Princeton Dinky - Worth More Dead Than Alive?

Go big or go home folks - run it down to Bradley Beach and the NJCL :D

On the other end of the spectrum, if Princeton wants to be worthy of its upper class Ivy League snobbery, it could go with something truly world class!

267 mph on the dinky. That could cut the travel time way down from five minutes.
No snobbery allowed in China. It's a capital offense there.

That would seem to say they can abandon anything they want on their system with impunity, more or less.

A current ebay search for princeton dinky results in three items, for anyone so inclined.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dinky-shuttle-t ... 4d2266d9e5

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Princeton-NJ-Bl ... 338e82095a

http://www.ebay.com/itm/SAVE-THE-DINKY- ... 233f38cbc0


The above article on nj.com (July 28 post) received a reader comment "the dinky was never threatened." OH REALLY? Then why is there a "save the dinky" movement? Why on earth was there another article on NJ in 2010 which said bus alternatives were being seriously considered? Perhaps the Dinky is not threatened every time there is a budget conversation, but I can assure you its been on the chopping block multiple times.

the New Jersey Association of Railroad Passengers, will not appeal a federal ruling
http://dailyprincetonian.com/news/2014/ ... al-ruling/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

philipmartin wrote:the New Jersey Association of Railroad Passengers, will not appeal a federal ruling
http://dailyprincetonian.com/news/2014/ ... al-ruling/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Besides the potential adverse impacts to other rail issues, there is the matter that such an appeal would likely require a hundred thousand or so in legal costs. Not to be taken lightly.

Ken W2KB wrote:

philipmartin wrote:The New Jersey Association of Railroad Passengers will not appeal a federal ruling.

Besides the potential adverse impacts to other rail issues, there is the matter that such an appeal would likely require a hundred thousand or so in legal costs. Not to be taken lightly.

Can't blame this one on "conservatives". ☺

Not to mention, by not appealing, this really is "setting things in stone" for the rest of the country no matter what. (Why didn't NJ-ARP not get NARP on their side, since this affects Amtrak to a degree?)

Amazing, though, that with all the prior madness and lack of discretion in capital spending, that no consideration was given to rebuilding the original line via Princeton (alongside the Delaware and Raritan Canal) and Kingston to Monmouth Junction. What's a few billion here and there for NJT after all, right? Those ten-car trains could more directly serve that illustrious university.

It appears that the line will be out of service for several days to complete the changeover from the temporary station to the new station:

http://www.njtransit.com/sa/sa_servlet. ... ntId=11615" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Hopefully this will spook anyone who was on the fence about whether or not a bus would do this system justice.

Ahh yes. Let us step back in time to that halcyon Penn Central era and a brief look into the heretofore hidden dynamics at work re: The Dinky. When the sleek modern air conditioned Jersey Arrows were introduced and put into daily service the initial assignment had them running out of Jersey Avenue, New Brunswick. The cash strapped PC had also recently introduced de-motored MP-54's and ancient ex New Haven MUs pulled by GG-1's and assigned to Trenton NYP service.They were repainted bile duct green inside and out, had one pantograph mounted mid train for lighting and heat, no A/C rocked and rolled like they had square wheels and broken springs, were instantly hated by commuters and crews and given the derisive nickname,"Green Hornets."

Several weeks passed and overnight all of the sleek state of the art Arrows were assigned to Trenton NYP service and the Green Hornets showed up at Jersey Avenue. The scuttlebutt that circulated and later found true was several Masters of the Universe, that rode out of Princeton junction every morning, called up the Penn Central President and requested the new equipment be assigned to Trenton, the lower caste Jersey avenue plebeians could enjoy the Hornets and it was so. The point being there are still Wall street Masters of the Universe riding the dinky, they still have all of their good old boy connections and phone numbers and they are not riding a bus.