Eastern Railroad Discussion > Photo and videos of the local, Conrail SA31

The freight train that runs closest to where I live in New Jersey is the Conrail SA31.  Based out of Browns Yard in Old Bridge (former PRR), the train heads east to South Amboy to access NJT's North Jersey Coast Line.  The SA31 runs on the NJCL from South Amboy to Red Bank where the train picks up the Shared Assets Southern Secondary (former CNJ Southern Division Main Line).  The Southern Division Main Line was the same line that the "Blue Comet" used to head to Atlantic City.  Currently, the SA31 serves the Southern Secondary once per week and gets onto the NJCL in the mid afternoon.  On July 28th, I had the evening available to photo the train.  

1.  The train arrived in Farmingdale with NS 5311 and CSX 4429 and fourteen cars
2.  A look at the size of the ROW in Farmingdale.  The CNJ had a station here and there was originally a diamond where the PRR line (Monmouth Junction to Manasquan) crossed the CNJ.  As the PRR receded to the west, a spur replaced the diamond.
3.  The SA31 passing the former lead to the Freehold Secondary (ex PRR),  The lead has been inactive since the lumber yard, Gold Lumber, was destroyed by a fire several years ago

More to follow.    

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Continuing the photos.

4.  A photo of CSX 4429 as the train passes the crossing for Old Tavern Road in Howell Twp.
5.  The SA31 passing through Miller Road crossing in Howell Twp.
6.  The SA31 at the grade crossing for COunty Route 547 at the Howell Twp/Lakewood Twp border

The train will head to south Lakewood and run use the around to then head to Woodhaven Lumber.

Videos to follow. 

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In the first video from Farmingdale, the SA31 starts up from a stopped position and passes the lead for Gold Lumber.
In the second video, the train is approaching the Lakewood Twp border.  

I followed the train into downtown Lakewood, where traffic and light conditions told me to call it a successful evening and head home.  Hope you enjoy! 

 

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Nice coverage, that car stopped in image four looks pretty close!
JB

Thats a healthy local...

OCtrainguy Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

> 1.  The train arrived in Farmingdale with NS 5311
> and CSX 4429 and fourteen cars
> 2.  A look at the size of the ROW in Farmingdale.
>  The CNJ had a station here and there was
> originally a diamond where the PRR line (Monmouth
> Junction to Manasquan) crossed the CNJ.  As the
> PRR receded to the west, a spur replaced the
> diamond.
> 3.  The SA31 passing the former lead to the
> Freehold Secondary (ex PRR),  The lead has been
> inactive since the lumber yard, Gold Lumber, was
> destroyed by a fire several years ago
>
> More to follow.    

funny you mention Farmingdale ... last night i was in the diner by my house that i frequent ...  the diner is a mile from both the NJ Trpk one way and I-295 the other way so  people from all over heading north or south stop in for a rest stop ... Nick the owner's son works the diner and is an avid music fan especially bands of the 70s and 80s as am i ... i was seated at the booth directly behind the register which is right next to the entry/exit door so i see everyone who walks in and out ... well i'm eating my meal and a gentleman walks in with long hair heavy beard wearing a 5 gallon cowboy hat ... i hear the guy ask for directions for I-195 which the route to the north jersey shore points with exit ramps off 295 and the trpk ... i hear the guy saying he's looking to head up there around Belmar and he's playing a gig with his band ... well there are 2 towns that sound alike with different spellings .. Belmar at the shore near Asbury Park and Bellmawr which is near me down here 5 minutes from Philly ... so Nick tells the guy this is Bellmawr not the Belmar at the shore and asks where he's playing at and what's the name of his band ... well the guy says it's own band and they're playing in a place in Farmingdale ... he also says he was the drummer for a famous 70s rock and roll band ... Nick being a fan of early rock bands asks him what band ... the guy said his name is Artimus Pyle and he was the drummer for Lynyrd Skynyrd during the 70s when the band was at the top of the charts ... he said he and Gary Rossington along with the other band members and crew memebrs survivored the plane crash in '77 that killed 3 memebers of the band including the lead singer Ronnie Van Zant 2 other band memers and 3 others including both pilots ... 20 people survivied altogether ... 

America's local!!!!!  Love SA31!!!

Out_Of_Service Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> OCtrainguy Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
>
> > 1.  The train arrived in Farmingdale with NS
> 5311
> > and CSX 4429 and fourteen cars
> > 2.  A look at the size of the ROW in
> Farmingdale.
> >  The CNJ had a station here and there was
> > originally a diamond where the PRR line
> (Monmouth
> > Junction to Manasquan) crossed the CNJ.  As
> the
> > PRR receded to the west, a spur replaced the
> > diamond.
> > 3.  The SA31 passing the former lead to the
> > Freehold Secondary (ex PRR),  The lead has
> been
> > inactive since the lumber yard, Gold Lumber,
> was
> > destroyed by a fire several years ago
> >
> > More to follow.    
>
> funny you mention Farmingdale ... last night i was
> in the diner by my house that i frequent ...  the
> diner is a mile from both the NJ Trpk one way and
> I-295 the other way so  people from all over
> heading north or south stop in for a rest stop ...
> Nick the owner's son works the diner and is an
> avid music fan especially bands of the 70s and 80s
> as am i ... i was seated at the booth directly
> behind the register which is right next to the
> entry/exit door so i see everyone who walks in and
> out ... well i'm eating my meal and a gentleman
> walks in with long hair heavy beard wearing a 5
> gallon cowboy hat ... i hear the guy ask for
> directions for I-195 which the route to the north
> jersey shore points with exit ramps off 295 and
> the trpk ... i hear the guy saying he's looking to
> head up there around Belmar and he's playing a gig
> with his band ... well there are 2 towns that
> sound alike with different spellings .. Belmar at
> the shore near Asbury Park and Bellmawr which is
> near me down here 5 minutes from Philly ... so
> Nick tells the guy this is Bellmawr not the Belmar
> at the shore and asks where he's playing at and
> what's the name of his band ... well the guy says
> it's own band and they're playing in a place in
> Farmingdale ... he also says he was the drummer
> for a famous 70s rock and roll band ... Nick being
> a fan of early rock bands asks him what band ...
> the guy said his name is Artimus Pyle and he was
> the drummer for Lynyrd Skynyrd during the 70s when
> the band was at the top of the charts ... he said
> he and Gary Rossington along with the other band
> members and crew memebrs survivored the plane
> crash in '77 that killed 3 memebers of the band
> including the lead singer Ronnie Van Zant 2 other
> band memers and 3 others including both pilots ...
> 20 people survivied altogether ... 

amazing story!