2004 SNOW! 1/28/04 WS2 ventured out into the white stuff to clear the tracks and crossings from Little Ferry to Smoke Rise with the 1802. Snow was flying as the 42 year old EMD hit crossing after crossing and most impressively when it hit a large mound of snow at the Wyckoff station. after returning to the yard, 1802 teamed up with GP20 2066 to drill cars for the SU99. Pictured here is 1802 pausing in Butler to unfreeze the windsheild wipers.
NYS&W SD40! 1/26/04 SU100 brought a new surprise to the Southern Division. Former NS/BDLX 1603 came East wearing NYSW 3022 on it's cab side and number boards. The NYSW has been running 3 different High Hood NS/BDLX SD40's for a few months with rumor about possible purchase. Could a chopped nose and paint job be in their future?
Traffic up! A
good sign for the Susie-Q is the apparent up turn in construction and the
need to remove the debris to landfills in the west. Former "Wood Chip"
hoppers from all over have been appearing on the property to haul the light
weight but plentiful debris. Recently, former Bangor and Aroostook chip
gons arrived with NYSW restenciled over the BAR reporting marks. SOUTHERN,
ex-Southern Pacific, Ex-CSX, Ex-MoPac, and several unidentifiable "former
owner" cars have made the SU trains lengthy and interesting. Any freight
car fans out there would do well to pay attention; the variety is getting
interesting again.
116 in NJ! 12/03
Almost forgotten about on the Southern Division, the 116 had a breif stay.
The former O&W NW2 was back to "try out" on a few jobs to see if she
could be useful in some difficult or time consuming switching moves. 116
spent a couple weeks in Sparta and a short time at Little Ferry before
developing a smoking problem. 116 is seen here assisting the 2012 in spotting
a car in Midland Park without needing to "run-around" or shove a long distance.
142 Runs Again! 6/16/03 After completing repairs and reinstalling the front axle, the 142 was fired up over the weekend and prepared to run to Butler. Here we see the 142 running West through Wyckoff and over the famous Oakland bridge. The 142 will now rest inside the NEW Butler engine house until it is called for duty again.
Replacement Power? It is reported that the NYS&W has been leasing 2 BAR EMD GP units (GP40-2?) and one has been seen on the Southern Division on a SU100/SU99 round trip. Latest reports indicate either 2 SD-38's or 2 High Hood (N&W) SD40's and possibly 2 more GP40 type EMDs are to be leased or purchased.
B40-8's in their twilight: Expect to see less of the 4 NYS&W GE's as they are being readied for return to the lessor. A recent run of problems have kept a few of the B40's from spending their last few months in active service.
Tunnel Motor Paint Update:6/2003 Reports indicate that the first SD40T-2, likely the 3012, is now in the shop having it's A/C removed, some final repairs and a new coat of paint.
The Ghost of 1800?? Rumors are that GP-18 #1800 will be returned to service "in the future". A New York State college class will reportedly make the repairs to the bent frame, displaced prime mover, and other damage resulting from sliding on slick rails into several loaded hoppers.
Late October 2002: Mechanical
Department removes the lead axle and bearings from the NYS&W 142.
Click on this link for the pictures: 142
Lead Axle Removal
The Big Snow of 2003:
Brought out the heaviest snow fighting equipment the NYS&W owns; the
Russell Snowplow. The former B&M plow is one of 2 purchased by the
NYS&W with one stored on each division. After the snow fell too deep
to run trains, the decision was made to use the plow, but it had been buried
behind a water tank and the 142 near the turntable in Little Ferry Yard.
Several hours of clearing the switches allowed access to the track and
after receiving permission to move the crippled 142, the plow was taken
out. Unfortunately, the mild winters had left the plow unused for about
6 years, and it needed a bit of care before being put into service. Originally,
2 SD40T-2's were to push the plow, but air problems caused the 2066 and
the 2012 to be brought in. While crews dislike the former TP&W GP20
#2066 as a local switcher, it just had air compressor work and with
it's "Road Train" setup, was an ideal plow engine. Ice forming in the air
lines caused further delays in Maywood and it was mid afternoon before
the plow extra made Hawthorne. The train spent the night in Butler and
headed West again just after 6am. By Noon, many railfans were able
to chase the plow on it's run to Warwick NY including a trip down the Sparta
"Limecrest Industrial". The train then dead headed back and attempted to
run down the Pompton Industrial, but the crew's time was up. The plow returned
later with another crew and is back in Little Ferry on the engine storage
track. Below are digital shots of the plow extra approaching and
passing Hawthorne station. Scanned images further West may be added soon.
2/2003 More Tunnel Motors: The
mis-numbered 3002 is now re-renumbered correctly as 3010.
Three more SD40T-2's have been put into service
for debugging and testing.
Pictured below are the 3012, 3010 and 4008
on the Allied track at Sparta early one February morning.
Later that day the 4008 was cut away to serve the Pompton Industrial, leaving the two T-2's on the main at Pompton Junction.
1804 at rest on the House Track: The 1804 awaits the next crew as light snow starts to fall.
Late 2002 & Early 2003:
Oh, Sure.. like they would buy Tunnel Motors! Uhh.. What's that gray thing??
Was anyone NOT suprised when the ex-SP/DRGW SD40-2T's started to
show up? Witness the 3002/3010 at Little Ferry and 3012 at MP55 on Sparta
Mountain between B40-8's. The T2's have been test running in old paint
until the warm weather brings new paint.
12/02: The year
ended with a bang in the Little Ferry yard when heavy snow caused the Q161
to derail as it was being assembled. Several cars were damaged and many
more jumped the track at low speed when a derailed car sideswiped another
track full of cars.
Fall 2002: 1804
returns to service after an electrical cabinet fire. The 40+ year old now
wears a 4th paint scheme including smaller Susquehanna lettering, a gray
roof and modern cab lettering similar to the 4006.
