Jersey City to Port Jervis 1910

Erie ran a scheduled train from Jersey City to Port Jervis by way of Passaic, and Middletown in 1910. Took 2 hours and seven minutes, including street running in Passaic, and the choppy profile through Monroe and Goshen. That's Train 1.

Ninety four years later, MetroNorth is able to run a train over the slightly longer Graham line with five stops, and arrive at Hoboken in 2 hours and nine minutes. Train 50 leaves Port at 552, makes local stops to Harriman, runs express to SEC, and arrives Hoboken at 801.

Another train of 1910 (train 15), left Jersey City at 930, made its first stop at Southfields 1033, and Turner (near present day Harriman?) at 1050. That's a bit worse than MetroNorth's best time on the route

I found that train 1 in the Jan 1910 OG. It ran nonstop JC-PJ. (2 conditional stops.) Incidentally, the fastest trains PJ-HOB now do it in 2 hr 8 min with 10 stops. The one that goes express from SEC to Harriman is a bit slower. So, considering that MN makes more stops, some of which are pretty long, and goes by the longer Graham Line, it doesn't do so badly.
It seems that MN has more interest in running fast trains than does NJT, but that's no surprise.

If there ever was a need to restore a rail line, it is the old Erie Main Line. Have you ever tried to drive west on Route 17 on a Friday night, or any night for that matter? It is terrible. With casinos coming to Monticello, this situation will only get worse. It will be like Woodstock in 1969 (a good Penn Central year), but on a daily basis. Right now, lots of people drive to Hariman and park, but if there was train service to Goshen, Chester and Monroe, it would be much better. Slap me, I'm dreaming.

Metro North believes a lot in express service. In fact, when the new signaling system is done on the tier. Maybe MN could run more trains during off peak hours.

Penn Central wrote:If there ever was a need to restore a rail line, it is the old Erie Main Line. Have you ever tried to drive west on Route 17 on a Friday night, or any night for that matter? It is terrible. With casinos coming to Monticello, this situation will only get worse. It will be like Woodstock in 1969 (a good Penn Central year), but on a daily basis. Right now, lots of people drive to Hariman and park, but if there was train service to Goshen, Chester and Monroe, it would be much better. Slap me, I'm dreaming.

Erie Main Line ran thru downtown Middletown and downtown Passaic and had a large number of grade crossings. In 1910, they could blast thru them, today they'd need reduced speeds, etc.

Graham Line now and then is a much better rail line than the Erie Main Line between Newburgh Junction and Howells ever was

Interesting. Tell me more about this. Are you saying that the Quickway would clear up if the mainline was rebuilt through Monroe and downtown Middletown?

Penn Central wrote:If there ever was a need to restore a rail line, it is the old Erie Main Line. Have you ever tried to drive west on Route 17 on a Friday night, or any night for that matter? It is terrible. With casinos coming to Monticello, this situation will only get worse. It will be like Woodstock in 1969 (a good Penn Central year), but on a daily basis. Right now, lots of people drive to Hariman and park, but if there was train service to Goshen, Chester and Monroe, it would be much better. Slap me, I'm dreaming.

Butlershops wrote:Interesting. Tell me more about this. Are you saying that the Quickway would clear up if the mainline was rebuilt through Monroe and downtown Middletown?

No, I'm not suggesting that traffic would "clear up" but right now a lot of commuters drive from Goshen and Chester down the Quickway to Hariman to take the train. Restoring train service from Middletown to Hariman on the old main line route would provide local service and a shorter ride for customers from points west. A different connection to the existing line could be made to avoid the old route going through downtown Middletown. Forget going through Passaic, my suggestion was strictly for the Orange County section.

[quote="Penn Central]
No, I'm not suggesting that traffic would "clear up" but right now a lot of commuters drive from Goshen and Chester down the Quickway to Hariman to take the train. Restoring train service from Middletown to Hariman on the old main line route would provide local service and a shorter ride for customers from points west. A different connection to the existing line could be made to avoid the old route going through downtown Middletown. Forget going through Passaic, my suggestion was strictly for the Orange County section.[/quote]

I see your point. Driving on the Quickway is frequently a less-than pleasurable activity.

But, as you said, lots of people from Monroe, Goshen, and Chester drive to Harriman. If they are driving, why bother rebuilding the tracks?

Butlershops wrote: But, as you said, lots of people from Monroe, Goshen, and Chester drive to Harriman. If they are driving, why bother rebuilding the tracks?

That's the point. If the tracks were put back in, the people would not have to drive. Unforunately, there is still one drawback. Many people from this area prefer the express bus that gives them a one seat ride to Manhattan. They can't get that on the train. The bus has to sit in the same traffic as the cars, with the exception of the Lincoln Tunnel express lanes, when open.

I've noticed that Shortline runs plenty of express service from around both route 17 corridors. The bus might be fast but at the same time you might be kidding yourselves, especially with so much traffic. That is what all the park and ride lots along MN's PJL are for. I can't wait to see more trains running out there. MN should definately consider running 42ACs with 8 Vs.

njt/mnrrbuff wrote:I've noticed that Shortline runs plenty of express service from around both route 17 corridors. The bus might be fast but at the same time you might be kidding yourselves, especially with so much traffic. That is what all the park and ride lots along MN's PJL are for. I can't wait to see more trains running out there. MN should definately consider running 42ACs with 8 Vs.

It will be interesting to see if NJT allows Short Line to service the new rail garage facility in Ramsey, right on 17. It would make a lot of sense, and could allow cross-honoring in bad weather, strikes, etc.

NJT periodically allows cross honoring of its own bus tickets on rail, and vice versa.