Erie Lackawanna
Railfan.net 'erielack' E-Mail List Photo Archive

090910_Phillips_had_charge_of_NYSW_Xing_elim_RRAgGz_p477.jpg   Original: 442 by 123 pixels - Current: 442 by 123 - 100%
                          Try your mouse wheel too!

Previous Image - 090212_NYSW_tracks_to_be_depressed_RRAgGz_p334.jpg 16625.jpg - Next Image

From: tommy meehan tmeehan0421 AT gmail DOT com
Date: Sun, 26 Jan 2020 10:01:06 -0500
Subject: Question about DL&W Bergen Jct in 1900
"090910_Phillips_had_charge_of_NYSW_Xing_elim_RRAgGz_p477.jpg" - image/jpeg, 442x123 (24bit)

The question came up because of a statement of Lackawanna President William
Truesdale in the company's 1909 Annual Report. Truesdale wrote, " The
important crossing at grade of this Company’s four main line tracks with an
equal number of those of the Erie and New York, Susquehanna & Western main
tracks just west of Bergen Hill Tunnel has been eliminated by carrying the
tracks of this Company over those of the other companies named." It was
asked when Truesdale referred to Lackawanna's four main line tracks was he
referring to the Morris & Essex having four tracks or did he mean the
Boonton Branch? Was the M&E four-tracked through that area, west of the
split with the Boonton Branch in 1909? Bob Bahrs suggested Truesdale got
the number of tracks mixed up.

I think actually it was due to the fact that in those years Lackawanna
apparently referred to the Boonton Branch as "the main line" not the M&E
line which they called the Old Road. I got this impression because of an
article I found in the April 6, 1906 issue of RAILROAD GAZETTE. I'm
attaching an image of the first paragraph of the story.

The story was mostly concerned with the Lackawanna's new Bergen Hill tunnel
and was written by J.H. Philips, who had the title Assistant Engineer DL&W.
In fact news items in other editions of the GAZETTE identified Phillips
(spelled with two ls) as having been in charge of boring the second tunnel,
under the supervision of E.I. Contine, the division engineer. A article in
the Sept. 10, 1909 issue of the GAZETTE (now renamed RAILROAD AGE GAZETTE)
stated Phillips, who was resigning from the railroad, had also been in
charge of the Susquehanna grade crossing elimination at Bergen Jct. An
article in GAZETTE in February 1909 stated the crossing was to be
eliminated by depressing the Susquehanna tracks.

I'm attaching images of all three stories referenced in case anyone is
interested. I always think it's better to actually show the article rather
than just quote it. All three are also viewable online at HathiTrust
Digital Library. I'm providing links below:

For 1906 -
https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015021737641&view=1up&seq=7

For 1909 (two volumes) -
https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015010881822&view=1up&seq
https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015010881848&view=1up&seq=11

tommy meehan


090910_Phillips_had_charge_of_NYSW_Xing_elim_RRAgGz_p477.jpg

Click Here or on the corner X to close this window.


    All photos are the property of the original photographer unless otherwise noted and are to be used for personal viewing purposes only.

    The use of these photos on any website or other distribution media is strictly forbidden without the express consent of the image copyright holder.

    Linking directly to this page is permitted as long as "Railfan.net Erie Lackawanna Email List Photo Archive" is creditted on the linking page.