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Re: (erielack) Northern Branch-ridership numbers
The numbers could be misleading. Remember it was a one way commuter service addressing only one market. I would guess most of the costs were on paper.The whole commuter operation has such high fixed costs. Like terminals (Hoboken) Equipment sits around all day waiting for rush hour, so do the employees.(Unlike long distance trains that are on the move day and night.)The employees, and equipment went elsewhere when the passenger trains were dropped. Hoboken Terminal is still there and so are the costs. Less trains means less income. I guess the only savings were to let the tracks fall apart. The old coaches, were non air conditioned from the 1930's ? Running on a 1870's taxed right of way (perhaps older) tickets were also taxed until the 1960's I think 1965. Competeing against air conditioned buses on government highways. To government terminals like the Port Authority bus terminal in NY. The cars were hot in the summer. They swept them out but that was it. It was not very attractive for most business travelers to wear their good clothes in. Just think of getting off the hot train in Hoboken in your good clothes all full of sweat and dust from the right a way. The doors and windows were open for air! The cars did have fans. The engines used their sanders for fast take offs from stations and that sand would be in the air and blow back along the trains.Then there was the heavy braking for "HOT" stops at stations. I never minded the smell of those "HOT" steel brake shoes. In places like Scranton the blue smoke would just roll off the train's wheels! From those hot shoes on that mountain grade.The window sills were very dirty. Bathrooms were bomb sites.(Just a hole in the floor you could see the tracks below.) And smelled most of the time. Over 40mph it would blow back right up and on you.The only cleaning the seats got was when someone sat in them.If you want to see some of the coaches. And ride them, go to Connellsville, Indiana.( Amtrak does have a train three times a week and it gets there in the middle !
of the n
ight. Warning it can be sold out the numbers are #50 and #51. It runs direct from the Northeast to Chicago too! There is taxi service. You don't need a car) The Whitewater Valley Scenic railroad still runs them on their trains. Some even still say "ERIE" on them. They are a very nice group, and the taxi and motels are very cheap. I enjoyed my trip, except Amtrak never has enough cars or trains to meet the demand on the "West" end.
I did get to ride the Nyack service. Boy am I glad I did! Most of the riders were short distance. These short distance riders cause most of the losses on commuter rail because in those days it resulted in low ticket yield. Today many systems have solved some of this problem by having very high zone fares. Also outlining areas are now developed. In the old days just about no one would get on after the train left Hoboken. I think that has changed. Lackawanna Lance
- -----Original Message-----
From: Keith Smollin <keith.smollin_@_gmail.com>
To: erielack_@_lists.railfan.net
Sent: Sun, Dec 5, 2010 9:33 am
Subject: (erielack) Northern Branch-ridership numbers
ould anyone know where to find the ridership numbers for the final years of
he Northern Branch service? and also how much money was saved by the
ervice being discontinued?
hanks
s
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