by jmchitvt
I was fortunate to be born in Phillipsburg, NJ in 1941 - the ONLY place where ALL six Conrail predecessors operated.
Of course the L&H entered on trackage rights, but the Reading brought trains across the Delaware into P'burg on trackage rights, too. There were trains into the PRR yard off the RDG. One could see all SIX from Union Station.
Anyway, I've had thoughts all summer here in Vermont how to start telling my story. I belive it HAS to be told to the younger generation of L&H fans, and NOW while my memory is still THANK GOD very clear.
I grew up over the ridge from the L&H's Pequest siding and belive me I could get on my Schwinn "Black Phanthom" bike and beat an eastbound from home!! The clue was to carefully listen for the Oxford siding crossing whistle (Hazen road) if the sound travelled well - but if it was the Buttzville crossing whistle then I'd REALLY get going. I don't remember "zooming" over the ridge much in the steam age, but when the diesels came when I was nine, I was better at doing it for two reasons.
The bike was a better model and the "stack talk" of the RS-3's was easier to follow. The regular schedule on the L&H was a BIG help!!
I'd get a "whif" of that distinct tar plant smell to "fuel" me on too and where the road continued on to Townsbury hoped no one would be at the intersection as I slid left to the side road behind the PS Kramer plant. Often the flashers would be on when I arrived.
Two or three bright new diesels would soon greet me stuggling up that grade all the way from Mansfield Street Belvidere to just east of Great Meadows. I loved those angled number boards - no other area line had them. Then that great consist of my ALL-TIME favorite freight train HO-6 would roll by. Colorful reefers, all those mid-western and western railroad box cars to study, John Deere machinery flat cars, interesting B&O cars with the various slogans. And the train was soooo slow rollling by that I could relish the experience!!
I will continue (soon) with boyhood along the L&H, my first cab ride to Maybrook, and those great L&H employee !!
Of course the L&H entered on trackage rights, but the Reading brought trains across the Delaware into P'burg on trackage rights, too. There were trains into the PRR yard off the RDG. One could see all SIX from Union Station.
Anyway, I've had thoughts all summer here in Vermont how to start telling my story. I belive it HAS to be told to the younger generation of L&H fans, and NOW while my memory is still THANK GOD very clear.
I grew up over the ridge from the L&H's Pequest siding and belive me I could get on my Schwinn "Black Phanthom" bike and beat an eastbound from home!! The clue was to carefully listen for the Oxford siding crossing whistle (Hazen road) if the sound travelled well - but if it was the Buttzville crossing whistle then I'd REALLY get going. I don't remember "zooming" over the ridge much in the steam age, but when the diesels came when I was nine, I was better at doing it for two reasons.
The bike was a better model and the "stack talk" of the RS-3's was easier to follow. The regular schedule on the L&H was a BIG help!!
I'd get a "whif" of that distinct tar plant smell to "fuel" me on too and where the road continued on to Townsbury hoped no one would be at the intersection as I slid left to the side road behind the PS Kramer plant. Often the flashers would be on when I arrived.
Two or three bright new diesels would soon greet me stuggling up that grade all the way from Mansfield Street Belvidere to just east of Great Meadows. I loved those angled number boards - no other area line had them. Then that great consist of my ALL-TIME favorite freight train HO-6 would roll by. Colorful reefers, all those mid-western and western railroad box cars to study, John Deere machinery flat cars, interesting B&O cars with the various slogans. And the train was soooo slow rollling by that I could relish the experience!!
I will continue (soon) with boyhood along the L&H, my first cab ride to Maybrook, and those great L&H employee !!
