CONRAIL’S CAST-OFF COMMUTERS: 2 30 YEARS OF NJ TRANSIT
bumping the remaining MP54s from service. The Arrow III’s followed be- tween 1976 and 1979, and were origi- nally intended to upgrade the Hoboken Division. Since the upgrade was post- poned, the cars were assigned to the Northeast Corridor and the North Jer- sey Coast Line. When the former Lack- awanna electrified territory was up- graded, the DL&W m.u.’s were retired and the Arrow III’s assumed their in- tended role. The original Arrow I’s were rebuilt as “Comet IB” coaches in the 1980s, and retired by 2008. The Arrow II’s served on the upgraded Hoboken Division after 1984, and largely retired by 1997. The Arrow III’s were rebuilt in the 1990s and continue to serve as the backbone of the electric m.u. fleet today. The original Comet I coaches pur- chased for EL in 1970 were rebuilt in 1987 to address ADA compliance is- sues. Ten “Comet IA” coaches were built by Budd for the MTA for Port Jervis service using surplus Arrow III shells in 1978, and retired by 2004. A series of Comet II coaches were pur- chased from Bombardier in 1982, with a follow-up order of Comet IIB’s in 1988. The Comet III’s ordered in 1990 came equipped with a center door to help loading at high-level platforms. Identical to the previous series, Comet IV coaches arrived in 1996. In 2002, NJT and Metro-North ordered Comet V coaches from Alstom to upgrade the fleet and retire the oldest equipment.
These new cars are redesigned inside and out, and are easy to spot. Finally, in 2006, NJT introduced new “multi- level” coaches into service throughout the system.
The diesel fleet initially consisted of second-hand EMD cab units, geeps, and many Budd RDC’s. These were all phased out in the 1980s as rebuilt GP40s with HEP arrived as replace- ments. In 1981, NJT followed the ex- ample of many commuter operators across the country and ordered new EMD F40PH’s to supplement the fleet. These units were later rebuilt with Caterpillar prime movers. New 4,200 hp PL42AC’s arrived from Alstom in 2003 to help replace the oldest diesels in the fleet. Four Amtrak GE P40’s were rebuilt and sold to NJT in 2007 for use on the ACES service and through- out the system. Five GP40FH-2’s were rebuilt in 2007 by Motive Power Indus- tries as MP20GP’s to take over work train duty from the tired SW1500s. New Jersey Transit also inherited a
fleet of former Pennsylvania Railroad GG-1 electric locomotives. These streamlined classics were first intro- duced in the 1930s, and continued to operate for Penn Central, Amtrak, and Conrail. Thirteen GG-1’s were assigned to NJT (4872-4884), with the New York & Long Branch being their regular as- signment. Prior to retirement, No. 4877 was repainted into classic PRR Tuscan Red with pinstripes. Stored at Hoboken
for many years, this unit has since been set aside for preservation by the United Railroad Historical Society of New Jer- sey and has been returned to its PRR original Brunswick green. The remain- ing G-motors were officially retired on October 29, 1983, with a fleet of ten for- mer Amtrak E60s taking their place. Used only for a brief time, the E60s were all retired by 1998. Based on the Swedish Rc6 electric lo- comotive, NJT ordered 32 ALP-44’s constructed by ABB between 1990 and 1996. These were retired in 2011, re- placed by the Bombardier ALP-46 se- ries. The first order of 29 were deliv- ered between 1999 and 2001, with a follow-up order of 36 ALP-46A’s in 2009. Adding to this fleet is 35 dual- mode (diesel and electric) ALP-45DP locomotives from Bombardier ordered in 2008, with the first delivered in 2010. The new dual-modes have been recently assigned to the Morris & Es- sex Lines and some Main Line trains.
Unity in the Garden State
Since 1983, New Jersey Transit has embarked on the ambitious task of making two diverse electrified systems compatible, installing new junctions, and joining pieces of many lines into a state-wide passenger rail system that best serves the entire Garden State. Poised for growth, NJT is ready to meet the challenges of New Jersey’s trans- portation needs now and in the future.
Visit the official NJ Transit web site at
www.njtransit.com
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