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Design of Secaucus Junction

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Posted by daveklepper on Saturday, September 21, 2013 2:32 PM

Correct, except that west of Journal Square they were technically PRR trains, not H&M.  The Newark - Hudson Terminal line was a "Joint Service" line with identacle cars 50 owned by PRR and 50 owned by H&M, with the property line at the west end of the Journal Square yard.   Crews ran through and belonged to the Brotherhoods.  And the H&M was legally a railroad.

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Posted by timz on Wednesday, September 25, 2013 3:20 PM

John WR
 All PRR trains stopped at Manhattan Transfer as long as steam engines ran. 

All trains to/from NY Penn, you mean. Steam trains from Jersey City didn't need to stop.

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Posted by daveklepper on Sunday, September 29, 2013 2:50 PM

But some,  or even most, all non-rush-hour, Jersey City trains did stop to allow transfer to Penn Station trains  and to the H&M-PRR joint-service trains.   True, the transfer could also be made at the Exchange Place Jersey City PRR terminal, but some passengers may have wanted to go to Journal Square or via transfer there to Hoboaken or  Pavionia.   A few Bay Head Jc. Jersey Coast expresses probably did skip.

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Posted by timz on Sunday, September 29, 2013 3:15 PM

Anyone got a timetable showing a Jersey City PRR train that stopped at Manh Tfr?

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Posted by henry6 on Sunday, September 29, 2013 7:47 PM

You can check the Official Guide of the era or PRR timetables of the era.

And PRR did indeed look for company in Manhattan in that they talked with the DL&W I believe about sharing some costs but, I think it was the Davis era on the DL&W, and he and his board declined to spend the money.

Yes, Secaucus is like Manhattan Transfer of old by being built for the transfer to other trains.  Being a true junction is also possible because you can change trains on the same platform from Morristown Line to Corridor and North Jersey Coast Line trains on the upper level while on the lower level you can change from the Main Line, the Bergen Cutt Off, Pascack Valley, and Sportsline trains.  But neither the upper nor lower level can meet.  It appears to be working well.  There are elevators and escalators and stairs to and from all levels.  It is not confusing if you follow the color assignments of lines and the train boards not just on the mezzanine but also in hallways and on platforms.  Our Ridewithmehenry trips have used it to change trains from all the lines to the others in all directions.directions with no problems.  Some waits allow some fun train watching on both levels.  As a fan, it is fun.  As a rider it is most convenient and can be time saving; or you can use the layover to grab breakfast or lunch.

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.

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Posted by daveklepper on Sunday, September 29, 2013 9:46 PM

I trhink Jersey Transit got the most improvement for its passengers possible for the money spent.  It was a wise investment, and efficient use of the money available,

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Posted by timz on Monday, September 30, 2013 12:04 PM

timz
Steam trains from Jersey City didn't need to stop [at Manh Tfr].

A few did, tho. The June 1930 timetable shows three weekday departures from Jersey City that stopped at Manh Tfr; the other 19 PRR departures and the three LV departures skipped it.

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Posted by daveklepper on Tuesday, October 1, 2013 3:13 AM

What about weekends?

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Posted by aegrotatio on Tuesday, November 19, 2013 8:21 PM
Don't forget Susquehanna Transfer. Except, instead of to ferries or electric trains, in later years the transfer was to the bus, which was faster than both.
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Posted by daveklepper on Wednesday, November 20, 2013 9:05 AM

When there wasn't a traffic jam.

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Posted by John WR on Saturday, November 23, 2013 10:30 AM

Aegrotatio,  

I have not forgotten the Susquenanna Transfer.  But I have to confess that is only because I never heard of it in the first place.  It was before my time in New Jersey.  

But back when I lived in Bergen County I recall reading about how the New York Susquehanna and Western Railroad labored mightily to get rid of its passenger service and how. to the detriment of people living along the line, it finally succeeded.  I have also seen some talk of restoring it to connect with New Jersey Transit's Main Line at Hawthorn but nothing has ever happened.   

John

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