A couple of days ago I saw two M&E locomotives rolling through Chatham at a pretty good clip (probably 50+ MPH) heading east. I've seen this before from time to time, but I was wondering; does the M&E use NJT pilots or are their crews checked out to operate in NJT territory? If the crews are checked out by NJT, what's the checkout procedure and how is it done? I presume that they were moving rapidly so not as to interfere with NJT traffic.
The reason I ask is because a few years ago I visited the Sacremento Rail Museum in California and spoke to one crew who bought a steam locomotive down from Washington State. Then explained that everytime they crossed into another railroad's territory they had to pick a pilot who knew the rules, radio frequencies, etc, for operating in that area. I'm guessing that the M&E probably needs pilots in NS, Amtrack, and Susquanna areas, but probably not just to shuttle freight cars on the Morris and Essex Line.
The reason I ask is because a few years ago I visited the Sacremento Rail Museum in California and spoke to one crew who bought a steam locomotive down from Washington State. Then explained that everytime they crossed into another railroad's territory they had to pick a pilot who knew the rules, radio frequencies, etc, for operating in that area. I'm guessing that the M&E probably needs pilots in NS, Amtrack, and Susquanna areas, but probably not just to shuttle freight cars on the Morris and Essex Line.
