CMSL Cape May (NJ) Seashore Lines Non-Passenger Operations

by Bracdude181
Mon Mar 08, 2021 9:42 am

Interesting that the sign on the bridge is NJT which is a passenger railroad, and not NJ DoT, the owner.
I saw the stuff in Lakehurst last Friday. I like all the work that has been done, but why didn't they do the TRIT crossing as well?

@R&DB Are you referring to the TRIT spur at the Union Ave crossing in Lakehurst, or another road?

Bracdude181 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 08, 2021 10:36 am @R&DB Are you referring to the TRIT spur at the Union Ave crossing in Lakehurst, or another road?

Thanks. Senior moment. Corrected. Lakehurst.

@R&DB The crossing installation is being contracted out to a Kentucky based firm. I’m assuming they will come in and install the lights soon now that the wires are in place.

I was under the impression that the wiring was done last November, and the contractor was waiting for crossing lights and bungalow's. Either way its been almost three full months since any work, must not be important or pressing.

@CR7876 They were supposed to come in and finish up by now. Oh well, must have been a change in plans. Things don’t always go as expected in the railroad world.

Funnily enough I didn’t even expect them to fix the crossing the way they are. I thought they’d just replace the one light pole that got hit by a truck and then rewire the crossing. Instead, practically the entire crossing is being replaced. The fact that such a large crossing is being put in and the fact that the TRIT lead is being wired into it has me wondering what the future holds. It seems like a lot of work for what will probably only be two trains a week once things get in motion.

The amount of crossing signalling these days is more a representation of the amount of highway traffic vs. the frequency of the trains.

@glennk419 Not too much traffic at the Union Ave crossing. Visibility of trains from the road isn’t that good though. The gates I understand because not many people stop when it’s just lights and bells!

Wasn't holding out, I got locked out of RR Net do to email change. On 10:30am Tuesday I caught CMSL hi rail along with private Hi Rail Bridge and tunnel inspectors coming off CMSL/Clayton side of the southern. I waited an hour and they must have been down at the trestel all morning. Snapped a few cell phone pic's.
Not sure what to make of the rest the CMSL guys were on the Conrail side opening switch boxes checking out the gate footings, they walked the TRIT to the removed switch and pointed towards the Ocean Gro tracks then the Barnegate direction. I was out of time so I don't know how long they stayed and chatted. Click Picture to rotate.

That makes 3 inspections/work periods within a six month period now. Something is going on for sure...

Bracdude181 wrote: ↑Thu Mar 11, 2021 5:02 pm That makes 3 inspections/work periods within a six month period now. Something is going on for sure...

There's whole lot of work to be done at the sand pit before trains start moving. $$$$$
Tony might still just want to just store cars 13 miles is alot of cars!

Tanker1497 wrote: Tony might still just want to just store cars 13 miles is alot of cars!

The most truest statement I've read in this forum in a long time.

13 miles, assume 60? feet per car, that's about 13 x 90 = 1170 cars,
then times $10(?) per day per car, times 365 days, well, that's over $4 M per year for mostly doing nothing.
A bit oversimplified, but still good work if you can get it.

To make a comparison, if you are a short line, delivering or picking up a car from or to a nearby (< 30 miles) interchange with a major carrier, what does the short line get? $500? Anyone know?

JS

So you've got to retrieve a car, say maybe a covered hopper that's buried maybe 5 miles back, how do you do that? Pull 5 miles of cars to where there's a siding?

CharlieL wrote: ↑Fri Mar 12, 2021 2:05 pm So you've got to retrieve a car, say maybe a covered hopper that's buried maybe 5 miles back, how do you do that? Pull 5 miles of cars to where there's a siding?

I didn't say it was good idea. But I've seen hundreds if not thousands of the same type hopper car stored. You wouldn't need a single numbered car just say twenty so you get the first twenty? Clayton/CMSL has a nearly 1 mile passing starting just west of Union ave.