Train has blowed its horn about 100 times coming back through Farmingdale right now
Railroad Forums
CR on the Southern Secondary
- Pertaining to all railroading subjects, past and present, in New Jersey
Moderator: David
Northbound through Shrewsbury at 0310 hours....
"Old railfans never die, they just lose track......"
My collection My best
Supporting member: BRRHT, NYS&WT&HS, CRHS
My collection My best
Supporting member: BRRHT, NYS&WT&HS, CRHS
OI16 is headed for browns with 4432 in the consist. Might be a power change.
Also, seeing as how there's been survey crews inspecting the southern and now that Amtrak is finally moving forward with bridge and tunnel repairs, does that mean we will finally sand trains on the southern? All that work from Lakehurst to Woodmansie was meant to have sand trains go north towards this supposedly...
Also, seeing as how there's been survey crews inspecting the southern and now that Amtrak is finally moving forward with bridge and tunnel repairs, does that mean we will finally sand trains on the southern? All that work from Lakehurst to Woodmansie was meant to have sand trains go north towards this supposedly...
Bracdude181 wrote: ↑Sun Mar 01, 2020 5:47 pm OI16 is headed for browns with 4432 in the consist. Might be a power change.Sand is not happening any time soon. The Gateway Project for the tunnels haa gone nowhere, and nothing has been done south of MP 61 to connect the rail and/or remove brush.
Also, seeing as how there's been survey crews inspecting the southern and now that Amtrak is finally moving forward with bridge and tunnel repairs, does that mean we will finally sand trains on the southern? All that work from Lakehurst to Woodmansie was meant to have sand trains go north towards this supposedly...
Last years' rail re-hab was done by Clayton (the line's owner) with money from a state grant. The grant had a time limit, so it was use it or lose it. North (East) of Lakehurst is Conrail's responsibility and I doubt they will spend any money for repairs until there is a contract for that sand.
Harry
Our state is not perfect, but they were very pro-active in awarding grant money to the Clayton Companies for rail work from Lakehurst to Woodmansie, and also to Conrail for rehab of three wooden trestles from Lakewood to Lakehurst. Nearly all work has been completed, and (hopefully) monies have been paid. Unfortunately, the current administration in Washington has been dragging their feet for their share of Federal funding for the Gateway Project. This project will have to happen, given the condition of the current tunnels, now nearly 110 years old. But, unfortunately, no sand for now.
There shouldn't be more than 6 to 8 weeks worth of work to get trains rolling on the Southern to Woodmansie (once Clayton gets the loading spur or loop built). After that, a tie replacement project (one every three or four I would guess) would be needed. IIRC, the last major tie replacement project on the Southern was done in 1988 or 1989. To the best of my knowledge, a new wooden tie on a low density line is good for 35 - 38 years at best.
Just my .02 worth....
Chris
There shouldn't be more than 6 to 8 weeks worth of work to get trains rolling on the Southern to Woodmansie (once Clayton gets the loading spur or loop built). After that, a tie replacement project (one every three or four I would guess) would be needed. IIRC, the last major tie replacement project on the Southern was done in 1988 or 1989. To the best of my knowledge, a new wooden tie on a low density line is good for 35 - 38 years at best.
Just my .02 worth....
Chris
"Old railfans never die, they just lose track......"
My collection My best
Supporting member: BRRHT, NYS&WT&HS, CRHS
My collection My best
Supporting member: BRRHT, NYS&WT&HS, CRHS
It would seem to make more sense to me, should the sand trains roll for the tunnel project, to rebuild the Freehold-Farmingdale segment and route them thataway, keeping them off the NJ coast line, where they would be as welcome as a skunk in your garage, as much as possible.
CharlieL wrote: ↑Thu Mar 05, 2020 10:27 am It would seem to make more sense to me, should the sand trains roll for the tunnel project, to rebuild the Freehold-Farmingdale segment and route them thataway, keeping them off the NJ coast line, where they would be as welcome as a skunk in your garage, as much as possible.If no improvements are made to the FIT, that journey would be much longer and more inefficient than routing via BANK. The Coast Line is much faster (mileage and speed) than the FIT and Amboy Secondary, and the track from Freehold to Jamesburg in at least a few places is less than stellar and probably wouldn't be able to handle very many sand trains.
("last major tie replacement project on the Southern was done in 1988 or 1989")
The last major tie replacement was 1976. Just two years later 1978 it all came to a halt pass woodmansie!
Despite the sand traffic that frequented the line, the number of general freights (not including sand and local freights to serve the industries along the line) dwindled to two, JS-1 and SJ-2 as the northeastern rail scene became more grim. In 1976, Conrail took over all operations, and in 1978, it severed the line between Woodmansie and Winslow Junction, ending its use as a through route linking South and North Jersey. Within the next decade, operations would be cut back again to Lakehurst, and now Lakewood!
The last major tie replacement was 1976. Just two years later 1978 it all came to a halt pass woodmansie!
Despite the sand traffic that frequented the line, the number of general freights (not including sand and local freights to serve the industries along the line) dwindled to two, JS-1 and SJ-2 as the northeastern rail scene became more grim. In 1976, Conrail took over all operations, and in 1978, it severed the line between Woodmansie and Winslow Junction, ending its use as a through route linking South and North Jersey. Within the next decade, operations would be cut back again to Lakehurst, and now Lakewood!
Permission up to the Signal at RARE. 15:43
About 1 o'clock today saw a crew doing markouts along the track at the Farmingdale rte 524 crossing gates.
4432, 5634, and 18 clear of Middletown around 16:15. Bel-Ray brining up the rear.
Just saw it crawling south under the GSP @ 5:01pm.
Looks like a crew was cleaning the ditch on the side of the tracks at Main Street today.