henry6I find the writer's comments about coal more revealing than about flood damage control.
The writers main point about coal is that today natural gas has priced it out of the market and the price advantage seems to be continuing for the foreseeable future. Therefore new plants are being built for natural gas and would be even if there were no regulation of coal.
Fred Frailly discussed this issue recently. I wonder if it is impossible to ship compressed natural gas by rail. Certainly there are places it is used beyond the reach of pipelines.
From what I have read almost all of the coal used in the US today is low sulphur lignite coal which also has a low heat value compared to other coal. However, its low sulphur content makes it valuable.
But I have also read that both bituminous and anthracite coal are shipped overseas and must be carried from the mine to the port. The editorial did not comment on that issue.
PS. Perhaps we could revive the coal business in the US. Here is one possibility:
http://www.vogelzang.com/browse.cfm/railroad-potbelly-stove/4,19.html
(I know it is not an authentic replica of a railroad stove but only, as the description says, "reminiscent" of one).
Coal is not dead. LP and natural gas are shipped by rail and have been for decades. Nothing is new, just the willingness of investors to take the risks. And do it without asking the rest of us and our governments to cover the risks if they fail. No. There is a lull in coal shipments and use; it may come back albeit less intensive than what we knew. Yes. Gas is the fuel of choice for power plants, but this too, is perhaps has a limited live span. Everything runs its course and we have to retool and readjust...
RIDEWITHMEHENRY is the name for our almost monthly day of riding trains and transit in either the NYCity or Philadelphia areas including all commuter lines, Amtrak, subways, light rail and trolleys, bus and ferries when warranted. No fees, just let us know you want to join the ride and pay your fares. Ask to be on our email list or find us on FB as RIDEWITHMEHENRY (all caps) to get descriptions of each outing.
henry6Everything runs its course and we have to retool and readjust...
Didn't someone say that change is the only constant.
"There is a time for everything. There is even a time for change. And that is when change can no longer be avoided!"
HRH the Duke of Cambridge, 1880
To everything there is a season and a time for every purpose under the heaven.
--Ecclesiastes 3:1.
Now we find out that NY commuters are suffering because NJT left NY equipment in harms way.
http://www.northjersey.com/news/185628682_N_Y__trains_hit_at_NJ_Transit_flooded_yard.html
over $1.7M in damage but more importantly where is replacement equipment ?
Bluestreak...where have you been. We've been talking about this and giving examples since Sandy. MNRR locomotives were moved to M&E at Morristown the following Sunday. NJT has been silent about what happened to what, where, and to what extent on some equipment and lines. NJT's silence has led to a lot of speculation and anecdotal information which we've pieced together here and elsewhere and has told this story again and again. However, this story is the first public confirmation of exact damages to MNRR equipment; it does not go so far as to explain directly, but does explain, why Port Jervis and Pascack Valley Line services are designated "modified". There are fewer trains and more spread out schedules because of this equipment being out of service. It also indirectly explains why NJT diesel services west of Dover are fewer since they have had to use NJT equipment on the PVL and Port Jervis lines though they haven't said that directly.
This misjudgment and call on moving equipment coupled with lack of public explanations is what has NJT management on the carpet in Washington, Trenton, and now, finally, in the media!.
Henry guess it comes from making assumptions not based in fact. though PJ line problems came from ROW issues in NJ and Hoboken problems.
BTW -- how well did MN's rebuilding of PJ line hold up after "SANDY'? the damage from Irene was severe ? from what i have read 'sandy's damage was minimual ? That would indicate that the civil engineering of the rebuilding was very sound.
Too bad PJ commuters cannot sue NJT for not being good stewarts of the MNRR equipment ?
PJ line itself held up well under Sandy...most of the brunt was in NJ...MNRR saw fit to move trains to the line at Ottisville and Campbell Hall..which included NJT locomotives...so equipment was safe, some 40 trees were down along the line but infrastructure stood up...
blue streak 1 though PJ line problems came from ROW issues in NJ and Hoboken problems.
The line to Port Jervis is not electric so the lack of electricity at Hoboken was not a problem in and of itself. However, the downed wires in the Hoboken yards and the tracks leading to them had to be cleared. There probably were also some downed trees down further up the line that had to be cleared.
January 11, 2013NJT-13-002
NEWARK, NJ — The Christie Administration today announced that new NJ TRANSIT rail schedules take effect on Monday, January 14, 2013, which include additional trains on the North Jersey Coast Line that will restore service levels into New York to 100 percent, reflecting the agency’s ongoing Hurricane Sandy recovery and repair.
“The full restoration of our New York Penn Station rail service marks another important milestone for NJ TRANSIT and our customers, the majority of whom commute to and from midtown Manhattan,” said NJ TRANSIT Executive Director James Weinstein. “Equally important is the progress we’ve made on the North Jersey Coast Line, which was among the hardest hit by Hurricane Sandy. Again, I cannot emphasize enough the tireless efforts made by our rail employees to restore service for our customers.”
Starting January 14, the North Jersey Coast Line will operate nine additional trains, restoring the line’s service level to 96 percent of its pre-Sandy schedule. Today, NJ TRANSIT is operating 101 of the 114 pre-Sandy scheduled trains along the North Jersey Coast Line. As of Monday, NJ TRANSIT will be operating 110 of those 114 trains.
Two of the added North Jersey Coast Line trains will operate between Long Branch and New York Penn Station, bringing NJ TRANSIT back to 100 percent of its pre-Sandy service level to and from New York. The remaining seven trains will either originate or terminate in Bay Head, with four of those trains resuming direct service between Bay Head and Hoboken Terminal.
Systemwide, NJ TRANSIT’s rail division will reach 94 percent of its pre-Sandy service level with the January 14 schedule change, operating 658 of the 700 weekday trains scheduled prior to the storm, compared to the 630 weekday trains operating today. Weekend service was restored to near pre-storm levels as of December 3rd.
Effective January 14, trains will be added as follows:
Customers are encouraged to review new timetables online at njtransit.com.
Flooding from Hurricane Sandy and the resulting exposure to saltwater destroyed NJ TRANSIT’s Mason Substation in Hoboken—a critical component of NJ TRANSIT’s infrastructure that provides electric power for trains to operate into and out of Hoboken Terminal each day.
With no electric power available, diesel-powered trains have been substituted for electric-powered trains into and out of Hoboken, particularly along the Gladstone Branch of the Morris & Essex Lines. Approximately 24 electric-powered trains that operated along the Gladstone Branch pre-Sandy have been replaced by diesel-powered trains.
NJ TRANSIT tentatively anticipates electric power to be restored to Hoboken Terminal by March, at which time electric trains will be restored to the affected lines.
“We are continuing to work closely with our partners in Washington and Trenton to secure the funds needed to raise this critical substation and make it more resilient for the future,” said Executive Director Weinstein.
The editorial in today's Bergen Record (www.northjersey.com) continues berating NJTransit management for their failure to communicate. This time, the editorial attention is on Hoboken terminal.
According to the editorial, the main waiting room, which had been opened after Sandy, has been now locked. There is no place for passengers to sit, and the restroons are portajohns. The primary focus of the editorial, however, was the refusal of NJT to comment on the issues at Hoboken.
It appears the the Record has finally run out of patience with NJTransit's duck and cover management. Hopefully, the pressure will continue.
sandyhookken The editorial in today's Bergen Record (www.northjersey.com) continues berating NJTransit management for their failure to communicate. This time, the editorial attention is on Hoboken terminal. According to the editorial, the main waiting room, which had been opened after Sandy, has been now locked. There is no place for passengers to sit, and the restroons are portajohns. The primary focus of the editorial, however, was the refusal of NJT to comment on the issues at Hoboken. It appears the the Record has finally run out of patience with NJTransit's duck and cover management. Hopefully, the pressure will continue.
First note that this is a letter to the Editor and not a editorial from the newspaper. Second, the fact that Hoboken Terminal Building is closed and locked was announced by NJT when it happened. It appears the lack of electricity and heat is causing fungi and bacteria pollutants and the public's health and safety is best served by the building being closed. But, still, the whole story of what has happened, not stories from commuters nor whispers from unauthorized employees and the rants of railfans, has not been done in proper public relations form.
This letter along with other news stories of how Christie and Sweeney are supporting Weinstein and company is another item which is bothersome to those of us being held ignorant by the lack of total and honest communication from NJT and, evidently, from the state officers as well. There are several newspapers in NJ with the name Record but none have as yet gone on record with real journalists with real questions and real ability to get to the bottom of this story. More letters printed doesn't uncover anything more than the lack of knowledge and truth being handed down by NJT and NJ and the ignorance or lazyness of the so called news media.
I don't know about letters to the editor. However, The Record has what looks to me like an editorial. The title is Trains and Toilets. A piece with the same title appears in The Herald News. We are advised that if we visit Hoboken Terminal we should be sure to use a restroom before we go. I think it is good advice.
henry6 [. More letters printed doesn't uncover anything more than the lack of knowledge and truth being handed down by NJT and NJ and the ignorance or lazyness of the so called news media.
[. More letters printed doesn't uncover anything more than the lack of knowledge and truth being handed down by NJT and NJ and the ignorance or lazyness of the so called news media.
Henry IMO corporations and individuals handle an adverse occurence in one of several ways.
1. admit what happend and announce revisions to prevent same from happening again.
2. deny, deny, deny --- not possible in NJT's case as the evidence is out in the open.
3. refuse to make any statement and allow conflicting rumors to decrease any reprecussions.
Since #3 appears to be the case here why ??
1. If I was the governor of any of the states threatened by "SANDY " I would have had my staff or myself call each city, county, government agency, business, etc and ask what preparation plans they had made and how far along they were in completeing them.
2. So a governor's staff member called NJT and found out that they were parking equipment at HOBOKEN. Now this staff member may not have know the implications of that decision.
3. If so Gov Christie may not want that lack of judgement to reach the public ??
4. so don't say anything and do not crucify the head of NJT.
5. That is how I would handle if I were a politician. ??
And if NJT had not been contacted -------- ??
Henry,
This is an editorial by the Bergen Record of Hackensack on page A-13 of the January 12, 2013 paper. It is definately not a letter to the editor; those are printed in a clearly marked separate (Your Views) section.
The editorial plainly expresses the frustration of the media in trying to get meaningful responses from NJTransit.
aegrotatioI drove along the Port Jervis line between Monroe, NY and Rte. 17 and it is in remarkably good shape. The fresh substructure and ballast on top still looks like a brand-new railroad. The Ramapough river didn't ravage it at all despite its efforts during Sandy.
That part of the railroad was completely rebuilt after Lee/Irene water rampage of September 2011. Sandy did not reach that far. As a foot note I understand that in addition to the repair and replacement that some of the work needed to install the new signal system was incorporated into it. A smart move on MNRR's part.
As for the editorial/letter...I was directed/prompted to the piece as a guest editorial/letter. Nonetheless it is about time the media awakens to the problems of silence and learn the subject enough to start asking the right questions of the right people. The silence and lack of communication from NJT is as bad as the bad decisions which led to the catastrophic consequences.
henry6The silence and lack of communication from NJT is as bad as the bad decisions which led to the catastrophic consequences.
When we ride NJT trains I wonder if we will be allowed to know if we are using salt water damaged equipment. Or if it will be possible to find out.
If is remains damaged by salt water it won't work...everything has to be replaced in order for it to work.
John WR henry6The silence and lack of communication from NJT is as bad as the bad decisions which led to the catastrophic consequences. When we ride NJT trains I wonder if we will be allowed to know if we are using salt water damaged equipment. Or if it will be possible to find out.
Well, you can always look under the seats and see if there's barnacles and mussels growing there.
Firelock76ell, you can always look under the seats and see if there's barnacles and mussels growing there.
The seat on the train today was sure uncomfortable. Now I know why.
Interesting pre- sandy ridership july - sept 2012 up 6% + Now the next quarter ?
http://blog.tstc.org/2013/01/14/new-jersey-transit-ridership-trends-illustrate-the-need-for-more-transit-funding/
No doubt there will be reduced ridership due to Sandy. But that will be a one time thing with no permanent effect.
After all, some lines (such as the Atlantic Coast Line and Gladstone Branch) were closed for many days. And Hoboken Terminal was closed for weeks. Full PATH service from Hoboken still has not returned.
Mike Smith's weather blog had a comment about the NJT screw-up being due to someone in the organization using NWS software to predict flooding. The problem was that said employee had little expertise in weather forecasting and plugged in some wrong values for the direction of the storm, and the software hen forecast much less severe flooding than what actually occurred. Mike Smith went on to note that this was one of the things that his company, Accuweather, specialized in.
- Erik
Friday, January 18. Last night NJT Vice President Kevin O'Connor announced trains will be stored in a rail yard in Linden during storms and a more permanent storage area will be created in New Brunswick.
Joseph M. Clift, former Long Island Railroad director of planning, asked O'Connor plans to resign over the decision to store locomotives and cars in a Kearney swamp. O'Connor said he will not resign.
Here is a link to The Star-Ledger report: http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2013/01/nj_transit_plans_to_store_trai.html
It has not been announced but is only being discussed. Talks continue with CR and others to determine if and how it can be done and if it is the right place.
Well yes, Henry. But it does seem to be working in the right direction even if it is a little late.
Part of the article is about the interchange between Joseph Clift and Kevin O'Connor. It you read the comments in the S-L it is apparent that many people still remember the initial decision.
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