MOM Rail Service

[E-44]

One of the line's staunchest opponents, the former mayor of South Brunswick, has passed on. He was outspoken in his opposition to the line. Here's a sample.

“If South Brunswick did a study, we’d have a totally different answer than what is coming out, because we’d hire the people we want to say what we want.”

[R&DB]

Any chance of THE tunnel going forward with Trumps infrastucture plans?

No, and what does that have to do with this project?

Because without extra capacity into NYC, there will be no MOM. Plus any new tunnel project will require LOTS of concrete which requires LOTS of sand. That sand is readily available from Claytons Woodmansie facility. To get the sand to North Jersey the Conrail Southern Secondary will need to be rebuilt. It currently has a 10MPH speed limitation on the weekly freight train to Lakewood due to track conditions. Repair it and you have a good portion of the MOM constructed. Whiting to Farmingdale and Farmingdale to Red Bank if that route is taken.
Clayton is currently upgrading the portion from Woodmansie to Lakehurst. NJT / Conrail Shared Assets are responsible for the rest.

That's what it has to do with MOM.

[ApproachMedium]

They need lots of sand for all of the new construction at hudson yards. The lack of woodmansie is not stopping them.

I believe it was mentioned more than once in here a way way way back that the woodmansie sand would not be good for that project anyhow.

[mtuandrew]

Even if Woodmansie sand was the only option, why does it matter what speed the line runs? Sand doesn't care how long it takes to get from Point A to Point B, or what FRA track class it travels over.

[lensovet]

Even if Woodmansie sand was the only option, why does it matter what speed the line runs? Sand doesn't care how long it takes to get from Point A to Point B, or what FRA track class it travels over.

unless it's so slow that it holds up construction i guess?

[EuroStar]

unless it's so slow that it holds up construction i guess?

How could that even happen? Even with 5 mph speeds they can still move one consist a day. How many cars would that be? 20? 30? That amount of sand translates into a much larger amount of concrete -- depending on the concrete type you need to add about as much rock/gravel aggregate and then on top of that the cement. So we are talking about the equivalent of 40-60 cars of concrete. There is no way they could pour that much concrete per day at the Hudson Yards project even if it was 10 city blocks, and it is only about one (the area they are working at the same time).

[R&DB]

Even if Woodmansie sand was the only option, why does it matter what speed the line runs? Sand doesn't care how long it takes to get from Point A to Point B, or what FRA track class it travels over.

It's not a question of speed for the sand, but of safety. Witnessing the rails rising and falling 6-8" with each passing truck is like waiting for the derail to happen.
The sand trains (and other freight) and MOM are not mutually exclusive. They both benefit, and for MOM to become a reality the track condition must be addressed.

Not arguing, just observing.

[mtuandrew]

The sand trains (and other freight) and MOM are not mutually exclusive. They both benefit, and for MOM to become a reality the track condition must be addressed.

Not arguing, just observing.

100% there with you, and we as railfans can tell that the Conrail/NJT ex-CNJ Southern Secondary is an obvious choice for passenger service, but there's next to no freight opportunity on the line aside from earth and forest products that need FRA Class 1 track at best. The more time-sensitive farm goods and small-factory products produced in mid-south Jersey go by truck, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst doesn't have as many shipments by rail as in the past, and the infrastructure isn't really there right now for a large shipper to set up shop between Lakehurst and either Toms River or Winslow Jct. I'd love to be proven wrong!

[R&DB]

mtuandrew,
The only outgoing freight right now is scrap metal. But incoming is ethanol, bricks and lumber. Usually 10-18 loads / week.
Granted this is not significant traffic, but growing. The question is not freight, but creating a suitable infrastructure for passenger traffic. (MOM)

[NJTram]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monmouth_ ... lesex_Line" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[R&DB]

There is an error in the Wiki entry. In the Red Bank alignment description the station listed as Howell Route 23 should be Route 33/34.

[trainster78]

They have been working around on the signals in Red Bank recently, and NJT pickups have been running along the Southern Secondary recently as well. Any coincidence?

[ApproachMedium]

Probably not. They are working on adding PTC to the coast line and since NJ transit is responsible for signaling to an extent on the southern, then they will be around. They also are planning to do 562 on the coast line.

[OportRailfan]

Probably not. They are working on adding PTC to the coast line and since NJ transit is responsible for signaling to an extent on the southern, then they will be around. They also are planning to do 562 on the coast line.

562 on the Coast Line, eh?

[rr503]

Enlighten the signally illeterate -- what is the significance/are the benefits (if any) of (NORAC, I assume) 562?