In light of the ROW clearing that is being conducted near Whiting, it brought thoughts of the old Southern Division and how it operated in its better years. And a question of general capacity came to mind.
If I understand the track layout, the majority (90%?) of it is single tracked from Red Bank down to Deepwater (?). There are a few areas where there was some double trackage (Lakehurst, Lakewood, Winslow, ??) but those points don't look to be set up as passing sidings. More like small yards (Lakehurst and Lakewood had both served as "major" service yards with engine facilities, etc. back in their day before the line pushed further South and Diesels came on-line).
Considering the number of little freight stops/sidings/stations/farms/ & industries along the way that would have to be serviced, as well as the passenger trains that CNJ operated, how frequently could they run "through" trains over that lengthy stretch of single track?
A long slow moving freight is going to take up quite a "slot". It would appear that if you ran a train every several hours, that would have been tight down that way.
If I understand the track layout, the majority (90%?) of it is single tracked from Red Bank down to Deepwater (?). There are a few areas where there was some double trackage (Lakehurst, Lakewood, Winslow, ??) but those points don't look to be set up as passing sidings. More like small yards (Lakehurst and Lakewood had both served as "major" service yards with engine facilities, etc. back in their day before the line pushed further South and Diesels came on-line).
Considering the number of little freight stops/sidings/stations/farms/ & industries along the way that would have to be serviced, as well as the passenger trains that CNJ operated, how frequently could they run "through" trains over that lengthy stretch of single track?
A long slow moving freight is going to take up quite a "slot". It would appear that if you ran a train every several hours, that would have been tight down that way.