Re: (erielack) D&H PA 16 on the NJ&NY

[The Jordans <jjordan_@_blast.net>]

Post the pictures!!!!

- -Joe Jordan

At 11:52 AM 12/8/01 EST, TGAC2_@_aol.com wrote:
>In a message dated 12/08/2001 7:04:13 AM Pacific Standard Time, 
>jananran_@_mymailstation.com writes:  (Randy Brown)
>
>> Since we've gotten to NJ&NY operations, did any of you see the D&H PA on 
>its 
>> one and only venture into Erie commuter service?
>
>Since you asked, Randy, the answer is yes.  What's better, is that I have 
>five photos of D&H PA 16 eastbound in Hillsdale.  If anyone's interested, 
>I'll scan it and place it on my photopoint site.
>
>I believe the year was 1970 or 1971.  I was 14 at the time and had just
begun 
>photographing trains.  I lived about 3/4 of a mile west of the tracks on 
>Hillsdale Avenue.  Hillsdale station was at the intersection of the two main 
>roads in town, Hillsdale Ave (E/W), and Broadway (N/S).  The PA had a horn 
>(Nathan M5 I think) that sounded unlike anything I had ever heard before in 
>my life.  
>
>I heard the PA westbound the night before, and wondered what it was.  The 
>next morning I heard the train blowing for the crossing at Woodcliff Lake, 
>one stop west of Hillsdale.  I must have been dressed at the time, so I 
>grabbed my camera, mounted my Schwinn and raced down Hillsdale Avenue to 
>Hillsdale Station.
>
>I got to the crossing just seconds before the train did, but I was badly 
>winded.  My photos show evidence of both inexperience in shooting trains,
and 
>being out of breath.  The result is that I have a few shots of the 
>locomotive, but not a good shot of the train in it's environment.
>
>Lack of trophy photo not withstanding, this was an event that focused and 
>expanded my interest in trains from that day forward. 
>
>It is interesting to note that later when E8s were assigned to the NJ&NY, 
>they operated in pairs to eliminate the need to turn the units.  This always 
>struck me as unusual, in that a single RS2, RS3 or GP7 @ 1500-1600 HP had 
>handled these trains previously, and now they were handled by twin E8s at 
>4500HP.  But it sure made for a good looking train!   The PA, however, 
>operated solo.  I assume that it was run light to the wye at Nanuet for 
>turning.
>
>Does anyone know how many days the PA operated on the NJ&NY?  I suspect it 
>was only once, otherwise I would have heard it.  Did the 16 or other D&H PA 
>run on any other commuter train in this period?
>
>Regards to all from the left coast.
>Tim Costello
>Irvine, CA
>
>

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