CSX River Line Status Updates

The crossings are all going haywire in Northern NJ. All gates are down and staying down thru at least Harrington Park and Closter. And there is NO train in site. Not sure how far/long this crossing malfuntion goes but at least two main roads are blocked. Not good.

I was at CP5 and CP10 tonight, here is the list:

1) Q009: 12:30am (ES40/2 ET44)
2) Q159: 2:30am (AC44/ES44)
3) Q273: 2:45am (MAC/2 AC44/D8)
4) L162: 2:50am (ES44/MAC)
5) Q418: 3am (2 SD40-2/60M)
6) Q161: 5am (AC60 "DIM"/MAC)

Went by iona island last friday - lots of piles of crossties along the entire stretch of track, plus new ballast along the edges of the track. Looked like they were about to do a major tie replacement.

The River Line has been in a curfew for about a month now. Replacing crossings, ties, and track on the whole line. They have been as far south as the interlocking at CP5, and as far north as a crossing next to CP102. Plan is to have it all done by the end of next week.

Has there been any movement on the rumors of possibly double tracking the line in north jersey? (I believe 10-22 section)

At least in the near future, there are no plans to make the River Line double tracked

IIRC, the River Line was once double-tracked, but the second was removed to allow for wide loads. As IIRC, this is what killed the rationale for the NYC Putnam Division east-of-Hudson (EOH), although I'm not sure of the timing of the two events. Also why you'll never see a return of passenger trains on the River line.

Jeff, I think you hit the second of two reasons. First was the elimination of commuter service, and the second track was pulled up quickly thereafter.

With the southern end of the line then essentially single-tracked, the remaining line was centered in the tunnel under West Point, providing extra clearance as you indicated. But there's nothing other than initial cost, NIMBY opposition and increased real estate taxes that would prevent the line being double -tracked to the siding near the current Palisades Mall. I think the other potential clearance issues south of MP 20 are the curve in Harrington Park, and the west side abutment of the Erie overhead crossing in Blauvelt. Both are easily addressed.

Rich

Rich is correct - the clearance is limited at the West Havetstraw Tunnel. However, at that point, there is little ridership to be gained by proceeding north, especially commuter traffic. Most NJT projections had the line terminate at a newly built yard at the Palisades Mall, with quad tracking to Dumont and double track onward.

Recently, the drop in traffic has opened lots of new discussions (related to new transportation funding grant opportunites) and we hope to work towards a resolution that can help both CSX traffic and the commuters still begging for a train to Manhattan.

I was on the River Line on the 20th from 2:15am-2:15pm. Here is what I caught:

1) Q418: CP5: 2:30am (AC44/D8)
2) Q112: CP5: 2:45am (2 ES40)
3) Q158-18: CP5: 4am (2 AC44)
4) Q159: CP5: 4:05am (60I/ES40/ET44/AC44)
5) Q273: CP5: 4:15am (CP43 at 7:15am) (2 ET44/ES44)
6) K653: CP5: 4:30am (CP43 at 9:30am) (AC44/ET44)
7) Q433: CP5: 4:55am (2 60M)
8) K634: CP10: 6am (KCS ES44/CP SD60)
9) Q162: Auto 13: 6:30am (ET44/ES44)
10) Q003: CP43: 7:50am (AC60/2 AC44/SD50)
11) Q417: CP43: 8:15am (SD40-2/60M/GP40-3)
12) Q010: CP43: 8:30am (AC60/AC44)
13) Q008: CP43: 8:45am (60M/MAC/AC44)
14) Q161: CP43: 9:45am (D8/AC60/ES40)
15) K141: CP43: 10:30am (2 AC44)
16) K142: CP43: 10:45am (AC44/MAC)
17) Q254: CP43: Noon (SD40-2/AC44)
18) Q158-19: CP43: 12:30pm (ES40/ES44/D8)
19) K682: CP43: 2pm (UP ES44/UP AC44)

I was at CP43 last Saturday. I was there from 10am-1:30pm:

1) Q008: 10am (2 ES44/MAC)
2) Q254: 10:15am (ET44/ES40)
3) Q158: 11:30am (D8/SD60)
4) Q409: 12:15pm (ES40/D8)
5) K636: 1:15pm (KCS ACe/KCS ES44)

I was at CP43 Monday morning:

1) Q008: 6:57am (ET44/AC44/ES40)
2) Q158: 7:12am (ET44/ES44/MAC)
3) K139: 7:33am (ET44/BNSF MAC)

Railfanning the River lIne the other day!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSNsHx4u3Zw" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Interesting video wirh a lot od memories from the 1970's and early 1980's. Good job and thanks for sharing
I wonder if Harrington Park still hates the railroad as as they did during my time. The police were really nasty during my time there.
Noel Weaver

Not sure the police do, but the northern Bergen County towns make an issue of horns from time to time... nothing changes...

But again, nowhere near the number of slow/stopped trains we experienced during those "fun" years.