by Coast Line Railfan
Bracdude181 wrote: ↑Wed Oct 28, 2020 10:01 pm To answer a few questions.I am not allowed to release details, but all I can say is that it is extremely likely that NJSL won't be taking over the Southern and FIT, and another contender will. As for RBR, as I've always said before, the weight restrictions are still not an issue. Brick has been able to receive the same cars, and the OI-16/JR5 brings down at least 5 to 10 *loaded* scrap gondolas per trip, over the Raritan River Bridge, one of the supposed hindrances according to your statistics.
At this point, only NJ Seashore Lines has shown interest in the TRIT. Conrail no longer cares for this line and wants nothing to do with it. The rumors about other railroads being interested in the Southern and other Conrail lines comes from recent attempts by North Jersey management to sell off the Southern and the Freehold industrial. No attempts at sale have been successful. A takeover by another railroad has not been confirmed at this time and is very unlikely to happen.
I'm pretty sure Red Bank Recycling couldn't get cars because NJ Transits freight restrictions, but I could be wrong. The claim that the rail siding there would increase truck traffic confuses me. How would having all outbound scrap loads going out by rail increase truck traffic? They already get a lot of trucks in there as it is so I really don't see why the siding would somehow make that problem worse.
An intersection for trucks going into and out of the old Ciba Geicy plant already exists. Once the trucks are on 37, traffic will be fine provided the trucks stay right as much as possible, which most trucks on 37 do fortunately.
The crossing would only be for trains going into and out of the terminal, provided those trains stay moving at track speed (10 to 15 mph if the tracks are rebuilt properly) then traffic would probably only be held up for a few minutes. I don't expect very long trains going through there anyways. Worst case a train breaks down and drivers have to detour down Mule Road and take the back way to either Bananier Dr or St Catherine Blvd.
Even if the TRIT to BG was put back into the service, BG started taking cars again, and the town was ok with it, there would only be headroom for 2 cars, 3 would be pushing it. As I've referenced before, that's not much payload. Lumber is not that much of a money maker, and two cars maybe twice a week won't justify rehabilitating the line for a while.