NEWS


TTX Passenger Special to Roll Through Jersey - BNSF in conjunction with CSX and NS will be operating a TTX passenger special for employees of TTX and their guests from Chicago to Atlanta and then back. The consist for this special is as follows; 2 cab signal and LSL equipped NS C40-9's /BNSF 51 "Snoqualmie Pass"(power car)/BNSF 77 (baggage car)/BNSF 6 "Topeka"(business car)/BNSF 8 "John Reed"(business car)/BNSF 68 "Rollins Pass" (sleeping car)/BNSF 67 "Donner Pass"(sleeping car)/BNSF 66 "Cajon Pass"(sleeping car)/BNSF 65 "Regal Lane"(sleeping car)/BNSF 64 "Marias Pass" (sleeping car)/BNSF 69 "Stevens Pass"(sleeping car)/BNSF 70 "Deschutes River"(sleeping car)/BNSF 60 "Bay View"(dome lounge car)/BNSF 10 "Lake Superior" (dining car)/BNSF 7 "Santa Fe"(business car).
On Monday 4th the train is scheduled to come south from Selkirk on CSX's River Line arriving at Oak Island at 16:00ET. Then on Tuesday, October, 5, after having toured the port facilities, the passengers will board for a 16:00ET departure out of Oak Island with a destination of Harrisburg, PA. It is unknow at this time which way the train will go at CP Port Reading Jct to reach Harrisburg.(Frank Eichenlaub- posted 09/28/99)


New CSX AC6000CW's Getting Cab Signals - CSX's second order of AC6000CW's numbered 650-699, are currently beginning to be assembled at General Electric Transportation Systems in Erie, PA. What makes this order so special is that CSX is getting them cab signal equipped to lead on the RF&P Sub in Virginia, and LSL equipped to lead on the Amtrak Northeast Corridor. Look for these new engines real soon on the Trenton Line as CSX plans to place them in Atlantic Coast service between Boston and Miami.(CRTS- posted 09/28/99)


Pair of Trenton Line Suprises - This morning, September 24, Q173-23(TV173-23) went through Philly with a strange leader, CSX 631 an AC6000CW. While the AC6000CW are not uncommon the Q173/Q174 duo, seeing one on the point is. Also of interest this morning Q417-23 had on the point CSX 70 an AC4000CW and trailing was CSX 659 which one of the brand new AC6000CW just out of Erie from the second order.(Robert Palmer, tristate-rr- posted 09/24/99)


Hurricane Floyd Affects Rail Operations -Hurricane Floyd which struck Central New Jersey on Thursday September 16, brought with it substanstial amounts of rain which devestated Bound Brook and Manville. Flooding on the Lehigh Line between CP Port Reading Jct and CP Bound Brook closed the line from midday Thursday until Saturday evening. When the Lehigh Line and Trenton Line was restored to limited service at 22:00 EDT on Saturday, September 18th, 1999, operations took place via the Bound Brook, NJ to Port Reading Junction controlled siding. The main was finally expected to be in service again at approximately 21:00 EDT tonight. There are still eight miles of signals out between Port Reading Junction and Potter, where a new signal bungalow has been ordered. Projected date for all signals to be restored is Saturday, October 2nd, 1999. At Manville Yard, the water submerged about 160 cars and 4 locomotives. The water was up to the "can opener" on GP38 #7897 and B36-7 #5029. GP40-2 #3397 was also heavily damaged along with an unidentified fourth unit. The locomotives are supposed to be pulled up to Allentown, PA. They are then likely go from there to Altoona, PA to have their fuel tanks drained and changed, trucks reconditioned, and whatever other repairs they need to be returned to service.(CRTS- posted 09/24/99)


CSX Schedule Changes - The Trenton Line has lost two trains due to CSX schedule changes; Q343(PRCU) and Q344(RXOI). Q343 had been temporarily originating at Port Reading Yard in Woodbridge as of late June, is now back to orginating in Baltimore, MD as of 8/21/99. Q344 the daily manifes operating between Willard, OH and Oak Island, NJ, via Sandpatch, has been abolished. (CRTS, Bullsheet- posted 09/10/99)


NJT Comet Coaches to tag along on CSX - A report from NJT indicates that they have contracted out the rebuilding of their fleet of Comet Passenger coaches. This contract will see the cars overhauled in Baltimore, Maryland.
Beginning today, coaches will begin 'tagging along' on the rear of CSXT trains Q409 or Q413 for the trip to Baltimore. There are seven coaches that were sent to Oak Island for shipment to Baltimore and should be placed on the rear of today's Q413! (Eastern Railroad News- posted 09/01/99)


Loss of UPS traffic leads to abolishment of NS 214 - Effective Friday August 27, Norfolk Southern has abolished Atlanta, GA - Croxton, NJ intermodal train 214. The remainder of 214's traffic is now being handled on 212. (Eastern Railroad News- posted 09/01/99)


Pattenburg Mishap - Norfolk Southern had a minor derailment on the Lehigh Line west of Musconetcong Tunnel in Pattenburg, NJ at approximately 08:00 EDT on Saturday, August 21st, 1999 reportedly due to an engineer misreading a signal. Apparently one train was stopped on the main line when the conflicting train running east ran into the rear of the one stopped at approximately 18 MPH A total of 4 cars were on the ground with one being completely destroyed. The train that was struck was an unidentified TOFC train. The Lehigh Line was closed for most of the day with all traffic held, except for train TVLA which detoured via the Southern Tier Line. The exact location was at West Portal, NJ, just east of the former CP-West Portal. Hulcher and a haz-mat company were dispatched to the scene. UPS also dispatched personnel and trucks to the scene to unload the damaged trailers. Further down at Bellewood train TV-203 was tied down at the mouth of the east portal with one engine as the other ones were used in the clean up operation. (CRTS- posted 08/23/99)


An AC Invasion on the Trenton Line - Today August 12, the Trenton Line hosted 3 AC6000CW's and one AC4400CW. The action all began when Q19610(TV 196-10) came northbound through CP Port Reading Jct at 11:30am, with CSX 6238(GP40-2)/CSX 644(AC6000CW)/CSX 631(AC6000CW). Then the next train northbound was Q41812(CASE-2), through CP Port Reading Jct at 12:06pm, with 58 loads and 102 empties, powered by CSX 646(AC6000CW)/CSX 354(AC4400CW). (Greg and Gary Sereico- posted 08/12/99)


New Trenton Line Traffic Pattern Helping Aleviate Oak Island Congestion - To help aleviate congestion at Shared Assets Oak Island Yard in Newark, NJ, CSXT has begun putting a Camden-Pavonia, NJ block on train Q-413(OIRM).
The Camden-Pavonia, NJ block is then dropped on the Skillman siding on the Trenton Line by train Q-413 for pickup by train Q-417(SECA). (Andrew Ordun- posted 08/12/99)


AC6000CW's Invading the Trenton Line - In the last few days many CSX AC6000CW's have been appearing on Trenton Line trains. I sure hope the following is a sign of things to come! (Andrew Ordun, Railnuts, Eastern Railroad News- posted 07/10/99)


More PRCU Info - It turns out that PRCU is Q343. According to CSX this will be a temporary train to aleviate congestion in Selkirk. I believe however that this train will be permanent as it connects the Chemical Coast of New Jersey with all the chemical plants in West Virginia. (CRTS- posted 07/10/99)


Adding an Eight to the D&H - D&H trains 265/266 which now operate Monday thru Friday between Binghamton, NY and Oak Island are being symboled 8265 and 8266 respectively while on Norfolk Southern. The prefix 8 was added to the symbols as too not cause confusion with NS trains 265 and 266. (Eastern Railroad News- posted 06/24/99)


New CSX Train on the Trenton Line - This evening, June 23, PRCU-3 went down the Trenton Line with a CSX SD40-2 leading HGLX 6616, and HGLX 6618. It is presumed that this new manifest freight operates between Port Reading Yard in Woodbridge and Cumberland, Md. I will try and find out more info on this train, including it's CSX Q symbol as soon as possible. (Mark Kielczynski- posted 06/23/99)


Double Stacks Now Rolling Through Pattenburg - The long awaited Norfolk Southern clearance project at CP-Pattenburg is nearing completion. Double-stack trains are now operating over this portion Lehigh Line. After nearly a year of work to increase the clearances though Musconetcong Tunnel, Tuesday, June 22, at 07:00 EDT, westbound stack train TV-207 (Norfolk Southern train 23M), rolled through the New Jersey bore with Norfolk Southern (former Conrail) SD60M 5526 and Norfolk Southern C40-9W's 9302 (in primer grey) and 9036. The new stack train route will eliminate the need for Norfolk Southern stack trains to operate over CSXT's Trenton Line out of Philadelphia, PA. (Eastern Railroad News- posted 06/23/99)


Tie Replacement Underway on Lehigh Line - A tie replacement project is currently underway on the Lehigh Line from CP Port Reading Jct west to CP-62. (Andrew Ordun- posted 03/18/99)


Dispatch Desk Changes Finally Take Place - The long awaited Conrail Philadelphia Division Dispatch Desk changes, which were first supposed to have happened back on January 21, finally occured on the evening of March 11 at midnight. Here is a list of the new dispatch desks and the territories they cover in Central Jersey. (Eastern Railroad News- posted 03/18/99)

North Jersey Dispatcher(CR Road Channel 3 160.860) - Former Branch Line
Trenton Line Dispatcher(CR Road Channel 4 160.980) - Formerly Chesapeake
Lehigh Line Dispatcher(CR Road Channel 2 161.070)


SECS Involved in Fatal Grade Crossing Accident - An unidentified 76-year-old woman, was killed in the evening of March 10, when she drove her car into the path of a Selkirk, NY to Philadelphia-CSXT bound train, SECS-0. The collision occurred at the South Avenue grade crossing in Piscataway, New Jersey, at approximately 19:30 ET.
For unknown reasons, the woman stopped her vehicle on the tracks as the gates lowered. When she attempted to back off the crossing, SECS-0, powered by two locomotives and carrying ninety-nine cars, approached travelling at track speed. The collision and emergency brake application killed the driver of the vehicle and caused several of the cars in the train to derail.
Grade crossings at Grant and Prospect Streets were blocked by derailed freight cars. Five trains suffered delays as a result of the accident and resulting derailment. (Andrew Ordun, J Alex Lang, Kevin Burkholder- posted 03/18/99)


New Manville Local - Today, February 23, for the first time I heard WPMA-01, switching 3M Industrial Mineral Products at Belle Mead(Montgomery Township), on the Trenton Line. (Andrew Ordun- posted 02/23/99)


More on the Middlesex Detector - A correction from my previous posting the "Middlesex" detector is actually located at milepost 30.5. This detector, is quiet unique, as it is a wheel impact detector, plus a hotbox/dragging equipment detector.
Trains will be notified by the Train Dispatcher of an actuation of the wheel impact detector. When notified of an actuation, train speed must be reduced to not exceed 30 MPH, unless instructed by the Train Dispatcher to stop and inspect the wheel(s). Wheel(s) will be inspected for flat spots, built-up tread, broken wheel or any other obvious defect. After inspection, train or cars may be moved to the location specified by the train dispatcher at a speed not exceeding 30 MPH. The conductor may further restrict the speed using discretionary judgement. (CRTS, Eastern Railroad News- posted 02/23/99)


OCS Making Jersey Appearences - The Conrail OCS is back on the road again. The train powered by E8's 4020 and 4021 left Altoona on Sunday for Philadelphia. On Monday the train travelled north up the Trenton Line, with an eventual destination of Buffalo, via Selkirk. Once the train has arrived in Buffalo it will turn back around go east to Selkirk, south down the River Line, and take the Lehigh Line west to Allentown on Friday. Here is a tentative for Friday. (Eastern Railroad News- posted 02/23/99)
Friday February 26 (OCS-302)


CSX AC60's 613 and 614 Go South on SECS-9 - Yesterday, February 19, CSX AC6000CW's number 613 and 614 left Selirk on SECS-9. It is expected that CSX will take delivery of all the new AC60's via SECS. (Railnuts- posted 02/20/99)


Not the Typical WPAL 10 - WPAL 10, the Allentown based local which runs from Allentown to Manville, and then back always has a pair of 4 axle geeps as its power. Well on Monday February 15, WPAL 10-5 came into Manville with quite a suprise, an SD70 leading a C40-8W. Talk about an overpowered local! (Shaun Whitman- posted 02/20/99)


New Lehigh Line Detector - Conrail has placed into service a new hotbox/dragging equipment detector equiped with train speed indication at milepost 30.8, "Middlesex, New Jersey". The hotbox/dragging equipment at milepost 28.0, "New Market, New Jersey", has been taken out of service. (Andrew Ordun- posted 02/20/99)


Somerset Looking to Get Rail Line Moving - The latest proposal to revive passenger service on the West Trenton rail line calls for a 9-mile-long siding, building two new stations in Mercer County and reconstructing two old ones in Somerset County. Somerset officials who have spent years promoting plans to restore passenger trains to a line used for freight said last night they are hopeful NJ Transit will authorize the project in four months.
In Mercer, the line would serve new stations to be built along Route 95 and in Pennington, and an existing station in Hopewell, said Somerset Planning Director Robert Bzik.
In Somerset, a Belle Mead station would be rebuilt, either at the old site or near the Pike Run development, he said. To the north, a new station would be built along Hamilton Road in Hillsborough, where a station existed decades ago, Bzik said.
But the revived service would bypass Manville, which formerly had a station, because not enough land is available for parking, Bzik said.
The borough is in line, though, for expanded rail freight yards, following the absorption of Conrail by the CSX and Norfolk Southern lines in June. The two rail companies also are likely to expand CP Port Reading Jct in Manville, where their lines link, said Somerset Freeholder Peter Palmer.
Information on cost, ridership and timetables from a feasibility report were not available last night, Bzik said. But he called the figures consistent with previous studies.
Passenger service on the line ended in 1982 because of low ridership. In 1993, NJ Transit found fares would cover only 30 percent of the cost of restoring the service, and 260 of the 380 potential riders would be drawn from other rail and bus lines.
But local and county officials disputed those projections, and enlisted some allies. Bzik pointed out that Rep. Bob Franks (R-7th Dist.) has obtained seed money for the additional study and encouraged NJ Transit to proceed with the project.
''Congressman Franks has also been very helpful in making sure that the two freight companies are receptive to this whole idea," Bzik said.
The 9-mile siding would be needed to reduce conflicts with CSX, which will take over Conrail's freight service on the West Trenton line, he said. It would begin in Hopewell Township and extend into Montgomery, Bzik said. Cost projections for that part of the project also are unavailable, he said. (Joe Tyrrell, The Newark Star Ledger, 02/17/99- posted 02/17/99)


Business Picking Up at BRI - Business is really starting to boom at BRI. PIOI is delivering empty trash cars to Manville Yard. Currently WPMA10 switches BRI seven days a week, bringing in the empties and taking out the loads. The loads are then brought back into Manville Yard, where they are picked up by WPAL10. (Andrew Ordun- posted 02/16/99)


CSX AC60's Being Delivered via Trenton Line - CSX's order of AC6000CW's which are currently being built at GE in Erie, Pennsylvania, are being delivered to their new owner on SECS. The engines once released from Erie are being put into road testing on the Chicago Line between Buffalo and Selkirk, before heading south on SECS. On Saturday, February 13, AC60's 608 and 609 were picked up at Oak Island by SECS, who went south down the Trenton Line past the HBD-DED at Belle Mead at 01:44am, Sunday morning. (Andrew Ordun- posted 02/16/99)


Conrail Establishes SECA - Recently Conrail has put into service train SECA (Selkirk NY to Camden-Pavonia, NJ). As of right now I am still trying to figure out how frequently it operates. I heard it once on Friday January 29, around 6:30pm, however I have yet to see it. (Andrew Ordun- posted 02/04/99)


Big Changes Occuring at BRI - Bridgewater Resources Incorporated is currently leasing Belvidere & Delaware River Railroad, a subsidiary of Black River and Western Railroad, GP7 780, for switching their rail spur off of Conrail's Lehigh Line in Manville and Bridgewater, NJ. The unit was dropped off on Sunday at Manville Yard on Conrail local WPAL-10, who had picked it up at the Black River and Western interchange in Three Bridges, NJ.
Mi-Jack construction crews are currently on site at BRI building an overhead crane on the Bridgewater side of the Raritan River. Once complete, the crane, similar to ones found in many large intermodal yards, will span two tracks and a roadway where garbage containers will be unloaded and loaded onto trucks. Currently mobile crane trucks are being used to load and unload the garbage containers. (Andrew Ordun- posted 02/04/99)


Oak Island Derailment Cause Temporary Traffic Delays -At 19:50 ET on Tuesday, February 2, train PIOI-1 (Pittsburgh-Oak Island) derailed four cars as the train was entering Oak Island Yard in Newark, NJ. The train was powered by C40-8W's 6162, 6165, and 6187 and consisted of 110 loads and 20 empties that totaled 13,250 tons. Two cars TILX 200113 and TILX 200125 loaded with nitric acid derailed on their sides along with a loaded car of limestone. The fourth derailed car, a load of lumber, did not overturn. Route 1 and 9 were temporarily closed as a precaution. There were no injuries reported. (CRTS, Eastern Railroad News- posted 02/04/99)


BNSF Warbonnet on ML440 - ML440 continues to have interesting foreign power in his locomotive consist. This morning, January 28, he came up the Trenton Line with BNSF SD75I 8277, wearing the Warbonnet paint scheme. (Andrew Ordun- posted 01/28/99)


Date of Dispatch Desk Changes in Question - The Conrail Philadelphia Division Dispatch Desk changes which were previously reported to take effect on January 15, have been pushed back, to possibly Day 1, which is now set for June 1, 1999. For now the Lehigh Line Dispatcher (161.070) still controls the entire Lehigh Line, and the Mainline Dispatcher (160.800) still controls the Trenton Line. (Kevin Burkholder- posted 01/25/99)


Solid CNW lashup on ALCA - On Sunday January 24, ALCA-3 was spotted southbound on the Trenton Line through Langhorne PA with CNW C44-9W's 8625 and 8664 as its power. Cab signal problems, which developed at West Trenton led ALCA to a 20mph speed restriction between West Trenton and CP Berry. Then while sitting at CP Wood ALCA figured out how to cut off the cab signals, which they did after recieving permission from the Mainline Dispatcher. A short time later ALCA was heard passing through the Langhorne DED at 47mph. (Frank Powell, Rob Bennett- posted 01/25/99)


Brand New UP Power on ML440X - To add to the excitement of all the detour trains operating on Saturday(01/23), ML440X came northbound up the Trenton Line with brand new UP AC6000CW 7525 trailing two Conrail units. (Andrew Ordun- posted 01/25/99)


Detour Recap - Late in the evening of January 23, track #1 was reopened on the Chicago Line through the area of the derailment, so there will be no more detours. While the detours had to happen on a weekend that was foggy, and gloomy, it was still exciting being trackside even if pictures were not possible. Here is a recap of some of the interesting sigthings from the weekend. (David Edwards, CRTS, Eastern Railroad News- posted 01/25/99)

SEIN Added to the Detour List - This morning, January 23, SEIN operated south down the Trenton Line. He utilized the Woodburne Connection and Morrisville Line to head west, since he had 13 trilevel autoracks in his consist. (Rob Bennett- posted 01/23/99)


TV 100 Also Detouring Through Central Jersey - TV 100, Chicago-Willow Spring, IL, to Worchester, MA, can now be added to the list of trains of detouring through central Jersey. On January 22, it was heard passing the dragging equipment detector at Southampton, PA on the Morrisville Line at 7:15pm. It now appears that many of the detouring TV trains are being routed via the Trenton Line and the Woodburne Connection, as opposed to through Allentown. (Rob Bennett- posted 01/23/99)


Conrail Detouring Trains Through Jersey as Result of Chicago Line Derailment - Train NFSE-1 powered by CSXT C40-8W's 7687 and 7901, along with Conrail B23-7 1962, C30-7A 6555, and SD60M 5529 and consisting of 129 loads and 12 empties weighing 14,387 tons derailed at milepost 199.7 on the Chicago Line in Fort Plain, NY. The 36th through 67th head cars derailed, with some falling into the Mohawk River.
Twenty of the derailed cars contain hazardous materials; 15 loads of propane and 5 loads of styrene. 9 loaded multi-level autoracks also went into the river. Detours are planned via alternate Conrail routes, the NYS&W, and the D&H. Currently train TV-99 has been diverted to operate via Harrisburg, PA and train TV-10 is to detour via the Southern Tier with many more to follow tomorrow. The clean up process will take 36-48 hours due to the nature of the cargo involved and the location.
The New York State Thruway has also been closed by the derailment. Luckily, no injuries have been reported.
More detour's are currently being lined up. Here is the tentative listing of trains detouring through central Jersey: (CRTS, Eastern Railroad News- posted 01/22/99)

Another Foreign Power Sighting on OIPI - On Wednesday January 20, OIPI-0B was seen westbound on the Lehigh Line at Bound Brook with a BN "Whiteface" GP50, sandwiched between two CR units. Earlier in the week the same train was spotted with UP power, in it's consist. (Rob Pisani- posted 01/22/99)


SD70MACS Continue to be Regulars on ALSE - Once again, ALSE had a pair of CR SD70MACS as its assigned power today. CR 4133 leading with 4142 trailing, were in control as ALSE-0, rolled through Manville today. For those of you wanting to see the SD70MACS in New Jersey, this train, ALSE, is your best bet. If you want to catch ALSE, it is normally through Manville, about forty-five minutes after Mail 3, has gone west, as ALSE is usually held at CP 62 for Mail 3. On occasion, ALSE is stopped west of the 13th St crossing in Manville, as they wait for TV 175 to go down the Trenton Line, or for a double stack to come up. (Andrew Ordun- posted 01/20/99)


Workin on the Railroad - Rail gangs are currently installing new rail between CP Potter(Edison) and CP Bound Brook(Bound Brook) on the Lehigh Line. Traffic is being routed through the work site with foreman permission. (Eastern Railroad News- posted 01/20/99)


Another SP Tunnel Motor Sighting - Southern Pacific SD40T-2 was the trailing unit today, January 20, on ALCA-0. There is a good chance this engine may return west tomorrow on OIPI. (Andrew Ordun- posted 01/20/99)


CR Track Geometry Rolls Through Town - On Wednesday January 20, Conrail Track Geometry Train TES 101-20 travelled west across the Lehigh Line through New Jersey. The train which originated at Oak Island, was enroute to Harrisburg, when it passed through CP Port Reading Jct at about 10:40 this morning. The train consisted of CR B23-7, 1933, and CR rail analyzer/test cars 24, 22, and 21. (Eastern Railroad News, Andrew Ordun- posted 01/20/99)


First Revenue Cars Delivered to BRI - On Sunday January 17, WPMA 10-7 placed a string of ten empty garbage container cars on the BRI siding. This train was the first revenue train to use the new siding. The string of garbage cars came into Manville Yard the previous day on PIOI-5B. (Frank Powell, Andrew Ordun- posted 01/20/99)


NS Power Becoming More Frequent on Lehigh Line - Norfolk Southern has begun to become a more common sight on the Lehigh Line as of late. On January 7, TV 212, came east with a trio NS units powering it. NS widecabs have been seen recently on RR 262 and OPNS. (Andrew Ordun- posted 01/08/99)


CR Philadelphia Division Dispatcher Changes - Big changes are about to occur at the Philadelphia Division dispatcher desks. Effective January 15, the following changes will occur: (Eastern Railroad News- posted 01/08/99)

North Jersey Dispatcher - Former Branch Line Dispatcher

  • Lehigh Line
  • CP-Port Reading Jct. to CP-Valley
  • P&H Line
  • Northern Branch
  • National Docks Branch
  • River Line - CP-Waldo to CP-2
  • Amboy Secondary
  • Chemical Coast Secondary
  • Freehold Secondary
  • Port Reading Secondary
  • Southern Secondary Track
  • Lehigh Connecting Track

Trenton Line Dispatcher - Formerly Chesapeake

  • Trenton Line - CP-Park to CP-Port Reading Jct.
  • Blue Line Branch
  • Landover Line
  • Fairless Branch
  • Herbert Secondary
  • Popes Creek Secondary

Lehigh Line Dispatcher

  • Lehigh Line - Port Reading Jct. to M&H Jct.
  • Reading Line - CP-Bethlehem to Blandon
  • Allentown Yard - Allen to CP-Burn
  • Ashmore Secondary
  • Bethlehem Secondary
  • C&F Secondary
  • Cement Secondary
  • Lehigh Secondary
  • Portland Secondary
  • Rocksburg Secondary
  • Stroudsburg Secondary
  • Washington Secondary

Main Line Dispatcher

  • Harrisburg Line - CP-River to CP-Titus
  • Septa Norristown Line - CP-Norris to Kalb
  • Morrisville Line - CP-MA to CP-King
  • Wood Connecting Track
  • Morrisville Connecting Track
  • Dale Secondary

South Jersey Dispatcher - Formerly Philadelphia Terminal Dispatcher

  • Harrisburg Line - CP-Penrose to CP-River
  • Morrisville Line - Morris to CP-MA
  • Trenton Line - CP-Hatch to CP-Park
  • Chester Secondary - Eastwick to 60th Street South; 90th to Lester North
  • Beasley's Point Secondary
  • Bordenstown Secondary
  • Penns Grove Secondary
  • Vineland Secondary

Port Road Dispatcher

River Line Dispatcher

New Dispatcher Chief Titles




Conrail Releases Final Timetable - Conrail has just released there latest system timetable. This timetable, Conrail System Timetable #7, will be the last timetable ever to be released by Conrail. (Andrew Ordun- posted 01/08/99)


Broken Rail Causes Lehigh Line Delays - A broken rail yesterday on the Lehigh Line, caused traffic headaches yesterday, January 7. The broken rail at milepost 54.1, lead to a speed restriction of 10mph for all trains through the area. At one point WPMA 10 asked the Lehigh Line Dispatcher for permission to open up at South Plainfield. The Lehigh Line Dispatcher told the WPMA 10 that they would have to sit at South Plainfield for NINE eastbounds. (Andrew Ordun- posted 01/08/99)


Now Get Twice the OIPI - Effective December 16, Conrail created OIPI-A and OIPI-B. Both of these trains operate Tuesday through Saturday. I would assume that only OIPI-B works Manville while OIPI-A operates directly from Oak Island to Pittsburgh. Also I would assume that both of these trains use the Trenton Line, as OIPI did, but I could be wrong. (Eastern Railroad News- posted 12/30/98)


Trash Trains Receive State Approval - Bridgewater Resources Inc. received approval from the state Department of Environmental Protection to transport trash by train to landfills in Virginia, and workers could finish building a rail line by Saturday(12/20).
Based on that schedule, trains could start making test "shakedown" runs in about a week, said BRI President Joseph Horner. The former Reading rail line is split between Bridgewater and Manville by the Raritan River.
"We'll probably see a half dozen cars go out by the end of the year, and we'll spend the next 30 days doing a shakedown," Horner said.
Verbal permits were issued Tuesday by the department and formal approval came Wednesday, said Somerset County Counsel Thomas Miller.
The permits allow BRI to modify its solid waste operation at the Bridgewater transfer station to use rail cars instead of trucks to haul trash to landfills.
BRI plans to put trash into sealed steel containers. The containers hold 22 tons of garbage and are designed so that trash can't leak out.
"It's a totally enclosed metal container," Horner said during a tour of the facility Wednesday. "It's an environmentally safe way to move trash and will take a great deal of trucks off the road."
He estimated 50 fewer tractor-trailers, which now take trash to out-of-state landfills, would be needed daily. Up to 70 trucks a day now are used.
Manville Engineer Gary Garwacke issued a stop-work order against BRI in August. That order remains in effect until several questions are answered, Garwacke said.
In a Dec. 4 letter borough attorney Douglas Reina told Garwacke that BRI "will enter into a written agreement with the Borough of Manville" stipulating that garbage-laden trains will not be stored within the borough.
Still, Garwacke said, he wants to see permits from the Department of Environmental Protection that show it acknowledges part of BRI's operation will run through Manville.
"I think it's important that DEP at least amend or acknowledge in their permit that this goes through Manville and it will have some kind of effect on us," he said. "It seems like we were left out of the loop on this."
Horner said Wednesday that he believed the stop-work order had been lifted.
Horner also offered to take members of the Manville Environmental Commission on a tour of the line to show it won't have an adverse effect on the borough.
Commission members are concerned about asbestos from the old Johns-Manville Corp. property next to the BRI rail line and the effect of more rail traffic through the borough.
Sally Saharko, leader of the commission, said Manville does not want any more garbage passing through.
"Loads of garbage trains already go through Manville," she said. "The point is, people don't want any more. That's the bottom line."
The trash trains won't be in Manville long, Horner said. They'll go directly from BRI's rails to the Norfolk Southern main line behind the Adesa Auto Auction.
"The homes are south of where we'd tie into the Norfolk Southern tracks," Horner said. "We're in an area bound by Adesa on the right and open space on the left."
BRI's rail line will not connect to a second former Conrail line through Manville, which has a small holding yard and is owned by the CSX Corp., according to plans.
"Once they're on the main line, they have to move," Horner said. "It will make a direct run." (Larry Higgs and Bill Bowman, The Courier News, 12/17/98- posted 12/23/98)


Pattenburg Nearing Completion - The Pattenburg Cutover is scheduled to begin at 07:00 ET this morning, continuing through 19:00 ET tomorrow evening.  Here is the break-down of how it is scheduled to take place:

Monday December 7

07:00 ET    Maintenance crews and Signal crews will take the Lehigh Line away from the dispatcher, between Phillipsburg and Port Reading Junction to begin track and signal work.

19:00 ET    Track will be given back to the dispatcher with the two new Control Points (CP's) in service.  CP62 is the former Pattenburg and CP67 is a new CP in service with DCS rules in effect between the new CP's.

Mail-3 will operate via the Trenton Line and Morrisville Line; NSSE will operate via Phoenixville, unless received early from Norfolk Southern; ALSE will depart Allentown at 04:00 ET; ALCA will depart Allentown at 04:30 ET; WPAL-10 will depart Allentown at 18:00 ET; and SENS will depart North Bergen four hours later.

Tuesday December 8

The M&W and Signal crews will again take the track out of service as soon as possible after 07:00 ET.  The track will remain out of service until the work is completed for the new single track section.  All intermodal and priority track will again detour or operate early/late as on Monday.

Upon completion of the work on Tuesday evening, The new single track will be in service through Pattenburg Tunnel! (Eastern Railroad News- posted 12/07/98)


Conrail Gets Stoned at 3M - On Friday December, 4, two ballast trains were loaded at the 3M quarry located at Belle Mead(Montgomery Township), on the Trenton Line. The first train symboled BNS 602, powered by CR 6029 and 6056, was going to head out the Morrisville Line. He was put on the siding at Skillman until TV 174 went north past him. Then BNS 602 opened up and went south. While BNS 602 was waiting on the siding at Skillman, BAL 12M was being loaded at 3M. The BAL 12M was powered by CR 3350 and 3347, I do not know where it was going. (Andrew Ordun- posted 12/05/98)


Signal Problems Delay CSSE - CSSE-9 was delayed for more than an hour in the early morning hours of November 30, due to signal problems on the Trenton Line. Travelling north on the Trenton Line CSSE stopped at Skillman, milepost 47.0, when they saw a red signal ahead at Belle Mead, milepost 50.0. Startled by the red signal CSSE called the Mainline Dispatcher asking why they recieved a red signal. The Mainline Dispatcher said there was nothing occupying the block ahead, and instructed CSSE to remain at Skillman until they recieved a more favorable signal. Meanwhile a maintainer working nearby at CP Port Reading Jct, was notified of the signal problems. He checked the signal at milepost 54.0, and found a green over yellow approach being displayed. Finally CSSE was back on the move after being given permission to proceed past the stop signal at milepost 50.0, by the Mainline Dispatcher. TV 176 and TV 12 who where coming north behind CSSE, both encountered minor delays. (Andrew Ordun- posted 11/30/98)


Pair of 80MACS Spending Thanksgiving at Oak Island - Conrail SD80MACS 4101 and 4113 were the power on PIOI-4B, as it roared through Manville, eastbound on the Lehigh Line, around 3pm, this afternoon (11/25), after just having finished switching the yard. These two engines should be at Oak Island over the holiday weekend, as no trains will depart Oak Island after 9pm tonight. (Andrew Ordun- posted 11/25/98)


CSX Releases Post Conrail Train Symbols - The CSX Symbols are here!  Here is the tentative listing of conversions for the former Conrail symbols.  Some of the symbols are newly established by CSXT and reflect odd alpha counterparts.

CSXT will also use the symbol Q800 for Shared Asset and symbols not inherited after the acquisition.  The locals will receive a 'C' designation, followed by a numeric.  C791 is Pavonia, NJ based WPCA-11. (Eastern Railroad News- posted 11/25/98)

New CSX Old Conrail
Q108 Mail-44
Q109 TV-99
Q110 TV-100
Q111 Mail-3
Q113 TV-13
Q114 TV-14
Q115 TV-5
Q116 TV-6
Q117 TV-7
Q119 TV-9
Q146 TV-220
Q147 TV-221
Q150 TV-10B
Q152 TV-200
Q159 TV-207
Q160 TV-10
Q161 TV-77
New CSX Old Conrail
Q164 TV-204
Q165 TV-261
Q167 TV-79
Q168 Mail-8
Q169 TVLA
Q233 STBN
Q246 ML-451
Q254 ML-488
Q263 TOMT
Q264 ML-482
Q271 ML-401
Q273 ML-403
Q277 ML-433
Q290 ML-440
Q304 TOST
Q308 TOIN
Q309 INTO
New CSX Old Conrail
Q310 INCO
Q357 BUCW
Q358 INCU
Q364 INSE
Q365 BUCI
Q366 CIBU
Q367 SEIN
Q370 SLSE
Q376 NLIN
Q388 BRRX
Q391 SETO
Q396 NPSE
Q420 SEBO
Q421 BOSE
Q308 TOIN
Q422 SEFR
Q423 FRSE
New CSX Old Conrail
Q424 SPSE
Q426 SENE
Q427 NESE
Q429 SESP
Q430 OPSE
Q433 BUSE
Q439 SEBU
Q621 SECN
Q622 SYMS
Q623 MSSY
Q624 BUSY
Q625 SYBU
Q627 BUCP
Q628 NFSE
Q629 SENF
Q638 INIC
Q639 ICIN



Conrail's 1998 Thanksgiving Holiday Plan - In order to provide you with advance information regarding Conrail's 1998 Thanksgiving Holiday Operating plan, the following service plan will be followed over the Holiday period for the CORE Service Network. Road Operation: Through Freight Trains will not operate from 9:00 P.M. Wednesday, November 25th through 9:00 P.M. Friday, November 27th. Classification Yard Operation: The major classification yards will be shut down as outlined below:

Oak Island, N.J. - 7:00 A.M. Thur., 11/26 through 7:00 A.M. Sun., 11/29.

Allentown, Pa. - 7:00 A.M. Thur., 11/26 through 7:00 A.M. Sun., 11/29.

Selkirk, N.Y. - 3:00 P.M. Thur., 11/26 through 7:00 A.M. Sat., 11/28.

Frontier, N.Y. - 3:00 P.M. Thur., 11/26 through 7:00 A.M. Fri., 11/27 and 3:00 P.M. Fri 11/27 through 7:00 A.M. Sat., 11/28.

Conway, Pa. - 7:00 A.M. Thur., 11/26 through 7:00 A.M. Sat., 11/28.

Elkhart, Ind. - 3:00 P.M. Thur., 11/26 through 3:00 P.M. Fri., 11/27 and 11:00 P.M. Fri 11/27 through 7:00 A.M. Sat., 11/28.

Stanley, Ohio - 11:00 P.M. Wed., 11/25 through 7:00 A.M. Sat., 11/28.

Big Four, Ind. - 11:00 P.M. Wed., 11/25 through 3:00 P.M. Fri., 11/27.

Buckeye, Ohio - 11:00 P.M. Wed., 11/25 through 3:00 P.M. Fri., 11/27.

Local Industrial Service: As a general rule, Local service will be shut down Thursday November 26th through Sunday November 29th except where customer requirements dictate that service be provided. Please contact Conrail local Transportation personnel if you require local service during this period. Over the Thanksgiving weekend, Conrail will realign station assignments within its computer system. These changes will be transparent to our customers and will not affect your current operations or customer service procedures.(Southern Tier RRE List- posted 11/25/98)


UP GP38-3 Oak Island Bound - This afternoon, (11/23) I saw PIOI-2B northbound on the Trenton Line, passing through Belle Mead, NJ, around 4:30pm, with UP GP38-3, 2462, among the power. The GP38-3's are GP38/40 rebuilds from Helm, from what I understand. (Andrew Ordun- posted 11/23/98)


Work Stoppage Ordered for BRI Siding - A work stoppage has been issued to Kennedy Railroad Builders, the private contractor constructing, the siding and yard for Bridgewater Resources Incorporated, on Conrail's Lehigh Line. Kennedy, who has been operating heavy machinery within feet of the Royce Running Track and Lehigh Line, was ordered to attend a Conrail safety training class before they can resume working, in Manville. They were also told that they need to have a flagman when working close to the tracks, which they have not had. Work continues however on the Bridgewater side of the Raritan River. (Andrew Ordun- posted 11/20/98)


Track Being Laid for BRI Siding, Controversy Continues - Saying an agreement with three railroads supersedes the need for approval from the Manville Zoning Board, trash hauler Joseph Horner has begun laying track to his transfer station.
The connection will allow the Bridgewater Resources to shipping garbage by train to Virginia early next year, cutting costs and keeping the business afloat, Horner said.
"This is a no-brainer for us" because it will enable BRI to reduce its prices and regain customers lost when the Supreme Court deregulated New Jersey's garbage market last year, he said.
Manville Borough Engineer Gary Garwacke, who issued a stop-work order against the project in August, said Horner must demonstrate that his deal with Conrail, Norfolk Southern and CSX gives him the right to ignore local zoning.
"If he thumbs his nose at us, we'll have to see what the next step is, probably legal," Garwacke said.
The borough contends Horner needs a variance to lay track. Some residents also object to new shipments of waste.
Spokesmen for Conrail and the two railroads that are absorbing it - Norfolk Southern and CSX - confirmed that they had a contract with Horner, but steered clear of the controversy.
"We've resolved our issues with him as a good potential customer there," said Robert Libkind, director of media relations for Conrail. The constitution's interstate commerce clause protects the railroads' rights to provide a connection for BRI.
"What he can do on his own property, that's his determination," Libkind said, adding that he has "no opinion" about the zoning dispute.
Horner already has the backing of the Somerset County freeholders and the state Economic Development Authority.
The freeholders hold a second mortgage on the transfer station, located across the Raritan River from Manville in the Finderne section of Bridgewater, in exchange for their $6.5 million payment to settle lawsuits by Warren and Atlantic counties.
The EDA authorized BRI to market $2.7 million in new bonds for the rail project and to refinance $16.2 million from the previous issues, spokeswoman Rose Smith said.
Under New Jersey's old system of controlling where haulers take their waste, Somerset contracted to send various types of refuse to disposal facilities in Warren and Atlantic. But the two counties successfully sued Somerset and its designated transfer station, BRI, for chronic shortfalls in deliveries.
Horner was trucking much of his trash to Pennsylvania and other states, where waste disposal prices were far lower than in New Jersey.
After deregulation, Horner planned the rail link as a way to economize. It will allow him to ship long distance to inexpensive disposal sites owned by Allied Waste, and rail cars handle much higher volumes than his trucks, he said.
"This is going to be a benefit to the community because we're going to be taking numerous trucks off the roads," Horner said.
Haulers still will deliver trash at the the transfer station, where it will be sorted to remove recyclables and other commodities.
But then Horner's trucks will simply move the waste a few hundred yards to the south end of the transfer station, just before a railroad bridge crosses the Raritan River into Manville. There, an 89-ton crane will shift it into rail cars.
Plans call for putting in slightly less track on the Manville side fo the river than was there when the neighboring Johns-Manville property housed a huge factory complex, Horner said.
On the Bridgewater side, there will be slightly more track to allow for side lines at the transfer area, he said. (Joe Tyrrell, The Newark Star Ledger, 11/18/98 -posted 11/18/98)


Hillsboro, Montgomery train depots on track? - NJ Transit has recommended building stations in Hillsborough and Montgomery if it and the CSX freight railroad can agree on conditions for returning commuter trains to the West Trenton Line.
While a consultant is studying the feasibility and cost to return passenger trains to the West Trenton branch, an NJ Transit technical memo has recommened locating stations in five areas, including Hillsborough and Montgomery, said Robert Bzik, Somerset County planning director.
Beleguered motorists who use Route 206 shouldn't plan to park their cars yet. Service on the 21.6-mile rail line, between West Trenton and Bound Brook, won't start for at least three to five years, because rail officials need time to buy land and build the stations, Bzik said.
"The rail improvements are easy; the stations are the longest time lag," Bzik said.
An NJ Transit technical memo proposed building stations in Hillsborough and Montgomery. But it didn't specify new locations or whether old depots, like the one in Belle Mead, could be reused, Bzik said.
Passenger service on the line served Mercer and Somerset counties. It was discontinued in 1982 by Conrail because of a lack of riders. Freight trains continue to use the line.
Since 1987, there has been interest in running passenger trains to ease traffic congestion on routes 206 and 1. A $496,000 study by L.S. Transit Systems of Bloomfield is under way to determine the cost and feasibility of restoring service.
"As a rider, I was sorry to see it disappear. It was the best way to get to Newark," said Gerald Bowdren of Bridgewater, county planning board secretary. "I'd strongly recommend putting it on a front burner without the station improvements."
In addition to the study, NJ Transit and CSX Railroad officials are meeting to develop an operating plan for the line that is acceptable to both railroads. An October letter from NJ Transit Executive Director Shirley DeLibero said that CSX has pledged its cooperation.
"They were concerned about mixing passenger and freight trains," Bzik said. "Based on NJ Transit's information, they feel something can be worked out."
Studies in 1994 by NJ Transit and the Somerset County Chamber of Commerce disagreed on the cost to restore passenger service.
The chamber study estimated it would cost $15 million to upgrade the freight line, while NJ Transit figures put the price tag closer to $32 million. (Larry Higgs, The Courier News, 11/12/98 -posted 11/12/98)


More Foreign Power on the Trenton Line! - On Wednesday, November 11, PIOI-0B came north up the Trenton Line with LMS 720 leading Southern Pacific 7332 (SD40) and a spotless SP 7862 (B30-7). (Gary Pancavage -posted 11/12/98)


Trenton Line Congestion -Problems with TV-206 and poor dispatching by SEPTA caused quite a bit of congestion on the Trenton Line on Wednesday, November 11, between noon and 2:30 pm. SECS, TV-175, ALCA, PIOI and ML-401 took turns passing or following each other on single track between the Woodbourne connection and West Trenton. ML-401 sat at CP WING so long the crew asked if they could get off and get lunch ! PIOI outlawed at CP WING and had to be re-crewed. SEPTA's ongoing reluctance to run freight through the Woodbourne connection during daylight hours needs to be addressed. Dispatchers think nothing of holding freights for half an hour or more until the MU shows up. It will be interesting to see how this is viewed by the new owners. (Gary Pancavage -posted 11/12/98)


PIOI Detouring on Trenton Line - Work at Pattenburg Tunnel on the Lehigh Line is causing PIOI to detour via the Trenton Line, for a couple of weeks. (Andrew Ordun -posted 11/12/98)


MAC Attack on the Trenton Line - A pair of SD80MACS and SD70MACS went south this morning, November 10, on the Trenton Line. SD80MACS 4106 and 4109 went south on ML401, which was held at West Trenton until around 8:30am for a northbound Septa R3 train. The next train to go south down the Trenton Line was ALCA-9 with SD70MACS 4143 and 4131, which I saw passing Belle Mead on my way to college this morning. (Ralph Curcio, Andrew Ordun- posted 11/11/98)


SD70 Invasion - On Sunday, November 8, three Conrail SD70's roared through central New Jersey. SD70's 2557 and 2558 came east on Mail 8, followed by 2575 on Mail 44, and finally PIOI-7B came northbound up the Trenton Line with 2571 in the lead and 2559 trailing. (Railnuts- posted 11/09/98)


Suprise Coal Train on the Lehigh Line - On Wednesday, October 28, a loaded Conrail coal train roared eastbound through New Jersey on the Lehigh Line. Conrail, C40-8W, 6097, and SD60M, 5544, led the solid consist of PPLX hoppers(Pennsylvania Power & Light). The Lehigh Line dispatcher was calling the train "UTEF", if I heard right. Does anyone know where this train was going or where it originated, if so please e-mail me. To the best of my knowledge no coal trains currently operate on the Lehigh Line. (Andrew Ordun -posted 10/29/98)


Track Work Puts a Squeeze on Trenton Line - Last week Conrail began a resurfacing and tie installation project on the Trenton Line. The work which started in New Jersey last week has now progressed into Pennsylvania. Monday through Thursday there is now a curfew in place from 9am to 2:30pm to allow track work to proceed. As a result of the curfew TV 175 detours via Allentown. (Andrew Ordun- posted 10/22/98)


ALCA Derails on Trenton Line - On October 14, ALCA-3 derailed while travelling southbound on the Trenton Line at milepost 47.0, Skillman(Montgomery Township). After passing through the HBD-DED at Belle Mead, milepost 50.0, one car was found to have hotboxes. ALCA slowed to a stop and dropped off that car on the 5300' run around track at Skillman. When ALCA was back on the move pulling out of Skillman a truck on an empty tankcar broke causing the one truck to leave the rails. No other cars derailed. The Trenton Line was closed for two hours while a land crane was brought in to rerail the tankcar. Several trains were detoured. Conrail crews along with the Montgomery Township Police responded to the derailment. (Andrew Ordun- posted 10/16/98)


No PRR re stencils - It has been made official that Conrail freight cars will only be restenciled in NYC, for those peices of equipment going to CSX. Norfolk Southern will acquire most of the cars with Conrail reporting marks, while the rest will become a lease fleet. (Andrew Ordun- posted 10/10/98)


Foreign Power Fest on Trenton Line - In the past week Trenton Line trains have been spotted with Norfolk Southern, Southern Pacific,and Burlington Northern Santa Fe power. On October 2, Norfolk Southern Dash8-40C, 8714, was the trailing unit on ML440. Then on October 7 OIPI-7, went south with Southern Pacific, tunnel motor, SD45T-2R, 6796, the trailing unit. Finally on October 9, BNSF SD70MAC, 9973, wearing pumpkin orange paint, came north on ML440. All this plus the regular CSX run through power has made railfanning the Trenton Line very interesting lately. (Andrew Ordun- posted 10/10/98)


Two New Trailvans Rolling through Cenral Jersey - On 10/1/98 two new intermodal trains, TV 206 and TV 2HK, were created by Conrail. TV 206, consisting of doublestacks, operates as required, between Chicago, IL and Croxton, NJ. TV 2HK, consisting of TOFC traffic, operates Monday through Friday, between Chicago, IL and Kearny, NJ, with various connections made at Harrisburg, PA. Be on the lookout for these two new trains. (Eastern Railroad News- posted 10/04/98)


Change of Colors at Manville Yard - On October 2, Norfolk Southern C39-8 8574, was spotted among the Conrail blue assigned to yard service at Manville. (Andrew Ordun- posted 10/04/98)


No More HBOI - HBOI, which used to run on an as required basis has been replaced by ENAL, Enola, PA to Allentown, PA. ENAL also replaced HBBE, Harrisburg, PA to Bethlehem, PA. (Kevin Burkholder- posted 10/04/98)


Possible New Routing for Roadrailers - As Norfolk Southern Corp. and CSX Corp. begin operating in the Northeast, each is exploring all available existing rail options. And, according to one local rail historical group, NS has found one in New Jersey -- using both freight and passenger rail routes. NS RoadRailer trains reportedly will be routed from the refineries of Linden and Rahway to New Jersey Transit's North Jersey Coast Line in Perth Amboy. Once across the Raritan River and in South Amboy, NS trains will head for Old Bridge and Jamesburg via the Camden & Amboy route. At Jamesburg, trains will head west toward Amtrak's Northeast Corridor, emerging onto (or diverging from) the NEC at Monmouth Junction. NS has not commented on the routing proposal, but may wish to avoid possible conflict with Amtrak and New Jersey Transit trains on the NEC north of New Brunswick, where traffic flows are heavier. (Andrew Ordun- posted 9/24/98)


SD70 Makes Jersey Appearance - On September 11, Conrail SD70 2569 was the trailing unit on PIOI-0. Plan on being trackside tomorrow, as this engine may return west. Look for pictures soon in the photo gallery. (Andrew Ordun- posted 9/11/98)


New Look for Conrail Track Cars - Some new Conrail track cars are now being painted white, while others are wearing a fresh coat of Golden Orange. The white track cars are scheduled to become property of CSX. Norfolk Southern will inherit the ones painted bright orange. (Andrew Ordun- posted 9/11/98)


Warning to Railfans - On Friday August, 11 I was kicked out of Port Reading Jct by a plain clothed railroad police officer, in an unmarked Ford Crown Victoria. I do not know if this cop was from Conrail, CSX, or Norfolk Southern. He asked me to leave and I did, not getting ticketed. The point I am trying to make is BE CAREFUL! Be cooperative with the police, if you are asked to leave, don't ask why, just comply. This is the first time I have ever been kicked out of Port Reading Jct. (Andrew Ordun- posted 9/11/98)


Norfolk Southern Construction Update - The Norfolk Southern Corporation STB Operational Monitoring Report for August was released on 8/22. Part of the report covers the progress of construction and other capitol projects being done. Below is a table of all the projects in New Jersey stated in the report. (Norfolk Southern Corporation- posted 9/10/98)

Location

ST

Project

Department

Phase

Status

Croxton

NJ

Construct intermodal terminal

Track

Design

In progress

Grade / pave

To do

E-Rail

NJ

Construct intermodal terminal

Track

Design

In progress

Boundbrook

NJ

Extend siding 2,500 track feet

Track

Design

Project

Grading

specifications

Construction

Croxton

NJ

Construct intermodal terminal

Track

Design

In progress

Grade / pave

To do

E-Rail

NJ

Construct intermodal terminal

Track

Design

In progress

Grade / pave

To do

Flemington

NJ

Construct 12,500 foot siding

Track

Design

Project specifications

Grading

being defined.

Construction

Signal

Design

Construction

Pattenburg

NJ

Clearance-9 Bridges

Bridge

Design

Complete

Construction

In progress

Pattenburg

NJ

Siding extensions

Track

Design

Complete

Grading

In progress

Construction

To do

Signal

Design

In progress

Construction

In progress

Pattenburg Tunnel

NJ

Clearance

Bridge

Design

Complete

Construction

To do

Port Reading

NJ

Clearance Projects

Track

Design

Complete

Construction

In progress

Bridge

Design

Complete

Construction

In progress




Staten Island Railroad Dead? - The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders, citing concerns about provision of local rail freight service, voted last Wednesday to withdraw as lead sponsor of the half-completed Staten Island Railroad project, a bi-state effort to rehabilitate a rail freight line connecting Staten Island with a rail junction in New Jersey. The resolution to withdraw takes effect in 60 days, however, leaving open a small window of opportunity for the County to work out service issues with the railroads, come back on board as project sponsor, and get the long-delayed rail link finished.
Union County officials announced their intention to withdraw from the project two weeks ago, stating that the railroads chosen to operate the line, CSX and Norfolk Southern, were more interested in sending long through trains down the line than in providing short line service. Such local service is crucial to the rejuvenation of the underutilized corridor through which the tracks run - an economic boost that the County was counting on when it agreed to help sponsor the project. Long-standing issues between the County and the Port Authority have likely entered the picture as well.
The rejuvenated railroad is expected to take as many as 32,000 annual truck trips off Union County roads when the line is fully operational - a primary reason for the project's region-wide backing and a theme sounded by citizens who spoke up in support of it at last Wednesday's meeting. The railroads have said they are willing to work with the County on its areas of concern. The Port Authority and the New Jersey Department of Transportation should both put forth their best efforts to resolve the situation. Upgrading a 5-mile rail link that takes heavy, polluting trucks off local roads and helps revitalize the economy should not take years to complete. (Eastern Railroad News- posted 9/09/98)


"ALCA; Be All That You Can Be" - On September 9, Pennsylvania Air National Guard equipment, was on the head end of ALCA-9. The various pecies of equipment, loaded on seven flat cars, are believed to be enroute to Fort Hood for use in training exercises. (Andrew Ordun- posted 9/09/98)


Roadrailer Changes - Norfolk Southern has begun rearranging the schedules of the Roadrailer trains on the Conrail territory. Effective from August 24, RR-241 was set up to operate from Crestline, OH to Fort Wayne, IN on Tuesday through Friday. The service originates in Crestline at 21:00 ET and arrives at Fort Wayne at 02:00 CT.

RR-261 has been cut back to originate in the Rutherford, PA Triple Crown facility. 261 had previously operated from Elizabethport, NJ to Fort Wayne. RR-261 will operate Monday through Friday, departing at 04:30 ET on Mondays and 22:30 ET, Tuesday through Friday. On Tuesday, the train arrives in Fort Wayne at 02:00 CT. Wednesday through Saturday sees a 19:00 CT arrival in Fort Wayne.

RR-281, previously originating at Rutherford, now begins its journey at Portside in Elizabethport, NJ. 281 operates through Rutherford to Willow Run, MI on Monday through Friday. The train is now scheduled to depart Portside at 20:45 ET, depart Rutherford at 09:00 ET and arrive in Willow Run, MI at 07:00 ET the next day. A variation on Friday exists in the departure time from Rutherford. 281 is scheduled to arrive Rutherford all week at 03:30 ET, including Friday. The train will lay over all day, departing at 18:00 ET.

RR-282 operates eastbound from Willow Run, MI to Portside, NJ, Monday through Wednesday and as required on Thursday and Saturday. Operations on Monday through Wednesday and as required Thursday are set to depart Willow Run at 21:30 ET. 282 arrives the next afternoon at Rutherford, PA before departing for Portside. Portside arrival is scheduled for 04:15 ET. On Saturday, 282 departs from Willow Run at 20:30 ET, arriving in Rutherford at 17:30 ET the next afternoon. An hour is allotted for switching chores and arrival is set for 01:45 ET in Portside. (Eastern Railroad News- posted 9/02/98)


Greenville Yard Relocation - Conrail is relocating "YARD A," the New York Cross Harbor and Port Jersey Railroad interchange yard at Greenville in Jersey City, NJ. The yard is being relocated north towards the Tropicanna Orange Juice distribution facility. This will allow for the redevelopment of the former "YARD A". (Conrail Techincal Society, Carl G. Perelman- posted 9/01/98)


New HBD/DED on Lehigh Line - A new radio alarm hotbox/dragging equipment detector has been installed on the Lehigh Line at milepost 14.9, "Townley, NJ". (Andrew Ordun- posted 9/01/98)


Trenton Line Fire Update - It turns out that the fire near milepost 48, may not have been the result of PIOI-0. According to Montgomery Township Police the cause of the fire is unknown at this time. What was first thought to be a brush fire, turned out to be a 20 foot roll of rubber material that went up in flames. At this time it is not known if the rubber material was illegaly dumped or left behind by a Conrail maintenance crew. TV 174 who was travelling north on the Trenton Line spotted the fire and reported it via the Mainline Dispatcher. Montgomery Township Volunteer Fire Company #1 responded, not #2 as previously reported. The relatively small fire was put out within ten minutes. Two railroad ties were damaged in the fire, which Conrail is going to inspect. (Andrew Ordun- posted 9/01/98)


Trenton Line Ablaze - On August 31, PIOI-0, traveling northbound on the Trenton Line caused a brush fire near milepost 48 in Montgomery Township. Montgomery Township Volunteer Fire Company #2 quickly extinguished the fire which was under the Dutchtown Harligen Rd overpass. TV 174 was held south of the fire until it was put out, encoutering only a minor delay. (Andrew Ordun- posted 8/31/98)


Black River & Western Freight - The BR&W continues to operate freight service about one day per week on the Three Bridges to Ringoes line. Current customers include Hunterdon Lumber and Beemis Bag. The railroad will operate this freight on Thursday or Friday. However, if the work is not accomplished at the end of the work week, then the freight may operate on Sunday. This has occurred more than once this summer. The lastest Sunday freight operated on August 30 when BDRV GP7u 780 towed a handful of freight cars from the Three Bridge intechange to the Flemington area customers. (Railpace Hot News- posted 8/30/98)


Pattenburg Update - Conrail will single track Pattenburg Tunnel as a means to improve clearance on the Lehigh Line. The project will be performed during "work windows." The tunnel will not be closed for any long duration of time, as previously assumed by many. In preparation for the single tracking of the tunnel, Conrail is preparing to install a new siding between CP WEST PORTAL and Bloomsbury. Two strings of continuous of welded rail are currently laying along the Lehigh Line right-of-way, in preparation for this new siding. The west end of the siding will be in the vicinity of the truck stop along I-78. The current Pattenburg Siding will be shortened in length, and will span the segment between the tunnel's east end and CP PATTENBURG. Already, Conrail has a turnout ready for installation at the east-end of Pattenburg Tunnel. On August 30 a Conrail boom truck was unloading new crossties near the east-end of the tunnel. (Conrail Technical Society E-mail Update- posted 8/30/98)


CSX Establishes Two New Trailvans on Trenton Line - On August 20, CSX implemented next day intermodal service between Kearny, NJ and Atlanta, GA. The two new trains are TV 175 which runs from Kearny to Atlanta, and TV 176 which runs from Atlanta to Kearny, both via Richmond. The new trains were established to compete with Norfolk Southern trains TV 211 and 212. (Andrew Ordun- posted 8/30/98)


New Train on Lehigh Line - Conrail has begun the operation of HBOI, a general freight operating between Harrisburg, PA and Oak Island, NJ. (Andrew Ordun- posted 8/30/98)


Get Your Juice in the Morning - CSOJ the Tropicanna Juice train which runs from Bradenton, FL to Greenville (Jersey City), NJ, normally runs up the Trenton Line in the early morning hours, has been making some rare daylight appearences in New Jersey this past week. At least two days this week the train was at CP Belmont in Philadelphia between 7 and 8 in the morning. Those who want pictures, plan on being trackside early, I do not know how much longer CSOJ will be running this late. (Andrew Ordun- posted 8/21/98)


Suprise Visitor on TV 174 - TV 174 which runs from Tampa, FL to Kearny, NJ normally has predictable power, a trio of CSX B36-7. However on August 21, TV 174 brought a suprise up the Trenton Line, in the form of CSX AC60CW 600. (Andrew Ordun- posted 8/21/98)


CNW on the Trenton Line - On August 21, I had already seen a pair of SD80MACS and a UP SD40-2. I thought my day of railfanning could not get much better. Boy was I wrong. TV 12X flew northbound on the Trenton Line through CP Port Reading Junction with 3 engines and roughly 120 loaded double stack cars. The second engine on TV 12X was Chicago and Northwestern 9-44CW 5012. I must say today was quiet impressive. (Andrew Ordun- posted 8/21/98)


"PIOI; We Can Handle It" - On August 21, PIOI-0 was eastbound on the Lehigh Line at Manville with Union Pacific SD40-2 3076 in the consist. (Andrew Ordun- posted 8/21/98)


SD80MAC Attack - On August 21, PIOI-1X rolled into Manville Yard with CR SD80MAC 4119 on the point and 4103 trailing. (Andrew Ordun- posted 8/21/98)


"Mount Laurel we have a problem" - In the early morning hours of August 18, 1998 train SECS-7X lost communication with its FRED at CP Port Reading Jct. The mainline dispatcher allowed the train to proceed down the Trenton Line not exceeding 30mph. It took over an hour for the train to reach CP Wing. CSOJ, the Tropicanna Juice train, had already cleared the Trenton Line, but it is unknown if any of the early morning northbound TV trains encountered delays. (Andrew Ordun- posted 8/18/98)


Ballast Cleaner Not Leaving Yet - The Loram Ballast Cleaner at Manville is not done working yet, as previously reported. It was spotted working the Lehigh Line on August 15, and then pulling into the Adessa siding and tying up for the day. The railgrinder was doing work on the Trenton Line.(Andrew Ordun- posted 8/16/98)


Loram Update - I was wrong, the Loram machine I saw on August 12, was actually a ballast cleaner, not a rail grinder as previously reported. I talked to the crew of the ballast cleaner today, August 14, and they said that their work was done and they would be heading out of town today. However, I was informed that there is a Loram rail grinder at Manville Yard. It is being held on storage 5. I think thats the track anyway, the one OIPI always comes in on for his pickup. Upon finding the rail grinder, I spoke with a crew member, who told me the railgrinder will be working the Trenton Line and a portion of the Lehigh Line. No work has begun yet, today they were just performing maintenance on the railgrinder. For those wanting photos of this awesome machine it is best to park at the yard office. If you go to CP Port Reading Jct, you will not see it, because cars in the yard block it out of view. (Andrew Ordun- posted 8/14/98)


3M Keeps WPMA 91 Busy - Maintenance season is upon Conrail, bringing an increased need for ballast. This means only one thing for the crew of WPMA 91, longer days at 3M Industrial Mineral Products, located at Belle Mead (Montgomery Township) on the Trenton Line. Switching the massive quarry, and rock processing plant which, besides being a major ballast supplier for Conrail, produces crushed rock for roofing shingles, is normally a whole day job. On August 12, 1998, upon completion of switching 3M, WPMA 91-2 returned to Manville Yard with 86 loaded ballast cars. (Andrew Ordun- posted 8/12/98)


Lehigh Line Track Program Update - The flagman with the Loram crew told me that brush cutting is underway, along the right of way, at Pattenburg, in preperation for construction of the 12,500' controlled siding. (Andrew Ordun- posted 8/12/98)


Loram Doing the Grind at Manville - On August 12, 1998 a Loram rail grinding machine was operating on Conrail's Lehigh Line at Manville. The rail grinder pulled out of the Adessa siding, where it was in storage, and headed east on the Royce Running Track, coming to a stop about 100 yards west of CP Port Reading Jct. The Conrail flagman, working with the Loram crew, told me they were going to be working at the 13th Street crossing in Manville today. (Andrew Ordun- posted 8/12/98)


BMI update - New details have emerged about BMI operations. Work has really progressed rapidly since I last reported. Almost all of the old track is now out and the brush which once covered the right of way is now gone. It turns out that BMI is not going to recieve anything inbound by rail, but they are going to ship alot of trash outbound. The new track that is going in, is going to be a six track yard from the Royce Running Track to the bridge over the Raritan River. Then north of the bridge to the plant itself there is going to be a five track yard. (Andrew Ordun- posted 8/10/98)


One of a kind trailer on Mail 44 - A Model Railroader/Trains Operation Lifesaver trailer was one of the loads on Mail 44 as it headed north on the Trenton Line on August 10, 1998. The trailer painted red, white, and blue, with the logos of Model Railroader, Trains, and Operation Lifesaver painted on each side, appeared to be a mobile theater. Pictures of this one of a kind trailer will be up in the photo gallery soon. (Andrew Ordun- posted 8/10/98)


Caboose with a message visits Manville Yard - CR Operation Lifesaver caboose 21256 visited Manville Yard on July 31. The baywindow caboose arrived in the consist of WPAL 10-1, an Allentown based local, which runs from Allentown to Manville Yard and then back. (Andrew Ordun- posted 7/31/98)


New Lehigh Line Customer - BMI a recycling company in Bridgewater NJ will become the newest customer on the Lehigh Line once track work is completed. A private railroad construction firm is clearing the weed infested ex Reading Company New York Division mainline, and rehabing the bridge over the Raritan River, north of CP Port Reading Jct. 14,000 feet of new track, connecting with the Lehigh Line at the east end of the Royce Running Track, will be laid to reach BMI, who is expected to recieve wood products and trash by rail. (Andrew Ordun- posted 7/28/98)


New Controlled Siding for Trenton Line - According to sources at Conrail construction of a new controlled siding at Skillman (Montgomery Twp) should begin in the next few months. Currently there is a 5300' run around track located at Skillman which is used to store ballast cars destined for 3M at Belle Mead. The run around track will be extended on both sides and power switches will be installed on both ends. There is no word yet on how long the CS is going to be. I will keep you updated as this breaking story develops. (Andrew Ordun- posted 7/28/98)


Train Speed for Trenton Line Defect Detectors - The hotbox dragging equipment detectors located at Belle Mead and Glenmoore now both also announce train speed in there readouts. This was done in preperation for CSX's takeover of the Trenton Line. (Andrew Ordun- posted 7/28/98)


BNSF power visits Trenton Line - BNSF GP50 3188 visited the Trenton Line twice this past week. On Friday July 24, 3188 was in the consist of OIPI-4 as it headed south down the Trenton Line at CP Port Reading Jct. Then on Monday July 27, 3188 was in the consist of PIOI-6 as it headed north up the Trenton Line at CP Port Reading Jct. (Andrew Ordun- posted 7/28/98)


MACS on Lehigh Line - Conrail SD80 MACS 4100 and 4119 powered OIAL-4X as it headed west through CP Port Reading Jct on Friday July 24. (Andrew Ordun- posted 7/28/98)


Conrail Lehigh Line Track Program - An extensive rail project is to begin on July 20 over the eastern portion of the Lehigh Line. The project involves new rail installation and track resurfacing, between Port Reading Junction, N.J. and Pattenburg, N.J. For the next few weeks, from Monday through Thursday, the Lehigh Line will essentially be shut down after the passage of train Mail-3. Several schedules and traffic patterns will be changed to allow the maintenance and rail gangs adequate time to complete their project. Beginning on May 20, train ALSE must leave Allentown, PA by 7:00 a.m. to meet train Mail-3 at Pattenburg, NJ. After the passage of both trains, the track curfew will begin. Train ALCA will have to depart Allentown, PA before 6:00 a.m., or it will have to be held until after the curfew is released at 2:00 p.m. Local wayfreight WPAL-10 will be held at Allentown, PA until after 2:00 p.m. and depart with completion of the daily maintenance project. Train SENS has been moved back two hours for departure at 4:00 p.m. from North Bergen, NJ. Train PIOI will not operate east through Allentown, PA but will instead be routed via the Morrisville Line and the Trenton Line. Any other moves, including extra trains, will be restricted from the Lehigh Line from 8:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. All other daylight traffic will likely be routed via Morrisville Line and the Trenton Line. (Conrail Technical Society E-mail Update- posted 7/20)