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Spring 2001 Part 3 Princeton Jct, Hudson Bergen Light Rail Line and Mets Game

The Hotel Bill was under the door so a 6:15 AM wake up call got me going. I returned the key to the front desk of the Holiday Inn Express, an excellent place to stay in Philly then headed back to the Market East SEPTA Station. I stopped at the Dunkin' Donuts along the way to the station. I bought a SEPTA CC Ticket and rode the R3 Elwyn Train back to 30th Street Station. I sat on the bench in the Grand Hall until the flip down train board gave me my track number.

I was welcomed to Keystone Service by the wonderful voice of Conductor Marvin singing "New York, New York!" this is the first time I have taken a Keystone Service Train and this one will be ridden from Philly to Princeton Jct. This will be a new stop for me and a new New Jersey Transit line for me to ride. It was time to just sit back, relax and ride.

Zoo Tower in Philadelphia controls this important junction of the Northeast Corridor and the Harrisburg Line.

Crossing the Sckuykill River.

Privately owned E-unit kept at North Philadelphia as the train got up to speed.

Later, the Delaware River crossing with the world famous sign that reads. "What Trenton makes, the World Takes!" The train stopped at Trenton then made the sprint for Princeton Jct where I would detrain to take a short ride and to photograph trains while I am here.

NJT Train 3823 bound for Trenton.

Acela Express 2109 New York to Washington at speed.

NJT 3926 bound for New York City.

I walked from the south end of the east platform down a sidewalk to the station. I went through a tunnel under the four tracks then up a hill to the waiting train. I learned that this service is locally called "The Dinky" or the "PJ&B" meaning Princeton Jct and Back. I talked with the conductor about getting a ticket and she said just ride to Princeton and get your ticket there. I boarded Car 1326 for the trip to Princeton. The tracks made a right turn before heading straight northwest with a few slight curves. We crossed Stoney Brook with Carnegie being seen off to the east before we entered the campus of Princeton University. We came to a stop at the stone station located on University Place. I detrained and purchased a round trip ticket.

Princeton, New Jersey

Car 1326 at Princeton. After enjoying the fresh morning air, I returned on the 9:18 AM and for the 5 minute trip back to Princeton Jct.

One lat picture after I returned to Princeton Jct for more passenger train action.

NJT 3936 for New York.

Keystone Train 642.

Acela Express 2151 Boston to Washington.

NJT 3822 for Trenton.

NJT 3938 Local for New York.

Amtrak Regional 130 heading to New York.

NJT 3829 Trenton Local.

NJT 3840 New York Local.

Amtrak Regional 172 Washington to Boston.

Princeton Shuttle out in the clear.

The Pennsylvanian New York to Pittsburgh.

Acela Express 2153 Boston to Washington passing the Pennsylvanian at track speded.

I boarded the last car and took a rear facing seat for the trip to New York City.

While I was relaxing, as we came into the Newark Airport Station, I caught their Monorail coming into the station. The Monorail is the connection to the airport from the train station. We pulled into New York Penn Station and made my way four and a half blocks to the Herald Square Hotel.

I checked in and took my stuff up to my room. From there I went back to the front desk to get directions to the 32nd and Broadway Pathco Station.

I found my way down into the Terminal where I purchased a ticket to Hoboken and boarded a waiting train. The route heads south to 23rd Street Station then onto 14th and 9th before turning west. We stopped at Christopher Street Station then under the Hudson River to a junction with the line to Journal Square and World Trade Center before we arrived at the Hoboken Terminal.

I boarded Car 2027 for the trip to 22nd Street. The train departed at 12:40 PM and after passing the New Jersey Transit Rail Yard we came to a junction and took a left. Our route was elevated for a short stretch giving passengers a great view of the Manhattan Skyline off to the left. We returned to ground level for Pavonia/Newport then proceeded to Harsimus Cove. Everything we are passing was recently built. Harborside Financial Center was next after two hard turns the first to the left and then to the right. A little "S" curve took us to the Exchange Place. Essex Street was next after a hard right turn. Marin Boulevard was after another "S" curve to the right. On the way to the Jersey Avenue Station in Jersey City plenty of new construction is taking place off to the right. Another "S" curve this one to the left followed by a large horseshoe curve took us to Liberty State Park. Just south of here is the junction with the line to West Side Avenue which took off to the right. We stopped to change crews before we passed the shops. The train then finally got up to some good speed to Richards Street then onto Danforth Street. We have entered Bayonne stopping at 45th Street, 34th Street and finally 22nd Street the south end of Hudson-Bergen Light Rail Line. I detrained for pictures.

I spoke with our operator before reboarding the car for the trip to Liberty State Park. I just sat back and relaxed for my ride. After I returned to Liberty State Park, I had a twelve minute wait for a West Side Avenue trolley that came and took me to my next end point. At the junction we took the routing to the right before stopping to change crews. We then headed straight southwest to Garfield Avenue. This route appeared to be an ex rail line by the brick work in the cuts before we arrived at Martin Luther King Drive. This is truly the safe way to see this neighborhood. We crossed over before we arrived at West Side Avenue.

Ar west Side Avenue I took this picture at this end of the line.

I validated my new ticket and took this picture. As I did, the operator blew his horn then waved his finger No! No! No! When I boarded the operator said no pictures are allowed from NJT property. I told him that it had been in the press and that George Warrington, the former Amtrak CEO and Head of New Jersey Transit had that policy rescinded from the New Jersey Transit Photo Policy. The operator said no one bothered to tell him so I agreed to take no more pictures on this trip. I would now return to Hoboken Jct before getting the new mileage to Tonnelle Street. We went all the way back to Hoboken Jct where we took a left and onto a new route for me. New Jersey Transit was gearing up for the afternoon commuter rush. We ran along the NJT yard lead. We then ran under the NJT mainline before they tunnel under the New Jersey Palisades. This routing took us to 2nd Street. We ran along the New Jersey Palisades to 9th Street before we made a big "S" curve to Lincoln Harbor. We climbed up and over a highway that gave a great view of Manhattan Island. We then turned west to enter the Weehawken Tunnel under the New Jersey Palisades which was originally the West Shore Railroad's main line. Inside this tunnel is the Bergen Line Avenue Station. At the west end of the tunnel we returned to daylight, crossed over to arrive at the Tonnelle Street Station.

I took this pair of pictures above the Tonnelle Station. I saw a worker going into the rest station at this end of the line and asked about the NJT Picture Taking Policy. She went inside to get an official answer and a minute later returned saying that the only place you are not allowed to take pictures is of passengers onboard their train. Stations and everyplace else is ok. I thought I saw a caboose across the street but it turned out to be a building with couplers added.

I returned to the east pedestrian bridge just as my train was coming back came out of the tunnel into the station. I boarded this trolley back to Hoboken.

Once there, I took this picture looking across the Hudson River.

NJT PL42AC 4007 at Hoboken. I walked back to the Path Station.

I got on a waiting train and a few minutes later I returned to 33rd Street in Manhattan for an hour of rest.

As my regular readers now I have a goal of visiting all the Major League Baseball Parks. The Phillies just happened to be out of town when I was in Philadelphia but the Mets would be home when I was in New York City. I researched how to get to Shea Stadium and it would be easy. Walk to Penn Station Route 1 Train and take it one stop to Times Square Station. Here transfer to the Route 7 train to Shea Stadium. So that is what I did but I got lucky. After taking the standing room only Route 1 train one stop to Times Square I went down and boarded an Express Route 7 Train that made only six stops so my trip went quicker than expected.

The subway train that brought me to Shea Stadium. I walked the short walk to Shea Stadium where my bag was inspected and I got wanded. I took the escalator up to Section 1, Row 5, Seat 13.

The view from my seat of the subway station with a train approaching. It was a really windy late afternoon and early evening so it was jacket weather for the baseball game. I enjoyed two Hot Dogs and a Mountain Dew. Shea is a Pepsi Park.

Now to the game. The Braves got two runs when Adam La Rouche doubled in two runs. In the third Andruw Jones then hit a deep two run blast to center. Four pitches later, Adam La Rouche hit a deep shot to right. In the bottom of that inning, Chris Woodward hit a sole shot for the Mets Lone Run. Andruw Jones in the 5th Inning hit another two run blast into the left field stands ending the evening scoring. For the Braves Kyle Davies pitched a complete game giving up just three hits, one run and walking one. It was a great game to watch but the Mets fans have the dirtiest mouths that I have ever experienced at a major league ball park. I was glad to be leaving Shea Stadium and returned to Times Square on a subway train that made all the 20 stops. I made the easy connection back to Penn Station which was very lively after the Rangers lost their last regular season game to the Ottawa Senators. On my return to the Herald Square Hotel I stopped off for some post cards before I called it a night.

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