Travels in New Jersey

[burgundy]

During a recent trip to the US, we had the opportunity to travel on one of the trains operated by the Whippany Railway Museum. Whippany is in New Jersey and about 45 minutes from New York City. Despite this location, the organisation seems to have had a chequered history, starting on this site, relocating elsewhere in New Jersey and then returning as a museum, with the occasional operating day. The museum is located beside a stretch of the Morristown and Erie Railroad, which is a long established shortline, apparently healthy, if not wealthy, and with its own collection of “heritage” motive power .

It seems to have a particular taste for ALCOs and its engineering shops advertise maintenance services for ALCOs for other operators.
Our visit was on a day described as the Pumpkin Festival – to celebrate “the Fall Harvest and the Season of the Witch”. 

Apart from the number of pumpkins everywhere, this also seemed to be an excuse to dress up. Crowd control, keeping passengers apart from the train in the absence of any platform, was in the hands of Captain Jack Sparrow, using the pointy end of a wooden sword and lots of “talk like a pirate” language. Our “Pumpkinliner” consisted of

an M & E diesel,

 

a Jersey Central clubcar and a string of cabooses. Rapid boarding allowed us to get a seat in the cupola of one of the cabooses.
The trip took us about 5 miles up the line, at a brisk 20mph (at least it felt brisk on the shortline permanent way). En route, we passed a small yard with some of the other M & E motive power (some in the livery of other sho rtlines that the M & E has operated) and a number of spurs, curving off the main line – apparently filled with redundant passenger stock.

 

 

The return journey did not waste time with a loco run around; the train was simply propelled back the way that we had come, with a caboose leading, at much the same speed as the outward journey.
The museum contained an interesting selection of information about the local railroad network, which, at this proximity to New York City, involves a bewildering range of companies. The model railroad, which seemed to be operating in a pre-Halloween mode, included a vaguely familiar relation to Hogwarts Hall. 

Outside, the museums own rolling stock collection was available for inspection, including a Southern 2-8-0

and a kit of parts for a 0-6-0 switcher, which was undergoing heavy repair. If it gets restored to service, a short wheelbase, outside cylinder 0-6-0 is going to make for an “interesting” ride on the M & E track. There was also an early railcar, of which Col Stevens would have been proud.

All in all, an entertaining and different day out - significantly different from the average UK preserved railway.

Best wishes

Eric

Edited June 6, 2017 by burgundy

[John B]

I worked near the Morristown & Erie a year or so ago. Morristown, a lovely, historic town (once the headquarters for George Washington's revolutionary army) is the M&E headquarters, and has an unbelievably compact, ripe-for-modeling yard.

 

Overall view of Morristown shops. Running line in the foreground. Alco C420s #18 and 19 are the mainstay of the working fleet

 

 

 

Some dodgy shots from my iPhone in failing evening light, but you get an idea of the compactness of the site. I've got some more (which I need to put through the shrink ray) if anyone is interested..

 

 

 

[mandealco]

The M&E is one cool railroad and great for modelling with loads of operational potential, depending on the era you select.  This is Laura's bridal train from 24 years ago yesterday.  Yes, she got railroaded!  This is also taken in Whippany NJ, and Laura got to drive it.

Cheers

​Steve

NZ

Edited October 18, 2016 by mandealco

[mandealco]

I agree, it's a great little yard and engine house to model, even smaller in N-scale.

Cheers

Steve

NZ

[burgundy]

Another visit to New Jersey had a fairly disasterous start, which meant that I spent quite a lot of the first two weeks visiting the hospital in Englewood and a care home in Creskill (the accident was to my wife rather than to me). Driving backwards and forwards, I noticed that the  route followed closely what appears to be disused railroad and so I did a little bit of googling to try to work out what I was looking at.
It turned out that the line was originally opened in 1859 by the Northern Railroad of New Jersey, an associate of the Erie Railroad; it would therefore have been originally built to 6' gauge.

It started from the Pavonia terminal in the area around Hoboken where five different companies had terminals for the ferries to New York City and ran northwards, roughly parallel with the Hudson river. At present, it appears to be derelict, with rust on the rails north of Englewood and I was considerably surprised to see a loco switching at the oil tank siding in Englewood one morning on my last visit. Looking down the track, although the loco was moving very slowly, it appeared to be rolling, pitching and yawing in an alarming fashion - but a subsequent photo down the right of way explained why. 

The other oddity that I discovered is that part of the line is the subject of a project to extend the New Jersey metro network.  Slightly surprisingly, public transport is not regarded as an asset in certain areas and the extension will stop just north of Englewood, rather than continuing any further to Tenafly. The latter possesses a rather spectacular station building which survives as a restaurant. Evidently, it will stay that way!

 

Cresskill, the stop beyond, looks extremely forlorn.

 

 

Best wishes

Eric

 

[burgundy]

Despite the start to the visit, we managed to spend a weekend on the Jersey shore, staying on Long Beach Island - essentially a long sand spit a couple of miles off the mainland, running parallel to the coast. A history of the island suggests that it has been devastated on several occasions by storms, which have significantly rearranged the coastline.  However improbable, the island was developed in the late 19th century by the railroads, so that a long trestle bridged the waterway and allowed the development of the island.  For anyone who would like to model the Key West Railroad, but does not have the space, this would be a convenient substitute!
The railroad lost passenger  traffic rapidly as soon as a road bridge was constructed and closed when a storm destroyed the railroad bridge in 1935. The island is now populated with expensive beach houses which, presumably, are secure from the effects of storms and the  weather, now that the US President has decided that global warming is not a problem.  
On our return from Long Beach Island, we paused at Allaire state park, an industrial village which is also home to the NJ  Museum of Transportation.
It was interesting, but like other museums that I have visisted in the US, it seems to lack a critical mass of money and manpower. The exhibits are fascinating - but seem to have little to do with New Jersey. The track was 3' gauge, the little diesel and the caboose were from Hawaii (US Army and Navy respectively) and the carriage was from Canada. 

There is apparently at least one steam loco, but little prospect of getting it back into steam. Those working the line were enthusiastic, helpful and interesting to talk to. The granchildren thoroughly enjoyed it and have been trained to make a bee line for the cupola of the caboose to get the best view! From my point of view, a particular find was a stub turnout, which will be useful for a forthcoming project. In the interests of sanity, however, I shall be keeping to a simple two way, rather than the three way illustrated.

As a postscript, the Americans that we met were as friendly and charming as always; it just seems to be a certain senior politician who is inflicting the reputational damage on the US image abroad.

Best wishes

Eric

[Adrian Wintle]

Despite the start to the visit, we managed to spend a weekend on the Jersey shore, staying on Long Beach Island - essentially a long sand spit a couple of miles off the mainland, running parallel to the coast. A history of the island suggests that it has been devastated on several occasions by storms, which have significantly rearranged the coastline. 

 

A lot of the Atlantic coast of the US is like that, from the south shore Long Island, NY down to south of Wilmington, NC. The most extreme example is the Outer Banks of North Carolina, a sand spit that extends from just south of Virginia Beach, Virginia to just south of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. No railway connection, but a very interesting part of the country.

 

And yes, the hurricanes do re-arrange the landscape on occasion. The first time I drove down there it was interesting to see the old highway disappearing into the barrier dunes in a couple of places.

 

Adrian

[burgundy]

Two different perspectives of the same location.
The Central Railroad of New Jersey built its “New York” terminus on the New Jersey side of the Hudson river – next to termini for 4 other companies along that stretch of river front. Passengers were then shipped across to New York by a fleet of ferries.

The building ceased to be used in 1967 but now forms part of Liberty Park and the landing for ferries going to the Statue of Liberty – and of course New York. It has been restored (and again after a hurricane a few years ago) to provide another aspect of the historic area around Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. If your family tree includes relations who emigrated to the United States, it is a sobering experience to try to imagine arrival here.

By way of contrast, we also visited the World Trade Centre in New York itself. One of the views from the top looks out across the entrance to New York harbour and the photo below includes an aerial view of the CRR of NJ’s station (and Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty).

Just to give a feel for the height of the World Trade Centre, note the banner in the centre of the picture above the facade of the station – and then, in the top left hand corner,  the aircraft towing it.

I am afraid that I am missing the gene that gets excited about driving down streets surrounded by massive skyscrapers, but the view from the top was well worth while.

Best wishes 

Eric

[EddieB]

As a postscript, the Americans that we met were as friendly and charming as always; it just seems to be a certain senior politician who is inflicting the reputational damage on the US image abroad.

Best wishes

Eric

I’d agree with both those statements, Eric. A chance meeting at a photo spot in New Jersey eighteen years ago led to an enduring friendship and correspondence that continues to this day. On the other hand, I’ve been in no hurry to return to the USA because of a succession of “certain senior politicians” since then (not just the current incumbent).

[BR60103]

And there were masses of tracks leading back from that station.

 

The place where we camp in Jersey City is just to the right of your photo, but separated from it by a large inlet and marina.