The Northern Branch
Derailments
Photos
Copyright © 2003,2004 Lewis Bogaty.
Text Copyright © 2006 Lewis Bogaty
The tracks north of Englewood are in very bad condition. Dating nails that can still be found in old rotting ties on the line indicate how old those ties are. We have recently seen ties with nails from as far back as the 1920s. Shown here are ties from 1951 and 1925, photographed in 2004. Given the state of the rails, the train’s top speed is 10 miles per hour.
Nonetheless, there have been a spate of derailments. With talk of a takeover of the track by New Jersey Transit for a light rail system, it is unlikely that a major track repair program will be initiated now.
Above: A car on the train derailed on the runaround in Ridgefield. After it was re-railed,
and the train was working on the Colorite siding, the engines derailed. Two days later,
early on this Sunday morning, the engines were re-railed. Now the tracks are being repaired.
Seen from the pedestrian bridge on December 21, 2003.
Above and Below: The train derailed on the Weyerhaeuser
siding in Closter. It is being re-railed on May 10, 2004.
Notice the old Erie whistle post for Blanche Avenue to
the right of the train (below).
Below: Five-One derailed on the Cove siding. Both engines and a boxcar were damaged. They have been re-railed but not yet hauled away on July 29, 2004.
