NYS&W on the Passiac branch today(5/21) with images.

The NYS&W made a trek down the seldom used Passaic("AC") Branch today. The mission was to retrieve the 29 grey trash hoppers that have been in storage since before winter 09/10. The power today was the NS 5293(which was fortunately heading east). The cars will eventually be used by a trash customer on the Hawthorne/Paterson NJ border. The most interesting part of this move was coupling the cars in 3 different pieces as they shoved back down the branch. This resulted in a rare and unusual daytime move across US Highway 46 causing a considerable backup of traffic. Tor those with memories, this is the branch that used to lead to Garden State Paper, which has since been closed(and razed). The crew was the WS-2. Six Axle locomotives are prohibited on the branch. Here are some images from the move.

Shoving the first cut of cars across Market Street:

http://rcbsd45.rrpicturearchives.net/sh ... id=2069065

Shoving across Boulevard to make the next coupling:

http://rcbsd45.rrpicturearchives.net/sh ... id=2069067

Now the fun part: Crossing and blocking Route 46 while they make the last hitch and do the brake test:

http://rcbsd45.rrpicturearchives.net/sh ... id=2069068

http://rcbsd45.rrpicturearchives.net/sh ... id=2069066


Back at Market Street as the crew gingerly makes its way back out to the main line:

http://rcbsd45.rrpicturearchives.net/sh ... id=2069060

http://rcbsd45.rrpicturearchives.net/sh ... id=2069061


Re entering the mainline just west of PC, in Saddle Brook:

http://rcbsd45.rrpicturearchives.net/sh ... id=2069062


And finally, at Mayhill Street, the est end of the yard as they place the cars in position for eventual delivery to the customer as they need them.

http://rcbsd45.rrpicturearchives.net/sh ... id=2069063


That's it for now. Enjoy and Stay Safe !

RCB

i had to laugh at the second picture of the rt 46 crossing. thats the lane, where "dig-dug" was hit by a car, and rode away, on the hood, as the driver attempted to beat the train!! nice pics, rcb. thanks for the memories!!

Nice,
Was just through there a couple of days ago looking at those cars

The crew later shoved back in on the branch with a bunch of gondolas for storage, but they only went as far as the first crossing, Market street. And Golden Arm, I know well of the incident that you speak of. I believe d this was back when they only had cross bucks and no other protection. i know that person well, and last crossed paths with him at Christmas time at the NYSW employee's Christmas party. last I knew he's still working for NJ Transit. Was a RFE for a while but I think he's back running.

rcbsd45 wrote:The NYS&W made a trek down the seldom used Passaic("AC") Branch today. The mission was to retrieve the 29 grey trash hoppers that have been in storage since before winter 09/10. The power today was the NS 5293(which was fortunately heading east). The cars will eventually be used by a trash customer on the Hawthorne/Paterson NJ border. The most interesting part of this move was coupling the cars in 3 different pieces as they shoved back down the branch. This resulted in a rare and unusual daytime move across US Highway 46 causing a considerable backup of traffic. Tor those with memories, this is the branch that used to lead to Garden State Paper, which has since been closed(and razed). The crew was the WS-2. Six Axle locomotives are prohibited on the branch. Here are some images from the move.

Shoving the first cut of cars across Market Street:

http://rcbsd45.rrpicturearchives.net/sh ... id=2069065

Shoving across Boulevard to make the next coupling:

http://rcbsd45.rrpicturearchives.net/sh ... id=2069067

Now the fun part: Crossing and blocking Route 46 while they make the last hitch and do the brake test:

http://rcbsd45.rrpicturearchives.net/sh ... id=2069068

http://rcbsd45.rrpicturearchives.net/sh ... id=2069066


Back at Market Street as the crew gingerly makes its way back out to the main line:

http://rcbsd45.rrpicturearchives.net/sh ... id=2069060

http://rcbsd45.rrpicturearchives.net/sh ... id=2069061


Re entering the mainline just west of PC, in Saddle Brook:

http://rcbsd45.rrpicturearchives.net/sh ... id=2069062


And finally, at Mayhill Street, the est end of the yard as they place the cars in position for eventual delivery to the customer as they need them.

http://rcbsd45.rrpicturearchives.net/sh ... id=2069063


That's it for now. Enjoy and Stay Safe !

RCB

Well here is my photo of the WS-2 on the Passaic Branch at Elmwood Park. Enjoy!

http://n01jd1.rrpicturearchives.net/sho ... id=2069070

Awsome pictures everyone! It's great to see an old rail line still somewhat active and seeing trains. Must've been quite a sight.

I know they are parking the dirt gondolas on the branch. Does the car owner get charged for storage? It seems this line has found a new service life. Surprised the locals haven't complained much.

yes, it's a per day fee, storage is a very lucrative business for lines with idle track.

The cars aren't stored per se, they are just staged there before being moved to Maywood as there is nowhere else to stage the cars.

Passaic junction yard has been real empty lately with the downturn in the plastic pellet cars. Why not stage them in there? A little closer to the "dirt".

branch is empty again. drove past monday and saw the gon's all gone!

http://briancronk1.rrpicturearchives.ne ... id=2706284

http://briancronk1.rrpicturearchives.ne ... id=2706287

Images from the branch last night.

Brian

The railroad is so backed up with cars (Because of connecting roads being hit by the hurricane) that the MC tracks are loaded to the gills. So they are storing cars here until the road trains can get everything out. Interesting times indeed.

On the way home tonight I saw a headlight by Market St. With no camera in the car I decided to just park at CVS and watch. After they crossed Market I rushed home to grab a camera and take some night time photography on the Passaic. How neat would it be to see a locomotive by the Boulevard once again? When I came back the 2732 was missing somewhere in the "jungle". It was late so I turned around and went back home. On the way home I ran into them in PC yard moving some cars around at Mayhill. Looks like the branch was too cluttered with trees and branches for the crew to safely navigate through to retrieve the last of some gondolas stored down there.

Nighttime at Mayhill St.

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... id=2971904

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... id=2971906

Brian