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From: "Paul R DOT Tupaczewski" paultup AT optonline DOT net
Date: Sat, 14 Sep 2002 23:23:52 -0400
Subject: Boonton Line views (photos and lots of news!)
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Me and a friend spent the latter part of this past Friday photographing
trains on the soon-to-be-abandoned (this Saturday!) portion of NJT's
Boonton Line (ex-EL Boonton Line, nee-Erie NY&GL) Although the images
show NJT trains, the scenes are virtually identical to the same views in
EL days (this portion of the line has changed very little, and it is
still laid with jointed rail, much of it dating from WW2)

The day was beautiful, and the sun was great. We managed to catch 8
trains before we lost our sunlight. As we were standing at the Glen
Ridge (Benson Street) station, Jim Wilson came out of the station and
(knowing me) asked if we were there to "catch the last trains." I said,
"Yeah, unless you have other news?" To which he replied: "It's not over
yet. We have some roadblocks, but we're working very hard to overcome
them. Stay tuned." Hmm. On a related note, keep reading - there's one
image of related importance below... ;)

On to the pix, from east to west:

MEADOWS.JPG: NJT GP40PH-2 #4215 leads a five car train of brand-new
Comet V coaches across the Jersey Meadows on a very long causeway
through the swampy marshlands. Lots of stuff to see here: Empire State
Building, in the haze at the left; the telegraph poles all still in
place at the right; jointed (and well-maintained) rail; the tall
"catenary" poles that were installed by the local power company in EL
days over a one-mile section of this line for power transmission (and
possible future electrification); the black girder bridge of NJ Route 7,
the "Belleville Pike" (this is the bridge Mike Del Vecchio mentioned
will be torn down and replaced with a grade crossing); and large looming
Devil's Rock in the distant center (Croxton Yard is behind it) Of
importance to me is that I managed to get Comet V cars on the new
section of the line - only a two-week window here allows you to capture
there here! Also note the grade starts to increase right under the
Route 7 bridge, and will get steeper as the tracks climb to enter
Arlington.

SUNSET.JPG: Turning around at this location, we see another westbound
heading into the setting sun (which is really highlighting the jointed
rail) Trailing cab car #5113 is ex-EL/NJDOT car #1513. You can see the
grade beginning to stiffen here. Just around that curve in the distance
is a bridge over the DL&W Kingsland Branch, which today is abandoned and
weed-grown (track's still there, though)


PHOTOLINE.JPG: In all my years of photographing the Boonton Line, this
is the first time I saw a photo line! The group is standing at the
Arlington station; the former Erie station building used to be directly
to the right. The two folks at the left are my friend Steve Wencil and
Rich Taylor (who has presented at many ELHS Eastern Region Spring
meets). Anyone know the two at the left? (or want to confess that you
were there? ;)

WR.JPG: The classic swing span across the Passaic River, WR looks as
classic as ever. I wish I could have seen EL freights rolling across
this!

FORESTHILL.JPG: A "turn" job is heading east (engine is shoving),
passing "OJ" (Orange Junction) and the old Tiffany factory at the left.
The Orange Branch comes off and goes to the right in the shadow of those
trees at the right.

ROWEST.JPG: A westbound arrives at the spartan Rowe St. station. The
two-tone Erie colored structure at the right was apparently built BY the
Erie! (foundation said "1955") That=92s the only structure of note
here.

PATLEDERER.JPG: Going around to the other side of this train, list
member Pat Lederer helped his passengers off this train, briefly posed
for this pic, and swung back onboard and headed west. Now you can place
a face with the stories! :)

NOTICE1.JPG, NOTICE2.JPG: These two signs were hanging at each station
in the soon-to-be-abandoned part. The first is a tirade by a commuter,
the second is a more interesting flyer put up by the NY&GL the day
before explaining the hangup here...

MONTCLAIRCONN.JPG: Here it is, the fabled "Montclair Connection." On the
big day, the right track (eastbound main) will be curved to the right to
join the new main. Right after that, the center track (new westbound
main) will also be connected to its corresponding other main at the
right. The track the train is on will be saved to allow NS to reach the
Orange Branch.

More to come, if demand warrants... ;)

- Paul





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