Railroad Forums 

  • Railcar-Speeder excursion 10/18/08

  • Discussion related to New York, Susquehanna & Western operations past and present. Also includes some discussion related to Deleware Otsego owned and operated shortlines. Official web site can be found here: NYSW.COM.
Discussion related to New York, Susquehanna & Western operations past and present. Also includes some discussion related to Deleware Otsego owned and operated shortlines. Official web site can be found here: NYSW.COM.

Moderators: GOLDEN-ARM, NJ Vike

 #592051  by CPSK
 
Hi;
I have an Outlook calendar reminder that says the NYSW railcar excursion is this weekend. As I recall, it starts (has already left) Riverdale and runs to Warwick NY today, and leaves Riverdale for North Bergen on Sunday morning.

Can anyone give me an approx. ETA for the cars to arrive in Hackensack?

Thanks

CPSK
 #592221  by cjvrr
 
CPSK,

We should be leaving Riverdale at or before 9am and travel to Hawthorne for a break at the Hawthorne station. we will then travel east thru Paterson and Hackensack. Our lunch break is scheduled between noon and 1pm at the NYS&W Ridgefield Park engine facility.

If you have a scanner we broadcast on 151.625. Our pilot calls out every even mile post along the route. You will hear other conversations too.

Chris
 #592224  by rcbsd45
 
On Saturday, the Volunteer Railroaders Ass'n, in conjunction with
NARCOA sponsered a motor car(track speeder) excursion over the NYSW
from Bloomingdale NJ to Warwick NY and return.(A similar excursion on
Sunday Oct 19 will cover from Bloomingdale to Ridgefield Park, NJ)
The weather was a classic fall day, with seasonal temps, and
fortunately good weather. I didn't get out the door as early as i had
planned, so i first caught the trip at Vernon Crossing, where they
pasued for lunch. there were about 25 cars(I believe) in
the "parade". here are some images from the Saturday excursion:

First, at Vernon crossing, where lunch was had at the "Place by the
tracks" Deli:

http://rcbsd45.rrpicturearchives.net/sh ... id=1359469


http://rcbsd45.rrpicturearchives.net/sh ... id=1359468


Next, the cars turned at Bairds Farm crossing(although a few did
manage to get to Pelton Rd (to get all the possible mileage):


http://rcbsd45.rrpicturearchives.net/sh ... id=1359470


Next, heading east(south) on the former L&HR at Ryerson Road crossing:


http://rcbsd45.rrpicturearchives.net/sh ... id=1359472


http://rcbsd45.rrpicturearchives.net/sh ... id=1359474


http://rcbsd45.rrpicturearchives.net/sh ... id=1359473


On the way east, a side trip was made(for the mileage collectors)
down the length of the Limecrest Industrial track before heading
back over the mountain:

http://rcbsd45.rrpicturearchives.net/sh ... id=1359477

And finally, one of the many unsung hereoes of the day/weekend, our
own Louis Lokuta, who volunteered as a flagman to help protect the
numerous crossings enroute as the speeders wouldn't activate the
protection.

http://rcbsd45.rrpicturearchives.net/sh ... id=1359478


I will be working and wont be around to capture images on the Sunday
trip; hopefully someone else can. But thats it for now. Enjoy!

RCB
 #592325  by CPSK
 
cjvrr wrote:CPSK,

We should be leaving Riverdale at or before 9am and travel to Hawthorne for a break at the Hawthorne station. we will then travel east thru Paterson and Hackensack. Our lunch break is scheduled between noon and 1pm at the NYS&W Ridgefield Park engine facility.

If you have a scanner we broadcast on 151.625. Our pilot calls out every even mile post along the route. You will hear other conversations too.

Chris
Thanks for the info. I'll probably go to Bogota and see if I can get you coming across the Hack River bridge, or maybe if I can't get close enough, I'll go to Hackensack side.

CPSK
 #592615  by cjvrr
 
CPSK,

Did you get to see us?

We reached the lunch stop at Ridgefield Park around 12:30 on Sunday. We ran down the Edgewater Branch after lunch and got to run to the end of track. We also were allowed to walk to the mouth of the NYS&W Edgewater tunnel. A first for most and a real thrill.

We backed out of the branch and high tailed it to the turntable to turn the cars. Everyone got turned and placed on the NYS&W main then CSX train 118 got permission into the yard. We had southbound CSX trains come down the right side on the CSX main and on the left side into the NYS&W (CSX) yard. That was a first for us in our 9 years of running on the line.

We got back to Riverdale around 6pm just as it got dark.

I took photos at the tunnel and a few other spots, so I hope to post some in the next few days.
 #592783  by CPSK
 
cjvrr;
I never made it. I was at the track, but the wrong one<g>. I was on the Teaneck High School track running until about 12:00. By the time I had showered, it was lunch time, and I figured you guys were already past.
It sounds like you all had a lot of fun. Does the Edgewater branch still see any trains? Is the tunnel still passable?

CPSK
 #593952  by cjvrr
 
There were several people chasing / videoing along the route.

Two guys had video cameras running in their speeders along the entire trip. If you want video from "in the speeder", I will see what I can do. Please PM me with your email address.

Chris
 #595594  by kether83
 
Hey Chris -

Your former photography teacher and I had a great run - thanks for all the work. We're both wondering if you know anything about the future of the runs on the NYS&W.

-MG
 #595835  by cjvrr
 
I just don't know yet.

We will be asking the railroad once the 2009 NARCOA insurance policy is in place. We anticipate that happening in late December or early January of 2009. We hope to return, but you never know what happens, or what decision the railroad will make.

Mike, any chance of you posting your Youtube link to the video you shot? I am sure other would be interested in the turntable operations and any photos / vidoe you may have taken by the Edgewater tunnel.

Chris