Yesterday I got back from “Jersey”, and it kicked [censored]!!! I saw NJT & MTA commuter trains @ Hoboken, some passeger cars @ the Whippany RR museum, and CSX, Norfolk Southern,and Conrail locos off the westbound side of the Skyway Bridge (I went in the yard[with permission]), and on the eastbound side, I saw a NS freight on my left, and on the right,NJT,UP,CSX and more NS trains.then in NY, on the Cross Bronx Expwy, I saw the Hell Gate RR bridge.It was “most excellent”, or AWESOME! I always wanted to see it.It was perfect. If ya wanna take pix there, you’ll have a good time.
It’s nice to see someone have the same reaction about trainwatching in New York and New Jersey that I did in 1982. At that time, NJT was still operating U34CH’s and GG1’s and the first F40PH’s were being delivered. The power change at South Amboy during PM rush was also a sight to see.
East of the Hudson, I spent an entire day at Jamaica and the Long Island was absolutely fascinating. The ex-FA power cars were still in use and where else could you see an MP15AC in passenger service. The timing required to get three trains to the right platform at virtually the same time to swap passengers was incredible.
It’s good to hear that it’s still a great place to watch trains.
Starwardude,
[:D][8D]It’s great to hear that there is still plenty of train action in my old hometown. The equipment is newer,but they’re all trains. Railfans that have never visited NY or NJ before would really enjoy it (though if in a car, you’ll have to wrestle with the traffic).
For those of you not familiar, the 4 track Hell Gate Bridge was used by the former Pennsy and New Haven Railroads. If you watch the opening credits of the show Law and Order, the gray colored bridge that you see is the Tri-borough Bridge. The Hell Gate bridge is parallel to this bridge a little over a 1/4 mile to the right, though you can’t see it as the scene changes in a few seconds. Architectually, it resembles the famous bridge in Sydney, Australia that we always see in pictures along with the amphitheater.
The Sydney Harbor Bridge resembles the Hell Gate Bridge as the Hell Gate Bridge was built earlier. I photographed trains crossing the Hell Gate Bridge back in the late 1950’s from a park in Astoria and from the walkway of the Tri Borough Bridge. Is it still possible to safely photograph trains crossing the Hell Gate Bridge today considering the surrounding neighborhood and New York City police regulations banning the photographjy of bridges in New York City?