Having spent all my life here in NJ and living along the Erie Bergen County Line, I grew up riding EL & NJ Transit trains. I got my first scanner in the early 80's. I used to hear about a dozen or more towers talking during the night, former Erie, Lackawanna and PRR. One by one towers were closed, decommissioned and in some cases physically torn down. Now I hear only 2 towers, NJT Terminal tower in Hoboken Terminal and Dock tower in Newark, NJ. (I think Union in Rahway is still active too.). I remember when the railroads centralized and consolidated everything. Now a fire like this comes along and knocks out half of NJ Transit operations. I think the term is called progress.
It appears that NJT had things in hand this morning and this evening. They are "talking" trains past stop or dark signals at Broad with minimum delays. Extra delays this morning were because of a disabled train which did more damage to the schedules than the fire...this of course backed up thorugh the day with a few trains stopping short of their main destinations and returning to Hoboken. Later in the evening a fire on the Gladstone Branch upended service there through the evening. So it was other events of the day that caused delays rather than what they had been prepared for.
NJT gets bad reviews by many but I have always found them to be a class operation with back up plans and communications to the passengers and public to ease any probelm. Crews have always been friendly and cooperative and PR events like new service introduction or whatever, have been well thought out and presented.
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From what I heard on the NJT board on another forum, the MnE and M-B Lines were only shut down on Saturday. After that, the lines were back in service, but with delays. Trains must still be directed through BROAD, but the rest of the system east of there is still intact.
Delays are expected into early May.
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When I was a kid hanging around the DL&W depot in Denville, NJ where the Boonton, Morristown, and, earlier, the Rockaway Branch converged I saw a double deep desk with two complete sets of dispatchers desk equipment to be used as a back up. I don't know if it ever were, but it did take up over half the ticket office right up to the end!
This is the reason why not all eggs should be in one basket. AMTRAK's CETA dispatching system at least at one tiime had the ability that if CETA shut down for any reason someone could go to each of the non controlled interlocking cabins and control that interlocking and signals. Anyone have updated info?
An apparent fire in Broad Cabin at Newark on Saturday wreaked havoc on NJT's operations on the M&E or former DL&W and EL lines west of Newark. It seems that not only was the interlocking at Broad at the east end of Newark Broad St. Station knocked out but also control of signals and switches west of there. However NJT has issued the following statement in preperation to operate services, especially peak commuter hours services.: It is an almost brand new interlocking at Newark and the Meadows where the dispatchers are, is east of this point. I am assuming by reading between the lines that all signal and communications lines for interlockings and traffic signals, electric locks, etc., went through Broad Cabin. Perhaps those of you closer to the problem can keep us informed, please.
Issued: April 26, 2009
Customers on the Morris & Essex and Montclair-Boonton lines (including Midtown Direct and Gladstone Branch customers) should expect delays of 10-15 minutes during peak periods for the next several weeks due to damage caused by a fire on Saturday, April 25.
The fire, located in a building east of Newark Broad Street Station, caused significant damage to communication equipment used to control signals and switches on the Morris & Essex and Montclair-Boonton lines.
NJ TRANSIT technicians have worked around the clock to assess the damage and restore as much signal control as possible. Unfortunately, the damage is significant and the repairs are estimated to take several weeks.
Because not having full control of signals and switches reduces the number of trains that can be dispatched, all Morris & Essex and Montclair-Boonton trains (including Midtown Direct and Gladstone Branch trains) may experience 10-15 minute delays during peak periods until repairs are completed. These delays may be exacerbated by any secondary issues that occur, such as a disabled train.
Please be assured that we will do everything possible to complete repairs as quickly and safely as possible. We apologize, in advance, for the inconvenience and thank you for your patience.
For additional information or assistance, please contact NJ TRANSIT Customer
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