The Big Little Railroad Shop will be at the Train Show at Mother Seton High School, Clark, NJ on Sunday, March 2, 2008. This show is sponsored by the Jersey Central Railway Historical Society (JCRHS). Hours are 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM. The high school is located just off of Exit 135 of the Garden State Parkway. There is free parking, refreshments will be available, and there will be door prizes. For more information visit the following web site:
http://jcrhs.org/rrshow.html
Be sure to visit our table where you will find lots of wonderful bargins. Hope to see you there.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Matawan, NJ station "Stabilization"
Received the following via email.
NJT will be performing structural stabilization on the old Matawan NY&LB station.
The story is here:
http://independent.gmnews.com/news/2008/0213/Front_Page/002.html
NJT will be performing structural stabilization on the old Matawan NY&LB station.
The story is here:
http://independent.gmnews.com/news/2008/0213/Front_Page/002.html
Weekly Rail Carloading Report
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 7 of 2008. Take a look.
http://railfax.transmatch.com/
http://railfax.transmatch.com/
Railroads Upgrading
Two weeks ago The Wall Street Journal had a story titled "New Era Dawns for Rail Building." This article talks about the upgrading, expansion, etc. being done by American railroads. If you are not aware of this work, read the article at the following web site.
http://online.wsj.com:80/article/SB120179835382432337.html?mod=hpp_us_pageone
If you are a regular reader of Trains magazine, then you probably already know about most of what is covered in this article. We do not carry The Wall Street Journal, but we do carry Trains and several other magazines that cover news about railroads. Stop in and check them out.
http://online.wsj.com:80/article/SB120179835382432337.html?mod=hpp_us_pageone
If you are a regular reader of Trains magazine, then you probably already know about most of what is covered in this article. We do not carry The Wall Street Journal, but we do carry Trains and several other magazines that cover news about railroads. Stop in and check them out.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
NJ to Ban Railfanning?
Received the following via email. Read the comments from Jim, then read the article from the Star-Ledger newspaper, and finally, read my comments.
"New Jersey's State Legislature is giving police some pretty broad powers -- trespassing can be defined as what a cop defines it as under this law -- there are NO exceptions for public areas, for example.
And you better check the property deeds down at the recorders office before going out and taking pictures . . . . You never know when that public street is merely an easement."
Jim (CRRNJ@yahoogroups.com)
From the Star-Ledger:
A bill to prevent terror attacks on railroads by making a person convicted of trespassing on railroad property guilty of burglary was approved by the Assembly yesterday.
Sponsored by Assemblyman Fred Scalera and Assemblywoman Joan Quigley, the bill (A929) would subject anyone trespassing on railroad property to up to five years in prison and $15,000 in fines.
The maximum penalty would rise to 10 years in jail and $150,000 in fines if the offender purposely, knowingly, or recklessly inflicts, attempts to inflict or threatens to inflict bodily harm.
"Railroads and rail yards, by their very design, are hard to secure and are more vulnerable to criminals and the threat of terrorist attacks than other modes of transportation," said Scalera (D-Essex), the chairman of the Assembly Homeland Security and State Preparedness Committee.
The Assembly passed the measure 76-0 and now heads to the Senate.
Now my comments.
"New Jersey's State Legislature is giving police some pretty broad powers -- trespassing can be defined as what a cop defines it as under this law -- there are NO exceptions for public areas, for example.
And you better check the property deeds down at the recorders office before going out and taking pictures . . . . You never know when that public street is merely an easement."
Jim (CRRNJ@yahoogroups.com)
From the Star-Ledger:
A bill to prevent terror attacks on railroads by making a person convicted of trespassing on railroad property guilty of burglary was approved by the Assembly yesterday.
Sponsored by Assemblyman Fred Scalera and Assemblywoman Joan Quigley, the bill (A929) would subject anyone trespassing on railroad property to up to five years in prison and $15,000 in fines.
The maximum penalty would rise to 10 years in jail and $150,000 in fines if the offender purposely, knowingly, or recklessly inflicts, attempts to inflict or threatens to inflict bodily harm.
"Railroads and rail yards, by their very design, are hard to secure and are more vulnerable to criminals and the threat of terrorist attacks than other modes of transportation," said Scalera (D-Essex), the chairman of the Assembly Homeland Security and State Preparedness Committee.
The Assembly passed the measure 76-0 and now heads to the Senate.
Now my comments.
Go to this web site to read the text of Bill A929. You will find a box to enter this bill number on the right side of the page. http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/
I think the Star-Ledger article did not explain this bill well. The legislators have added text to the NJ state criminal code covering burglary. If you look at the bill on the web site the added text is underlined.
As I see it, they have added a definition of "railroad property," then they shoehorned "trespass in or upon railroad property" into the definition of burglary. Also, it appears to me that they have made this "trespassing" a fourth degree crime as opposed to burglary which could be a second or third degree crime. The more serious burglary crimes have the stiffer penalties which is where the $15,000 and 5 years come in. Finally, they have included an exemption to this law as follows: "a person lawfully using a public or private railroad crossing."
They have not exempted public railroad stations and platforms, so, in theory, a cop could arrest you for "trespassing" while waiting for a train or even for riding in a passenger car; but that doesn't seem likely to me. Here's the reason: burglary is committed if you have the "purpose to commit an offense," i.e. some crime beyond the act of trespassing. If you are waiting for a train or riding a train you probably do not have the purpose to commit an offense.
Bottom line: I don't think this legislation is the best way to address the problem; it will not deter any terrorist, and it probably won't stop the graffitti artist either. It could lead to haressment of railfans, but I doubt there will be any convictions of railfans under this law.
Stourbridge Railroad Railfan Day
Received this info via email. This may seem a little premature, but you need reservations for the night time trip which will be limited to 50 people.
The Stourbridge Railroad will be holding its First Annual Railfan Day on Saturday, September 20th, 2008.
Cost will be $100.00 and will include TWO round trips with a mixed-train from Honesdale, PA to Lackawaxen, PA (one in daylight and one at night) and a box lunch. This will include a special freight consist and the regular passenger consist. We will offer a single roundtrip (either AM or PM for $50.00). All trips will feature multiple Photo Stops and Runbys. The PM trips (limited to 50 participants) will feature Night Lighting at various locations. (Camera capable of shooting on a "B" setting without flash, Tripod, Cable Release, and a flashlight required).
The Stourbridge Railroad rosters one of only 2 operating EMD Model BL-2 Diesel Locomotive. (Ex BAR 54). Our second unit will be an ex MEC GP-7. There may be some other locos available to us.
Tickets are available through the Wayne County Chamber of Commerce, 32 Commercial Street, Honesdale, PA 18431
Cash, Check, or Credit Cards are accepted.
For Reservations ONLY, call 570-253-1960 or 800-433-9008
For all other inquiries, PLEASE Write to : Central Pennsylvania Rail Corp, 200 Center Street, Tamaqua, PA 18252.
All sales final, Reservations Required for the PM (Night Photo train), no alcoholic beverages allowed on the train, all excursions are subject to operating conditions and are subject to change without notice.
The Stourbridge Railroad will be holding its First Annual Railfan Day on Saturday, September 20th, 2008.
Cost will be $100.00 and will include TWO round trips with a mixed-train from Honesdale, PA to Lackawaxen, PA (one in daylight and one at night) and a box lunch. This will include a special freight consist and the regular passenger consist. We will offer a single roundtrip (either AM or PM for $50.00). All trips will feature multiple Photo Stops and Runbys. The PM trips (limited to 50 participants) will feature Night Lighting at various locations. (Camera capable of shooting on a "B" setting without flash, Tripod, Cable Release, and a flashlight required).
The Stourbridge Railroad rosters one of only 2 operating EMD Model BL-2 Diesel Locomotive. (Ex BAR 54). Our second unit will be an ex MEC GP-7. There may be some other locos available to us.
Tickets are available through the Wayne County Chamber of Commerce, 32 Commercial Street, Honesdale, PA 18431
Cash, Check, or Credit Cards are accepted.
For Reservations ONLY, call 570-253-1960 or 800-433-9008
For all other inquiries, PLEASE Write to : Central Pennsylvania Rail Corp, 200 Center Street, Tamaqua, PA 18252.
All sales final, Reservations Required for the PM (Night Photo train), no alcoholic beverages allowed on the train, all excursions are subject to operating conditions and are subject to change without notice.
Thursday, February 07, 2008
Conneaut Lake Park's Dreamland Ballroom destroyed in fire
Received note below via email with no date of the event nor credit for the source. However, the links below, which were included in the email, are to local news articles that give the date of the fire as 2/1/08.
Conneaut Lake is located in northwest Pennsylvania, about 7 or 8 miles west of Meadville. You may wonder why this note is posted on this blog; read the article and you will see the connection. As an aside, Meadville was the location of significant yards and shops of the Erie and Erie/Lackawanna railroads. Conrail put an end to that.
The resort opened in 1892 as "Exposition Park". Development was backed with capital from the Meadville, Conneaut Lake and Linesville Rail Road Co., later the Pittsburgh, Shenango and Lake Erie and still later, the Bessemerand Lake Erie RR. The Dreamland Ballroom was built 99 years ago. The B&LE and ERIE/Erie Lackawanna RRs both held annual employee picnics at the park, as did many companies from the region. Trainloads of Bessemer employees and their families were brought in from Pittsburgh and Erie, and the ERIE/EL ran special CLP company picnic trains in from as far away as Chicago and NewYork City, clear into the early Sixties. A lot of shoes that had climbed off of all those trains over the years were just a little more worn when climbing back on, after having 'cut the rug' on the hardwood dance floor of the Dreamland Ballroom...
Conneaut Lake Park's Dreamland Ballroom destroyed in fire
http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080201/NEWS02/344707526/-1/RSS01
http://www.sharon-herald.com/local/local_story_032213624.html
http://www.sharon-herald.com/local/local_story_033225226.html
Conneaut Lake is located in northwest Pennsylvania, about 7 or 8 miles west of Meadville. You may wonder why this note is posted on this blog; read the article and you will see the connection. As an aside, Meadville was the location of significant yards and shops of the Erie and Erie/Lackawanna railroads. Conrail put an end to that.
The resort opened in 1892 as "Exposition Park". Development was backed with capital from the Meadville, Conneaut Lake and Linesville Rail Road Co., later the Pittsburgh, Shenango and Lake Erie and still later, the Bessemerand Lake Erie RR. The Dreamland Ballroom was built 99 years ago. The B&LE and ERIE/Erie Lackawanna RRs both held annual employee picnics at the park, as did many companies from the region. Trainloads of Bessemer employees and their families were brought in from Pittsburgh and Erie, and the ERIE/EL ran special CLP company picnic trains in from as far away as Chicago and NewYork City, clear into the early Sixties. A lot of shoes that had climbed off of all those trains over the years were just a little more worn when climbing back on, after having 'cut the rug' on the hardwood dance floor of the Dreamland Ballroom...
Conneaut Lake Park's Dreamland Ballroom destroyed in fire
http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080201/NEWS02/344707526/-1/RSS01
http://www.sharon-herald.com/local/local_story_032213624.html
http://www.sharon-herald.com/local/local_story_033225226.html
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
Amtrak service closure extended
Received the following news article via email with no date nor source of the article. Email was dated 2-2-08.
Amtrak service closure extended
The massive Frazier landslide blocking train tracks east of Oakridge will keep Amtrak’s Coast Starlight off the rails until at least mid-February as Union Pacific crews battle bad weather to clear the line.
Both the northbound and southbound Coast Starlight runs (trains 14 and 11, respectively) that ferry travelers from Seattle to Los Angeles are canceled through Feb. 14, according to an Amtrak news release. Other regional Amtrak trains and buses will continue serving California, Oregon and Washington.
A week of intense precipitation has dumped more than 2 feet of snow at the site of the slide, slowing cleanup and making it impossible to predict just when the tracks will be cleared, Union Pacific spokeswoman Zoe Richmond said.
“We’re at the mercy of the weather, so we’re not putting a date on it,” Richmond said.
Railroad and contract crews with dozens of excavators, dump trucks and other heavy machinery are working to move more than 2.3 million cubic yards of mud and debris, an amount the size of a football field, reaching as high as the 108-story Sears Tower in Chicago, she said.
Workers have recovered about 700,000 board feet of timber, a mix of Douglas fir and cedar trees that Union Pacific loaded onto rail cars to haul away. Some of the downed wood will be put back into streams to create both resting and spawning habitat for salmon and bull trout, Willamette National Forest Service spokeswoman Judy McHugh said. The rest will be available for purchase through a competitive bid process.
Forest Service geologists who have had a look at the area where the slide began doubt that a 1992 clear-cut and logging road caused the land and trees to give way. The slide ripped out soil more than 10 feet deep, well below the root zone of the trees, said Mark Leverton, a Forest Service geologist on the Middle Fork Ranger District.“Once you get to a depth of failure of (more than) 10 feet, then rooting strength is no longer a factor,” he said.
Of the 60-acre slide, about 5 acres began in the harvested area. The slide is comprised of an upper 20 acres where the failure originated and another 40-acre path where trees and debris cascaded down the mountain and covered thousands of feet of track in two locations.
Leverton said tree growth in the area suggests that the slope isn’t prone to sliding. Trees there grow straight without the kinks that suggest previous slides, he said. “When you have a slope fail in a place where there’s not a big history of slope failure, you naturally start looking at what changed,” Leverton said.
It will take a more thorough assessment of the slope in the spring to confirm the initial analysis, Leverton said.
“There’s a lot that we don’t know about it and we may never know,” he said.
Amtrak service closure extended
The massive Frazier landslide blocking train tracks east of Oakridge will keep Amtrak’s Coast Starlight off the rails until at least mid-February as Union Pacific crews battle bad weather to clear the line.
Both the northbound and southbound Coast Starlight runs (trains 14 and 11, respectively) that ferry travelers from Seattle to Los Angeles are canceled through Feb. 14, according to an Amtrak news release. Other regional Amtrak trains and buses will continue serving California, Oregon and Washington.
A week of intense precipitation has dumped more than 2 feet of snow at the site of the slide, slowing cleanup and making it impossible to predict just when the tracks will be cleared, Union Pacific spokeswoman Zoe Richmond said.
“We’re at the mercy of the weather, so we’re not putting a date on it,” Richmond said.
Railroad and contract crews with dozens of excavators, dump trucks and other heavy machinery are working to move more than 2.3 million cubic yards of mud and debris, an amount the size of a football field, reaching as high as the 108-story Sears Tower in Chicago, she said.
Workers have recovered about 700,000 board feet of timber, a mix of Douglas fir and cedar trees that Union Pacific loaded onto rail cars to haul away. Some of the downed wood will be put back into streams to create both resting and spawning habitat for salmon and bull trout, Willamette National Forest Service spokeswoman Judy McHugh said. The rest will be available for purchase through a competitive bid process.
Forest Service geologists who have had a look at the area where the slide began doubt that a 1992 clear-cut and logging road caused the land and trees to give way. The slide ripped out soil more than 10 feet deep, well below the root zone of the trees, said Mark Leverton, a Forest Service geologist on the Middle Fork Ranger District.“Once you get to a depth of failure of (more than) 10 feet, then rooting strength is no longer a factor,” he said.
Of the 60-acre slide, about 5 acres began in the harvested area. The slide is comprised of an upper 20 acres where the failure originated and another 40-acre path where trees and debris cascaded down the mountain and covered thousands of feet of track in two locations.
Leverton said tree growth in the area suggests that the slope isn’t prone to sliding. Trees there grow straight without the kinks that suggest previous slides, he said. “When you have a slope fail in a place where there’s not a big history of slope failure, you naturally start looking at what changed,” Leverton said.
It will take a more thorough assessment of the slope in the spring to confirm the initial analysis, Leverton said.
“There’s a lot that we don’t know about it and we may never know,” he said.
The Lost Engines of Roanoke
Here is a link to an interesting web site about the remains of some old steam engines in Roanoke, VA.
Monday, February 04, 2008
Snow Strands Nearly 400 Train Passengers in California Mountains
Received the following news article via email with no notation as to date or source of the article.
Then I found a follow-up article as shown below.
SAN FRANCISCO — Amtrak officials say that nearly 400 people are trapped inside two passenger trains that have been stuck all afternoon in the snowy Northern California mountains.
An Amtrak spokeswoman says the trains were stranded near Donner Pass around 2 p.m. today after a large snow plow being used to clear the tracks fell through a walkway and blocked the trains' path.
No injuries have been reported and both trains have heating and lights.
The spokeswoman says Amtrak is trying to summon buses to nearby towns to evacuate passengers, but have had little luck because many of the vehicles are in Arizona for the Super Bowl.
Officials said at 7 p.m. that they expect it may take another hour or two to clear the tracks and that more snow that has fallen since the accident.
The following article follows-up on the above. It is from the Associated Press (AP) and was posted on the MSNBC web site on 2-2-08.
Trains freed from snowy Calif. mountains
Winter storms on both sides of country make for miserable travel
The Associated Press
updated 4:51 p.m. ET, Sat., Feb. 2, 2008
CHICAGO - A passenger train stuck overnight in the Northern California mountains resumed its journey Saturday after a snow plow that was blocking the tracks was removed, officials said.
Two Amtrak trains with about 400 passengers were initially stranded after the accident Friday. One train was pulled to Reno, Nevada, and its 165 passengers were put up in a hotel, Amtrak spokeswoman Karina Romero said.
The other train, which was headed from Emeryville to Chicago, remained in the mountains until the tracks were cleared Saturday morning.
About 60 passengers from the second train were taken by bus back to the San Francisco Bay area overnight, while 155 stayed on board to wait for the line to reopen, Romero said.
The train had heating and lights and passengers were given food, Romero said. No injuries were reported.
The train was scheduled to arrive in Chicago Monday morning about 16 hours behind schedule.
A Union Pacific spokeswoman, Zoe Richmond, confirmed that the company's equipment was blocking the tracks but had no other information.
Then I found a follow-up article as shown below.
SAN FRANCISCO — Amtrak officials say that nearly 400 people are trapped inside two passenger trains that have been stuck all afternoon in the snowy Northern California mountains.
An Amtrak spokeswoman says the trains were stranded near Donner Pass around 2 p.m. today after a large snow plow being used to clear the tracks fell through a walkway and blocked the trains' path.
No injuries have been reported and both trains have heating and lights.
The spokeswoman says Amtrak is trying to summon buses to nearby towns to evacuate passengers, but have had little luck because many of the vehicles are in Arizona for the Super Bowl.
Officials said at 7 p.m. that they expect it may take another hour or two to clear the tracks and that more snow that has fallen since the accident.
The following article follows-up on the above. It is from the Associated Press (AP) and was posted on the MSNBC web site on 2-2-08.
Trains freed from snowy Calif. mountains
Winter storms on both sides of country make for miserable travel
The Associated Press
updated 4:51 p.m. ET, Sat., Feb. 2, 2008
CHICAGO - A passenger train stuck overnight in the Northern California mountains resumed its journey Saturday after a snow plow that was blocking the tracks was removed, officials said.
Two Amtrak trains with about 400 passengers were initially stranded after the accident Friday. One train was pulled to Reno, Nevada, and its 165 passengers were put up in a hotel, Amtrak spokeswoman Karina Romero said.
The other train, which was headed from Emeryville to Chicago, remained in the mountains until the tracks were cleared Saturday morning.
About 60 passengers from the second train were taken by bus back to the San Francisco Bay area overnight, while 155 stayed on board to wait for the line to reopen, Romero said.
The train had heating and lights and passengers were given food, Romero said. No injuries were reported.
The train was scheduled to arrive in Chicago Monday morning about 16 hours behind schedule.
A Union Pacific spokeswoman, Zoe Richmond, confirmed that the company's equipment was blocking the tracks but had no other information.
Now that my fingers have thawed out...
I can type this report as to what I observed on Saturday (2/2/08) trackside along the Lehigh Line from Manville. The trains observed passing by my vantage point were as follows:
7:45-CSX Q417: had BNSF 4341 (C44-9W) as the leader coupled to CSX 8543 (SD50). Behind them were fifty-two cars of mixed freight.
7:59-NS 21M: would have NS 2721 (SD70M-2) and NS 9698 (C40-9W) for power.
8:45-NS 24V: power would be NS 9864 (C40-9W), NS 9711 (C40-9W) and NS 6763 (SD60M, ex-CR-5501).
10:20-NS 213: Shades of CR! Two C40-8Ws, PRR 8452 (ex-LMS 712) and PRR 8416 (ex-CR 6225), made me think I had gone back in time to the days of CR.
10:30-CSX 707: taking this short trash train south was CSX 8810 (SD40-2, ex-CR 6386) and CSX 8701 (SD60). It would hold at Port Reading Jct to allow CSX Q300 to come east.
10:41-CSX Q300: finished working Manville yard and headed east with eighty-one cars of mixed freight. Motive power was CSX 7314 (C40-8W, ex-CR 6085), CSX 4768 (SD70MAC) and CSX 504 (AC44CW).
11:00-CSX Q439: would have a very clean CSX 4594 (SD80MAC) and CSX 7765 (C40-8W) to provide the motive power in bringing 117 cars of mixed freight south.
Hope your morning was just as enjoyable, albeit not as cold!
7:45-CSX Q417: had BNSF 4341 (C44-9W) as the leader coupled to CSX 8543 (SD50). Behind them were fifty-two cars of mixed freight.
7:59-NS 21M: would have NS 2721 (SD70M-2) and NS 9698 (C40-9W) for power.
8:45-NS 24V: power would be NS 9864 (C40-9W), NS 9711 (C40-9W) and NS 6763 (SD60M, ex-CR-5501).
10:20-NS 213: Shades of CR! Two C40-8Ws, PRR 8452 (ex-LMS 712) and PRR 8416 (ex-CR 6225), made me think I had gone back in time to the days of CR.
10:30-CSX 707: taking this short trash train south was CSX 8810 (SD40-2, ex-CR 6386) and CSX 8701 (SD60). It would hold at Port Reading Jct to allow CSX Q300 to come east.
10:41-CSX Q300: finished working Manville yard and headed east with eighty-one cars of mixed freight. Motive power was CSX 7314 (C40-8W, ex-CR 6085), CSX 4768 (SD70MAC) and CSX 504 (AC44CW).
11:00-CSX Q439: would have a very clean CSX 4594 (SD80MAC) and CSX 7765 (C40-8W) to provide the motive power in bringing 117 cars of mixed freight south.
Hope your morning was just as enjoyable, albeit not as cold!
Last(?) Pictures From the WNYP
Pictures below are by Kermit Geary Jr. taken as he finished testing on the Western New York and Pennsylvina (WNYP). Note the yellow Sperry (SRS) truck in the background.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
SCL photos from the archive
Received the following photos of Seaboard Coast Line (SCL) engines via email. They were taken by Kermit Geary, Jr. in his younger days when his parents had him out in his stroller. And yes, they are in black and white.
SCL 618 at Richmond, VA with caboose
SCL 213 & train at Richmond, VA
SCL 410
SCL 558
Trains and Trash
Following is an editorial from The Star-Ledger (a New Jersey newspaper) posted on their web site on 1-20-08.
Trains and Trash
For years, railroad officials have been arguing that federal law pre-empts New Jersey's attempts to regulate the trackside waste transfer depots that have been popping up around the state. Finally, efforts to increase local oversight may be gathering steam.
Last month, Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) inserted a provision in a federal funding bill that requires state approval before railroads can start new trash transfer operations.
Unfortunately, the Lautenberg language doesn't affect already operating transfer stations. And the state Department of Environmental Protection, as well as Paterson and a number of other communities, have serious concerns about odor, dust, stormwater runoff and other issues at the dozen or so facilities now in operation around New Jersey.
Many of those sites, including a number run by the New York, Susquehanna & Western Railroad, have begun taking steps to limit their impact on local communities, such as paving dusty parking lots or enclosing the tipping areas where construction waste is dropped off by trucks before being loaded onto trains headed to out-of-state landfills.
But the DEP still lacks direct oversight of these operations, thanks to a quirk in federal law that exempts railroads from significant local control.
Lautenberg, Rep. Frank Pallone (D-6th Dist.) and others are pushing legislation that would change federal statutes so states can ensure that existing railroad transfer stations also meet reasonable health, safety and environmental standards.
Congress should make this change. It is not an issue just in New Jersey. New York, Massachusetts and several other states also are seeing rapid growth in the amount of trash moved by railroads.
Shipping trash by train can be a major public benefit because one train can remove dozens of tractor trailers from the highways. But states need to be able to make sure the transfer stations don't create new problems for local neighborhoods or those along train routes.
Trains and Trash
For years, railroad officials have been arguing that federal law pre-empts New Jersey's attempts to regulate the trackside waste transfer depots that have been popping up around the state. Finally, efforts to increase local oversight may be gathering steam.
Last month, Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) inserted a provision in a federal funding bill that requires state approval before railroads can start new trash transfer operations.
Unfortunately, the Lautenberg language doesn't affect already operating transfer stations. And the state Department of Environmental Protection, as well as Paterson and a number of other communities, have serious concerns about odor, dust, stormwater runoff and other issues at the dozen or so facilities now in operation around New Jersey.
Many of those sites, including a number run by the New York, Susquehanna & Western Railroad, have begun taking steps to limit their impact on local communities, such as paving dusty parking lots or enclosing the tipping areas where construction waste is dropped off by trucks before being loaded onto trains headed to out-of-state landfills.
But the DEP still lacks direct oversight of these operations, thanks to a quirk in federal law that exempts railroads from significant local control.
Lautenberg, Rep. Frank Pallone (D-6th Dist.) and others are pushing legislation that would change federal statutes so states can ensure that existing railroad transfer stations also meet reasonable health, safety and environmental standards.
Congress should make this change. It is not an issue just in New Jersey. New York, Massachusetts and several other states also are seeing rapid growth in the amount of trash moved by railroads.
Shipping trash by train can be a major public benefit because one train can remove dozens of tractor trailers from the highways. But states need to be able to make sure the transfer stations don't create new problems for local neighborhoods or those along train routes.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Somerville Train Station to be Renovated
The NJ Transit train station in Somerville, NJ, will be renovated to provide access for the disabled. The work to be done will include new high level platforms, new ramps and stairs, elevators, and a new waiting room. The station will also get face-lift. Planning will begin shortly, followed by taking bids from contractors, with actual construction probably starting in the fall.
More details can be found in a Courier-News article posted on their web site on Monday, 1-21-08. Link below.
http://www.c-n.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080121/NEWS/801210325
More details can be found in a Courier-News article posted on their web site on Monday, 1-21-08. Link below.
http://www.c-n.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080121/NEWS/801210325
Monday, January 21, 2008
Entire Circus Train in one view: Palm Bay, FL 1-14-08
Here is a good example of photographic compression. Photo taken by Kevin Andrusia on 1-14-08. This pic has been bouncing around the internet attached to emails (we received it more than once), but maybe you are not on the "right" mailing list. So here it is along with one of the emails.
A mile worth of circus train photographically compressed into a single frame with a telephoto lens (it shows the entire train's consist -- note vehicles already crossing tracks at the grade crossing beyond last car). Kevin Andrusia captured the RINGLING BROS. and BARNUM & BAILEY Circus "RED UNIT" train yesterday (1-14), northbound at Palm Bay, FL (near Melbourne). The 58-car 137th Edition Show (now on the 2nd half of its 2-year tour) is seen on its Miami-to-Columbia, SC (long jump) run via Florida East Coast Railway, en route to interchange with Norfolk Southern in Jacksonville.
http://ringling.com/explore/137/
The RBB&B BLUE UNIT train was also on a repositioning ('jump') run in FL, yesterday, headed north from Orlando to Jacksonville on CSXT. This year, the BLUE UNIT train is 62 CARS -- 138th Edition Show (now on the 1st half of its 2-year tour).
http://ringling.com/explore/138/
From the RBB&B Website: "The Red Unit and Blue Unit trains criss-cross the country 11 months out of the year, logging more than 25,000 miles as they bring America's Living National Treasure® to millions of families in more than 90 cities!" http://ringling.com/explore/backstage/town_w_zip.aspx
Here is the Blue Unit back in December, 2000 at Auburndale, FL, also en route from Orlando to Miami at that time: http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=39625&nseq=86
A mile worth of circus train photographically compressed into a single frame with a telephoto lens (it shows the entire train's consist -- note vehicles already crossing tracks at the grade crossing beyond last car). Kevin Andrusia captured the RINGLING BROS. and BARNUM & BAILEY Circus "RED UNIT" train yesterday (1-14), northbound at Palm Bay, FL (near Melbourne). The 58-car 137th Edition Show (now on the 2nd half of its 2-year tour) is seen on its Miami-to-Columbia, SC (long jump) run via Florida East Coast Railway, en route to interchange with Norfolk Southern in Jacksonville.
http://ringling.com/explore/137/
The RBB&B BLUE UNIT train was also on a repositioning ('jump') run in FL, yesterday, headed north from Orlando to Jacksonville on CSXT. This year, the BLUE UNIT train is 62 CARS -- 138th Edition Show (now on the 1st half of its 2-year tour).
http://ringling.com/explore/138/
From the RBB&B Website: "The Red Unit and Blue Unit trains criss-cross the country 11 months out of the year, logging more than 25,000 miles as they bring America's Living National Treasure® to millions of families in more than 90 cities!" http://ringling.com/explore/backstage/town_w_zip.aspx
Here is the Blue Unit back in December, 2000 at Auburndale, FL, also en route from Orlando to Miami at that time: http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=39625&nseq=86
More Photos from the WNYP
Photos below are by Kermit Geary, Jr., taken on the Western New York and Pennsylvania railroad (WNYP) in Olean, NY on 1-16-08. Note the SRS (Sperry Rail Services) truck. I think Kermit is putting in a plug for his employer.
Friday, January 18, 2008
Somerset 4-H Trainmasters Train Show
The Somerset 4-H Trainmasters is having their annual winter train show this weekend, 1/19/08 and 1/20/08.
Time: 10 AM to 5 PM
Place: 4-H building
310 Milltown Road
Bridgewater, NJ
Members will have their modules set up for all to see.
Operation Lifesaver will be there.
There will be Brio trains for the little ones to play with.
Train related videos will be shown.
Concessions will be available.
Please come and enjoy the work of the members. You won't be disappointed.
Time: 10 AM to 5 PM
Place: 4-H building
310 Milltown Road
Bridgewater, NJ
Members will have their modules set up for all to see.
Operation Lifesaver will be there.
There will be Brio trains for the little ones to play with.
Train related videos will be shown.
Concessions will be available.
Please come and enjoy the work of the members. You won't be disappointed.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Dozens injured as boy wreaks havoc by playing trains with city's trams
Received the following news article via email with no date and no citation or reference to the original source. Date of email was 1/11/08, so assume the incident was on or before that date.
Dozens injured as boy wreaks havoc by playing trains with city's trams
A POLISH schoolboy who turned a city's tram network into a giant toy by maneuvering rolling stock using a TV-style remote control has been arrested after he caused chaos on the public transport system.
Adam Dabrowski, 14, described by teachers as a model pupil and an electronics genius, hacked into the public transport network in Lodz to change the track points derailing at least four trams and leaving dozens injured.
The teenager had also equipped himself with a hand- drawn map of city tram junctions.
He told police in Lodz in central Poland he had changed the points on tram tracks across the city for a prank. However, in one incident alone 12 people were injured.
The giant train set started operating at 1pm on Tuesday when a city tram driver tried to steer his vehicle on to right hand tracks, and found himself helpless to prevent it swerving to the left instead, seemingly of its own accord.
The rear wagon then swung off the rails and crashed into another passing tram, hurling screaming passengers to the floor.
Transport employees said they knew immediately that someone outside their staff had caused the accident.
Miroslaw Micor, spokesman for Lodz police, said: "He studied the trams and the tracks for a long time and then built a device that looked like a TV remote control and used it to maneuver the trams and the tracks."
Mr. Micor added: "He had converted the TV control into a device capable of controlling all the junctions on the line and wrote in the pages of a school exercise book the best junctions to move trams around and what signals to change.
"He treated it like any other schoolboy might a giant train set – but it was lucky nobody was killed.
"Four trams were derailed, and others had to make emergency stops that left passengers hurt. He clearly did not think about the consequences of his actions."
Dabrowski is to face charges of endangering public safety in a special juvenile court.
Dozens injured as boy wreaks havoc by playing trains with city's trams
A POLISH schoolboy who turned a city's tram network into a giant toy by maneuvering rolling stock using a TV-style remote control has been arrested after he caused chaos on the public transport system.
Adam Dabrowski, 14, described by teachers as a model pupil and an electronics genius, hacked into the public transport network in Lodz to change the track points derailing at least four trams and leaving dozens injured.
The teenager had also equipped himself with a hand- drawn map of city tram junctions.
He told police in Lodz in central Poland he had changed the points on tram tracks across the city for a prank. However, in one incident alone 12 people were injured.
The giant train set started operating at 1pm on Tuesday when a city tram driver tried to steer his vehicle on to right hand tracks, and found himself helpless to prevent it swerving to the left instead, seemingly of its own accord.
The rear wagon then swung off the rails and crashed into another passing tram, hurling screaming passengers to the floor.
Transport employees said they knew immediately that someone outside their staff had caused the accident.
Miroslaw Micor, spokesman for Lodz police, said: "He studied the trams and the tracks for a long time and then built a device that looked like a TV remote control and used it to maneuver the trams and the tracks."
Mr. Micor added: "He had converted the TV control into a device capable of controlling all the junctions on the line and wrote in the pages of a school exercise book the best junctions to move trams around and what signals to change.
"He treated it like any other schoolboy might a giant train set – but it was lucky nobody was killed.
"Four trams were derailed, and others had to make emergency stops that left passengers hurt. He clearly did not think about the consequences of his actions."
Dabrowski is to face charges of endangering public safety in a special juvenile court.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Vandals sought in Newport News bombs
Rceived the following news article via email. It included no date nor original source citation or reference. Using the date of the email, I assume these incidents occurred the wekend of Jan. 5-6, 2008.
NEWPORT NEWS - Fire investigators and railroad authorities are searching for vandals they say planted two makeshift explosives on Newport News train tracks this weekend, a few blocks north of the city's Amtrak station.
Railroad workers spotted the first device around 3 p.m. Saturday on the tracks near North Avenue and Warwick Boulevard, behind the Hilton Shopping Center. After fire department workers removed it from the tracks, a second explosive appeared around 10 p.m., fire officials said.
At least one Amtrak passenger train and several freight trains were delayed as bomb squad workers removed and deactivated the devices, said Robert Sullivan, a spokesman for CSX, the Jacksonville, Fla.-based company that owns the tracks and the freight trains that run on them. The tracks were reopened early Sunday morning.
The bombs were detonated safely before trains could hit them, and no one was injured.
"The devices appeared to be crudely built, and the work of vandals," Sullivan said.
Police blocked parts of North Avenue, east and west of the train tracks, Saturday afternoon.
Monica Long lives close enough to the tracks that her house rumbles when the trains go by. On Saturday, while the tracks were closed, it was the force of an explosive that rattled her home.
Long, 48 said she saw flames on the tracks after 10 p.m., then heard a boom that shook the house so much it made the dogs howl.
"It was a ball of fire," she said. "Like a big firecracker."
She called police, who said firefighters had detonated a pipe bomb.
Officials would not comment on how powerful the explosives were.
"All I can say is there's no threat to public safety right now," said Newport News Fire Department spokeswoman Dana Perry. "We rendered the devices safe and the rest is part of the investigation."
CSX investigators and the fire marshal's office are trying to find whoever is responsible for the explosives, Perry said.
CSX officials have been in touch with federal agents, said Sullivan, but he could not say whether they were doing their own investigation. Officials with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives did not return phone calls on Monday.
This is the first time explosives have been planted on train tracks in Newport News, Sullivan said.
"Obviously, any act of vandalism or anything that might endanger the safety of the public or the trains is something we take very seriously," he said. "We're investigating, and we'll prosecute anyone connected to the incidents to the full extent of the law."
NEWPORT NEWS - Fire investigators and railroad authorities are searching for vandals they say planted two makeshift explosives on Newport News train tracks this weekend, a few blocks north of the city's Amtrak station.
Railroad workers spotted the first device around 3 p.m. Saturday on the tracks near North Avenue and Warwick Boulevard, behind the Hilton Shopping Center. After fire department workers removed it from the tracks, a second explosive appeared around 10 p.m., fire officials said.
At least one Amtrak passenger train and several freight trains were delayed as bomb squad workers removed and deactivated the devices, said Robert Sullivan, a spokesman for CSX, the Jacksonville, Fla.-based company that owns the tracks and the freight trains that run on them. The tracks were reopened early Sunday morning.
The bombs were detonated safely before trains could hit them, and no one was injured.
"The devices appeared to be crudely built, and the work of vandals," Sullivan said.
Police blocked parts of North Avenue, east and west of the train tracks, Saturday afternoon.
Monica Long lives close enough to the tracks that her house rumbles when the trains go by. On Saturday, while the tracks were closed, it was the force of an explosive that rattled her home.
Long, 48 said she saw flames on the tracks after 10 p.m., then heard a boom that shook the house so much it made the dogs howl.
"It was a ball of fire," she said. "Like a big firecracker."
She called police, who said firefighters had detonated a pipe bomb.
Officials would not comment on how powerful the explosives were.
"All I can say is there's no threat to public safety right now," said Newport News Fire Department spokeswoman Dana Perry. "We rendered the devices safe and the rest is part of the investigation."
CSX investigators and the fire marshal's office are trying to find whoever is responsible for the explosives, Perry said.
CSX officials have been in touch with federal agents, said Sullivan, but he could not say whether they were doing their own investigation. Officials with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives did not return phone calls on Monday.
This is the first time explosives have been planted on train tracks in Newport News, Sullivan said.
"Obviously, any act of vandalism or anything that might endanger the safety of the public or the trains is something we take very seriously," he said. "We're investigating, and we'll prosecute anyone connected to the incidents to the full extent of the law."
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