Middlebrook / Chimney Rock branch: NY corruption story?

[ccutler]

It's late October, and still the tracks haven't been laid, nor the roadbed prepared, to extend the track the remaining 1/10th of a mile into the quarry. I just drove by the end of tracks last weekend, when taking my kid ice-skating.

In the mean time, a new retail center is getting built next to the tracks.

What a waste of state money.

[ccutler]

March 8 2017: still no activity at the end of track to complete it into the quarry. I did see a NS crew on the branch apparently surveying the gauge of the line, but could only guess that's preventative maintenance.

[pumpers]

ANything new on the quarry connection?
Last August 20 (back in 2018) there was a post the Freehold Secondary thread by ccutler that said

the track to chimney rock looks like it may finally be going in

viewtopic.php?f=127&t=52499&start=1095

[brwfan]

I was there today for work. There is a small 2 track yard with a cross over track. No cars staged

[ccutler]

Nothing has Main St...the first RR crossing on the branch...in more than a year. It looks like Somerville Lumber is no longer a customer, or the line is embargoed, and the quarry isn't using the RR. What a waste of taxpayer money!

[pumpers]

Thanks guys. It sounds like a good news (the track is in) / bad news (nothing running on the line at all) story, with the bad news dominating on a high level.
JS

[tdipaul]

The new rail bridge over route 22 cost millions!

[ccutler]

There was at least one run to the quarry with 5 cars last year. When construction season begins, hopefully they will start to use the line. Somerville Lumber is out of business so the quarry is the only potential customer, unless a shipper moves into the old Somerville Lumber facility.

[ccutler]

I was pleased to see a cut of 9 NJT gravel cars at the beginning of the Chimney Rock branch today. Maybe there will be more business to come on this very rarely used branch.

[Bracdude181]

Are those cars loaded? If not, it’s possible that NS MA-20 might run there tonight.