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Re: (rshsdepot) Phillipsburg, NJ / Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton
Oh well...my idea is intercity passenger service will never thrive unless it
actually goes to more cities, far more, than Amtrak ever will or ever has
I can dream can't I?
Paul
- ----- Original Message -----
From: "M. E Allen" <ptrmgtsvc_@_juno.com>
To: <rshsdepot_@_lists.railfan.net>
Sent: Friday, January 31, 2003 1:26 PM
Subject: Re: (rshsdepot) Phillipsburg, NJ / Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton
> Passenger trains to Phillipsburg and beyond are not quite that simple.
>
> The CNJ main was severed for I-78 and NJDOT built a connection, the
> "Alpha Connector", to the LV main just west of Bloomsbury to allow the
> one or two freight customers to be served from the west end. This ramp is
> a tight compound vertical and horizontal curve that would have to be
> substantially rebuilt for passenger service. Part of the project was the
> construction of a double track bridge on the LV over I-78 [even though
> the Valley was single track] to facilitate future service.
>
> The line between the last [eastern] customer on the west end and the end
> of NJT passenger service in High Bridge was abandoned by Conrail but is
> owned by the state and remains intact.
>
> West of the Alpha Connector in New Jersey all of the track has been
> lifted and the major bridges removed all the way to Greens Bridge. All of
> this could be rectified for through service - except that there would
> need to be substantial grading on both sides of I-78 for a new overpass.
>
> West of Phillipsburg - Easton the CNJ ROW is more or less intact, the
> biggest obstacle being a pylon supporting the a highway viaduct near
> Freemansburg. [About two years ago a fan tried to block PennDOT from
> installing the pylon claiming that it would interfere with the
> restoration of service. I don't think he got very far.]
>
> Probably the biggest impediment to providing service to the area is the
> city of Bethlehem wanting to take the Reading main through town for a
> park. While it will not materially effect a direct New York - Allentown
> service it will effectively block through service from Allentown and
> downtown Bethlehem to Philadelphia and prevent the north end of the
> Bethlehem Branch from serving as a feeder.
>
> Mike Allen
>
>
> On Fri, 31 Jan 2003 01:08:23 -0500 "Jim Guthrie" <jguthrie_@_pipeline.com>
> writes:
> > Paul asked:
> >
> > > 1) Is it feasible to put back the train to Phillipsburg? Or even,
> perish the thought, just a little further west to link with the bigger
> SMSA (I haven't used that term in years, forgive me)?
> >
> > Sure -- by way of the DL&W, LV or CNJ -- take your pick. The DL&W and
> LV are used daily by NS freights. The NS is on the ex CNJ right of way,
> but the CNJ exists intact all the way to the current end of passenger
> service (though not useable). CP actually has rights to use this line
> (and have it restored at NS expense) if they are prohibited from getting
> to Oak Island via the LV route for any reason.
>
> > The ex DL&W line is subject to "study" as an expension from
> Hackettstown.
>
> > >
> > > 2) or would this museum operate such a train(s)?
> > >
> > Doubtful. Despite the big plans, my guess is that anything beyond the
> ex Bel Del (which would require major trackwork) going souith is
> problematic. Where would they go? Share tracks with NJT & NS eastward?
> Nah. Share tracks with NS and NJT to Scranton? Nah. Share tracks with NS
> anywhere?
> > Never. Share tracks with NJT? Never.
> >
> > > 3) Which reminds me of a question: Why when a museum or tourist line
> does operate at least seasonal service that could interconnect at one
> terminus where said terminal is served by a AMTRAK train...why do they
> rarely even try to have adequate connection times with the Amtrak trains?
> >
> > Isn't that the aim of Adirondack Scenic at Utica? I think they actually
> connected last year, did they not?
> >
> > Sometimes there are issues between railroad employees and museum
> volunteers on safety issues -- this was a great problem in the NH&I/CR
> (SEPTA) connection at Warminster years ago.
> >
> > I understand that a new Amtrak station plans for Leaman Place has
> provisions for connections to Strasburg.
> >
> > OK -- where else do museum/tourist trains and Amtrak meet?
> >
> > Cheers,
> > Jim
> >
> >
> >
> > =================================
> > The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of
> > existing
> > railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org
> >
> >
> >
>
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> =================================
> The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing
> railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org
>
=================================
The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing
railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org
------------------------------
End of RSHSDepot Digest V1 #585
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=================================
The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing
railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org