In the era of the Pennsylvania Railroad what commuter lines operated into Penn Station NY? Was it only what we now call Northeast Corridor trains or did some New York and Long Branch, now Jersey Coast Line trains, operate into New York to. Also in the Pennsy era what determined if a train went to Penn St NY or Exchange place. I know these questions should be in the PRR thread but I’m looking to get a timeline of when each commuter line eventually made its way into NY. I know that the timeline overlaps the PRR, PC, Conrail and now NJT but I’m looking to know at what points these lines made it into New York.
Yes, NY & LB trains operated by the PRR did use Penn Station. Trains originating in Bay Head made the engine change from diesel (or, at an earlier point in time, steam) to electric in South Amboy. Other service - usually MU trains- operated directly from South Amboy (and also at some points in time Rahway) to Penn Station New York.
(Jersey Central trains from the NY&LB operated to CRRNJ's Jersey City terminal, until implementation of the Aldene Plan in 1967. At that time Jersey Central trains from both the NY&LB and today's Raritan Line began operating into Newark Penn.)
PRR did use the Exchange Place station in Jersey City as destination for some commuter service until about 1960.
Prior to PRR's electrification project in the 1930's, Exchange Place was the primary commuter terminal and Penn was primarily the terminal for long distance trains.