Re: (erielack) ES99/SE98

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

Bruce,

In the general scheme of things, where the entire EL was not a good business
plan (that's why it was bankrupt), the CNJ traffic was still worthwhile to
EL despite the shifted interchange. EL still got the lion's share of the
linehaul, while CNJ was still the terminating carrier, and thus was obliged
to cover the terminal costs. If EL's business plan was not good, CNJ's was
hopeless. LV did assume most of CNJ's PA business, but there was no reason
for EL to relinquish the Northern NJ interchange, as long as it and CNJ had
a physical connection somewhere. No, the High Bridge branch was not mainline
material (I believe it was FRA Class 5 with a 10 mph speed limit), and the
physical interchange saw regular derailments until the New Connection was
built, but CNJ did what it could to keep the traffic.

To get an idea of what the traffic consisted of, look for CNJ LJ in the last
3 columns of PN-98, CNJ-98 and BS-4; the last column gives the location the
cars were received at (for more detail on those received at Chicago, look at
the consists of the eastbound Direct Delivery trains-ATSF-100, MILW-98 etc).
Unfortunately we don't have any ES-99/SC-99 consists, but you can look for
cars with LJ in last column in the consists of the westbound Direct Delivery
symbols out of Marion and Meadville.

Paul B

 

Date: Wed, 17 Oct 2012 16:15:41 -0400

From: Bruce <qc_@_comcast.net>

Subject: Re: (erielack) ES99/SE98

 

ES99 SE98 may have been fun to chase, but from the EL point of view of
little value.  It is my understanding that the EL and CNJ split the revenue
in the same way after the interchange was moved from Scranton/Taylor to Lake
Jct.  So if that is true the EL added an extra crew and a set of engines and
caboose to keep the same revenue that they previously got interchanging cars
in Pennsylvania. Not exactly a good business plan.  If anyone has consist
sheets for these trains it would be good to know where the westbound cars
were going on ES99 and where the eastbound cars on SE98 originated.  When
the CNJ gave up their tracks in Pennsylvania the traffic was supposed to go
to the Lehigh Valley.  What would have been the downside to the EL of
turning over the cars bound for CNJ New Jersey to the LV near Scranton?

One further note does anyone out there consider the CNJ High Bridge Branch
to have been a 'freight main line'?  Just because there are rails in place
does not make any place a 'main line'.

Bruce Breeman



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