Raritan River RR / Milltown news

bigblue5277 wrote:The train went to Silverline Windows today, but not to Mauser.
I caught SA2 on the return near Highview Industrial Park.
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... id=3688194" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Nice picture, Jason. Thanks for keeping us well informed on this line.

Excellent photo... I know this is shot with a telephoto lens but look at those rails... wow, that has got to be a slow speed section....

bigblue5277 wrote:The train went to Silverline Windows today, but not to Mauser.
I caught SA2 on the return near Highview Industrial Park.
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... id=3688194" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Nice shot as always Jason. Any idea how many cars were delivered, or the time elapsed since their last trip to Silverline (since you've said they only get switched occasionally anymore)? Sad that its now a somewhat rare occurrence to see a train pass by the old Milltown Freight Station.

Also interesting to see 1554 with no kind of plow at all.

Thanks for the compliments everyone. It's a tough job tracking SA2 but gosh someone ought to do it.

Unfortunately, I did not catch the train on its way out to Silverline, so I don't know what they were hauling. My guess would be a covered hopper or two. I don't know when Silverline was served last, but maybe I'll be able to report when they get served next. Who knows, maybe they'll be an empty at Silverline that needs picking up soon. Yeah a shot at the freight station that reads "Raritan River Railroad" would be sweet.

The tracks do appear pretty crooked in the shot, but I think they are actually in rather decent condition especially for a local line. For example, the tracks are all welded. The train went slow as it passed by, but slowed even further as they got closer to Hart Rd. which has no gates.

Appears SA2 might be back to its usual M&Th schedule. Yesterday's train: CSX 2803, 2 hoppers, 1 boxcar and splat.
Here they are closing the South River Draw.
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.p ... 15&nseq=19" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

We know the train ran this Tuesday to supply Silverline. It also ran last Friday, to serve Mauser and perhaps to pick up an empty from Silverline. So maybe when SA2 runs T or F that's a sign its heading past the old Milltown Station to Silverline.

Mauser was served today, a Friday. Could that mean the train went to Silverline? Don't know.

It looks that the train went to Silverline, and maybe Riverside Supply on Monday, and to Mauser on Tuesday.
The train ran three days in a row (excluding the weekend), and twice to Silverline in two weeks.
The good times are a rollin on the Sayreville Runner ~

Also, for a second time a Friday run was followed by a run to Silverline the following Monday or Tuesday.
Could it be a pattern?

Maintenance truck on the tracks Tuesday morning near bridge over Turnpike, and Mauser served again today. Train crossed the South River 3 times this week.

SA2 supplied Silverline yesterday and returned light after 6:00pm. The pattern as of late is that an empty is picked up from Silverline every other Friday, and the following Tuesday (or Monday) Silverline is again supplied. So for all you dedicated RRRR fans if this pattern holds expect to see a run to Silverline next Friday, Dec 20th.

I have to retract my last post. The train did not go to Silverline last Tuesday. It technically didn't go to Mauser either. So why even cross South River at all? They actually left a single covered hopper just off the Sayreville Runner on the siding used to serve Mauser. This move seems a bit unusual.

The train did however venture out to Silverline yesterday, pictures to be posted later. CSX 4441, two covered hoppers and splat on the return to yard. Did not serve Mauser.

Here was the train on Monday shoving east from Silverline.
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.p ... 777&nseq=2" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.locophotos.com/PhotoDetails. ... oID=136747" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.trainphotos.com/PhotoDetails ... otoID=8851" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

In an unusual move on Friday, I spotted CSX 4441 west of Hart Rd. pulling (not shoving) two empty hoppers east on the Sayreville Runner back to Browns. It appeared the train originated west of Mauser, which would indicate Silverline. However, two empty hoppers were just brought back from Silverline the Monday before. Besides, empties from both Silverline and Mauser normally have to be shoved east back to Browns (or at least to the Sayreville Wye) due to the west direction of their sidings. I’m wondering how this train could have come from Silverline or Mauser. Could this train have come from another industry, perhaps the industry which is just east of Ryders Lane?

Here’s the train about to enter Browns Yard.
http://www.trainphotos.com/PhotoDetails ... otoID=8874" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Maybe they dropped the cars by. If there is a downgrade Westbound at any of the switches, it would be easy to do.

pdtrains wrote:Maybe they dropped the cars by. If there is a downgrade Westbound at any of the switches, it would be easy to do.

You are genius! That must be it. The siding for Mauser is a downgrade westbound. So they could position the empty hopper from Mauser onto the downgraded siding with the brakes on. The locomotive could then be moved onto the mainline and east of the switch. Then they release the brakes and let gravity pull the empty out onto the mainline. Just to clarify is this what you're saying?

If so, I would image there is more potential risk/danger in moving freight cars this way.

I'm not sure this is a legal move either... for the safety reasons cited. Not saying it isn't done, just saying that I think it's against various regulations and policies.

Check out this topic on the similar "flying switch"--not exactly the same maneuver if I am reading this right, though.

http://www.railroad.net/forums/viewtopi ... 36&t=40498" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;