RE: Subject: (erielack) ELHS Eastern Region Spring Meeting Report

[Charles_Walsh_@_Berlex.com]

I'm curious how far east the tracks were laid on I-280?  I remember seeing
the track under the bridge at Mt. Prospect Avenue during construction.  I
imagine the main purpose was to cart fill from the massive cut east of Mt.
Prospect Avenue and through East Orange??   The westbound grade, however,
would have been AT LEAST 5% (maybe 6%).  How many loads could these
workhorses have taken at one time?

Chuck



                                                                                                                                     
                      "Tupaczewski, Paul R                                                                                           
                      (Paul)"                                                                                                        
                      <paultup_@_lucent.com>  To:     "'James Harr'" <bnchmark@earthlink.net>                                          
                      Sent by:                      ErieLack Digest <erielack-digest_@_lists.railfan.net>                              
                      erielack-owner_@_lists. cc:                                                                                      
                      railfan.net           Subject:                                                                                 
                                                    RE: Subject: (erielack) ELHS Eastern Region Spring Meeting Report                
                                                                                                                                     
                      04/12/2005 09:12 AM                                                                                            
                      Please respond to                                                                                              
                      "Tupaczewski, Paul R                                                                                           
                      (Paul)"                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                     



> One of the highlights for me was, during Walt Appels' films,
> the footage
> he had of the SJ Groves U-boats at work in constructing I-280 through
> the Oranges. I did't get a chance to ask - did they get there via the
> ex-DLW line that runs adjacent to the highway?

Nope, the SJ Groves equipment was brought in via the EL (ex-Erie) Caldwell
Branch down to Essex Fells, then taken by the M&E from there to the
location where 280 passes over the M&E today in Roseland. A steep curving
ramp was built to get the equipment onto the Groves tracks down the center
of Route 280. Once highway excavation was complete, the equipment left via
the same route. The RS2 was sold to a line in Minnesota, I believe, and the
two U33Cs were sold to the Burlington Northern (there's a shot in Preston
Cook's EL book with an SJ Groves unit trailing the EL motive power on a
westbound on the west end of the road)

             - Paul

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