Steam Engine on Boonton Line Last night!

I thought I was dreaming. I was in bed a sleep at 1:00 AM. In my dream I heard this steam engine whistle go off very loudly. (I live in Mt lakes and my house is very close to Boonton line) I then woke up and heard the whistle again and then this steam sound. It seemed that it was paused for a minute at Mt lakes station. Then I heard it pull out with all the steam noise + other diesel and other car noises. I thought I was dreaming. Barbara woke up too. I said I thought it was dream, that I heard a steam engine. She said it was not a dream, that the whistle woke her up too and it was a steam engine. This morning I ask her again was this a dream. No it was a steam engine. Where it was going and why I'll have to find out.

Train Bill

That was the former NYSW 142, now owned and operated by the NYSW Technical & Historical Society. It was being towed to Phillipsburg where it will be used for excursion service on the Bel-Del Railroad this summer.

I had to get up at 6:00 a.m. for work this morning and on my way to work I found it sitting idle over at East Dover yard....It wasn't under steam, but apparently the H0-2 is going to tow it down to P'burg sometime today....It has a nice new red number plate on the nose...

Steve

Bring back 614, 142 is did-a-ly squat.

"BRING BACK 614-142 IS DID-LY SQUAT"

Maybe.....if the NYS&W T&HS needed a locomotive to pull 12 cars on a 150 mile round trip, the 614 would be the engine of choice....HOWEVER, since they're running an operation that proposes to actually break even or even make a few dollars, the 142 is the perfect engine for the job. I'm guessing that the reason the 614 sat in the NJT Kearny maintenence yard for 2 or 3 years after the Port Jervis trips is because they made such a lot of $$$ .......Big engines need big $$$ to run, and the averge family budget doesn't have the room for a $500 family outing...... let's let EVERYONE get a chance to see and ride behind a real steam engine like the 142.

trainwayne wrote:"BRING BACK 614-142 IS DID-LY SQUAT"

Maybe.....if the NYS&W T&HS needed a locomotive to pull 12 cars on a 150 mile round trip, the 614 would be the engine of choice....HOWEVER, since they're running an operation that proposes to actually break even or even make a few dollars, the 142 is the perfect engine for the job. I'm guessing that the reason the 614 sat in the NJT Kearny maintenence yard for 2 or 3 years after the Port Jervis trips is because they made such a lot of $$$ .......Big engines need big $$$ to run, and the averge family budget doesn't have the room for a $500 family outing...... let's let EVERYONE get a chance to see and ride behind a real steam engine like the 142.

Well said!!

trainwayne wrote:"BRING BACK 614-142 IS DID-LY SQUAT"

Maybe.....if the NYS&W T&HS needed a locomotive to pull 12 cars on a 150 mile round trip, the 614 would be the engine of choice....HOWEVER, since they're running an operation that proposes to actually break even or even make a few dollars, the 142 is the perfect engine for the job. I'm guessing that the reason the 614 sat in the NJT Kearny maintenence yard for 2 or 3 years after the Port Jervis trips is because they made such a lot of $$$ .......Big engines need big $$$ to run, and the averge family budget doesn't have the room for a $500 family outing...... let's let EVERYONE get a chance to see and ride behind a real steam engine like the 142.

Where is she now? Rotting away in PA again?

The 614 is an All American icon, IMO. Does not need diesel assistance on excursions like the #142, Bring back the 614 and sideline the #142 for a display.

614 and 142

http://community.webshots.com/photo/312 ... 3888BfCsDh

http://community.webshots.com/photo/312 ... 3102mWmCJW

chuchubob wrote:614 and 142

http://community.webshots.com/photo/312 ... 3888BfCsDh

http://community.webshots.com/photo/312 ... 3102mWmCJW

Yeah, it looks like the 614 wants to eat the 142 for dinner.............

Yeah, but it all matters to look where 614 is now, and look at where the 142 is now. The T&HS takes good care of 142 and the equipment they run. You can't compare the two side to side, their both for different purposes, 614 being built for main line service and heavy coal drags, meanwhile 142 being built for short freights on a branchline. To be honest, I like both of them.

Good points, I'd rather see the #142 run w/shorter consists and not use diesel help. Also have it run around the consist and pull it too.

Actually, there's an article in the May issue of Trains that gives a very good explanation of the economics and pitfalls of running excursion/museum steam locomotives. While I too enjoy seeing an engine like the 614 pulling a long train on a well maintained main line at the speeds it was built to run, there just aren't enough opportuniies for that to happen.

Here's some shots of the move:
Arriving in Saddle Brook on Friday night:
http://njt5140.rrpicturearchives.net/sh ... ?id=125655

At Hackettstown on Saturday:
http://njt5140.rrpicturearchives.net/sh ... ?id=125656
http://njt5140.rrpicturearchives.net/sh ... ?id=125618
http://njt5140.rrpicturearchives.net/sh ... ?id=125657

Port Murray:
http://njt5140.rrpicturearchives.net/sh ... ?id=125658

Passing therough Washington:
http://njt5140.rrpicturearchives.net/sh ... ?id=125617

Enjoy!

for the transfer move on the M&E and Washignton secondary, is there
any real reason 142 really had to be under steam. Can't the diesel just pull it,
or is it some issue with the air pressure source for the brakes, etc. If
the 142 wasn't connected to the air on the diesel, how could the braking
be controlled from the lead diesel unit?

(once in phillispsburg, I know they went to easton, reversed over the
L&HR bridge, and the diesel went back, so the 142 had to pull
the consist on its own down to the Bel-Del, but my question refers to
the actual transfer itself)