BigDell wrote:That was probably OI-32, the transfer from Oak Island to Metuchen. That sounds a bit early for the train, as they normally run very late at night, but obviously they also run even earlier sometimes
Thanks TAMR213! It was indeed right at 7:20. I was taken aback to actually see freight passing Metropark. And I was dropping off my son's godmother for the 7:42 NY train and it had started snowing again so the scene and the time was etched in my mind. OI-32. Will definitely be scouting for that one when the days get longer. Is it a Sunday or weekend-only train? I'm guessing it wouldn't be a daily at that time of night, with all the NJT/Amtrak action on a weekday??
Opps, misread your post a little bit, but after re-reading:
OI-32 is the weekday transfer, and as I said usually runs in the middle of the night but of course there are exceptions. I am not as clear on the weekend train, but I believe it is symboled OI-82 or something of the sort. This train also usually runs late at night, but there seems to be more variation in the timing. In addition, I am not sure if this is a Sunday only or a Saturday and Sunday run. Perhaps some other posters can provide or correct any information? Having a scanner handy helps greatly when trying to catch freight on the corridor - if you hear a freight train between the Newark area (say south of the Budweiser Brewery?) and Metuchen, it is the transfer to Metuchen Yard, and if you hear a freight anywhere between Metuchen and Deans it would be the ME-2 local (which usually runs more late morning to early evening). There are also from time to time (rarely) special runs of other trains - for example after Sandy, the transfer to Browns Yard had to be run via MIDWAY, and last fall there were a few high and wide loads (transformers) also transported to Browns via MIDWAY.
Sorry if any of my information is incorrect as I've become somewhat less familiar with operations over the past few months (gotta fix that!), but I hope that it was of some help.
