Official SIRR Thread

[blockline4180]

Rails are being lifted from the old interchange track between the Lehigh Line and the SIRT. Track still in place near the SIRT connection, however, up by the Lehigh Line the rail and some ties have been removed. The equipment is still at the site, so I assume the rest of the rail will be lifted next week.

LOL, so I guess it is safe to assume the Rahway Valley Line is officially dead! It is rather depressing news since this time last year it was pretty much known that the line had a good chance of being restored!! Don't you love NJ politics?

[TheBaran]

That interchange was never in the picture for the restoration. The connection to the Lehigh Line was removed 2 years ago. The remaining track just sat unused. They actually restored the switch on the SIRT side when they restored that line (new switch and about 100 feet of restored interchange track). Nothing else restored beyond that; the old rail simply disappeared into the overgrowth. I guess the price of scrap steel got too high to ignore the abandoned rail.

[BigDell]

Wow....


Hard to believe all that went for naught....

I really expected we would see SOMETHING happening by this time....
Very sad indeed....

BigDell

[CNJFAN]

What can a person say?
That's politics for you!!!

[MickD]

Was anything ever started east from Summit??Was the right of way ever
cleared to lay new track??

[CJPat]

I believe none of the Summit work was sarted and was intentionally left for last because it would require the replacement of several bridges (most costliest part of the project). A little shrub clearing was reportedly conducted in the vicinity of the golf course but I think that was dismissed as being conducted by a utility company.

[isaksenj]

Request for termination of Certificate of Convenience and Necessity


http://www.stb.dot.gov/filings/all.nsf/ ... 217248.PDF

Basically, requests termination of prior agreement under Docket 34473 for operation pending a new agreement, but citing service to begin October 2006

[Legio X]

I passed by the AK Bridge last week while using the Goethals Bridge going to/from the Shore. The bridge looks like it has been repainted and there were a couple of workers walking on the catwalks on the east end tower. I remember the last time I passed by, last summer, there was grafitti on the bridge and not a soul to be seen. Good to see things moving ahead with returning the bridge to service.

When will the first train cross the bridge, and what line will be pulling it?

[blockline4180]

I passed by the AK Bridge last week while using the Goethals Bridge going to/from the Shore. The bridge looks like it has been repainted and there were a couple of workers walking on the catwalks on the east end tower. I remember the last time I passed by, last summer, there was grafitti on the bridge and not a soul to be seen. Good to see things moving ahead with returning the bridge to service.

When will the first train cross the bridge, and what line will be pulling it?

Probably sometime in October and the service will be provided by both CSX and NS, NOT M&E as some foamers tend to think. I advise this post to be moved to the NJ rail forums as it would be more appropriate there.

[MickD]

Is Travis Branch active or will it be in the future?

[CNJFAN]

I was sitting here wondering why this was placed in the M&E Thread.
It looks to me like the M&E is way out of the picture.
Not being a wise guy, just pointing it out.

[blockline4180]

I was sitting here wondering why this was placed in the M&E Thread.
It looks to me like the M&E is way out of the picture.
Not being a wise guy, just pointing it out.

I'm sorry if I was being a wise guy with my previous post....

[CNJFAN]

LOL....I wasn't implying you were being wise at all, sorry if I gave that impression.
Have a great holiday weekend despite the rain.

[kilroy]

Is Travis Branch active or will it be in the future?

Is that the line out to the NYC Sanitation site? If so, it will be activated. SRS inspected the line in late May or early June and found a couple of defects that need to be fixed, otherwise the line was fine with several new tracks put in.

[TheBaran]

Update on an earlier post (August 19th). The rail and tie removal from the old SIRT / LVRR interchange looks to be completed (based on a quick look from the Parkway overpass). They really cleaned-up the old interchange...not only is the rail gone, but the ties have been lifted and stacked and the roadbed (looks to be cinders) has been groomed.