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Farewell to Metro North West-of-Hudson rail service?
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Fri Sep 18, 2020 7:13 pm    Post subject: Farewell to Metro North West-of-Hudson rail service? Reply with quote

Fellows:

For the past few weeks, that have been ominous rumblings that, due to lack of Federal funding, the MTA's Metro-North is looking to axe West-of-Hudson commuter rail service out of Hoboken.

This would include not only service on the ex-ERIE/E-L Port Jervis line, but also, the Pascack Valley line (also ex-ERIE/E-L)

As you might expect, even during these uncertain times, rail commuters on these two lines are up in arms.

With no other convenient rail lines available, the only other available option would be the bus into the PABT (that is, IF a bus line is even halfway convenient for former rail commuters)

Port Jervis was long an important division point on both the ERIE (when trains operated out of Pavonia Avenue, Jersey City) and the E-L (with trains operating out of Hoboken); Port Jervis is nearly 100 miles out of Hoboken, making this station the furthest of any on NJT.

Until late 1966, through trains opertated from Hoboken to Binghamton; roundhouses and other rail facilities at PJ remained busy through much of the 1960's.

By the late 1960's, commuter service on the PJ line was "token" at best, with no Sunday service at all.

The former ERIE double-track line was reduced to single-track status, with passing sidings at certain locations.

At Port Jervis, the historic ERIE depot still stands, though no longer used as a station; with the exception of the old (restored) turntable and crumbling coaling tower, all of the other railroad buildings at this location have long since vanished.

Will the PJ and PV lines be saved?

Or, will they vanish into the railroad history books, like so many other long-abandoned area rail lines before them?

We will have to watch and see.......

"NYO"


Last edited by NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 on Fri Sep 18, 2020 11:49 pm; edited 2 times in total
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Fri Sep 18, 2020 7:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Port Jervis Line......

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_Jervis_Line

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_Jervis_station
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Fri Sep 18, 2020 7:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Pascack Valley Line........

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pascack_Valley_Line
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traildriver




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PostPosted: Fri Sep 18, 2020 10:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Where have you heard of this?
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Fri Sep 18, 2020 10:43 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

traildriver wrote:
Where have you heard of this?


traildriver:

There is news on this possible abandonment on the 'net (the SubChat board also has an ongoing discussion concerning this possible abandonment)

I first heard of this abandonment news about two weeks ago, while listening to 1010 WINS News Radio; then, I started reading more about the possible cuts on the 'net......

"NYO"


Last edited by NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 on Sat Sep 19, 2020 1:52 am; edited 1 time in total
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Fri Sep 18, 2020 10:49 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The last through trains west of Port Jervis made their final runs in late 1966; these were trains #'s 21/22, which were locals between Hoboken and Binghamton.

These trains carried RPO's until the very end, as well as express cars; often, you'd see TOFC piggyback cars, carrying REA and/or USPS trailers).

Mom and I often took day trips up to "The Port" from Hoboken during the summers, prior to the cutbacks of late 1966 (there was still quite a bit of interesting rail activity going on there, back in those days)

Motive power on these trains was quite diverse, including E-8's, PA's, GEPS, and RS-3's; cars included the famed ERIE Stillwells, as well as assorted through coaches and other head-end cars)

The very last through train on the E-L was the "LAKE CITIES" (Hoboken-Chicago) which made her final run in January, 1970.

This train ran west via Scranton........

"NYO"


Last edited by NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 on Sat Sep 19, 2020 1:55 am; edited 1 time in total
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Fri Sep 18, 2020 10:57 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

About 30 (or more) years ago, our local (Bergen County) cable station carried a story about studies being made to revive commuter service on the former West Shore, as well as on the NYS&W.

The last West Shore commuter trains ran to the Weehawken ferry terminal in 1959, while the last NYS&W trains ran to "Susquehanna Transfer" in 1966.

Decades later, things are still at a standstill; likewise, the long-discussed resumption of rail passenger service between Hoboken and Scranton, serving the Pocono resort areas, has not seen so much as a spadeful of dirt being turned over.

Much political red tape, not to mention the heated squabbles over who would foot the bill for this massive project, have caused this project to be put on "hold", seemingly forever.

Until the late 1960's, there were also several E-L trains that operated between Hoboken and Scranton; these were axed by the time of the late 1966 abandonments and cutbacks.....

"NYO"
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Fri Sep 18, 2020 11:04 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

See also:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lackawanna_Cut-Off_Restoration_Project
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Fri Sep 18, 2020 11:13 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Here's a historic view of the old ERIE Port Jervis passenger station, which was still serving commuters well into the E-L era; the handsome building still stands today, but no longer serves passengers......

www.rr-fallenflags.org/el/bldg/erie-pjsta-abd.jpg

(courtesy: FallenFlags Railroads)
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Fri Sep 18, 2020 11:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

This timeless 1900's-era view of the ERIE yards at Port Jervis recall the long-ago era when the area was an important and bustling rail hub, for both passenger and freight trains; at that time, ERIE varnish ran into the Pavonia Avenue in Jersey City, where passengers could transfer to trans-Hudson ferryboats (to either Chambers St. or W. 23rd St.), and, after 1908, to the H&M (PATH) tubes.......

www.rr-fallenflags.org/el/bldg/erie-pjyd-abd.jpg

(courtesy: FallenFlags Railroads)
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Fri Sep 18, 2020 11:31 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Here's the former ERIE roundhouse (long since demolished) at Port Jervis, in 1968.

By this late date, through trains from Hoboken had vanished on the Delaware Division (to Binghamton), and only a few commuter trains still carried the "9-to-5vers" to and from Hoboken, which had lost its ferry connections to Barclay St. only late in the previous year......

www.rr-fallenflags.org/el/bldg/el-xxxshp-ajh.jpg

(courtesy:FallenFlags Railroads)
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Fri Sep 18, 2020 11:37 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

News story on the possible abandonment of Port Jervis line passenger service*......

https://midhudsonnews.com/2020/08/28/port-jervis-rail-service-facing-elimination/

*(Look closely in the background, and you'll spot an ancient ERIE signal still standing, a silent and forlorn reminder of busier, happier days at Port Jervis)
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PostPosted: Fri Sep 18, 2020 11:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hre are two classic (early 1960's) views of an E-L through train passing through Paterson; this train might have been either train #21 or #22, which then ran between Hoboken and Binghamton, via Port Jervis.

Note that this train also has TOFC's in the consist; also, note the dapper brakemen in the vestibule of the last (Stillwell) coach......

www.rr-fallenflags.org/el/pax/el-yard.jpg

www.rr-fallenflags.org/el/pax/el-yard5.jpg

(courtesy: FallenFlags Railroads)
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Sat Sep 19, 2020 12:05 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

This truly classic early 1960's photo of E-L action at Binghamton, NY, also depicts the diverse types of through consists that then passed through Port Jervis, to and from Hoboken (as I had mentioned previously, E-L passenger service west of Port Jervis ended in late 1966)

Note the fascinating variety of head-end cars in this train, including a TOFC; such consists were quite commonplace on the E-L well into the 1960's; the very last through passenger trains to and from Hoboken vanished in 1970........

www.rr-fallenflags.org/el/pax/el-pax-trn-bt.jpg

(courtesy: FallenFlags Railroads)
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PostPosted: Sat Sep 19, 2020 12:20 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

The once-commonplace ERIE "Stillwell", once so readily identified with the railroad, served Port Jervis line commuters until the Fall of 1974; by that late date, the PJ line was the only E-L diesel line not to be served by the new push-pulls.

This timeless scene at Port Jervis indeed brings back many happy childhood memories for Your's Truly; Mom and I rode these classic coaches many times, back in the day.....

www.rr-fallenflags.org/el/pax/erie-co2184alb.jpg
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