Erie Lackawanna Freight

[henry6]

Yes, you were driving along the Erie mainline,  It became the EL line and today, the freight or Graham Line from Harriman to Howells, west of Otisville, is the MNRR line leased from NS and operated by NJT.  In Middletown, your description sounds more like the NYO&W which had to be before 1955 at least..  It could also have been the Erie as the Erie passenger main went west at Harriman to Goshon, Middletown and Otisville and Howells.  MIddletown and NJ also offered weekend tourist train in the early 60's behind steam and later with I think a 44 tonner of other type small switcher.

[RAILPOP]

Speaking of things ERIE, I have two questions for those familiar with this road.  Years ago, my parents

and I would drive from our home in New Jersey to visit my Grandmother in Middletown, New York.

After reaching the end of the Garden State Parkway, we would get on the New York State Thruway.

Before reaching the state line into New York, one could see off to the left, a one or two-track rail line

for the most part paralleling the thruway.  Was this part of the old Erie or Lackawanna before the

merger?

 

Secondly, my Grandmother lived in Middletown as I mentioned.  Her house was on Monhagen Ave.

I think it was (is) also known as Rt. 211.  Anyway, a rail line ran directly along the rear of her

property.  I remember not too much traffic on Sundays when we visited, but every so often, there

would be a tired old diesel pulling out of town with a few coaches.  At the time, I was too young to

pay attention to the road name, but I'm surmising it was either the Erie or the N.Y.O.W.  Would any

of you have more info on these questions.  Thanks so much in advance.

 

   Railpop

[henry6]

The EL interchanged with all roads in the east.  The NJ Cut Off was the former DL&W main line across North Jersey from Slateford, PA to Port Morris, NJ.  The DL&W/El handed off to L&HR at Port Morris and ran a train to Phillipsburg, NJ for CNJ/RDG and LV interchange.  Also via Portland and Bangor into the cement fields for interchange with LNE, LV, LH&R, PRR, NH&B.  Morristown and Erie and North Jersey customers were serviced out of Port Morris including CNJ at Lake Jct., and industries east to Summit on the Morris and Essex and Boonton, Totowa, and Paterson on the Boonton Line but EL only to Mt. View and Totowa.  There are many, many, many books on the DL&W, the Erie, and the EL easily found in most libraries, hobby shops, and better book stores...Check ebay and ads in TRAINS Magazine and Classic TRAINS.  There is the EL Ry. HIstorical Society, the DL&WRR HIstorical Society, and the Anthracite Railways Historical Society, too.

 

[Proto87 2011]

    I was recently looking through one of my old railroad books when I found a picture of an Erie Lackawanna train going over the Jersey Cutoff circa 1975. Six boxcars are visible and five of them are Erie Lackawanna. Can someone tell me what's going on here? Where did the Erie Lackawanna interchange with which railroads?