Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Black Friday 2008 - Christmas Shopping at the Big Little Railroad Shop

Avoid the crowds at the malls by coming to the Big Little Railroad Shop in downtown Somerville on "Black Friday." We have all sorts of wonderful model railroad items from full sets to individual cars, locomotives, track, buildings, scenery supplies, etc. And if you don't know exactly what to get your modeler, we have gift certificates. We also carry books, videos, and calendars. We have items in all the popular scales: G, O, HO, and N. And, if we don't have what you want in stock, we probably can order it for you.

In addition to a full line of model railroading “stuff,” The Big Little Railroad Shop is now carrying plastic model kits for airplanes, ships, automobiles, and military vehicles.

We are located at 63 West Main Street in Somerville, NJ. Phone: 908-685-8892.

Visit our web site at: http://www.biglittle.com/

For your holiday shopping convenience we are open the following hours through Christmas:

Tuesday – Wednesday 11AM - 7PM

Thursday - Friday 11AM -8PM

Saturday 11AM - 5PM

Sunday 12noon - 4PM

Extreme Trains on the History Channel

Just in case you haven't caught up with it, there's a new show on the History Channel, Extreme Trains is on Tuesday nights at 10 pm. They have a series of episodes lined up that seem pretty interesting. Here's the link to the episodes...

http://www.history.com/minisite.do?content_type=Minisite_Generic&content_type_id=60922&display_order=4&mini_id=60798

Here's the show's main website...

http://www.history.com/minisites/extreme-trains

For those of you intereseted in circus trains, Extreme Trains will feature the RB&BB train on Tuesday, December 23 at 10PM ET
All board the longest privately owned train in the world, the circus train from Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey! PT Barnum's circus train started in the 1870s; and the US military used circus loading techniques in World War I. Matt and the circus race against the clock to dismantle tons of equipment and get it on the rails. As they travel from Baltimore to the Washington, DC corridor in the dead of night, Matt discovers the less glamorous side to the greatest show on earth.

There is still CR blue to be seen...

(Train sightings on 11-2-08.)

CR blue was alive and well along the Lehigh Line on this Sunday morning. Of the seven trains I saw, four of them would have ex-CR units as leaders. In addition, NS 67Q would provide even more color with BNSF 4947 and a red and silver BNSF 940 that still wore a faded “Santa Fe” on its flanks. In time sequence, the trains I observed were as follows:

Landsdown Station (NJ)
NS 18G @ 7:36- NS 9710, NS 9341, NS 3044 and NS 3013.
NS 214 @ 7:49- PRR 6798 (ex-CR 5560), NS 6605 and NS 9890.
NS 212 @ 8:05- NS 9661, NS 9374 and NS 9729.

NS 214

Stanton Station:
NS 21M @ 9:45- PRR 8399 (ex-CR 6196) was the leader followed by two unidentified NS diesels.
NS 67Q @ 10:30- finally headed west with 82 cars after holding at CP 53 for almost two hours. I can only speculate that it might have been some type of mechanical problem that caused 67Q’s delay. Motive power would be PRR 5411 (ex-CR 6717), BNSF 4947 and BNSF 940 wearing a well worn red and silver paint scheme.

Near MP52 (between Stanton Station and Flemington Jct):
NS 65J @ 10:45- would hold the passing siding east of Stanton Station for NS 24V to pass. 65J’s motive power would be NS 9438 and NS 3333.
NS 24V @ 11:42- would have PRR 8363 (ex-CR 6133) as its leader followed by NS 9842.

NS 24V

Conrail Historical Society Convention

Received the following via email from Kermit Geary, Jr. The text, captions and first photo are his. The other 3 photos are by Nate Haydt.

Greetings: Spent the last weekend sloshing through the rain in the Altoona, PA area with the Conrail Historical Society in search of the SD80MAC's. Saw the last two in Dress Blue (albeit faded) along with many sisters who already got the 'dip' treatment from NS. Sundays tour of the Juniata Shops was interesting, but with a complete photo ban in effect, was unable to document any changes. The Saturday banquet was good with the NS regional General Manager, Bob Bartle, giving many insights to the whys and hows of major projects past and pending in the area.

Otherwise, spending the last week of freedom before heading back to work with Sperry Rail Service.....maybe we'll be testing through your home town!!!

"Giggles the Bus Boy" enlivens the CRHS banquet



"Spirit of Conrail" lives on for now...by Nate Haydt



NS 7205..one of two SD80MAC's still in dress blue. South Fork, PA by Nate Haydt



NS 7215 at South Fork, PA by Nate Haydt

Norfolk Southern Chief Financial Officer Squires to Address Citi Investment Research Transportation Conference

Received the following via email.

November 7, 2008

Norfolk Southern Chief Financial Officer Squires to Address Citi Investment Research Transportation Conference

NORFOLK, VA. – James A. Squires, executive vice president finance and chief financial officer for Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC), will address the Citi Investment Research 23rd Annual Transportation Conference at 11:45 a.m. EST on Tuesday, Nov. 18, in New York City.

The presentation will provide highlights of Norfolk Southern’s recent financial results and current business initiatives.

Interested investors can listen via a simultaneous webcast at http://www.veracast.com/webcasts/citigroup/transportation08/74108144.cfm. After the webcast, the presentation will be posted at www.nscorp.com.

Norfolk Southern Corporation is one of the nation’s premier transportation companies. Its Norfolk Southern Railway subsidiary operates approximately 21,000 route miles in 22 states and the District of Columbia, serving every major container port in the eastern United States and providing superior connections to western rail carriers. Norfolk Southern operates the most extensive intermodal network in the East and is North America’s largest rail carrier of metals and automotive products.

Norfolk Southern contacts
Media Frank Brown 757-629-2710 fsbrown@nscorp.com
Investors Leanne Marilley 757-629-2861 leanne.marilley@nscorp.com

Norfolk Southern Corporation http://www.nscorp.com

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Port Rdg Jct track reconfiguration project...

(Train sightings on 11-1-08.)

...was in the neighborhood of the Manville and decided to check out how work on the Port Reading Junction track reconfiguration was coming along. As you can see in the first photo, new signals have been installed east of the Raritan River bridge on the Lehigh Line but are not operational. Many of the trees that provided some nice shade during those hot summer days of train watching here have been cut down to provide better sight lines for the engineer and conductor. There are also new bungalows on both sides of the bridge. Most of the work this day was being done on the opposite side of the river. In the second scene, NS 212, with NS 6586, NS 8871 and PRR 8399, is coming down track two while NS 21M was holding on track one. Note in this photo the mound of ballast and heavy construction equipment to the left on the opposite side of the river.


SIX WHEELED TRUCK ALCO (MLW)

Received the following via email from Kermit Geary, Jr. Text, photos, and captions are his.

Greetings: Heading back towards Sperryland this weekend...going to be on the 811 which is currently testing on the B&P (Allegheny & Eastern Div). Recently found out that the Saturday HNME train on WNYP routinely outlaws at Falconer, NY, making for a nice daylight run from Falconer to Meadville. So, hoping for that scenario, took the long way back hoping to catch the move. Here is the train leaving Olean, NY area with about 4 hours left before the hog-law catches them.

WNYP 637 leads HNME through Bradford Jct, NY at sunset on 11-1-2008


WNYP 637 leads HNME at Vandalia, NY

NS with Fall colors In PA

Received the following via email. Pictures were taken back in October near Johnstown, PA.

Here are a couple of links with some really nice fall colors.

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=257313

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=257309

Conrail Jet Snow Blowers reborn: Olie M. Ericksen, Inc.

Received the following via email.

Saw the attached photo and couldn't help noticing the blue Conrail logo atright. On Conrail's Dearborn Division, these jet snow blowers wereindispensable to keep turnouts clear and operations going during the winter. (Note the former Conrail JSB unit at right.)



I drive by this company here in Greenville several times per week. Theyoffer rebuilt CR, CSXT and other former Class I-owned JSBs. They rebuildjet models J-34, J-35, J-47, J-52, J-57 and J-79. (Of course, if youinstead need to re-engine your private corporate jet, Olie likely has thoseparts, too!)

http://ericksenjetengines.com/about1.htm

http://ericksenjetengines.com/products1.htm

ALCo RS Trio on Monday's PT-98 by Nate Haydt

Received the following via email from Kermit Geary, Jr. Text and captions are his, and photos are by Nate Haydt.

Today (10-14-08) I am featuring some photos of a very close friend of mine andCo-worker on the Stourbridge RR, Nate Haydt. Nate is one of these rarebreed of photographers that actually will take the time to compose a shotrather than using a machine-gun approach to hopefully attain a photo.More-so surprising is the fact he doesn't yet own a camera of his own!! Ilet him use my Nikon D-80 when we are out railfanning...I concentrate on theKodachrome slides.

Power was 4118-4103-4068.

Enjoy!

Arriving Slateford Jct, PA



Moscow, PA



Cross lake at Gouldsboro, PA



East Stroudsburg, PA

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Alex Kummant resigns from Amtrak

Received the following article via email with no references as to original source or date so I cannot vouch for its authenticity.

Alex Kummant resigns from Amtrak November 14, 2008

Amtrak President and Chief Executive Officer Alex Kummant resigned Nov. 14 after serving two years heading the National Railroad Passenger Corp., as Amtrak is formally known. Amtrak Chief Operating Officer William Crosbie will succeed Kummant on an interim basis, likely to last until President-elect Barack Obama assumes office on Jan. 20, 2009. Amtrak's board will select a new CEO.

Amtrak spokesman Cliff Black said that "differences in strategies, direction, and management philosophy" with the Amtrak board led to Kummant's departure.

A source close to the Amtrak board, who asked not to be identified, speculated that Kummant "was not hands-on. He didn't have a handle on finances or operations. His personality was often confrontational."

Kummant was named Amtrak president in September 2006, filling the top slot left vacant by the departure of David Gunn 10 months earlier.

"On behalf of the entire Board, I'd like to thank Alex for his leadership over the past two years," said board Chairwoman Donna McLean. "During the past two years, the company experienced exciting economic times, strong ridership and revenue growth, solid profit and loss performance, and the advancement of the Amtrak brand overall. He also successfully oversaw the completion of labor agreements with all of the unions representing Amtrak's employees. We are grateful to Alex for his contributions to the company."

Saturday, November 15, 2008

Pictures of NJ Railroads

Here are a few pictures, sent to me by Joe Monaco from the Black River and Western Railroad the last week of October. The other pictures are from Bound Brook NJ and show NJ Transit with a special visitor on the NS Lehigh Line, from November.









Thursday, November 13, 2008

2008 Santa Trains on New Jersey Transit

We know of 2 different Santa Trains being run on New Jersey Transit. Both on Saturday, 12/13/08; one on the Raritan Valley line and one on the Hackettstown-Netcong-Dover line.

Raritan Valley Santa Train

Join Santa, Mrs. Claus, and their elves for a train ride through the country. This trip features Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus along with a few of Santa's helpers. There are sing-a-longs, candy canes and coloring books for the kids. In addition, each car on the train features a drawing for a trainset; that's ten train sets per trip! Santa pays a visit to each car and is more than happy to pose for pictures with the kids.

The Raritain Valley train departs Raritan at 8:30 AM and goes to Westfield where it will depart at 9:00 AM for the trip to High Bridge. This train will then return to Westfield, stopping at Raritan along the way. A second trip will depart Westfield at 1:00 PM, travel to High Bridge and return to Westfield. The second trip does not stop at Raritan.

The price for the trip is $10.00 for children under 12 yrs. and $12.00 per adult.

We have tickets for these trips. Stop in the Big Little Railroad Shop now before these trips sell-out. Cash or personal check made out to the Jersey Central Railroad Historical Society. Sorry, no credit cards for train tickets.

For more information visit the following web site:

http://www.jcrhs.org/santa.html


Hackettstown-Netcong-Dover Santa Train

For information on this train, please visit the following web site:

http://tristaterail.org/santa.html

Schedule and pricing are slightly different than the Raritan Valley train.

We do not have tickets for this train.

The trains were as sparse as autumn's colors...

(Train sightings on 10-19-08.)

along the Lehigh Line on the sunny Sunday morning. The day started out with NS 18G passing through Three Bridges around 8:14. I happened to spot it going east as I drove over the Route 202 bridge. Driving over to Lansdown Junction , my scanner picked up still another east bounder. This train's symbol proved to be undecipherable when the engineer acknowledged the milepost. Omigosh, I am really doing good this morning I thought as I was now zero for two in photographing any trains. Finally arriving at Lansdown Junction, I waited for the next east bounder until finally growing a little weary of that spot. Shadows were starting to creep in and the fall colors were blah at best. Figured that River Road, just east of Stanton Station (MP 53) would be a possibility. The sun was starting to swing around and there was a little more color in the foliage there. My patience and perseverance was finally rewarded when I heard NS 212 call MP 53 at Stanton Station and blow his horn for the grade crossing there around 11:05. As it came around the curve, I saw that the first two units were Union Pacific. Seeing this through the viewfinder, I thought their armour yellow was certainly a nice color complement to autumn's colors at this location. After seeing my photograph, I hope that you will agree with that observation...


Norfolk Southern Chief Financial Officer Squires to Address Goldman Sachs Global Industrials Conference

Received the following via email.

October 29, 2008

Norfolk Southern Chief Financial Officer Squires to Address Goldman Sachs Global Industrials Conference

NORFOLK, VA. – James A. Squires, executive vice president finance and chief financial officer for Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC), will address the Goldman Sachs Global Industrials Conference 2008 on Wednesday, Nov. 5, in New York City during a panel discussion from 1:30-2:40 p.m. Interested investors can listen via a simultaneous webcast at http://cc.talkpoint.com/GOLD006/110508a_mg/?entity=nscorp.

Norfolk Southern Corporation is one of the nation’s premier transportation companies. Its Norfolk Southern Railway subsidiary operates approximately 21,000 route miles in 22 states and the District of Columbia, serving every major container port in the eastern United States and providing superior connections to western rail carriers. Norfolk Southern operates the most extensive intermodal network in the East and is North America’s largest rail carrier of metals and automotive products.

Three Way Interlocking Crossing

Received the following via email.

Note: click on the second picture to see it enlarged so you can read about this special piece of trackwork.







Pre World War II color photos

Received the following via email. Just over half way down is a picture taken inside a roundhouse with steam locomotives.

Check out this website, full of Kodachromes from the pre-war era.

http://www.openmyeyeslord.net/ALookBackInHistory.htm

Norfolk Southern Moves Record Coal Tonnage in Third Quarter 2008

Received the following via email.

October 23, 2008

Norfolk Southern Moves Record Coal Tonnage in Third Quarter 2008

NORFOLK, VA. – Norfolk Southern hauled 49.67 million tons of coal in the third quarter of 2008, an all-time quarterly high driven by strong export demand and more shipments of domestic metallurgical coal.

Third-quarter 2008 coal tonnage increased 6 percent, up from 46.84 million tons during the same period last year. The previous record for any quarter was 49.27 million tons in second quarter 2008.

Even as it handles record coal amounts, Norfolk Southern has reduced the transit time of shipments over major coal lanes, with an 8.8 percent improvement for the first nine months of 2008.

“Faster transit times when tonnage is at record levels indicate a fluid rail network with capacity for growth,” said Donald W. Seale, Norfolk Southern executive vice president and chief marketing officer. “These results reflect Norfolk Southern’s continued commitment to satisfy customer demand with efficient, timely service.”

Norfolk Southern’s export coal tonnage in the third quarter of 2008 was up 55 percent over the same period last year, to 6.26 million tons from 4.05 million tons, the majority of it used to make coke for steel production. Tonnage of coal shipped through the Baltimore transloading operation increased 128 percent, to 1.45 million tons from 636,000 tons, while tonnage through the Pier 6 transloading facility at Norfolk, Va., rose 42 percent, to 4.81 million tons from 3.38 million tons.

“By September 6 of this year, tonnage moving over Pier 6 had exceeded the total handled there for all of 2007,” Seale said. “Even at this level, we have the capacity to double current volume, should coal supply and demand support that degree of increased activity.”

In the domestic steel-related market, including coke, iron ore, and metallurgical coal used to make coke, tonnage hauled by Norfolk Southern in third quarter 2008 increased 8 percent over the same period last year, to 5.24 million tons from 4.85 million tons.

Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) is one of the nation’s premier transportation companies. Its Norfolk Southern Railway subsidiary operates approximately 21,000 route miles in 22 states and the District of Columbia, serving every major container port in the eastern United States and providing superior connections to western rail carriers. Norfolk Southern operates the most extensive intermodal network in the East and is North America's largest rail carrier of metals and automotive products.

Sunday, November 09, 2008

Stourbridge RR Photo Charter Trip

Received the following via email from Kermit Geary, Jr.

The Photo Charter trip on the Stourbridge RR is a "GO". Fare is $50.00 and is payable by check or money order to Steve Barry. There is a link to a Paypal account if you wish to use plastic.

Trip runs on Saturday, November 29, 2008 (Saturday after Thanksgiving).

The trip will leave Honesdale, PA at 1000hrs, EST. and return by 2000hrs, EST. There will be night photo opportunities on-line. Lighting will be by Lumydine flash. There will also be a layover in Hawley for dinner. (There is a good pizza/Italian restaurant with in walking distance...Joe & Lorenzo's).

Please send payment as soon as possible to:

Steve Barry
117 High St
Newton, NJ 07860

Paypal link thru www.daylightimages.com/bl2

Thank you for your interest and support. Looking forward to seeing you there!

Update on the Stourbridge Railroad

Received the following via email from Kermit Geary Jr. The text, photos, and captions are his, except as noted.

WE DID IT!!!

Greetings: After a summer of delays and frustrations on the Stourbridge Railroad, we finally got the bridge at Hawley finished to the point that we are once again connected to the out-side world!!! On Saturday, OCT 4, 2008...we ran the very first train over the newly rebuilt spans to the town of Lackawaxen, PA. This capped off a week of 20 hour days, laying track, ballasting, & tamping the approaches to the bridge. WHEW!!!!!!

Despite all the hard work and dedication that we at Central Penn Rail Corp have done to connect the line, the new owner, Paul Broncatta of Ideal Steel on Long Island, NY, has decided to throw us off and contract with the Morristown & Erie RR. They are expected to take over total control on 1-1-2009. Until that time, we will continue to operate the line to the best of our abilities. Soooooo.....get your photos this year, there may not be another chance to do so......

The final frame of tonight's offering is of our newest employee, Nate Haydt, who upon reaching his 18th Birthday, has joined the operating department as a brakeman. Nate has been active with us over the past year, volunteering as a car host and helping out where ever he was needed. If anyone out there would like to volunteer as a car host, PLEASE contact the Chamber of Commerce in Honesdale, PA.


54..first train over the new bridge at Hawley, PA...Photo by Nate Haydt



Scenes along the Lackawaxen River East of Hawley, PA



Our newest Brakeman...Nate Haydt...turned 18 on 10-2-2008

Weekly Rail Carloading Report - Week 44, 2008

There is an interesting report available on the web that is "A Weekly Report of North American Rail Freight Traffic by Major Railroad and Commodity." It is currently showing data for week 39 of 2008. Take a look.

http://railfax.transmatch.com/

Here is an example of the information available on this web site. This graph shows Total Traffic for 2007-2008 vs. 2006-2007. There are more graphs and tables on the web site showing data by railroad and by commodity.



Note: This web site has new tables and graphs every Thursday. So, if I am late or miss a week with this blog posting, you can check for new data on Thursdays.

Hillsborough Railroad Quite Zones - status update

Following article is from the Courier News dated Sunday, 11-2-08.

Horn blasts to be eliminated at 2 Hillsborough rail crossings

By PAMELA SROKA-HOLZMANN
November 2, 2008


HILLSBOROUGH —Horn blasts at two township railroad intersections are expected to be eliminated effective Nov. 18, after the Norfolk Southern Rail Line finishes making required electronic safety improvements.

Municipal officials have implemented quiet zones — alternatives to horn blasts — at the Beekman Lane and Auten Road rail crossings.

The township committee approved contracts in March to build safety medians at four rail crossings and install an electronic backup safety improvement at three of them.

The contracts provided for the construction of 100-foot medians on either side of three rail crossings at Beekman Lane, Auten and Roycefield roads — including road stripping and warning signage — for $191,188. The railroad safety improvements were installed at each of the crossings by Norfolk Southern, for $141,000, said Clerk and Business Administrator Kevin Davis.

Township officials have said the majority of the funding for the quiet zone project comes from a $250,000 developer's contribution from Beazer Homes, the developer of the Pleasantview Estates project, and $100,000 in budgeted funds. The state Department of Transportation has approved the plans.

Previously, train operators approaching a crossing sounded a horn four times. In Hillsborough, the horn blasts resulted in 16 horn blasts for the four rail crossings that traverse the township: Beekman Lane, Auten, Valley and Roycefield roads. The new quiet zones will cut those horn blasts by half, with eight horn blasts in total (four blasts each) at the Valley and Roycefield roads crossings, Davis said.

Construction began at Auten Road, Beekman Lane and the Roycefield Road railroad grade crossings in July and ended in September. The construction was done after township officials got complaints from homeowners who were hearing horn blasts during the very early morning, and all along the nine-mile length of the Norfolk Southern line.

"The township has complied with the federal quiet zone regulations and locomotive engineers will begin honoring the quiet zones in Hillsborough on or about Nov. 18," said William Barringer, director of grade crossing safety for the Norfolk Southern Corporation. "Norfolk Southern appreciates the hard work of everyone involved in the process required by the federal regulations."

The next step is for the township to seek an agreement with Norfolk Southern for a wayside horn — where a horn is placed at the intersection of a crossing and would be directed at cars — at the Valley Road railroad crossing. Quiet zone safety improvements also have been completed at the Roycefield Road rail crossing. Improvements there must be done at the Valley Road crossing before the horn blasts can be eliminated at the Roycefield Road crossing, Davis said.

Maurice Rached of Maser Consulting, a township traffic and quiet zone engineer, called the rail crossings "safer" with these improvements.

Status update of Hillsborough quiet zone grade crossings

Following article is from the Courier news dated Tuesday, 10-7-08.

Railroad work completed

Construction of the railroad quiet zone safety medians-at Auten Road, Beekman Lane and Roycefield Road railroad crossings- and road work on Valley Road have been completed.

In an effort to establish the railroad quiet zones, township officials currently are working with the Norfolk Southern Rail Line to secure all the “required electrical safety improvements,” which the rail line must install prior to the establishment of the quiet zones, said Hillsborough Clerk and Business Administrator Kevin Davis.

“These safety improvements must be completed by the rail line and are required by the Federal Railroad Administration in order to protect the safety at the crossings,” said Committeeman Carl Suraci in a statement. “The next step in the process is for Norfolk Southern to make the electrical safety improvements to the crossing mechanisms, which, we have been advised, should occur over the next month.

Once the improvements are in place and have been verified, township officials anticipate final authorization by the Federal Railroad Administration to stop the train horns at crossings, Suraci said.

Suraci said township officials and Norfolk Southern representatives also are discussing the placement of a wayside horn-where a horn is placed at the intersection of a crossing and would be directed at cars- at the Valley Road crossing.

Wednesday, November 05, 2008

Premier Northeastern Shortline

Received the following via email from Kermit Geary, Jr. The text, photos, and captions are his.

The Classiest Regional Railroad in Northeastern PA is the Delaware Lackawanna, based out of Scranton, PA. Operating many types of Alcos has always been their claim to fame. Today they added another feather to their hat....The ONLY place in the WORLD that you can find THREE Alco RS-3's operating!!!! And all three are from one owner, the D&H!

D-L 4118 & sisters at Bridge 60, Scranton, PA



D-L 4118-4103-4068 at Bridge 60, Scranton, PA



D-L 4118, Scranton, PA



pushing just west of MP 115, Lehigh Summit, PA



smoking it up at Bridge 60, Scranton, PA



pushing out of town at Scranton, PA



The regular scheduled train to Portland, PA is seen in the following two images.


PT-98 at MP 115, Lehigh Summit, PA



PT-98 leaving Scranton, PA

People of the Delaware Lackawanna RR

Received the following from Kermit Geary, Jr. Text, photos, and captions are his.

Here are a couple shots of two real good people in the employ of the D-L....Without Donny, none of these wonderful sights would be possible. And without Mikey, it just wouldn't be fun!!!!!


Mike Vassallo, D-L's premier engineer, on cloud 9 with his newest pet.


Don Collangelo trouble shoots a minor teething problem with 4068

Another train incident in Manville

Following article is from the Courier News for Friday 10-24-08.

Green Brook man recovering from near foot amputation after being hit by train

By PAMELA SROKA-HOLZMANN
STAFF WRITER

A 22-year-old Green Brook man was in good condition Thursday, Oct. 23 at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick after his foot was pinned under a train and nearly amputated, authorities said.

Police Lt. John Crater said the incident occurred when Kason Farnella and his friend, Denny Waldron, 21, of Manville, were walking along railroad tracks near the intersection of North Street and North Seventh Avenue at about around 2:37 a.m. Friday, Oct. 17. As a slow-moving freight train along the Norfolk-Southern rail line approached the men, Farnella attempted to climb onto a step of the rail car. His foot then slipped off the step, and Farnella became caught under the train, police said. Crater said Farnella told police he had been drinking alcohol before the incident.

Both Farnella and Waldron are facing criminal trespassing charges by Norfolk Southern police, Crater said.

Norfolk Southern Declares Quarterly Dividend

Received the following via email.

October 21, 2008

Norfolk Southern Declares Quarterly Dividend

NORFOLK, VA. – Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) today announced the regular quarterly dividend of 32 cents per share on its common stock, payable on Dec. 10, to stockholders of record on Nov. 7.

Since its inception in 1982, Norfolk Southern has paid dividends on its common stock for 105 consecutive quarters.

Norfolk Southern Corporation is one of the nation’s premier transportation companies. Its Norfolk Southern Railway subsidiary operates approximately 21,000 route miles in 22 states and the District of Columbia, serving every major container port in the eastern United States and providing superior connections to western rail carriers. Norfolk Southern operates the most extensive intermodal network in the East and is North America’s largest rail carrier of metals and automotive products.

###

Norfolk Southern contacts:
(Media) Frank Brown, 757-629-2710 (fsbrown@nscorp.com)
(Investors) Leanne Marilley, 757-629-2861 (leanne.marilley@nscorp.com)

Tuesday, November 04, 2008

The bitter end of the Knox & Kane

Received the following via email from Kermit Geary, Jr. The text, photos, and captions are his.
Also see the following posting.

Today, 10-10-2008, marked the sad and bitter end of the Knox & Kane Railroad. The scrap vultures descended on Kane, PA to pick at the rotting carcasses of equipment. At least the two steam locomotives and the diesel will survive to hopefully run again for their new owners. The rest, unfortunately, will become razor blades.

Prices were outrageous for the equipment...boxcars going for $3500, a ex-C&I 2-bay hopper for $4000.,TTX flats for $5250., the burned out wooden passenger car for $5250.00!!!!!!!!!
Other passenger cars (ex-Long Island "ping pong's") were sold for scrap for $4-5000.
The ex-Union RR Jordan Spreader was sold for scrap for $10,000!!!!!
Track equipment, broken and decrepit, went for $2500 to $6000 per piece.
H&BT 38...2-8-0...sold to Alan Maples (Everett RR) for $60,000
K&K 1689...2-8-2...Chinese Built...sold to David Conrad (Valley RR) for $100,000
K&K 39...EMD GP-9 (ex WM 39)...sold to Georges Creek RR for $35,000

RIP, Knox & Kane, you deserved better.

H&BT 38 looks on as her fate is sealed


H&BT 38


ex D&H wood passenger car


Chinese built loco awaiting her fate

Wanton destruction on the Knox & Kane

Received the following via email from Kermit Geary, Jr. Photos, text and captions are his.

It took me a long time to be able to send this file out. My personal feelings toward such useless waste and ruin of so valuable of a resource are borderline violent...If I ever caught someone in the act of perpetrating such a crime, I'd be going to jail for murder. These are the sorry remains of the Kane engine house of the Knox & Kane railroad. Vandals set fire to the facility back in Feb or March... with the resulting devastation. A few nights later, they tried to burn the depot...luckily it didn't burn as readily as the engine house and was able to be saved. Now in Early October, there will be an auction of the property and the scrap dealers will have a field day finishing the actions of some low-life scum in Kane, PA.

Chinese Steam loco


H&BT 38 2-8-0



Remains of wood passenger car along side Chinese steamer

Cab of Chinese Steam loco


Kane engine house