CSX at Journal Square

Those E-44's were heading into Harsimus Cove yard to the end of wire. The track split off at CP-Waldo just 200 yards east of the Journal Square station. Going down the hill under Dickinson High school was the beginning of the Jersey City N.J. - Selkirk N.Y. River Line at National Junction later years named CP-NAVE. Back in the Penn Central and early Conrail years this portion of the P & H branch thru Journal Square hosted over 40 moves per 24 hour period. Every now and then they would run a unit coal train this way symboled UPR which I believe stood for Unit train Rosemont N.Y. heading up the River Line. The power usually five SD-40's or 45's. You should have seen the faces on the passengers over on the PATH platforms as five wide open SD's lugging 15,000 tons, blasted under the station overbuild at 10 MPH. I would watch them out of the corner of my eye as we approached, the more observant would start looking in our direction with a" what the hell is that noise? " Then little kids, wide eyed, would start plugging their ears or jump behind their mothers dress. Next, people would begin reacting as if they were in danger assuming body language indicating they were ready to bolt for an exit. Finally when all five engines got under the roof you had everybodys complete attention, it was beyond deafening. I would attempt a Buster Keaton poker face, trying not to break out laughing, as if I were totally oblivious to this insane racket.

Those JSQ freights were particularly painful, though, at 3:30 a.m. after a night listening to a bad bar band at the Backfence in the Village and waiting for the connection to Newark.

AndyB, that was great info!

Also:

On Monday SK 13 did operate through Journal Square on the Conrail P&H line (NOT the 3rd rail PATH tracks). They delivered 2 carloads of track material to PATH at the MOW yards up on the hill east of Journal Square (using the Conrail yard track that extends east of the PATH tunnel portal, if you can visualize that).

That is reason enough for me to ALWAYS have my camera when going to Journal Sq in the future. To paraphrase Sullivan1985, If I didn't photograph it, I wasn't there.... (even if I actually was.... ;-)

BigDell

Dell, Thank you for the compliment. AndyB

Knowledge has no value unless shared with others.

How about a little more history on Journal Sq.
Some of these are fairly large files and may take time to download unless you have high speed internet.

1848 map of Jersey City
http://mapmaker.rutgers.edu/HUDSON_COUN ... y_1848.jpg
Shows New Jersey Railroad depot on Hudson River Front.
Journal Sq. (Summit) would be about 1.5 miles west at top of hill,sorry off this map. But map shows where it all started.

1872 map of Jersey City and area.
http://mapmaker.rutgers.edu/1872Atlas/H ... kUnion.jpg
Start at top center follow Penn RR east (map down)
The "E" in Jersey City is location of Journal Sq. (Summit)
Original NJRR route. Note the many curves in track taking advantage of grade up hill to cut at Summit.

1889 map of Jersey City and area
http://mapmaker.rutgers.edu/HUDSON_COUN ... _c1889.jpg
Journal Sq. (Summit) is almost center of map, about where PRR is marked.
Note east and west of Journal Sq. the Penn RR has already done major realignment of line, straighten and cut made deeper.

1898 USGS survey
http://historical.maptech.com/getImage. ... g&state=NJ
Shows PRR through JS with ground contours of area. Look around, especially the waterfront, which was all railroads.

1960s USGS survey
http://geography.rutgers.edu/features/q ... 0074F1.jpg
On this on Journal Sq. is marked. Look around again. This would be just before the decline of the railroads.

Today
Google Maps
http://maps.google.com/
Not a direct link. At Main page search Jersey City.
By now you should be able to find Journal Square.
When there, go to satellite photo. Zoom in. You can still see original NJRR right of way east of Journal Sq..

The Rutgers link and the Google Map Link are great sources.

Enjoy,
AndyB

I lived in Jersey City from 1995 to 2000 and commuted to, from and through JSQ from 1995-2002.

Those disel freight trains were LOUD if you were standing on the platform at JSQ waiting for your train. And yes, they were that much worse if your bloodstream was filled with alcohol and you just got back from a night on the town.

But running EB, the trains would then head north and run along the base of the Palisades through Hoboken and Weehawken before entering the tunnel at Weehawken and then at the yard (name?) on the west side of the Palisades. This was the River Line that now is home to the HBLRT, right?