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From: "Paul R DOT Tupaczewski" paultup AT comcast DOT net
Date: Wed, 23 Apr 2014 08:28:08 -0400
Subject: Block Line EL content - December 1975
"EL_westbound_symbol_freight_schedule_10-31-75-Block_Line.jpg" - image/jpeg, 1500x1160 (256c)

OK, this one is actually December! (yesterday's was November)

This month includes a fun "chasing the Bicentennial 3638" recap and update, an "official" EL freight scehdule (which I scanned and
attached), another Chessie desperation note, various news bites, and a few related CNJ items... enjoy!

- Paul






DEC 75

NEWS FLASH: 2nd EL Bicentennial unit is SD-45 #3632

TRACKING THE 3638. or "THE BEST LAID PLANS OF MICE AND MEN.etc."

November 2nd dawned sunny and clear (or 100% C.I.F. as Tom Nemeth would say) and my typewriter was hardly cooled off from the
November Block Line when the phone rang, shortly before noon. Member Rich Behrendt was on the line from Mountain Lakes: "NY-100 just
passed through with the bicentennial unit!" BANG! That was it. 75 cents for 9 words, and before he had the phone down, I was on my
way, cameras in hand, to the "Notch." The possibility of the train stalling was always imminent and I wanted to cash in as much as
possible, as the engine (er. paint job) was only 10 days old.
Arriving at Great Notch, I didn't have long to wait, as the unit appeared at a good roll, and hoisted the merchandise (short train)
over the hill easily with the assistance of a second SD.

The paint scheme is simple. The maroon band and yellow stripes are now white, and continue all the way around the nose. The top half
of the unit is red, the bottom half blue. Trucks and running gear are silver. Red, white and blue heralds adorn both ends. Two
clusters of three stars each are on the sides. The name on the side white band is in red, as are the numerals, and the familiar
"Radio Equipped" is in the usual spot, in white.

I got my first look at the matching hack at Mountain Ave., Montclair. The number is C354 (not C376 as previously reported), and the
paint scheme on this bay windowed job matches the engine exactly, with the exception of the yellow safety striping on the ends.

As reported in the November Block Line, the original plans called for the units to be used on hotshot pig trains NY-99/100. But as
the poet said, the "best laid plans of mice and men go oft astray." The week following saw the unit used on CS-9 and BC-2, and the
ultimate indignity came on Saturday the 15th, as the unit came east as the TRAILING UNIT on BC-2, filthy, with silver paint peeling
from the fuel tank and trucks in big chunks. With the washers shut down for the season gang, I hope you get your pictures early.

THE OFFICIAL E-L COMPANY SYMBOL FREIGHT SCHEDULE is included with this issue, thanks to Frank Tatnall of the Philadelphia Chapter.
As you'll remember, we assembled our own in last month's copy, based on the hard work of several Chapter members and friends who
observed at trackside and scanned train sheets for weeks previous. The official timetable is dated October 31, 1975, just shortly
after the Block Line came out. You understand, that no timetable authority is conferred here, and times given are only approximate,
and may vary in actuality by hours. However, it is definitely a help to see what is running, where, and where the set outs (s/o) and
pick ups (p/o) are made. In addition, the table lists the general destinations of consists, which may be of help in identifying
trains when you have no scanner. The table has not been placed in text content, so that it can be torn out of your issue and carried
with you in the car. It includes all trains that touch Binghamton/east. Additional trains run on the west end, but were omitted for
reasons of space, AND.don't throw out last month's out by any means.the times may be more accurate, and a combination of both tables
plus scanner, slide rule, logarithmic tables, calculator and periodic chart of the elements will undoubtedly give super results.
Good Hunting!

P.S. Take note that the new table puts at least three trains a day (ex. Sun., Mon.) over Starrucca in DAYLIGHT.BUT, will they run
anywhere near the timecard?????

BRING IN THE KITTY. IT'S GETTING LATE

Later than you think, perhaps, if you felt that the inevitable would never come. But the eleventh hour is nigh for the February
acquisition of the E-L east of Akron to Port Morris & Jervis by Chessie. Just exactly how this will occur is still somewhat hazy,
but it seems that it would have to concur with the Conrail takeover of the remaining sections of the Erie (and, of course, the other
Eastern bankrupts) on February 27th. Yes, Conrail is reality, having been brought into the world on November 9th, as the 60 day
period for Congressional action elapsed. Born with hardly a whimper, Conrail should change the face of Eastern railroading, though
perhaps not immediately. Whether or not it will ever turn the projected profits is sheer conjecture.

But what about the E-L? What's happening on our favorite line to foreshadow the death knell? Well, the buyer road usually begins
with a good housecleaning upstairs, and Chessie is no exception. The tales of demotions in Hoboken have been reaching us for several
months, and the most recent report seems to indicate that a large contingent of the E-L's legal department has been given its
walking papers. On the operating levels, Chessie should absorb most workers in the non-Conrail/commuter zones. Employees in the
commuter areas have been mandated to choose by December 1st: Certain employement with Chessie (but, remembering the Western Maryland
situation, God only knows where. We found, for example, an ex-yardmaster working a second trick agent's job because it was "the
closest things to home.") or go with Conrail/NJDOT and take your chances that the commuter operations won't be out back beyond your
seniority or dumped altogether.

At the operations level, latest reliable reports seem to reveal the following: Chessie is very much in favor of maximum utilization
of the Erie side, and by the time the smoke clears, about 90% of the symbols should be back via Jervis. The New York Division will
be extended from its present terminus at Jervis, all the way to Hornell, N.Y., and the sector from Jervis to Binghamton will be
CTC'ed with the master control board for the ENTIRE division installed at Hoboken. As for the Scranton side, Chessie likes the shop
layout and will expand the facilities there for major repairs. Otherwise the line will be utilized only for Scranton-bound freights
and an occasional westbound through job. Eastbounds will not be handled due to the inherent problems of pushing out of Scranton, and
the treacherous reverse curve on the ascending grade at Great Notch, N.J.

Speaking of the problems at Great Notch, a recent typical Friday's action might provide a clue to Chessie's lack of desire to run
east this way: TC-4, loaded up, pulls a knuckle at Little Falls. Knuckle repaired, train underway, pulls another knuckle. By now the
train is already on the grade, and no way in hell will get over the top without the running start out of Mountain View. So, TC-4
doubles over. In the meantime, ATSF-100 is right behind waiting at Lincoln Park, and westbound CS-9, with the BICENTENNIAL UNIT on
the point, is plugged at the Notch. To avoid the problem with the second train, CS-9's power is cut off and sent to Mt. View to push
100 over Long Hill. Imagine. the Bicentennial unit in pusher service. FACING THE REAR! From the time of CS-9's Notch arrival to the
time the power was back on her train and ready to depart: THREE HOURS. And, yes Virginia, it was raining that day.

E-8 #833 is back on the Cleveland-Youngstown train for the winter. Apparently, the additional head capacity of the big EMD is
needed. The run will continue under Chessie with Ohio subsidy. The only passenger equipped Geep purchased by Chessie, apparently
just for this service, is #1401. Perhaps they're not expecting to operate it through next winter. The run is an anachronism and
carries mostly deadhead E-L employees to Cleveland.

.The rumor mill (believe this one or not) has it that E-L has sold its Alco C-424's and 425's. To where? The Morristown & Erie
Railroad's budding scrap business. Hmm.

.Another inspection train on the E-L, probably gone by the time you read this, on Dec. 1, 2, 3, will consist of 2 E-8's, E-L
business cars #3 and 300, the Pullman "Spirit of Youngstown," and two Chessie inspection cars. Routing at this time is not known.
Hopefully a full report in next month's issue. (from Chris Clune)

.E-L SDP-45 3637, wrecked at Point of Gap on September 10th will be SCRAPPED. E-L has paid the CNJ for the SD-40 #3069, and
reportedly will rebuild this unit, repainting it in a Bicentennial scheme. This would be the only SD-40 on the roster (Further
report in CNJ section below)

.December 4th will be the day bids are received by the state for the 160 new air-conditioned, high speed, electric commuter cars for
use on the Morris & Essex division of the E-L. Cars will have a maximum speed of 100 mph and be equipped with remote controlled
doors, baggage racks, and public address system. This will be the first phase in the total rehabilitation of the electrified lines.
Voltage will eventually be converted from 3000 volts DC to 12.5 kilovolts AC in order to be made compatible with the PC trackage
into Penn Station, N.Y. When track connections are made at Kearny Jct., E-L trains will be able to travel right into Gotham, without
the necessity of a train change. (Rich Behrendt)

(CNJ) The wreck at Point of Gap on the E-L on September 10th was NOT caused by a broken axle on the CNJ 3069 as was reported in the
November BLOCK LINE. E-L took full responsibility for the wreck, though their official sources never revealed any caused except to
the FRA. The CNJ was paid for the 3069 and the E-L repaired the 3068.

.The High Bridge Branch is in bad shape and is down to 10mph again. Thus, it takes 98 and 99 nearly three hours to navigate the
branch.

CURRENT CNJ FREIGHT SCHEDULE. Courtesy of Mike Wikman
ES-99 - E'port to Scranton. Called 1200 (occasionally 1400) Daily.
SE-98 - Scranton to E'port. Called 1430 at Scranton. These trains are E-L/CNJ pool trains.



EL_westbound_symbol_freight_schedule_10-31-75-Block_Line.jpg

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