North Jersey Coast Line Thread

[NJT4149]

Little change of pace tonight: Metro North Comet V #6711 is running on the Bay Head shuttles tonight; came down today on 2303 and will run for the rest of tonight.

[GSC]

NJCL signalling question:

Eastbound signals. 17th Ave. Belmar is green. Shark River Draw is green. Sylvania Ave. Avon is green. 11th Ave. Neptune is flashing yellow. 4th Ave. Asbury Park is green.

Why does that one signal flash yellow? Asbury Park grade crossing congestion advisory?

Doesn't flashing yellow equal yellow-over-green in the old CNJ signalling? Approach, prepared to stop at second signal ahead?

[SecaucusJunction]

I heard this is a way that NJT uses to control speeds in slower territories.

[GSC]

Bradley Beach and Asbury Park stations are so close together, speed shouldn't be an issue. But the many grade crossings in Asbury, and the cars that always seem to be stopped on the tracks, might require slower speeds. Westbound signals at 4th Ave. in Asbury show green though.

[NJT4149]

Bradley Beach and Asbury Park stations are so close together, speed shouldn't be an issue. But the many grade crossings in Asbury, and the cars that always seem to be stopped on the tracks, might require slower speeds. Westbound signals at 4th Ave. in Asbury show green though.

There is a 25 MPH speed restriction in Asbury Park for eastbound trains only. The signal in question displayed a clear until a year or two ago, when they changed it to flashing yellow. Also of note, 4207 is assigned to Bay Head at the moment; it's the first Geep that's stayed for longer than 3 days since Christmas, when 4216 was around.

[GSC]

I remember that signal showing green. That's how I noticed it going to flashing yellow, it is easy to see from Memorial Drive.

You can tell 4207 is coming just by the sound. A nice throaty rumble!

End of an era - the SS Adams building, right at the 7th Ave / LaReine Ave and Memorial Drive crossing in Neptune is being torn down.

[OportRailfan]

NJT downgraded the signal's most favorable aspect from "Clear" to "Advance Approach". It might have to do with the maximum authorized speeds in the area of those stations, and if they change too drastically. FRA put out an order about that post Amtrak-188

https://www.fra.dot.gov/eLib/details/L16390" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

...In addition, Amtrak must survey the NEC to identify each main track curve where there is a reduction of more than 20 mph from the maximum authorized approach speed to that curve for passenger trains, and provide a list of each location to the FRA. ...

[NJT4149]

Current power in Bay Head is 4003, 4007, 4207, 4508, 4509, and 4511; the ALPs are assigned to the NYP sets.

4003's "new" horn came straight off a Geep, though I'm not sure which number Geep. Sounds pretty odd to have a PL42 with a Geep horn...

[blockline4180]

Current power in Bay Head is 4003, 4007, 4207, 4508, 4509, and 4511; the ALPs are assigned to the NYP sets.

4003's "new" horn came straight off a Geep, though I'm not sure which number Geep. Sounds pretty odd to have a PL42 with a Geep horn...

That 4207 has been captive to Bay Head for at least a month.

I had also thought there was another PL that had a geep horn, or it was just an unrestricted K5LA.

[GSC]

4003 does sound great. The engineer likes quilling it.

Question: On a few late-night equipment moves, GP40 4300 comes through town with red markers displayed on the front, in both LHF and SHF mode. Any special reason, or were they forgotten and not turned off?

[NJT4149]

4206 replacing 4217 and 4007; 4007 was shopped for an alerter failure, with 4217 acting as the protect. The 4217 was also shopped for unknown reasons; 8 car ML set on the shuttles as a result of this

[GSC]

4217 came down on either last Mon or Tues night with an equipment move.

[NJT4149]

4003 does sound great. The engineer likes quilling it.

Question: On a few late-night equipment moves, GP40 4300 comes through town with red markers displayed on the front, in both LHF and SHF mode. Any special reason, or were they forgotten and not turned off?

Not entirely sure, but I feel that the most logical explanation is to show that the move is non revenue. I really don't see that being too logical, as most passengers would not even notice.

There has been a 6 car set roaming the lower Coast, with 4003 as the power. In addition, NJT is reportedly short on cab cars again, which means that some trains have engines on both ends.

[GSC]

There's a five-car set running around down here lately.

If there's a cab car shortage, what happened to the older "black window" Comet cab cars that used to run on the NJCL?

[NJT4149]

There's a five-car set running around down here lately.

If there's a cab car shortage, what happened to the older "black window" Comet cab cars that used to run on the NJCL?

The Comet IVs didn't run very well in mixed Comet sets apparently. In addition, the cars need their cab signals upgraded to comply with Amtrak standards; NJT has determined that it's not worth to do so. The MM-08 just came down with 4216 leading to switch 4007 with 4015. Bay Head currently has:
4517 + 8EP
4032 + 4PP
4015 + 4PP
4003+ 6PP
4518 + 8ML
4506 + 8ML