River LINE grand opening

I just heard that an official ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place in Trenton at 11 AM on Saturday, followed by a special train carrying dignitaries, officials, and probably a friend of mine (not the source of my info) leaving Trenton at 11:30. It will make brief (2 minute ) stops
at all stations except Florence, Burlington South, 36th Street, and Rutgers, terminating at the Aquarium station at 1:05PM.

The train will return departing Aquarium station at 3:00PM and arrive at Trenton at 4:10PM.

Burlington City is having a celebration centered around the Towne Center staion before and after the special train.

BTW, I queried my source as to whether the trip really ends at Aquarium instead of Waterfront. The Aquarium station is in the street

http://community.webshots.com/photo/118 ... 6800yhhwpM

and the Waterfront station is not.

http://community.webshots.com/photo/118 ... 5999yVefWj

The source replied that Gov Whitman turned the symbolic first shovel of dirt at the location of the Aquarium station.

I went to Riverside to photograph the inaugural VIP train.

http://www.subwayspot.com/gallery/NJT-R ... 4_03_13_03

It was a doubleheader, with 3517 and 3503.

http://www.subwayspot.com/gallery/NJT-R ... 4_03_13_04

I followed it southbound and passed it when it stopped at the Palmyra station, catching it again at Route 73 Pennsauken, where it came in on the northbound track.

http://www.subwayspot.com/gallery/NJT-R ... 4_03_13_07
http://www.subwayspot.com/gallery/NJT-R ... 4_03_13_13

Before I took off again I learned that a second train was running, so I waited for it. It picked up people at Rt 73 who didn't get on the VIP train. These must have been the not very important people.

http://www.subwayspot.com/gallery/NJT-R ... 4_03_13_14

I drove into Camden and parked on MLK Blvd at 3rd and walked down to Delaware Ave to the Aquarium station where the ceremony was taking place. Delaware Ave was closed off, with two mounted policemen protecting the south end.

http://www.subwayspot.com/gallery/NJT-R ... 4_03_13_49

They were actually at the corner, but I asked them to move into the sun for a better photo.

http://www.subwayspot.com/gallery/NJT-R ... 4_03_13_50
http://www.subwayspot.com/gallery/NJT-R ... 4_03_13_34

Six trainsets were there, three at each platform.

http://www.subwayspot.com/gallery/NJT-R ... 4_03_13_44
http://www.subwayspot.com/gallery/NJT-R ... 4_03_13_45

Two tower ladder fire trucks were there holding up a cable over Delaware Ave with Old Glory suspended from the cable. I photographed one of the fire trucks as it drove off after the ceremony.

http://www.subwayspot.com/gallery/NJT-R ... 4_03_13_47

I road it today. Lots of people, standing room only ner Camden. The cars are pretty quiet. I think one broke down between one of the satitons and the bgidge that tipped over, though. Full of people, not moving, a guy with a hard hat standing by it. Anybody know anything?

I didn't see any broken down trains. I rode the first train out of 36th Street to Waterfront at 5:27,

http://www.subwayspot.com/gallery/album12/04_03_14_04
http://www.subwayspot.com/gallery/album12/04_03_14_09

the first train north from Waterfront at 5:45

http://www.subwayspot.com/gallery/album12/04_03_14_12

to Trenton

http://www.subwayspot.com/gallery/album12/04_03_14_19

and the next train back at 7:15.

http://www.subwayspot.com/gallery/album12/04_03_14_22

I rode again at med day from Walter Rand

http://www.subwayspot.com/gallery/album12/04_03_14_32

to Riverside

http://www.subwayspot.com/gallery/album12/04_03_14_71

and back to 36th Street with SRO crowding.

http://www.subwayspot.com/gallery/album12/04_03_14_72
http://www.subwayspot.com/gallery/album12/04_03_14_73

By mid day a number of ticket vending machines were undergoing repair.

I found the whole operation to be first class; the cars are smooth and quiet, and the employees were trying to correct any problems that they encountered.

Bob, I want to thank you for all of your pictures, you have done an awesome job of showing how this line became the revenue light rail line that it is now.

Jack

PS: I will be in the area riding it myself on Wednesday

I went along today with some friends who are fairly serious railfan types.

I don't have pictures (they'd look about the same anyway), but I was struck by the crowds riding the train for fun and by their attitude. There seemed to be a real sense of joy to be seeing something opening instead of closing around here.

Rode a train NB that had to wait 15 minutes (~1.45 PM) just before the first single track section waiting for a train to clear. Later on there was somebody official-like in the power section of our car (second of two) with a panel or two open. I don't know if this was the train that broke down or if we had to wait for said train.

I must've been on the same train if it was the two-car consist waiting before the Pennsauken Park & Ride. That and the Bordentown stretch is single tracked. The half of the two-car set I was on was No. 3514B
I was told second-hand that the delays were between those one-track
restrictions and the first-day volume -- and what volume!

I counted 56 seats in No. 3514A when boarding it at Trenton at 10:34 a.m. All seats were filled and it was SRO for everyone else from Cass St.
South into Camden. Multiply that by four and you get a rough estimate.
--And that was just my train. The five two-car trainsets I saw passing
were as packed. Every platform had one or two NJT staffers helping people or conducting head or time counts. I saw between three to 20 people on each platform waiting for the next train and TVM lines at
Trenton and a Camden station that stood five to 20 deep. Two NJT
ticket inspectors boarded at Bordentown and disembarked at the Rand
Center and either NJT or local PD were seen occasionally on platforms.

The quality spread of riders ranged from railbuffs to "average" Joe
and Jane -and usually children- being curious. I overheard "This beats
the No. 409 bus" and "I can spend $18 on feeder fares from Bordentown
to Trenton for Newark and the Subway instead of $45 a month parking at Hamilton Station."

Monday --with or without the SEPTA strike-- and the next few weeks
will tell the true ridership story.
In the meantime, the following emoticon portrays my mood throughout the ride and in my pride in being a knowledgeable rail person: :D

"The half of the two-car set I was on was No. 3514B "

Sorry for the nitpick, but 3514B is one-quarter of a two-car set.

3514B is half of 3514.

http://www.subwayspot.com/gallery/album12/04_03_14_29

3514 (alone) was the 7:15 out of Trenton. I rode it from Trenton to Walter Rand.

http://www.subwayspot.com/gallery/album12/04_03_14_22

I rode the 3:15 train out of trenton to camden and here are my thoughts:
waiting in line to buy a ticket in trenton at the lrt station and the tvm was too slow. people ahead of me were complaining. In retrospect i think the patrons in front of me didn't know how to use the machine.
--lrt cars themselves: a good look for njtransit, for their newness but especially for their using more graphics and color.
-- 5 kids with bikes got on and used the fold up seats around the door. 2 hung their bikes up in the rack (made to hold three) the rest crowded the door leaving 10inches to squeeze by to get in or out of the car (i kid you not) Generation S (as in selfish)
--The very smooth ride must be due to the fact that most of the turns on the line are gradual?
--not the vista i'm used to seeing on a train in nj: no tunnels, hardly any industial buildings (that aren't abandoned) Surprised by small cliffs by bordentown, boat docks. Saw a llama and some emus on a farm somewhere south of burlington.
--Cars packed everyone in my car talking, relaxing enjoying the ride.
--We did stop on the way down I forget between which stations, waiting for a northbound car to pass us. This was annoying. This line show its worth so they can double track where they can!!!!!!
--Best thrill: Riding down the main street in burlington. It looked like we were actually on the street!! just like i've seen in pictures of old trains, etc!
I would be very proud of burling if I lived there; a VERY good look!
--Worst thrill: stopping at walter rand station in camden. Did I arrive at the site of the Anhalter bahnhof just after germany surrendered in WWii????!!!!!!! I say we just raze camden and make it a giant storage shed for the RiverLINE!!
I hope this line enjoys much success! I will be riding it again

It was great though the trains were jammed. It felt like it was the Number Seven Train in Queens at rush hour. One thing I noticed. Does anyone know anything about those two locomotives parked in the Old Roebling Plant ? I didn't know they were there. Who owns them ? Are they operable ? Are they salvagable ? Thanks

I ran and made an offer for the 45 tonner back in May, 1982, when the plant was closing. (I may have been the last person to run it-) My understanding is that it has been given to the museum in Pemberton, which has had the 100 (or 120) tonner on their property for maybe six months.

The 80 tonner needed major engine work on one engine back in 1982. Water in the oil, etc. The local (Philly?) Cummins outfit gave CF&I an estimate of $7000 to do the work, back then. No telling what else has been stolen, or has rotted away, in the 22 years since, although up until a year ago all that equipement was in an enginehouse.

See, this is the interesting thing -- looks like a LOT of people talking about how packed the trains are. Interesting, no?

I assume that the crowds are mostly because it is new.

We'll have to give it time to see what the regular ridership looks like.

The Inquirer seems to think that this has already happened today (http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/8191575.htm), but I suspect that many of todays riders will decide they don't actually like it, and many more riders will "try it out" over the next few days if not weeks.