BigDell wrote:I wonder where the tightest curves are in the NJT system?
The Montclair-Boonton Line certainly has its share of tight curves, several of which are the result of building connections between formerly separate lines:
--Mountain View, where DL&W Boonton Line makes a sharp right turn to join the Erie Greenwood Lake Line.
--Montclair, the curves at both ends of the connnector that joins the Erie Greenwood Lake Line and the DL&W Montclair Branch.
Other tight curves resulting from reallignments:
--Secaucus, the curves at each end of the new connector between the Bergen County Line and the Main Line (eastern end of the former DL&W Boonton Line).
--South Paterson (Erie Main to Newark Branch segment). This is not too tight as it was an existing junction before the Main Line was realligned to join the former Boonton Line.
Others:
--Two curves on the Bergen County Line in the Garfield area.
--Denville, Morristown Line.
A few years ago I was riding to work on the now-abandonded section of the Boonton Line (former Greenwood Lake) through Bloomfield, cab-car forward. At least three people who were not members of the crew were in the cab with the engineer. The train barrelled into the curve over the Garden State Parkway just west of Rowe Street. The train had not slowed at all going into the curve (the engineer must not have been paying attention or was distracted or both).
It was a pretty scary couple of seconds. Bags and coats were flung from the luggage racks, coffee was spilled, and even the water cooler near the cab flew out of its compartment. I'd swear I could almost feel the wheel flanges riding up on the rails. Then it was all over, and everybody kind of resumed what they were doing, albeit a little pale. The visitors to the cab came out and picked up the water cooler. The crew was back the next day. I'm guessing they might not have been (the engineer, at least) if this had gotten back to the management.
In 20 years of commuting and 10 more railfan riding, that was the one time when I thought the train was actually going to leave the rails.
I heard later that some conductors didn't like working with this particular engineer because they thought he was a little dangerous.
"But Dad. It's Smokey!"