A different kind of day trackside...

(Train sightings on 7-14-07)

In that this Saturday was devoted to being a tour guide for my friend from Virginia. I first met Bill back in April, 2005 at Stanton Station (NJ) while we awaited the arrival of RB&BB’s circus train. During this wait, our conversation focused on the Lehigh Line. I offered him an invitation that if he our schedules coincided, I would serve as a guide to some of the significant locations along this stretch of track.

Two years and two months later, we were able to get together for a day of rail fanning. The first train spotted was an eastbound NS intermodal, symbol unknown, at West Portal around 8 AM. NS 19G (Oak Island, NJ to Pittsburgh, PA) was holding the siding at CP 67 until this train passed and would then be on its way west. A little while later at Pattenburg, another NS eastbound intermodal loaded with COFCs was seen, possibly 24V.

After talking about the tunnel’s history, we drove over to Lansdowne Junction. I showed him what remained of the LVRR's roadbed to Pittstown and explained about the history associated with that spur. The sound of NS 18G (Pittsburgh, PA to Oak Island, NJ) approaching would be reason enough to momentarily halt our conversation and watch it pass by. Motive power was PRR 8378 (C40-8W, ex-CR 6159) and NS 9882 (C40-9W) bringing this load of mixed freight east.

Next stop would be Three Bridges to see if NS was running any trains through here. The signal at MP 48 was green over red but no NS trains would be seen. Black River & Western was busy though, switching cars for NS H76’s Sunday pickup and we went over there to watch them work. For both of us, seeing BR&W 8159 (SW1200, ex-CP 8159) still wearing the CP paint scheme was a nice surprise.

The final stop of the day would be Manville. CSX Q300 (Philadelphia, PA to Oak Island, NJ), led by CSX 7533 (C40-8) and an unidentified second unit, would finish working Manville yard and head east with fifty-eight cars at 12:35. A little while later, CSX Q438 (Hamlet, NC to Selkirk, NY), with CSX 5335 (ES44AC) leading a second unidentified diesel and seventy-five cars of mixed freight would head east.

While there were lulls seeing trains, there never was a lull when it came to talking about them. Bill would reminiscence about trips on Amtrak, his favorite railroads such as the D&H, Bangor & Aroostook and CSX. I would counter with my historical knowledge of the Lehigh Line, trips to Shenandoah Jct. and Kingman (AZ). As you can imagine our conversation covered a variety of railroading, non-railroading topics and geography.

Could not have asked for any better weather than what we had on this Saturday. Seeing at least one train at each stop was a bonus. At day’s end, this all added up to an enjoyable day to be trackside. Hope your day was just as nice.

Ssssssafety Alert - July 2007

Received the following via email from Kermit Geary, Jr. These are his photos.

Hi All: It is never too early ...or late to offer a bit of rail safety advice! ALWAYS LOOK AT THE RAIL BEFORE WORKING AROUND IT WHEN TESTING IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN !!!!!Found this friendly critter along the Delaware River today...testing the Central New York's line from Lordsville, NY to Susquehanna, PA. Should finish off tomorrow in Binghamton and then head North to Syracuse, NY...From there onwards to the RBMN!

Kermit Geary, Jr.
SRS 813

Additional email comments from Nathan S. Clark, Jr.

Well, it sometimes CAN be too late to offer the advice, like when you're telling it to some poor bloke who is staring down at the two blood-red pinholes in his hand!

Nice, healthy timber rattler specimen. Armed and dangerous. I'd guess a female, based on size. Just trying to get warm in the morning. She(?) will soon be off to look for rodents. You leave it alone and it will leave you alone, etc.

When changing out rail, track crews in snake country do a 'snake patrol' first, so no one goes to the hospital. Copperheads, unfortunately, are more inclined to stay put, and also blend in with rusty rail bases better.

Thanks for sharing these shots from along the former Erie RR. GREAT photos of a very beautiful creature, Kermit.---NSC

BLRRS Customer and Sons Make the Front Page

Big Little Railroad Shop customer Steve Jones took his sons to Altoona RailFest on July 7th and the wound up on the front page of The Altoona Mirror (picture below). The highlight of RailFest was a passenger train excursion around Horseshoe Curve. You can read the newspaper story that accompanied the photo at the following link:

http://www.altoonamirror.com/articles.asp?articleID=13349

Photo and caption from The Altoona Mirror.

Donald (bottom left) and Corey Jones of New Jersey try on Gary Clare’s (right) conductor hat. Jordan (second from right) and his father, Steve, traveled with the family from New Jersey for RailFest and the excursion around the Horseshoe Curve.

To view more photos, visit cu.altoonamirror.com and click on the We CU tab.

(Mirror photo by Jason Sipes)

A smattering of Saturday's sightings...

(Train sightings on 7/7/07)

along the Lehigh Line at Manville (NJ)...

7:05- NS Intermodal, unknown symbol, had NS 9643 (C40-9W) and NS 2729 (SD70M-2) as its power. NS 64R was holding on the passing siding at CP Bound Brook before getting its orders to proceed down the Port Reading Secondary at 7:34.

7:45- NS 11J's power consist of NS 7640 (ES40DC) and NS 9793 (C40-9W) would have fifty-four autoracks in tow.

8:00- NS 21M's power consisted of NS 9786 (C40-9W), NS 2670 (SD70M-2) and NS 9907 (C40-9W).

8:25- MA-1 would have two GP38-2s, NS 5615 (ex-SOU 2828) and NS 5620 (ex-SOU 2871), bringing seven coil cars east.


8:45- NS 24V power's would be NS 9812 (C40-9W) and NS 7609 (ES40DC).

9:35- NS, unknown symbol, would have NS 7511 (ES40DC) and NS 9237 (C40-9W) bringing three empty autoracks east.

10:03- CSX Q300 finished working the Manville yard and would head east on the passing siding and hold CP Bound Brook to wait on a westbound NS train. The first ten cars were garbage container cars (PU!) followed by sixty-six cars of mixed freight. Motive power was CSX 4745 (SD70MAC) and CSX 5347 (ES44DC).



All in all, not a bad day to be trackside here in New Jersey. Hope your morning was as enjoyable wherever you are...

Watching trains or baseball?

The Somerset Patriots are playing the Lancaster Barnstormers in a game at Commerce Bank ballpark on Monday (July 2nd). The Patriots would eventually win by a score of 7 to 6 in 12 innings. But wait, those fans out in right field are not watching the action on the field. Could they be watching NJT 4202 depart from the Bridgewater station on this night? You be the judge...

Jersey Central History Question

The Central Railroad of New Jersey (CNJ) had a branch line in New Jersey from Somerville thru Three Bridges to Flemington. The section from Three Bridges to Flemington is extant and operated by the Black River & Western Railroad. The history question is:

When was the South Branch of the CNJ (Somerville - Three Bridges) abandoned?

Stop in the store and give us your answer. We would love to see you.

Five trains and one 4 legged train-watcher...

(Train sightings on 6/23/07)

In three hours trackside along the Lehigh Line in Bloomsbury (NJ) and Flemington Jct, I would see five trains and one red fox. I had hoped to catch the NS OCS but that it had gone through while I was driving out to Bloomsbury. Oh well, a person can't be in two places at once, eh? Would have been nice to see the OCS. I was told it waited at Flemington Junction around 6:30 for a westbounder. The trains were as follows:

19G @ 7:15 passing through Bloomsbury with 138 cars of mixed freight. Motive power would be NS 7565 (ES40DC) and NS 9199 (C40-9W).

212 @ 7:55 would have NS 8720 (C40-8) and NS 9126 (C40-9W).


23M @ 8:07 would leave the controlled siding at MP 67 and head west with its cargo of mostly K Line containers after 212 passed by. NS 9964 (C40-9W), NS 7138 (GP60) and NS 7141 (GP60) provided the power.

At Flemington Junction, NS 11J, with NS 7522 (ES40DC) and NS 2712 (SD70M-2), would head west with eighty-six autoracks.

24Z @ 10:20 would have two SD70M-2s, NS 2760 and NS 2766, as its power on this day.

Hope your day was just as enjoyable....

Somerville Street Fair

Photos below are from the Somerville Street Fair held on Sunday, 6/2/07. We had a small train layout set up in the street in front of the store. We also had a couple of RC tanks running in the street. The kids all had a good time.

In the last photo, note the young man's T-shirt for the Somerset County 4H Trainmasters. We support this club, and if you contact us we can tell you more about them.

Next Somerville Street Fair will be on Sunday, 10/7/07. Come on down!

New GE Evolution Locomotive

Received the following via email.

Photo of the new GE Evolution Series Hybrid at Chicago, IL
Pic taken on 6/1/07 by KC Tweed.

Norfolk Southern proposes new Louisiana-N.J. rail corridor

Received the following via email. From a Virginia news article found at the following link:
http://content.hamptonroads.com/story.cfm?story=126138&ran=6981

Norfolk Southern proposes new Louisiana-N.J. rail corridor

By GREGORY RICHARDS, The Virginian-Pilot June 6, 2007

Norfolk Southern Corp. announced today plans for a $2 billion rail corridor to speed shipments of cargo containers between the central Southeast and the Northeast.

The project, dubbed the Crescent Corridor, involves upgrading and expanding the Norfolk-based railroad's rail network along a route stretching from Louisiana to New Jersey, purchasing new locomotives and railcars, and building new terminals in Maryland and Tennessee.

It is even more ambitious than the $309 million Heartland Corridor project that is being built to shorten train ships between the port of Hampton Roads and the Midwest.

Like the Heartland Corridor, Norfolk Southern plans to rely heavily on public dollars. The project would divert much truck traffic from highways, producing such public benefits as reduced highway congestion and vehicle emissions, Mike McClellan, Norfolk Southern's vice president of intermodal and automotive marketing, told a Wall Street conference today. Public bodies should pay for those benefits, he said.

Already, Virginia has committed $40 million for the project, which would run along Interstate 81, a main truck route, McClellan said.

If the financing comes together, construction on the Crescent Corridor would begin in 2008, with the first part being completed by 2009. he said. The project would be finished by 2013.

Is it summer yet?

(Train sightings on 5/31/07)

as being trackside along the Lehigh Line in Manville (NJ) with the three H's (heat, haze and humidity) certainly made it feel like summer on this Thursday morning. Here was the rundown of what passed by my vantage point.

NS 21M @ 7:20; had a trio of C40-9Ws for power. They were NS 9977, NS 9978 and NS 9398. NS 212 @ 8:07; had two C40-9Ws, NS 9407 and NS 9059, for power.

NS 18G @ 9:15; had NS 9954 (C40-9W) as the leader, NS 2690 (SD70M-2) and NS 3376 (SD40-2, ex-CR 6438) for power on this mixed freight.


NS 11J @ 9:22; would proceed to head west after holding on the passing siding for 18G to pass. Motive power would be NS 7620 (ES40DC) and NS 8813 (C40-9). Behind them were sixty-three autoracks.

CSX Q300 @ 9:54; After dropping off six cars at the Manville yard, Q300 would head east with CSX 7538 (C40-8), CSX 709 (SD70MAC) and CSX 5228 (ES44DC).


As to when the calendar declares summer officially arrives, that will happen on June 21st.

BNSF Beer Spill

BNSF had an accident in a Denver rail yard that spliied a lot of beer. Here is a link to local TV station news artile. Click on the link, read the short article, and then click on View Slide Show for 17 pictures of the mess.

Frothy mess after beer spills in rail accident
http://www.9news.com/news/article.aspx?storyid=70643

I wonder how the haz-mat team dealt with that.

NS Business Train in NJ

This picture is of the NS Office Car Special Train near Bloomsbury, NJ on Tuesday 5/22/07.

Latest on Lionel bankrupcy and MTH vs. Lionel lawsuits

The following is from the OGR Forum (O Guage Railroading). It was written by a lawyer who has been following these matters.

Friends,

May 22, 2007-Lionel and MTH's attorneys were back in a New York bankruptcy court this morning. Lionel CEO Jerry Calabrese was present in court. MTH's Mike Wolf was not.

Lionel's lawyer, Adam Harris quickly informed Judge Lifland that Lionel filed their bankruptcy reorganization plan with the court yesterday. Among the items in the plan is payment in full of all unsecured claims with interest. The plan is necessary in order for Lionel to begin their exit from bankruptcy. Lionel has been in bankruptcy since November 15, 2004, a period of over 2 1/2years.

Mr. Harris continued by stating the reorganization plan can be confirmed by the court upon the happening of two conditions, 1)resolution of MTH's separate trade secrets and $17.5 million dollar patent infringement lawsuits and 2)obtaining exit financing to make the payments proposed in the plan. Mr. Harris noted obtaining the financing would be "easy" once the trade secrets and patent infringement cases are concluded.

To resolve the trade secrets and patent infringement cases, Mr. Harris once again requested the court conduct a damages estimation hearing, with the trade secrets case being tried first, or concurrently with the patent infringement case.

The court did not set a trial date for the damages estimation hearing. Mr. Harris stated he would file a motion with the court next week which would address some logistical concerns, and the court could then schedule a trial date. Judge Lifland agreed with Mr. Harris's request.

Lastly, Mr. Harris informed the court that after extensive mediation, the two rival model train makers were unable to settle either the trade secrets or patent infringement case.

MTH's attorney Alec Ostrow then addressed the court. He objected to the court scheduling a damages estimation hearing. Judge lifland, becoming fustrated and annoyed, interrupted and stated, "its time get this case moving, no more dillydallying. Its been mired in mud for a long period." Twice more, Mr. Ostrow persisted, and objected to a damages estimation hearing. Judge Lifland again cut off Mr. Ostrow, stating, "This isn't a debate." Mr. Ostrow then stated he would set forth his objections in papers in response to Lionel's motion.

In addition to today, Mr. Ostrow has objected several times at past court conferences to the court scheduling a damages estimation hearing. His reason for doing this is, the appeals court, in its December 14, 2006 decision in the trade secrets case, remanded it to the trial court. That would be the Federal District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. This is the court where a jury awarded MTH $40 million dollars on June 7, 2004. Strategically, based on past experience, MTH's attorneys have decided they would fare better in front of a Detroit jury, than a New York bankrutpcy judge who is of the opinion that Lionel's bankruptcy has taken a long time. Of course, Lionel's attorneys want to try the case in front of Judge Lifland, who is already very familar with the details of the trade secrets and patent infringement cases. According to Judge Lifland, the Bankruptcy Code gives him the power to pull the case from the District Court, and try it, in the interests of expediting Lionel's exit from bankruptcy. This essentially takes away MTH's right to a jury trial.

In this and in past articles, I have used the legal term "damages estimation hearing." That term is a little misleading. On its face, the term implies the court will 1) estimate damages only and not possible liability and 2)possibly estimate a numerical range, not a specfic number. In speaking with Mr. Harris following today's court proceedings, he explained that Judge Lifland will try both the trade secrets and patent infringement cases as if they were regular trials, determining first, any POSSIBLE liability (responsibility) on Lionel's part, and upon the finding of any wrongdoing 2)determining the exact of amount of damages MTH would be entitled to. For example, in the trade secrets case, MTH must establish Lionel or its employees were involved in the theft of the locomotive blueprints or design plans, and then establish they were damaged by the theft, such as thorough, lost sales.

According to Mr. Harris, a damages estimation hearing, could take place this summer.

I will continue to keep all updated as necessary.

Erol Gurcan

BNSF First: A 10,000-foot Intermodal Train

Received the following via email.

BNSF ran what is believed to be the U.S. rail industry's first 10,000-foot intermodal train from Los Angeles to Logistics Park in Chicago earlier this week, reports Trains.com.

The 10,009-foot (including power) international intermodal stack train departed Los Angeles on May 13 and arrived at the Chicago intermodal terminal May 15. The train ran on BNSF's Transcon, on which BNSF has been steadily increasing the amount of double track in recent years. Because almost the entire 2,200-mile route has now been double tracked, siding length was not an issue. The train used distributed power: four locomotives in the front and two in the back.

BNSF is studying the use of longer trains to maximize the amount of containers that it can carry while minimizing the number of trains it takes to move the containers, which increases efficiency and takes advantage of the aggressive program of double tracking BNSF has been conducting on the Los Angeles to Chicago route for several years.

Golden Spike Day

Sorry, this is about a week late. May 10th was Golden Spike Day. This comemorates the day in 1869 when the golden spike was driven at Promontory Summit, Utah Territory, thus joining East and West by rail. You can read more about it at the following National Park Service web site.

http://www.nps.gov:80/gosp/

Go Fly a Kite

Yes, we have kites too. Besides all our model railroad stuff, we also carry plastic model kits for airplanes, ships, automobiles, and military vehicles. And we even have some RC (radio control) items. If we don’t have something you want, we can order it for you. Please stop in and check us out. And buy a kite, get outdoors, and enjoy the great weather we are having.

Saturday's sparse sightings...

(Train sightings on 5/5/07)

along the Lehigh Line were only two trains.

From what I was told, NS 212, 64J and 18N had already passed by prior to my arrival at Pattenburg, NJ. The trains I did see though made for a nice sight on this spring day.

NS 20R came through Pattenburg Tunnel around 8:55. Motive power would be NS 2752 (SD70M-2) and NS 9427 (C40-9W).

Shades of CR! NS 24Z would have PRR 8336 (C40-8W, ex-CR 6088) as the leader coupled to NS 7644 (ES40DC) around 9:11.

Both trains would be instructed to hold the siding down at CP 51 waiting for NS 21M.

Once 21M was clear, NS 20R would be through Three Bridges, NJ at 10:28 and NS 24Z would follow a little later at 10:40.

On this day, you won't get any complaints from me about the trains or weather...

More than the circus train could be seen...

(Train sightings on 4/30/07)

along the Lehigh Line near Manville on Monday morning. The sightings started early and were as follows:

NS 18N @ 6:45-red / silver BNSF 748 (C44-9W) and NS 2537 (SD70) would bring sixty-eight autoracks east in an early morning rain shower.

NS Intermodal, symbol unknown, @ 6:55 had two C40-9Ws, NS 9958 and NS 9878, for power.

CSX 916-30 @ 7:55-a/k/a, the circus train would have CSX 4715 (SD70MAC) and CSX 5010 (CW44-6) for power. The Red Unit's fifty-eight cars weighed in at 4,265 tons and measured 5,148 feet in length. It was making a 443 mile trip from Philadelphia, PA to Providence, RI. (see also the posting below with pictures of this train)

NS 24V would hold for the circus train to proceed before continuing its eastbound journey over CR's Shared Assets Lehigh Line. Motive power was two C40-9Ws, NS 9645 and NS 9322.

NS 21M-after holding the main for CSX 916 and NS 24V to pass on the siding, 21M continued its trip west. Motive power was NS 2632 (SD70M), NS 7552 (ES40DC), PRR 8385 (C40-8W, ex-CR 6173) and PRR 8310 (C40-8, ex-CR 6045). 21M's departure time wasn't recorded.

NS 212-had NS 9626 (C40-9W) and NS 2535 (SD70) bringing a mixture of autoracks and intermodals east.

CSX Q300 @ 9:00-would have CSX 7367 (C40-8W) and CSX 5435 (ES44DC) bring a short train of twenty-seven cars of mixed freight east.

NS 214 @ 9:17 would have four GP60s, NS 7150, NS 7101, NS 7120 and NS 7126 for its power consist.


NS 20G @ 10:10-was the morning's final train for me. Motive power would be NS 9796 (C40-9W) and UP 5106 (SD70M).

Nine trains in basically three hours, not a bad way to start off this Monday morning.

The Road to Providence, RI...

(Circus train sighting on 4/30/07)

for the Ringling Bothers Red Unit Circus Train started out in Philadelphia, headed north on the Trenton Line and is seen here crossing over on to CR's Shared Asset Lehigh Line at Port Reading Jct. near Manville NJ at 7:55. It is seen taking the passing siding as NS 21M was holding the main on this meet. Motive power for CSX 916-30 would be CSX 4715 (SD70MAC) and CSX 5010 (CW44-6) to bring the fifty-eight cars to Worcester, MA. The Red Unit would weigh in at 4,265 tons and was 5,148 feet long. Only two weeks earlier, the Red Unit would be delayed in departing NYC to travel to Philadelphia due to the nor'easter that dumped an estimated eight inches of rain causing extensive flooding in this area. Some of that debris from the flooding can still be seen stuck on the bridge.