Amtrak on Fraight lines

[Anonymous]

I know that Amtrak runs on other railroads lines, But I'm from the Ex- Conrail River Line which is Fraight-only (since 1950 or later). Back when Conrail was around they ran OCS trains with E8A's great sight![^] But words came when herd that Amtrak running 2 trains on the river line[:0] which ran one-in-a-blue-moon. I've seen Amtrak on the River line but it was a specal.

[daveklepper]

Amtrak will occasionally run special trains on lines that are currently freight-only. This requires special arrangements with the freight railroads and doesn't occur too often. I had the pleasure when 15 years old (1947) of riding what was then referred to as the "West Shore" from Weehawken to Kingston, then the branch line "Ulster and Delaware" connecting train to from Kingston to Fleishmans to a relative's farm in Holcott Center. My parents thought I should use the bus (direct), but I insisted on the train . What a wonderful experience! Unfortunately, Mnahatan's 10th Avenue streetcar had already been converted to bus a few months earlier, but the ferry to Weehawken from 42nd Street and 12th Avenue was there, we had J1 Hudson on the train to Kingston, a ten wheeler on the branch line to Fleishmans. The return also had a ten wheeler, but a K3 Pacific on the train to Weehawken. I was able to ride the back vestibule on the return trip, and a manifest freight past with either of Mowhawk (4-8-2) or a Niagra (4-8-4). Several years later the only way to visit the area was by bus or rental car. The River Line was double track in those days . Dave Klepper

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

The only other time that you might see Amtrak on a freight line would be a detour. One of the more interesting sights was during the various detours due to the Mississippi River floods in the 1990's. The San Francisco Zephyr was detoured onto the CNW west from Chicago and a Metra E8 was on the point since it was equipped for CNW's cab signal system and the Amtrak F40's were not.