:50:29 -0400 (EDT)  From: alcoman
Hello Joe:  Greetings from Buffalo,,,,the unknown coach at ...
(above)...in the Gettysburg, PA - Feb. 23, 1999 section is a former VIA (Canada)
coach.  Don't know the lineage on it or any history, but that is the VIA
paint scheme.  Just letting you know!
Thank you, Alcoman.  I hadn't a clue. - JJ

Tue, 17 Oct 2000
Hi Joe,   Here's some dope on some of the passenger cars shown in your web site.  First off, the ex VIA rail coach at Gettysburg  PA. Feb. 23rd, 1999.  Here's the history on that car depending on the number on the side of the car,  it could be one of  three types.  These cars where built in 1937.  Builder not known but this car is one of 41 cars number series is 5180-5229,  cars number 5217-5220 were converted to Snack Counter Coach in 1979.  A further 9 cars numbered 5221-5229 where converted to Snack Counter Coaches in 1979.  On the converted cars the smoking section was converted into a snack counter.  These cars weigh in at 61.7 tons, air conditioning is ice activated, electric system 32 volts, wheels & trucks drop equalizer six wheel.  The full coach seating 66 seats, snack counter coach has 48 seats.  I've been told that these cars are being pulled from service...

Regards,
Fred Shannon
Great Western Passenger Car Details --
URL's: mailto:<GreatWesternPasenger@homestead.com/homepage>
GreatWesternPasenger@homestead.com/homepage
e-mail: <mailto:coachyard@homestead.com>coachyard@homestead.com

Thanks Fred - The history on these cars is very interesting.  I appreciate your help.  -JJ

   Whippany, New Jersey  August 2000

Sometime in August, I happened to be near the M&E siding and near the Whippany Museum and took some pictures in both locations.  Here is a New York Central car "Imperial Manor" parked at the Interstate 287 underpass siding with the Erie Lackawanna U33CH #3372.  Also there was the Union Pacific Fruit Express yellow mechanical reefer and a stripped down wood box car with no reporting marks visable.

At the Whippany Museum was a bunch of cabeese including DL&W 896, D&H 35886, Erie C-177, CNJ91529, and M&E #1.  There was also, a Pennsylvania Railroad "Pullman" car,  a DL&W Railway Express Agency car, the Erie Lackawanna Safety & Training Car, the Morris County Central's #4039 steam engine, the MCC railcar  and a CNJ observation car.  The steam engine and a few cars made up a small train in east end of the yard.

A few notes on those photos: The "stripped wooden boxcar" you mention is a former CNJ car that's being replanked (?). The boom car under the crane is a former DL&W car (note the "arched" Keyser Valley stencil on
the sidesill).

 Where is that Safety and Training car now, anyway?

 Also, there is a plan afoot to possibly get that U34CH repainted and
running again (but not in passenger service!). Gotta get my stencils ready!
(glad I made those decals! :)

 - Paul
From: "Tupaczewski, Paul R (Paul)" <paultup@lucent.com>

I met up with Mike Delvechio on Sunday and he told me there are plans for
NY&GL to use the unit (U34CH #3372) on Mud trains out of Greenville/Jersey City. Apparently
M&E is getting ready to tow the unit down to the NY&GL this week. It was
supposed to have left today, but I do not know if it left M&E property yet.

Steve
From: STEVEZ10@aol.com

Thanks guys.  Always great to get updates on the equipment still around. -JJ

  Whippany, New Jersey  October 2000
was the time period for a visit to the Morris County Central and Whippany Museum off of Route 10 of Amtrak's "Postal Train".  This is six pictures in a group of this train, a very strange looking visitor to northern New Jersey.  Sorry for the quality of pictures, but the photographer hazarded the rain and wind to get these pictures.  Other pictures of the day involving a beautiful Southern Railway RPO and some of the URHS cars came out too dark to post here.
 
 

   Lebanon, New Jersey Revisited-December 9, 2000

On a tip from people at the URHS, I went up to Lebanon on the High Bridge NJ Transit Line near to where I live.  As promised, there was a "stash" of URHS cars near the station.  Here's a layout of the track arrangement at Lebanon and the placement of the cars.

          <-----West                                                                                                    East  ---->

The URHS has done a great job in handling the preservation of many cars from our New Jersey and other railroads.  Here are some pictures of the cars at Lebanon.  Here is a full roll of pictures of the cars at the sidings in Lebanon, New Jersey on December 9, 2000.  As usual, double click on the underlined words for the pictures.

Eugene Field, #1456, a corragated sleeper.*

Hickory Creek, the ex-New York Central Observation car from the "20th Century Limited".  This particular car was to be inagurated on the 20th Century Limited's initial run on December 7, 1941 , but was slightly overshadowed by another event on that day.  The next item to be resotred on this car, I'm told is to be the tail sign which looks vaguely familiar.
 

URHS 404, a blue sleeper.*

URHS 494, another blue sleeper. *

A crane numbered CG201 and labeled "Little Giant Workrane" with the NJTR #9204 support car.

On the other end of the track we have a Pennsylvania Express Baggage/Messenger car #9285 in tuscan red still being worked on.

URHS 491 another blue car seemingly an Railway Post Office car.*

Ex-New Jersey Transit cars still in NJT livery #5320, 5319, 5313 and 5318 originally 44 seat coaches. All cars that came from the Great Northern, Burlington Northern, Chicago Burlington & Quincy and originally as Union Pacific coaches. They were rebuilt to 104 seat coaches and operated for some years as commuter coaches on the New York & Long Branch and ex-Jersey Central Lines throughout New Jersey.  These were standout coaches in their former livery from the west.  I used to see them laying over in the coach yard outside of Newark and they made a beautiful mosaic of fallen flag railroad colors.

Across the way on the west facing spur was:
Pennsylvania Railroad #1547, a 21 Roomette Sleeper restored faithfully to its original lineage.
New York Central 317 in beautiful Pullman Green and yellow lettering apparently part of the western NJT cars.
And that same unidentified corrogated car from our previous visit, thought to be a six double bedroom lounge car of NYNH&H lineage.

On 5/25/01, I received this email:
Hi Joe,
    Here's the scoop on the unidentified corrugated car at Lebanon, NJ.   This car is one of eleven cars built for the NYC RR by Pullman under plan 9505.  It is indeed a 6 double bedroom lounge car known as the"stream" class cars.    As always please update your web site with this information.

Regards,
Fred Shannon, Great Western Passenger Car Details, coachyard@hotmail.com

Thanks Fred.  Another mystery solved.  - JJ
 

During my visit a NJT train whizzed westbound through the High Bridge Line.  Have no idea what it was, but suspect it was a Santa Claus Special consisting of FP40 on each end and about fifteen coaches.  As I was leaving the same train came through again eastbound.  No trains are scheduled on Saturdays, so it was a special of some kind??

* Cars marked with an asterisk are not listed on the URHS web site and I have no idea of their history.  If you do, email me and let me know.

 April 14, 2001 - Another visit to the Whippany Museum where some different equipment was parked.  First the steam engine with what looked like a partial work train.  Then further west was the DLW caboose 896 and two Lehigh Valley F7A's? in beautiful Cornell Red and black colors.  Next was an AT&SF corrogated stainless steel diner, a Lackawanna baggage/REA car #2038, the URHS car #326 named "ERIE" and the URHS car #327 named "Lackawanna".

 August 5, 2002 - A revisit to Whippany - the lineup of equipment, Lehigh Valley F7A's, Erie E8A's and numerous passenger cars, including VRIC#7 Pullman named the "Kitchi Gammi Club".  In front of the Lehigh Valley F7A's were two open hopper cars one Erie Lackawanna and one Morristown & Erie.  Steam power still with the work train, sits next to the URHS #333 named "Baltimore & Ohio" passenger car. Two cabooses, one from the Delaware & Hudson and the other one is a Pennsylvania Railroad cabin car looking for volunteers to work on restoration.

  9-4-03  Warren Reynolds, ex-East Rutherfordian (New Jersey) and good friend of ours, sent some pictures of his foray into Santa Fe country.  Warren now lives in Arizona and had an opportunity to take some pictures, and of all things, some ex-Central of New Jersey coaches.  Getting into the role, he donned his "locomotive engineer" duds and rode the Santa Fe Southern Dinner Train for a conference he had to attend as part of his work (we should have these jobs!!).  The train ran 18 miles up and down hills with twists and turns from Santa Fe, NM to Lamy, NM described by Warren as "one house, an abandoned church, and closed up bar." Here's the Santa Fe station.  Lamy, NM is still a stop for Amtrak and here are some pictures of the interior of the Lamy station. Among his pictures are the Santa Fe Southern's #96, an EMD GP16 with Warren up front (and he got to ride in the cab), behind the engine an open platform car for guests,  a "Rio Grande" caboose (possibly ex-Santa Fe), a sunlite Santa Fe Southern caboose. Here is a better picture of the same SFS caboose, an old combine labeled "Kettle & Moraine" (could this be a ex-DL&W Boonton car??  It seems to have the same end configuration), three different Central of New Jersey coachs, #1158 this one is fully restored to have a bar in each end, with wood trim and luggage racks like new, an appropriate sign for the times and the original reversing seats with new upholstery.  The other coaches were sitting in the yard and appears to be waiting for "later" restoration. To protect this ancient relic, it has a notation on it "DO NOT HUMP".