New York Division-Bergen Line

[minerman146]

Posted this Q on Steam - I am sure I will get a more thoughtful response here:

Question for you guys: 1. Anyone have any issue with us changing the route name to Hoboken Division: Bergen County Line? We are really leaning NJT at this point.

2. Assets for the Bergen - do you guys want more NJT platforms and assets added to the existing stations?

3. Is anyone looking at the freight aspect of the Bergen, what do you like/dislike and want to see. Thanks guys!

I am getting the very beginnings of questions about upgrading platforms and signals to NJCL assets. We had this discussion here in the late summer about doing NJT/NS. I went with the modern. My first love is the EL and I am doing the updating with the belief that I will do an extended rework of the Bergen and go back to 1972/74. ( I hope this isn't my only shot at this route)

[Sibell]

Errp I realized that I have some missing assets in the fact I don't own NJT addon
Buuuut...when I bought it, I can answer your Q

[minerman146]

Errp I realized that I have some missing assets in the fact I don't own NJT addon
Buuuut...when I bought it, I can answer your Q

I look forward to you future response!

[BillS]

Well, selfishly, I'm anticipating your recreation of your version of the EL .

The company that I worked for, their home office is in Bergen County (Woodcliff Lake). When I was in town, I used to head over to the Suffern area and watch the Conrail actions (that's kind of a hint how long ago that was). Anyway, to answer your questions:

1. You can change the name to anything you want. It's your Route! I think the name change, your thinking of, sounds better, IMHO.

2. I'm not much into passenger/commuter trains, and having spent a lot of time in that area, there are a LOT!!!! of commuter trains there. The emphasis will obviously be in passenger stations. NJT commuter trains actually look pretty cool!

3. Any freight operation enhancements (that won't "burn" you out before you start the EL) would be appreciated by me.

You've attacked a tremendous undertaking. The results are truly amazing. It says a lot that you ask for user opinion so that your Route will be operated, happily, by many.

[minerman146]

Well, selfishly, I'm anticipating your recreation of your version of the EL .

The company that I worked for, their home office is in Bergen County (Woodcliff Lake). When I was in town, I used to head over to the Suffern area and watch the Conrail actions (that's kind of a hint how long ago that was). Anyway, to answer your questions:

1. You can change the name to anything you want. It's your Route! I think the name change, your thinking of, sounds better, IMHO.

2. I'm not much into passenger/commuter trains, and having spent a lot of time in that area, there are a LOT!!!! of commuter trains there. The emphasis will obviously be in passenger stations. NJT commuter trains actually look pretty cool!

3. Any freight operation enhancements (that won't "burn" you out before you start the EL) would be appreciated by me.

You've attacked a tremendous undertaking. The results are truly amazing. It says a lot that you ask for user opinion so that your Route will be operated, happily, by many.

BillS - A great response - and some inspiration to boot! Thank you. I will do the meat and potatoes first then dessert. 1. Name Change - the more NJT the route becomes the LESS New York Division it is. So, it looks like Hoboken Division: Bergen County Line. This will allow me to differentiate from the potential next incarnation. 2. Commuter Operations are really popular, and this being the Bergen Line - I don't have a problem with upgrading the stations where I see fit. Some of my home made stuff, I though was clever and it gives the route its flavor (ie Plauderville and Woodridge) I will resist changing. The NJT fan is a powerful lobby - they know their stuff AND they have standards. I want to anticipate their requests, but not get steamrolled into making dramatic time consuming changes where there are assets in place. 3. Freight Operations: I built the Bergen to run freight and commuter. With the modern incarnation, we have very limited through freight on the line. We do have freight to feed Campbell Hall, NY, Suffern, the SuzyQ in Saddlebrook, NJ. and all the traffic the comes in to Croxton via shared assets What we have in quantity is local freight. We have 50 customers at the moment. There are 12 concentrated on the Pascack in East Rutherford. The rest are scattered though out the route. My #3 was looking to see if anyone realizes the freight capabilities of the Bergen.

Dessert: If anyone thinks I am pulling the Ford Plant out of Mahwah Not.Gonna.Happen The Erie beat out the Pennsy fair and square in 1955. And in spite of the fact the plant has been gone for over 30 years it still stays in!
More dessert - look at the track I put down - I am setting up for the next incarnation. I would live to say "Minerman presents: Erie Lackawanna: New York Division"

Thank you BillS. you and others that are so generous to speak with me here ... keep me goin.

[BillS]

Glad to hear that Mahwah is staying! Not known for their "quality control", which is part of the reason that plant is no longer there, but will add a lot, I think, to add options for freight operations.

[minerman146]

Glad to hear that Mahwah is staying! Not known for their "quality control", which is part of the reason that plant is no longer there, but will add a lot, I think, to add options for freight operations.

I heard the same story about that - they had a year to clean up their act - and nope! It was a huge employer and a huge EL and Conrail customer. My records show the following stats for Ford Mahwah:

Auto Racks - 12 -20 Use 15
Ford 1000 Cars/Day/2 Shift
500/Shift = 33 Cars 1st Shift
500/Shift = 34 Cars 2nd Shift
67 Empties - 67 Fulls Per day

This is a key player in my vision for EL - and EL treated Ford as priority. This is anecdotal - everything had to get out of the way for parts trains, including commuter trains. My very first scenario I build for the Bergen was a named train called DN-90. 110 Cars the first 50-60 all autoparts, the remaining was mixed freight and terminated in Croxton. My Dad ran that one and did the yard in Mahwah too.

[BillS]

Wow!! Didn't know about those stats.

My Dad worked for FoMoCo, in the Green Island Plant, near Troy, NY. It was a producer of leaf springs and radiators. Most of their stock would be shipped to Mahwah and Metuchen. Ford had their own switcher up there (don't recall what it was) that moved around the parts cars. At that time, the D&H picked up and dropped off there. I believe D&H would take the full cars and pickup the empty ones from the Selkirk Yard.

The various railroads must have been busy, in the Suffern area, during the heydays. Your Dad must be a cool customer to operate successfully under those conditions and probably didn't have time to be bored.

[minerman146]

Wow!! Didn't know about those stats.

My Dad worked for FoMoCo, in the Green Island Plant, near Troy, NY. It was a producer of leaf springs and radiators. Most of their stock would be shipped to Mahwah and Metuchen. Ford had their own switcher up there (don't recall what it was) that moved around the parts cars. At that time, the D&H picked up and dropped off there. I believe D&H would take the full cars and pickup the empty ones from the Selkirk Yard.

The various railroads must have been busy, in the Suffern area, during the heydays. Your Dad must be a cool customer to operate successfully under those conditions and probably didn't have time to be board.

Bill that is interesting, I wonder where those cars got picked up at your Dad's plant. D&H to where then the EL. Ah Selkirk - so PC or NYC south to North Bergen, then to Croxton and then up that main to Suffern! Cool! Yes, Dad is still a very cool customer and a virtuoso train driver (IMHO). Though on his last day, an 86 foot DT&I picked a switch in Mahwah and as he put it "We were all over the real-estate". They had 2 yard engines in that yard that worked day and night. The also classified the empties there for pickup. (This will make some cool scenarios)

Off I go to work on Secaucus some more !

[minerman146]

New release today - no major Eastern motion, but great enhancement to the NEC that runs over the Bergen in Secaucus.
Below are the 3 Bridges - the namesake of this week's release: (the turned drawbridge should be of interest to you EL fans out there)

24010_screenshots_2015-11-06_00001.jpg

24010_screenshots_2015-11-06_00015.jpg

[BillS]

Wow!! Didn't know about those stats.

My Dad worked for FoMoCo, in the Green Island Plant, near Troy, NY. It was a producer of leaf springs and radiators. Most of their stock would be shipped to Mahwah and Metuchen. Ford had their own switcher up there (don't recall what it was) that moved around the parts cars. At that time, the D&H picked up and dropped off there. I believe D&H would take the full cars and pickup the empty ones from the Selkirk Yard.

The various railroads must have been busy, in the Suffern area, during the heydays. Your Dad must be a cool customer to operate successfully under those conditions and probably didn't have time to be board.

Bill that is interesting, I wonder where those cars got picked up at your Dad's plant. D&H to where then the EL. Ah Selkirk - so PC or NYC south to North Bergen, then to Croxton and then up that main to Suffern! Cool! Yes, Dad is still a very cool customer and a virtuoso train driver (IMHO). Though on his last day, an 86 foot DT&I picked a switch in Mahwah and as he put it "We were all over the real-estate". They had 2 yard engines in that yard that worked day and night. The also classified the empties there for pickup. (This will make some cool scenarios)

Off I go to work on Secaucus some more !

What a bummer on your Dad's last day. Who did your Dad operate for?

I like the latest pictures!!!

Quick question, when I used to spend time in Northern Jersey, I recall a submarine (I believe a WWII Vintage), tied up in the Hackensack River. Is that still there? Was it called the "Ling"?

[minerman146]

Wow!! Didn't know about those stats.

My Dad worked for FoMoCo, in the Green Island Plant, near Troy, NY. It was a producer of leaf springs and radiators. Most of their stock would be shipped to Mahwah and Metuchen. Ford had their own switcher up there (don't recall what it was) that moved around the parts cars. At that time, the D&H picked up and dropped off there. I believe D&H would take the full cars and pickup the empty ones from the Selkirk Yard.

The various railroads must have been busy, in the Suffern area, during the heydays. Your Dad must be a cool customer to operate successfully under those conditions and probably didn't have time to be board.

Bill that is interesting, I wonder where those cars got picked up at your Dad's plant. D&H to where then the EL. Ah Selkirk - so PC or NYC south to North Bergen, then to Croxton and then up that main to Suffern! Cool! Yes, Dad is still a very cool customer and a virtuoso train driver (IMHO). Though on his last day, an 86 foot DT&I picked a switch in Mahwah and as he put it "We were all over the real-estate". They had 2 yard engines in that yard that worked day and night. The also classified the empties there for pickup. (This will make some cool scenarios)

Off I go to work on Secaucus some more !

What a bummer on your Dad's last day. Who did your Dad operate for?

I like the latest pictures!!!

Quick question, when I used to spend time in Northern Jersey, I recall a submarine (I believe a WWII Vintage), tied up in the Hackensack River. Is that still there? Was it called the "Ling"?

Dad was EL from 66 to 76, then CR to 78. Grandpa Was Erie from 34 -60, EL 60 - 74, His father in Law was Erie from 1897 - 1937. And a Pile of other relatives that worked for the railroad. I like to brag. I drove on the Bergen Line in 1977, a morning commuter from Ridgewood to Patterson. ( I hit 74 mph on that push-pull)
I didn't know about the USS Ling (SS-297) Yes its been on the Hackensack since 1972 at the New Jersey Naval Museum 78 River St, Hackensack, NJ..
You have an awesome memory!

[BillS]

You have tremendous roots in the Railroad Industry! I only had one relative, that I know of, that worked for the RR.

I'll bet your passengers, on the push-pull, had their eyes wide-open, on that 74mph run!

By the way, it's not bragging to be proud of your Family's Heritage and give some board people a thrill (74mph ride! )

[minerman146]

You have tremendous roots in the Railroad Industry! I only had one relative, that I know of, that worked for the RR.

I'll bet your passengers, on the push-pull, had their eyes wide-open, on that 74mph run!

By the way, it's not bragging to be proud of your Family's Heritage and give some board people a thrill (74mph ride! )

There we're a few questions I asked my Dad during my brief drive on the Main. 1. How many passengers? (about 200) 2. What speed? (It tops out at 74). If you every want to replicate my run: Take the train out of Ridgewood and head to Hawthorne - then grab a 12 year old to drive.
It was a different time Bill.

The cool thing is I have physically been in the cab on the Bergen and Main Line to Croxton and Hoboken from Port Jervis. And not just once ... many time times, day and night. Rain, Snow and Summer time. Left a huge impression on me that I mostly forgot till I discovered I could replicate the line virtually.

[BillS]

You have tremendous roots in the Railroad Industry! I only had one relative, that I know of, that worked for the RR.

I'll bet your passengers, on the push-pull, had their eyes wide-open, on that 74mph run!

By the way, it's not bragging to be proud of your Family's Heritage and give some board people a thrill (74mph ride! )

There we're a few questions I asked my Dad during my brief drive on the Main. 1. How many passengers? (about 200) 2. What speed? (It tops out at 74). If you every want to replicate my run: Take the train out of Ridgewood and head to Hawthorne - then grab a 12 year old to drive.
It was a different time Bill.

The cool thing is I have physically been in the cab on the Bergen and Main Line to Croxton and Hoboken from Port Jervis. And not just once ... many time times, day and night. Rain, Snow and Summer time. Left a huge impression on me that I mostly forgot till I discovered I could replicate the line virtually.

Your experiences, and of course your Dad's, gives you a heads-up for the creation of your Route. Its one thing to see it on a map, or pictures, but living it and being there is an advantage.

As far as being, "different times", I used to rail fan during the late 70's at Selkirk, Rigby, and Bangor Yards. The Rail Police or Security never used to hassle me. The only thing they did was make sure I didn't have any young children with me. Then, careless and stupid people overstepped boundaries, started stealing stuff, etc. and now you could probably get into Area 51 easier. Its always a few idiots that spoil enjoyment for others.