Re: (erielack) The Cuttoff, wasNJ Industry

["Jim Guthrie" <jguthrie_@_pipeline.com>]

> Well was EL flat out telling NJ no ever really an option? You can 
> negotiate and get a good price or

The E-L never told the NJ Dept of Highways "No" on these things. I realize 
folk here like to romaticize the railroad in all its glory, but let's be 
clear: The E-L was eager to sell the Cut-off to the state for construction 
if I-80. No one "stopped" the sale in Cleveland, nor did they price it out 
of range. This is not to say that there were people in the organization who 
might have objected -- but the fact is, they needed money.

Now -- let's do some speculating: Given the history of how the Erie operated 
on these things, if the Erie guys were **in charge** in determining the fate 
of the Paterson-Totowa section, they would have insisted on getting their 
single track (and maybe a passing siding, signalled), and then, on the even 
of the opening of the highway -- abandon it <g>.

Cheers,
Jim Guthrie
ELHS #1296 


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