The Raritan Valley Line Thread…

[henry6]

Why on the weekend schedule does it list the stations as NWK->NYP->HOB, but the times make it seem as thought it is NWK->HOB->NYP (which i assume it really is)

Trains to NYP do not go through Hoboken. You must change at Newark if you are on an NYP bound train to get to Hoboken and vice versa.

[Jtgshu]

Okay, let's put this to rest — was there a PL42 in service out in Raritan today, or was it a one day/trip thing on Saturday, whichever darn Saturday it was????

[nick11a]

I hope you got photos, because if you didn't, I take it like a grain of salt Jt.

Like Sully says, if you didn't take pictures, you weren't there.

[Wanderer]

But Wanderer, I can see how McMannors did not believe you considering your track record for stories.

We were all children once, but we all grow up sometime. I apologize to mcmannors for the miscommunication. I should have looked further back in my logs to check for that which he was speaking from that weekend. Unfortunately it would appear to be on some table at my sister's place.

And it seems to have been a full day stint only for the PL42AC.

Back to the trivia:

I was only counting full revenue sets. If you want to get technical and include lite engines and stone trains, then the list grows. Anyways...here are the answers. BigC gets the thumbs up for nailing the oldest one.

1. 06/27/1981 - NJTR4167 / 7 / EL1521 (NJDOT, still in full EL)(Weekend Comet Demo to Phillipsburg)
2. 07/02/1994 - 07/04/1994 - NJTR4112 / 5 Cars / 5107 (Random Escapee)
3. 10/12/1996 - NJTR4107/NJTR502 (Ballast)
4. 02/20/2000 - NJTR4131 / 3 / NJTR5121 (Breakdown)
5. 08/30/2006 - NJTR4101/NJTR4215 (Ballast)
6. 12/16/2005 - PL42AC/Comet I Set (Breakdown)
7. 12/23/2005 - NJTR4024 / 6 / 6040 (Trial)

I could include the GP40Ps in there in earlier days, but in the 80s they weren't really Hoboken gear. They were still regulars on the RVL until about 1989.

Some day I should just post some of the insane stuff in the family train logs involving the RVL and NJ Transit. It's awesome. I can go into my grandfather's logs and tell you know the very first train up the Aldene ramp. Dad & I can account for pretty much every F40PH-2 headed to Altoona, and every F40PH-2CAT from Altoona. I have the ALP46 move from Manville Yard, via MA-2; plus more ALPs, Comets, and PL42ACs from Allentown and Selkirk. There is one or two solid NJTR SW1500 ballast runs from the early and mid 90s in there, and the detours during the ALCA-9 wreck in South Plainfield on the Lehigh Line. My favorite though is stuff like Dad's log of the D&H Apollo going up the ramp during a trip to see my Mom. You want a cool move?

Roselle Park, NJ
CNJ Aldene Connecting Track
April 13, 1976

• East - D&H LPO-1
  NW1563 [SD40]
  NW1708 [SD45]
  DH7415 [C420][Just exactly renumbered, still in LV Paint]
  DH1776 [RS3][Bicentennial]
  NW582 [GP30]
  NW2926 [GP35]
  2 Cabins

Pure luck, man. And then in a total twist of irony, Dad ended up with the NW582 as his third unit on a loaded train out of Huntingdon just about a week later. If only I was born about a decade earlier. You guys like Don, Chuchubob, and even Blockline had it pretty good back then.

[mcmannors]

Okay, let's put this to rest — was there a PL42 in service out in Raritan today?

No.

However, I noticed there were two different cab cars in Raritan today: 5031 and 5011. I could not see the respective engines on the west ends, sorry.

[njt5446]

I was out and about this afternoon and noticed a third IV, 5020. Had seven cars though. 5031 I believe had 4120 on the west end.

[mcmannors]

5020 (as well as 5027) has been in Raritan for a few weeks. I mentioned 5031 and 5011 because they just arrived in Raritan very recently.

[thebigc]

Roselle Park, NJ
CNJ Aldene Connecting Track
April 13, 1976

• East - D&H LPO-1
  NW1563 [SD40]
  NW1708 [SD45]
  DH7415 [C420][Just exactly renumbered, still in LV Paint]
  DH1776 [RS3][Bicentennial]
  NW582 [GP30]
  NW2926 [GP35]
  2 Cabins

Pure luck, man. And then in a total twist of irony, Dad ended up with the NW582 as his third unit on a loaded train out of Huntingdon just about a week later. If only I was born about a decade earlier. You guys like Don, Chuchubob, and even Blockline had it pretty good back then.

D&H 7415 was a former RDG GP-39-2. D&H 415, however, was a former LV C-420.

[Wanderer]

However, the log and associated image was taken just after the unit was received. The unit lasted as 7415 for all of about 5 days according to my father's notes. It was a temporary number, and the 7 was obviously just slapped on.

Your Raritan sets from last night:

• NJTR4114 / 6 Cars / NJTR6030
  NJTR4120 / 7 Cars / NJTR5031
  NJTR4125 / 6 Cars / NJTR6016
  NJTR4141 / 6 Cars / NJTR5020
  NJTR4150 / 6 Cars / NJTR6015
  NJTR4210 / 6 Cars / NJTR5027
  NJTR4212 / 6 Cars / NJTR6024
  NJTR4219 / 6 Cars / NJTR6031

Shop Move: NJT4302

[blockline4180]

Wow, only three F40PH-2CATs…! That is kinda rare, no?

[transit383]

As of lately, yes. The RVL has been dominated with F40s over the past two or three months.

Even more rare is that 4212 up here. That's typically an ACL unit and doesn't appear up here too often (along with 4204 and 4211).

[blockline4180]

Can anyone keep track or pinpoint where the other GP40FHs are?

I'm looking to get pictures of the following units…hopefully, they are still in service…

• 4135
  4137
  4140
  4142
  4143
  4144

Thanks!

[mcmannors]

Your Raritan sets from last night:

• NJTR4114 / 6 Cars / NJTR6030
  NJTR4120 / 7 Cars / NJTR5031
  NJTR4125 / 6 Cars / NJTR6016
  NJTR4141 / 6 Cars / NJTR5020
  NJTR4150 / 6 Cars / NJTR6015
  NJTR4210 / 6 Cars / NJTR5027
  NJTR4212 / 6 Cars / NJTR6024
  NJTR4219 / 6 Cars / NJTR6031

Shop Move: NJT4302

You're missing one set. That might be the 5011 I saw Tuesday night.

[Wanderer]

You're missing one set. That might be the 5011 I saw Tuesday night.

Yes I am, McMannors. Again…those are just my sightings. Thank you for the addition. I believe it should be 4116 / 6 / 5011 off the top of my head.

Wow, only three F40PH-2CATs…! That is kinda rare, no?

It is kind of strange. The RVL is traditionally the home for the F40PH-2CATs. It has to do with the size of the (small) fuel tank being just right. Generally we have at least four, but they seemed to have gone to the NJCL and BCL again lately.

Even more rare is that 4212 up here. That's typically an ACL unit and doesn't appear up here too often (along with 4204 and 4211).

I was also suprised when I saw 4212. Although, 4211 I have seen up here working MMC Work and Hudson Protect jobs a few times in the past thirty days or so.

[thebigc]

D&H 7415 was a former RDG GP-39-2. D&H 415, however, was a former LV C-420.

However, the log and associated image was taken just after the unit was received. The unit lasted as 7415 for all of about 5 days according to my father's notes. It was a temporary number, and the 7 was obviously just slapped on.

I'd like to see that image. As far as I know, the LV / D&H C-420's were never renumbered. Matter of fact, I've got shots of a few of them in LV paint and not only were they still in 400 series numbers, they never looked as if they were un-renumbered with a "7" prefix.

And I'm not calling anyone a liar; I'd just like to see a photo.