New Jersey Transit Coast Line

[BoostedFridge]

As long as there is period correct rolling stock to fit, I would love to see the 1976 version. Build it that way that makes you happy though.

[tbundy1982]

Minerman, I've enjoyed your route very much, keep up the good work!

I'm not yet familiar with the changes in the area from DL&W up to the present day, but I'm assuming 1976 was a big year for all those affected. If there have been major track/signal changes since the days before Conrail modeled into the north part of your route, you may want to stick with the era of that trackage. Once the line is completed, one way or another, you will still have the option of cloning the route and tailoring it to a different era. The present day is always easiest to model thanks to Google Earth and Bing Maps. Personally, I'd like to see the whole thing set in 1976. I don't imagine we have the rolling stock yet to support that.

Tyler

[buzz456]

Tyler,
What rolling stock do you think we are missing? I think there's a pretty good selection from that era.

[tbundy1982]

Hi Buzz, I see there are a few EL repaints in the file library, but I didn't see any passenger cars. I'm not sure about the Bergen County Line in particular, but it looked to me like in 1976 the EL was running U34CH locomotives with "Dieseliner" coaches (they look like the cars with the P32/FL9 DLC but without the center doors). I see that DTM's GE Big 7 pack is getting ready to drop, and VRC is making constant progress on their U30C. Perhaps a talented repainter will be able to adapt the EL/NJDOT paint scheme to one of these models.

Tyler

[_o_OOOO_oo-Kanawha]

Regarding Hoboken Terminal - I have built 44 miles of the Erie Lacakwanna's New York Division and as it stands I am starting scenery in Jersey City in a Week. I will be terminating in Hoboken and have a dilemma: what year do I do Hoboken in? Would any of you NJT fans out there be upset if I turned the clock back in Hoboken to say 1976? My route is NS/NJT but has some very serious echoes of the EL in it. I would really appreciate your input here. Lastly, I promise you are really going to like Croxton yard.

Please consider creating a different era from the 'official' DTG route. Like 1976, when it was still a steam era relic? Or was it refurbished/modernized by then? Lackawanna and EL already ran electrified suburban commuter trains, didn't they?

[minerman146]

Hi Buzz, I see there are a few EL repaints in the file library, but I didn't see any passenger cars. I'm not sure about the Bergen County Line in particular, but it looked to me like in 1976 the EL was running U34CH locomotives with "Dieseliner" coaches (they look like the cars with the P32/FL9 DLC but without the center doors). I see that DTM's GE Big 7 pack is getting ready to drop, and VRC is making constant progress on their U30C. Perhaps a talented repainter will be able to adapt the EL/NJDOT paint scheme to one of these models.

Tyler

Tyler, You are correct there are not any passenger coaches. On Engine Driver there have been 2 requests for the U34CH and Arrow Cars: http://www.engine-driver.com/article/sh ... l-ge-u34ch. This would work for me for 1976. However, what has not been built are Boonton and Stillwell Coaches that would work for commuter trains on the Bergen and Main line through 1974. The MUs (electrics) lasted until 1984. These are very interesting units. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erie_Lackawanna_MU_Cars.
Boonton Coaches Here: http://www.jeff-z.com/wks/coachroster/582/582.html
Stillwell Coach (no arch window) Here: http://www.railfan.net/lists/erielack-p ... well-5.jpg

Putting Hoboken back to the 1970s, gives you all the feel from the 1940s through the beginnings of NJDOT then NJ Transit. Operationally it gets really interesting at this station as the E8s they used had to be turned to go Westbound for the evening commute. But they also used GP9, RS3 for commuter service as well.

Lastly, I have spent 15 months working on the New York Division, I am at Croxton Yard now. I cant believe they built Hoboken Terminal. So, I am torn, this is my one shot to reproduce Erie Lackawanna and the Bergen/Port Jervis Line as it exists today. I cant guarantee that I would build multiple versions (eras) of this line, So I have decided to blend the two. I don't know how that is going to work for you guys.

Finally, I just want to remind everyone that I have a route, its on Steam, there is 44 miles of mainline and I am extremely motivated to finishing this project. I am not just talking here, this is the only virtual Erie Lackawanna route publicly available. I have checked.

_o_OOOO_oo-Kanawha,
It was a steam era relic -but a fully functioning and very busy commuter terminal and a freight yard just to the south. It was very gritty down in Hoboken at the time.

[imnew]

Regarding Hoboken Terminal - I have built 44 miles of the Erie Lacakwanna's New York Division and as it stands I am starting scenery in Jersey City in a Week. I will be terminating in Hoboken and have a dilemma: what year do I do Hoboken in? Would any of you NJT fans out there be upset if I turned the clock back in Hoboken to say 1976? My route is NS/NJT but has some very serious echoes of the EL in it. I would really appreciate your input here. Lastly, I promise you are really going to like Croxton yard.

1976 please.. More "spice and flavour" in those days.

[minerman146]

This is a must watch series on the U34CH - Extensive Coverage of Hoboken Terminal. On Video 5 it covers my route and shows the pre-2002 trackage that runs alongside Croxton Yard. All this footage is pre 1995 where Secaucus Junction has not been built yet. This is what I would like to base the Jersey City - Hoboken section of my route.

https://youtu.be/7CLxr-RKYOY

[OpenRailer90]

With that in mind there will be no Secaucus Junction in your route, but do u have any overhead catenary assets you plan to use for that route?

[minerman146]

With that in mind there will be no Secaucus Junction in your route, but do u have any overhead catenary assets you plan to use for that route?

If there is a revolt that I don't have Secaucus - it can be reconsidered. Also its difficult trying to figure out how to blend the past into the future and not blow too much realism. There are a number of areas on my route that have track and sidings that do not exist today such as the Ford Plant in Mahwah. On the other hand I put in the 2015 version of Ridgewood and Plauderville stations. So there is some inconstancy already. Regarding catenary - I was going to use the Munich-Augsburg assets - once NJSL is released it will be the catenary from that DLC. It will be interesting to see how DTG handles the switches and all that wire in Hoboken. I am seriously looking for input - my route may be a one shot deal. So the more that are happy with what I am doing the better. I am starting to waffle as I think about it more. My vision was always Erie Lackawanna, but practically, NS/NJ set modern will please, what I believe to be, a majority of users.

Otherwise I build 2 routes.

[OpenRailer90]

The time inaccuracuies can be bothersome for most of us (1976 and 2015) but we will have to tolerate them somehow. With that in mind it might feel wrong to not have a Secaucus Junction lower level stop. I would personally like having a modern era version as that's what already exists although I have a little problems with some backdated infrastructure. Regarding the overhead lines in Hoboken I can be expecting some lag, I have heard the newer DTG German routes such as Munich-Garmisch, Cologne-Koblenz, Mannheim-Karlsruhe, and Munich-Rosenheim have catenary that add significant framerate losses on many machines, particularly around yards.

[minerman146]

The time inaccuracuies can be bothersome for most of us (1976 and 2015) but we will have to tolerate them somehow. With that in mind it might feel wrong to not have a Secaucus Junction lower level stop. I would personally like having a modern era version as that's what already exists although I have a little problems with some backdated infrastructure. Regarding the overhead lines in Hoboken I can be expecting some lag, I have heard the newer DTG German routes such as Munich-Garmisch, Cologne-Koblenz, Mannheim-Karlsruhe, and Munich-Rosenheim have catenary that add significant framerate losses on many machines, particularly around yards.

OpenRailer90 - I appreciate the thoughtfulness of your response and it is sound. The result will be to stay the current course with NS/NJT and just a nod here and there to the EL. A missing Secaucus Junction would be quite noticeable and would be a point of concern for the many NJT fans out there. Soon we will see the release of NJSL and then know what affect the wire has on frame rate in Hoboken. Lastly, NJSL should include an updated Secaucus model - it would be a shame to waste it.

[rarecommonsense]

For those that aren't updated...

[OpenRailer90]

The upper shot does look like Woodbridge. Based on my experience with the real line the track is curved, and the gantries are steel not that rusty. The number in the F40PH-2CAT cab have a fix.

And minerman I completely respect you and your opinions, as a hardcore NJT fan and regular commuter of the North Jersey Coast Line I'm torn that one side of the route is modern and the other one is backdated to the 1970s. If Secaucus were absent recreating NJT runs on the NY Division Bergen Line route, then I will have to run express on where Secaucus should have been.

[DrewG]

The upper shot does look like Woodbridge. Based on my experience with the real line the track is curved, and the gantries are steel not that rusty. The number in the F40PH-2CAT cab have a fix.

And minerman I completely respect you and your opinions, as a hardcore NJT fan and regular commuter of the North Jersey Coast Line I'm torn that one side of the route is modern and the other one is backdated to the 1970s. If Secaucus were absent recreating NJT runs on the NY Division Bergen Line route, then I will have to run express on where Secaucus should have been.

Oh the horror of it all....