(erielack) Boonton Line freight train analysis

["Paul Brezicki" <doctorpb_@_bellsouth.net>]

I think you're on the right track, Chuck. While most of the funding for
reconstruction came from the federal 3R program, some states were also
involved, and the various beaurocracies didn't always spend the money
wisely. Some of the decisions were more political than pragmatic. Maybe
that's how a crafty NJ pol got some work for his underemployed constituents.
It was small potatoes compared with, say, rehabbing the multiple track  PRR
main across PA. In the early going there was also still some uncertainty
about how much traffic would go where. So it doesn't surprise me that the
cutoff had a tie program in '76, and then in a year later they were dragging
recently installed cwr off the Poconos and relaying it on the Delaware
Div'n. I think that early on, the CR operating folks determined they wanted
no part of muscling heavy freights over the Boonton line rollercoaster. So
the shift back to the Erie side was pretty rapid, and after that the
Scranton route saw online traffic and detours.

Paul B

Dear Paul B. and all,

So what remained on the Scranton side once the shift to the Erie side was
completed?  There were definitely CR freights that operated over the
Cut-Off, at least during 1976.  Whether this continued in 1977, I don't
know.  By 1978, Port Morris to Slateford Jct. had been placed out of
service.  Once again, I'm curious why there was significant tie replacement
on the Cut-Off after CR took over.  Maybe they had all that federal money
to spend, or maybe it was something else?  It doesn't make any sense.  Any
speculation?

Chuck


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