Reports on other forums indicated NJT used the new ALP45's..the dual power locomotives...on Morristown MidTown Direct trains this weekend for the first time in revenue service into NYP. Reportedly work was being done on power lines west of Summit which had the power turned off..so rather than changing engines or changing trains, NJT elected to use the dual powered locos...have not heard or seen reports of problems with the units. Amtrak had been holding off approval of the units but apparently relented either for the "emergency" or as a "test" program. Hopefully this can be a normal operation for NJT for several reasons. Most immediate, perhaps they can borrow the unused units in Montreal which are sidelined because freight railroads are not accepting the locomotives use for commuter service...NJT could certainly use the units because of the 60 or so lost to Sandy. In the longer run, one seat rides from Bay Head, High Bridge, and Hackettstown (via Morristown or MSU) are now viable and could lead to better utilization of the diminished (by 200, again because of Sandy) car fleet. There could be extensions of current trains and/or additional trains (there are empty slots on the timecard) into and out of NYP. Don't know where the damaged locomotives from Sandy are going or have gone...Morristown and Erie's Morristown shop has some..and damaged cars have gone to Kanona NY's Bombardier shop on the Bath and Hammondsport (former DL&W track) and to other locations for rebuilding. But overall the dual power locomotives in service entrance to NYP is most welcome.
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The possibility of obtaining some of the idle Montreal ALP-45DP units by NJTransit raises a question. Does anyone know if these Montreal locomotives have bi-lingual markings, or is everything in French only? If so, and NJTransit gets these locos, someone at Transit will be really busy with a labelmaker.
The ability of the ALP-45DP locomotives to access New York Penn Station makes a "one seat" ride from NYP to the Meadowlands a possibility. Currently, NJTransit operates a shuttle system between Hoboken and the Meadowlands for certain large crowd events (football, concerts, etc.). Anyone travelling on NE Corridor trains must change to the shuttle at Seacaucus.
The "one seat" concept becomes important next February, when the NFL SuperBowl is held at MetLife Stadium in the Meadowlands. While locals are comfortable with changing trains, the odds are that the Giants and Jets will not be the teams playing each other in the SuperBowl. It's possible that the two teams playing (e.g. Green Bay & Indianapolis) could have fans that have never seen a commuter train, much less riden in one. The "one seat" concept would have a great appeal to these people.
Accomplishing this with the ALP-45DP's does not require any new equipment or construction: however, it does require two engineers on each train.
The train would run from NYPenn through Seacaucus Junction and on to the Morris & Essex westbound, just as the MidTown Direct trains do now. The train would then reverse (second engineer) and run east to West End Tower, where it would reverse again to run west to the Meadowlands.
It's just an idea. Will it happen? Maybe. Given NJTransit's recent history, I wouldn't bet on it.
No, dual locos at this point are not candidates to run from NYP to Meadowlands. They would have to go Kearney, reverse there to West End and either go around the rickety west leg of the wye or passed the interlocking and reverse again to the Bergen/Main to the Meadowlands. It would probably take the better part of an hour and a half to two hours...doable but not plausible. There is one dead head move from NYP to Hoboken each morning and it takes...14 minutes to Kearney, 15 minutes to turn, 15 minutes to Hoboken. So even with two engineers, the reverse moves would have to consume up to 5 minutes each or the west leg of the wye 20 minutes....time up to the Meadowlands...time consumed not worth it nor is the extra engineer. Cost too much for crew, takes up too much track time, not a marketable product....zip along the elevators at Sec. Jct. more efficient both cost wise and time wise....
AMT in Montreal is a government agency, hence all signage on the locomotives would be required to be in French. It would not be bilingual, English would not be used. As for one seat to te Meadowlands, doesn't make sense, far easier and quicker to change at Secaucus. Now if THE tunnel had been built there was supposed to have been a loop track connecting te NEC to the lower level for just such moves.
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