jis@mtgzz.UUCP (j.mukerji) (10/14/86)
Extension of electrification on the Jersey Shore Line of NJ Transit from Matawan to Long Branch is progressing well on schedule. Posts are in place all the way from Matawan to Long Branch along the Main Line. There is much yard and siding realignment work going on at Red Bank and Long Branch. There is some bridge work also in progress between Little Silver and Long Branch resulting in single line operation between those two stations. The high level platform at Long Branch is partly complete and is in commercial use. There is some evidence that they are about to start installing feed wires and catenaries at the Long Branch end. The project is scheduled for completion in early 1988. Meanwhile NJ Transit is exploring the possibility of obtaining Electric/Deisel dual operation engines, possibly by adding necessary modifications to the basic F40PH diesel. There is some interest in such a beast both in the NJ Transit and Amtrak circles. NJ Transit would use them on the North Jersey Coast and the Raritan Valley lines thus allowing them to run trains straight into Penn Station (New York), eliminating the change that is required in Newark/South Amboy/Matawan now. Amtrak would use it in the northern half of the NE Corridor between Boston and New York. In the future such engines could be used for bringing Empire State Service trains from Albany into Penn Station over the West Side link too, if and when that project is completed. Jishnu Mukerji AT&T Middletown NJ mtgzz!jis