by njtmnrrbuff
Possibly on good friday, I would like to railfan the Lehigh Line through Cranford, but it would have to be within walking distance of transit. What are the times like in the late afternoon.
Railroad Forums
Moderator: David
Another decent place to watch the Lehigh line is Oakridge Golf Course in Clark along the fairway on the second hole or the sixteenth fairway. It is a public golf course and county park and you are a taxpayer. I'm sure if you ask the ranger nicely or even call the clubhouse ahead of time they'd let you hang out and take pictures so long as you aren't in the way. It is a good distance from NJT, though.Okay, one of my fave spots outted!
BigDell wrote: Okay, one of my fave spots outted!I worked as a greenskeeper at Oakridge Golf Course from 1986 to 1990 which is how I know about the spot. Back in that era you could see a dozen trains or more in an eight hour shift. The Tropicana Juice train was a fave.
Actually, the easier way to do this is to park in the QuickCheck (or whatever that little minimall is) on Inman Avenue, east of Potter's crossing about a mile, where the overhead power lines cross Inman. Once you pass the golf driving range and mini golf, you'll know you're close. Pull in the lot (or somewhere on one of the side streets), then walk along the PSE&G dirt roadway from Inman Ave north to the tracks. Its a fun little walk (you can marvel how the folks living along the high tension wires have encroached on the PSE&G property and "live" under the electric fields of the wires). Its about a 5 or 10 minute walk - I forget, I haven't done it in a while - but you end up at the very corner of the golf course with a nice view of the mainline. You can walk along the main toward the golf course and pick out a good spot for your tripod or handheld. It was one of my fave places when I was a teenager. I haven't had any problems with PSE&G folks but you do have to be "aware". I've never had any problem with the golf course but I usually don't go on the course itself. You might find some interesting spots there. GREAT in the snow. It used to be an interesting walk along the tracks (never ON the tracks of course...) to Potters from that point...
BigDell
I worked as a greenskeeper at Oakridge Golf Course from 1986 to 1990 which is how I know about the spot. Back in that era you could see a dozen trains or more in an eight hour shift. The Tropicana Juice train was a fave.I always made a point of staying off the course itself. There usually is enough room along the ROW to get a nice shot... BTW - I have a house but two minutes from the golf course on Applewood Dr. One of these days I have to go to Oakridge and take some lessons. I am CONSTANTLY asked to go on golf outtings at work and I simply do not play golf (played once, in Japan, in the shadow of Mt. Fuji - actually did very well...).
I'd recommend asking permission before going to watch trains. I don't think anyone would mind provided you stayed out of the way of the golfers and told the ranger, manager or greens superintendent what you are doing ahead of time.