Newark Penn Station: why such long and unused platforms?

Out of curiosity, why are the platforms at Newark Penn Station SO long, and mostly unused? When you're heading into NYC and arrive at Newark Penn Station, there are lengthy, derelict platforms on the south/west sides of the station, blocked off from the passenger loading areas.

When the station was built, were trains expected to be much longer than they are today? Or is there another reason for such long platforms?

Thanks.

Trains of 16-18 cars in length in days of yore on their way to exotic places explains the length. Can't comment on the non-use, though.

SouthernRailway wrote:Out of curiosity, why are the platforms at Newark Penn Station SO long, and mostly unused? When you're heading into NYC and arrive at Newark Penn Station, there are lengthy, derelict platforms on the south/west sides of the station, blocked off from the passenger loading areas.

When the station was built, were trains expected to be much longer than they are today? Or is there another reason for such long platforms?

Thanks.

Train lengths were much longer years ago than they are today.

When Newark Pennsylvania station was built, the Pennsylvania railroad routinely operated 20 car trains beteen New York terminal and points east as well as manhattan transfer.

Lounge, diner, bags, sleepers, express mail, and a bunch of coaches.

It also gave them the ability to platform more than one train at a time, say a LD & commuter.

amtrakhogger wrote:

SouthernRailway wrote:Out of curiosity, why are the platforms at Newark Penn Station SO long, and mostly unused? When you're heading into NYC and arrive at Newark Penn Station, there are lengthy, derelict platforms on the south/west sides of the station, blocked off from the passenger loading areas.

When the station was built, were trains expected to be much longer than they are today? Or is there another reason for such long platforms?

Thanks.

Train lengths were much longer years ago than they are today.

And Amtrak was operating 16-car LD trains even into the 1990s.

Thanks- very helpful!

Backinthe ,60's when I used to visit Newark Penn on a regular basis, there was an usher that announced the westbound trains and one to announce the eastbounds. The westbound usher regularly announced boarding locations for the long distance and big NY-WAS trains. With all the passengers lined up ahead of time at the correct boarding spot, it was not at all unusual for an 18-20 car Florida train to board 50-100 passengers in less than five minutes. Today's Amtrak needs to take lessons!

Andy

Looks like they're 1600 feet long at Newark-- so not even 20 cars.

amtrakowitz wrote:And Amtrak was operating 16-car LD trains even into the 1990s.

Even the Clockers were that long as late as 2003/2005 (often towed by an ALP46 and E60s before).

Makes you wonder about the increase in ridership when these very high capacity cars of today, both the MLs and single level cars which hold dozens of more passengers than the older coaches, are approaching the lengths of those "old" trains. 12 car trains of MUs or a few years ago, 12 comets and now 10 car ML sets (there was that 12 car ML set for a while too a few years ago) with upwards of 2000 people on board.

And multiply that by dozens of trains a day running back and forth during both rush hours, and quite simply, thats a lot of folks!!!!

timz wrote:Looks like they're 1600 feet long at Newark-- so not even 20 cars.

Where did you get that number from?

That's aside from not all platforms being of equal length. The platforms at tracks A and 5 do not match those at tracks 1, 2, 3 and 4 for length. The platforms adjacent to 1 and 2 appear to be the longest, and the 16-car trains did not overwhelm them.

Not to mention that not all cars in the past were 85 feet long.

yes, track 1 and 2 are the longest in the station, and continue a few hundred feet past the CNJ bridge - track A stops short of the station canapy, just east of the Edison Pl bridge IIRC, track 3/4 platform just short of the CNJ bridge, track 5 at the end of the canapy.

Ive been on trains that have unloaded at the far west end of the platforms on track 1/2 because of service suspensions, etc where trains were being held at Newark Penn for an unknown period. Depending on the length of the trains of course, you can get 3 trains, with the 3rd train just getting a few doors on, on those 2 tracks. Quite helpful if you are a passenger on those trains and able to get off and catch a PATH train and continue your journey. Not helpful if you are on the 4th train just outside the station

Of course, this was with permission from Dock and/or supervision in Newark Penn to unload our passengers on the far west end, because the platforms are in such bad shape. But its better than walking in ballast!

I think they should renovate and put back into service the beautiful art deco platforms.

As far as 20 car trains & not fit on platform, remember there were lounges and diners etc not needing platforming. So technically 20 is possible.

Platforms B and C (track 1/M and 2/M) are the longest because they are at the center of the station where the lions share of LD trains stopped with minimal switching.

did they ever finish that one platforms construction to connect or somewhat connect to the rock?

Steve F45 wrote:did they ever finish that one platforms construction to connect or somewhat connect to the rock?

That never went though, and there hasn't been much news of it in recent years.