Railroad Weed Control
Aug 18 2010
Brush Cutting, News 2010 Comments Off
This is a photograph of a new, modern, high-speed weed control machine. Every railroad should have at least one. (undated photo)
Railroad weed control
Brush cutting report: Central RR of New Jersey – Southern Division
Jun 09 2010
Brush Cutting, Motorcar Trips, News 2010 Comments Off
I wanted to give everyone an update on the brush cutting we did on the (ex-CNJ) New Jersey Southern Division this past Saturday.
The day was hot and sticky but went well. We did not have too many trees down and in fact had more problems getting through the sand than anything else. At one point I thought we may have made a wrong turn and ended up in the Mojave Dessert…lol.
The line runs through mostly pine forest but does go through a few towns. It was there that we encountered a couple of paved over crossings, which were not a problem at all, we just man handled the cars and got them over.
We made it about 10 miles before encountering a major problem, someone stole about 50 feet of rail. After trying to work out a way to get across the gap, using trees to act as rails, we decided the effort was not worth it and just turn the cars and ran back. We were done around 5pm and all went home hot and tired.
I want to thank Dave C., Carolyn, Justin, Steve G. and Ken C. from the VRA and Tony, Paul and Ron from the NJSL for helping and making the day enjoyable.
I also want to thank Tony and Paul for buying the crew lunch. We have created a great working relationship with the railroad and they have already invited us to run a motorcar trip over the line in the future.
We will be looking at available dates and will announce the trip when everything is finalized. Our plan is to combine a run over the Cape May line and the Southern division into a full weekend of running.
KC Smith 06/08/2010 8:00 PM
Mowing on the Bel-Del
Nov 17 2003
Black River & Western RR, Brush Cutting, News 2003 Comments Off
November 17, 2003
The Monday Nov 17 trip was not a complete success, but we got a lot of help from Al Elliott which helped the day go better.
After picking up the trailer at Ringoes and hooking it to Al’s truck we went north. We set on at a power plant about 4 miles north of Milford and mowed south. Just below Milford the rotary struck a high rail lying between the rails. On further inspection we found several things wrong with the mower deck, not necessarily a result of that incident.
It took an hour to repair enough to continue. After lunch below Milford we went back north with the best repair we could do, but it only lasted several miles. Continuing with the sickle bar only, we got back to the power plant. (from Dick Ray)
Oldenwelder Mowing
Oct 23 2003
Black River & Western RR, Brush Cutting, News 2003 Comments Off
October 23, 2003
I wanted to thank everyone who came out and helped us clear the BR&W’s line in Easton, PA. The machines worked well and we got all the work done. The brush hog is now in Ringoes and we will be setting up a time to go down there and do some work in Flemington and then down to Lambertville. The guys who came out were Dick Ray, Pete Stagg, Joe Weber, Scott Samuel, Chris Vitz and myself from the VRA and Bud and Mike O’Toole from the BR&W. Also there was Bill McKelvey from the Friends of the NJ Transportation Heritage Center. Again we worked together as a great team and made the day a success and have opened another door at another railroad. Good work guys!!! (from KC)
Work day on M&NJ RR
Sep 06 2003
Brush Cutting, Middletown & NJ, News 2003 Comments Off
September 6, 2003
We put brackets on the A5 that Pete made for us that carries the rails for the turntable. We now need a second set as one rail will be on each side. This day we carried both rails on the same side. Dick got a new belt for the rotary which we put on. We mowed south and got as far as Langlitz Road which we didn’t cross. A few hundred feet north of there we found a spot to turn the car and we did that with no real problem.
We crossed Ford Lea with out a problem and crossed Orange County 1 at Westown OK, but the weeds were taller then a man and the mower had difficulty. The new belt was loose and kept coming off so we put the old one with a bad gouge in it back on and it ran OK. Had to make multiple passes. The sickle bar ran OK but we must have damaged the first two teeth which had to be readjusted several times. The going was really hard for both machines. We let the jungle grow too long this year. I gave Chris a break on running the sickle bar and he ran the car while Dick was walking behind lopping and clearing the sickle bar when it got clogged. That is when the bees got him. (Chris, my arms are sore today from wrestling with the sickle bar.)
It is going to be a rough run for the motor cars when they come down from Middletown for the meet in October. I can’t see then getting past the Waterloo Road crossing. Where will the cars be turned? Back up to Langlitz Road and turn on the pavement? There is good visibility there and not much traffic. Just a thought.
I hope the bee bites are better today Dick and Chris. (from Charley R)
M&NJ Work Report
Jul 29 2003
Brush Cutting, Middletown & NJ, News 2003 Comments Off
July 29, 2003
On July 29, Dick Ray, Charlie Roselius, Larry Ten Hoeve, and myself cut some more brush up on the M&NJ. The weather was beautiful. We arrived at the car barn at 8 am and did some minor work to get the brush cutter ready. We left started mowing right around 9 am. Heading north and using both the sickle bar and rotary mower we had no problems, other than the thick grass and weeds growing in the farm field south of Slate Hill.
We reached Slate Hill around 10:30 and decided to continue north until 11 am. We were able to continue mowing north all the way to Janie’s (McBride Road?) We turned the car just north of the crossing using our portable turntable.
Right at the appointed 11:00 am time we were already heading south. At Slate Hill we ran into a little snag with out rotary mower, but with some ingenuity and luck got it running again. The farm field was tough on the return trip too but we managed to get through it. About halfway between Lime Kiln Road and Johnson the A-5 decided to overheat. We figure it must be some of the cuttings that got passed our screens and got caught in the radiator are impeding the flow. After a few minutes that engine had cooled enough to continue back to the barn. We got back to Johnson exactly at 1 pm.
This was by far our best day of mowing, we cut about six miles total without any mechanical breakdowns. (From Chris V)
Another 3 miles Mowed
Jul 15 2003
Brush Cutting, Middletown & NJ, News 2003 Comments Off
July 15 th, 2003
On Sunday afternoon Will, Bill Kenley (who I once worked with long ago and have not seen since!), and I mowed from Ford Lea Road to Lime Kiln Road with both mowers. The system is working better all the time. We do have some minor improvements and one repair to make before the next trip.
The briars are coming back at Lime Kiln Road and need some hedge trimmer work. Not surprising since we have done nothing up there in more than a year. A few hour’s work would hold them off for another year. I would like to invent a holder for one of the trimmers so that briars could be cut well back using the A5 platform. (From Dick Ray)
M&NJRHS PICNIC
Aug 15 2001
Announcements, Middletown & NJ, News 2001 Comments Off
August 15, 2001
Sunday, August 12, 2001 was the annual M&NJRHS annual picnic at the Slate Hill, NY Fire Dept. Activity started at 800 AM at Johnson, NY with the departure of 6 motor cars for a trip to Middletown, NY. After turning the motor cars we returned to Slate Hill accompanied by the M&NJ engine & NYSW caboose. As the picnic commenced we gave motor car rides to picnic patrons from Slate Hill north to Janie’s & return. Joel Williams brought along his homemade hand car and gave rides south of Slate Hill. Participants in giving motor car rides & flagging US Route 6 were Charlie Roselius, Bill Smith, Charles Smith, K.C. Smith, Paul Trabert, Joel Williams and Chris Vitz. A good time was had by all.
THE BRUSH HOG LIVES
Jul 29 2001
Brush Cutting, Middletown & NJ, News 2001 Comments Off
July has been a great month for progress on not only clearing the M&NJ in preparation for the picnic on August 12th but also for the resurrection of Joel Williams and Dick Ray’s “brush hog”. With the help of Charley Roselius and Chris Vitz, Joel and Dick have returned the hog to service after over a decade of sitting in Joel’s yard. The hog made short work of clearing almost anything in it’s path on July 14th and 28th. A few engine problems slowed the progress but both days were a great success. Joel and Dick have graciously donated the car to us and for that and all their hard work we thank them. Now lets make a concentrated effort to re-open and keep open the M&NJ now that it is soooo much easier.
M&NJ PICNIC 2000
Aug 14 2000
Announcements, Middletown & NJ, News 2000 Comments Off
The M&NJRHS hosted a great picnic on Sunday August 13th at Slate hill, and we were invited to attend. The day started out with a group of our members meeting at Johnson to get the cars out of the barn or off their trailers for a run to Middletown to meet the train. Bill Smith, Bill Nelson, Charley Roseilus, Frank Eichenlaub, Ken Brown and his wife and Scott (?) along with 5 motor cars set off north at around 8:15am. They met K.C. Smith at Slate Hill and picked him up along with making contact with John Deserto of the M&NJRHS who had gotten the gates open and would help flag some of the crossings. It was a great run to Middletown where 3 more cars and the train awaited our arrival. Just after 10, M&NJ #2, a GE 44 Tonner, was fired up and after a little TLC by mebers Bill and K.C. Smith pulled the NYS&W #0117 caboose off the siding and headed south. A few photo stops were made enroute with an arrival at the picnic just a few minutes after 12, almost on time. A great spread was put out by the M&NJRHS guys and we filled up on all sorts of goodies. After lunch Harold , from the railroad, said it would be ok for us to give some short rides to the crowd and so we fired up the 8 cars and for the next few hours ran down the out of service track towards Johnson. It was great to listen to the people saying how much fun it was to get to ride the rails and we even gave them a little history lesson on motor car operations. Just after 5 the whole group got in place for the return North to Middletown behind the train. By the end of the day we had done 2 round trips to Middletown, given almost one hundred people the chance to see, learn about and ride in a motor car, met some old and new friends, had a great meal and had a fantastic time doing it all. We can’t wait for next year.
NEW M&NJ RULES
Jul 22 2000
Middletown & NJ, News 2000 Comments Off
The following are 4 new rules that we have instituted for the operation of motor cars on the M&NJ.
1. The operation of motor cars on the M&NJ will not start until after 8 AM and will not end later than 8 PM or one half hour before sunset, which ever is more restrictive. The only exception is in the case of break down.
2. When stopping at any location for more than a few minutes all cars must be shut down.
3. When returning to Johnson to put the cars away or back on a trailer, all cars must be shut down prior to crossing Rt. 22 or reaching the container siding switch, depending on which way you are headed. All cars are to be pushed into the container or onto a trailer.
4.The excessive use the horn is prohibited at any time. Special note: The use of air horns around homes or cattle is prohibited except in the case of emergency.
We are instituting these rules so we can continue to enjoy our time on the M&NJ. Remember, the best rule to keep in mind at all times is to be smart and to be a good neighbor.
Breakthru to Waterloo Road
Jun 08 2000
Brush Cutting, Middletown & NJ, News 2000 Comments Off
On June 8, we resumed our weekday schedule of work on the M&NJ. Todays session was attended by K. C. Smith, Joe Weber, Charlie Roselius and Paul Trabert. We concentrated on clearing trees and brush near the newly built bridge south of Langlitz Road. We managed to clear enough brush to bring our motor cars to Waterloo Road. We have met Waterloo and it is ours! While inspecting the tracks south of Waterloo Road, we met Earl Smith of the Minisink Township Highway Department. He told us to contact the Town Clerk, Carol VanBuren who is a member of the Minisink Museum Commitee. Paul Trabert talked to her, and she will contact the museum historian and will try to determine the date of the last train ride on the tracks south of Slate Hill, NY. Earl Smith has also agreed to move a highway speed limit sign which is very close to the tracks at the Waterloo Road crossing. Our next goal is Dickison Road. This will probably be our final destination, since immediately south of Dickison Road is a missing rail. The gap can be seen just south of the crossing.
One washout filled – Another discovered
May 07 2000
Middletown & NJ, News 2000 Comments Off
On Sunday, May 7th, 2000 a large group went up to Westown NY to help finish off the filling of the washout south of Westown. Included in the party were (alphabetically) Allen Alloco, Marie Bartiromo, Jim Conklin, Walter Conklin, Frank Eichenlaub, Scott Samuel, Mark Schmitt, Gregg Seuss, Bill Smith, Charles Smith, K. C. Smith and Paul Trabert. The Woodings & the Fairmont were pressed into service as well as Frank’s Fairmont. The dump truck on tool car was brought down from Johnson and rerailed at Westown.
We then shoveled dirt from a pile left over from the breakthrough which was piled alongside the track and ferried it down to the washout. On the first return trip the dump truck/tool car derailed at an out of gauge rail and had to be rerailed. After 4 or 5 trips, we managed to fill the washout completely. This added about 2 more non-revenue ton-miles to our VRA operating statistics. After that we took the three motor cars south of Langlitz Road to inspect another washout which was discovered recently. This one measures about 20 feet long just below the rails and is about seven feet deep in the middle. This one will most likely be fixed with a bridge constructed using tree trunks and ties. On our way back to Westown we spotted a large turtle in the middle of the tracks just south of Westown. We carefully picked it up and moved it outside the rails so we would not injure it. As the motor cars passed the turtle, it snapped at our wheels. All equipment was returned to Johnson NY.
MNJ workday Sunday, April 2, 2000
Apr 05 2000
Brush Cutting, Middletown & NJ, News 2000 Comments Off
We had a large group on hand for today’s work session. The party, lead by Bill Smith, included Allison Smith, Larry Ten Hoeve, Frank Eichenlaub, Alan Alloco, Charles Smith, Brian Parr from the M&NJ, several folks from Casey’s Camera and Bruce Koenig, our newest member. We began at the car barn in Johnson NY after 10 AM. Frank brought the motorcar he just purchased from the Black River & Western RR, a Fairmont originally from the Wabash. Despite repeated attempts, it refused to idle (nothing a little TLC won’t fix). The decision was made to leave the tool car and have the Woodings haul Frank’s motorcar, as we would need the extra seats. Lead by Brian’s Dodge Omni, we headed south. Along the way Brian felled nearly a dozen trees. The group cleared the under brush accumulated over the past year. We reached Westtown by 1 PM and broke for lunch. The weather began to turn, the sky darkened and the wind picked up considerably after lunch. Thankfully, the rain held up and we were able to continue southward. We crossed over Route 1 and rolled over the newly unearthed section of track behind the Westtown Bakery. This was a first for me! It was rough going from this point as there were many downed trees blocking the line. I’m guessing last year’s hurricane finished off several of them. We stopped for a few pictures about 100 yards north of Langlitz Road. Brian posed the Omni on a small bridge. According to the map, the railroad is crossing Rutgers Creek.
We reached Langlitz Road by 5 PM and decided to call it a day as the first drops of rain fell. Brian put the tires back on the Omni and headed back via the highway. We reached the car barn by 5:30 PM and posed for a group photo. Some of the group made a quick run to Slate Hill before calling it a day.
M&NJ RR opening for the season
Mar 03 2000
Middletown & NJ, News 2000 Comments Off
With the coming of the nice weather we are setting our sights on getting finished with the work of opening up the M&NJ RR. We are so close it really should not take long. We are going to try and put together people to work on Thursday’s, Saturday’s and Sundays. It will not be an every week thing but rather when we have members who would like to go. We will need a few members to be crew leaders and more to be crewmen. Interested? Sign up by e-mailing us. If you are not a member of our group, why not join us. It’s free and easy. Just send us your name, address and phone and then get involved. See you track side.