(erielack) Mystery Photos - Branchline passenger train derailment ~ 1930

[Richard Wisneski <rcwisneski_@_gmail.com>]

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1930_wreck_roof.jpg (image/jpeg, 892x670 96584 bytes, BF: 6.19 ppb)
1930_wreck_fenceline.jpg (image/jpeg, 906x668 78371 bytes, BF: 7.72 ppb)

These two grainy photos were recently posted on a Facebook group dealing
with Pequannock/Pompton Plains NJ.  The Erie Greenwood Lake Branch operated
through this town.  The family who owns the prints believes these photos
were taken on this line around 1930. With the owners permission I am
sending to this list and some other groups to see if we can identify this
incident.  The Pequannock Museum folks (in the restored Pompton Plains
station) are also investigating.

For identification purposes I've given a file name of "1930 wreck roof" to
the photo where the tops of the derailed cars are visible.  The other photo
I've named "1930 wreck fenceline" since that is a predominant feature.

One local resident believes the barn in the background of image "roof" ties
in with a location just south (RR East) of the Route 23 overpass. If so,
that would mean this view looks RR west, with Pompton Plains station (and
Mountain View, and Jersey City) to the left, and ultimately Wanaque Midvale
and Greenwood Lake to the right.  The corn field would be the location of
today's Morris Pipe, former site of Carlsons Lumber, known by EL historians
as the location of a vandalism-caused wreck in the early 1960's.  There is
some sort of tower in the distance just barely visible over the point where
the first two cars meet; Perhaps a church steeple? If so that does not
match up well with the location suggested above.

If the location is correct, then the "fenceline" photo would be looking
east. It appears that something else is down the track (presumably to the
east), possibly the locomotive. Zooming in on this photo, it appears that
the two upright coaches are derailed along a second track (presumably a
spur).  If so, that doesn't match up with the configuration from the
1960's.

Any passenger car folks out there to identify these cars? In part due to
the print quality I wasn't able to make out any lettering on them.  My
personal reaction when I first saw the photo was that I was looking at CNJ
coaches.

So I'm a little skeptical, and think that this might NOT be on the
Greenwood Lake branch, but I'm not enough of a detective to say with
confidence.  I'm hoping some on this list will bring forth more detailed
knowledge to help figure this out.

Appreciate your time and thoughts.

Rich Wisneski


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