I'm posting this in Rail News, because this festival involves a real working railroad. Thank you so much Russ for telling me about it. It isn't well advertised. The date was the 28th of September? New Jersey Transit and the City Of Hoboken put on an all out festival that mainly consists of railroading related fun! I must say I have been there at least a dozen times and never ever get tired of it. I spent 6 hours there once by myself. The terminal at Hoboken (ex-Lackawanna / Erie Lackawanna) has 16 tracks that usually hold commuter trains. All but one or two are transformed into a "Railroad Museum for a Day!"! The Terminal itself is a museum piece! I can't say for sure what will be there, but I am sure it will be bigger and better than ever! Almost always included in the Fest are E-8's, maybe F's, private varnish, commuter trains from Jersey Transit and Metro North that you can tour, locos and equipment from the Morristown and Erie, Amtrak cars and other things such as very cool MOW equipment. Also, one or two cabooses show up too! Plus you still have the regular weekend commuter runs going in and out. Train movements adds to the fun! Free rides are given also. The Cowboys and Indians train is always a big hit with the little ones. A free ride is given to the NJT shops in Harrison, but you can't get out and walk in them. It's a little boring really. Well, when I went in the old days I could see all the mothballed GG1s in the distance so that was cool. I know of no other railroads besides the MTA Metro North and NJT that give away so much free stuff to the festival goers! I have to bring a packback with me! It gets loaded with pencils, magnets, paperwork, mugs, a paid for tee shirt, and so many other things. Anyone living close enough to attend, and can go, please let me know. I will surely try to be there! Oh! I forgot to mention that there is a street festival going on outside also! It's great! And Hoboken is a wonderful place! Take a free tour on an NJT articulated bus and soak in the sights along the streets of the "Mile Square City"! Oh boy! I almost forgot to mention the half dozen antique buses that come too! if you like buses, Hoboken is a very busy place and has lots and lots of buses to watch!
Johnny, It is actually the 29th. Here is the official announcement: NEWARK, NJ, September 9, 2002 -- NJ TRANSIT is teaming up with the City of Hoboken for a jam-packed day of festival fun on Sunday, September 29. This year, the NJ TRANSIT Festival will take place simultaneously with Hoboken's Fall Art and Music Festival, creating an event that will stretch from Washington Street to Hoboken Terminal.The festivities begin at 11 a.m. and end at 6 p.m. There will be ongoing entertainment with two stages on Washington Street and one in the Plaza at Hoboken Terminal. Booths will offer festivalgoers everything from arts and crafts to street-side back massages and an array of food on Washington Street and Hudson Place.Train enthusiasts will be able to browse railroad memorabilia and find lots of interesting mementos on the concourse at Hoboken Terminal. Rail buffs will also be able to marvel at the vintage rail equipment standing side by side with NJ TRANSIT's latest ALP-46 electric locomotive. A shiny new MCI Cruiser bus will share the spotlight with a retired Newark City Subway PCC car out in the Plaza.The Wild West Train Ride, a perennial favorite of the NJ TRANSIT Festival, will make four trips (12:30 p.m., 2 p.m., 3:15 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.) complete with a "shoot'em up robbery" between the sheriff’s posse and outlaws on horseback. Tickets are $4 for adults and $2 for children under 12. Tickets will only be sold the day of the festival.NJ TRANSIT will be offering complimentary rides on Hudson-Bergen Light Rail the day of the festival. Festivalgoers will be able to visit the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail table located in the Hoboken Terminal to receive tickets.A free 45-minute cruise around New York Harbor will be offered compliments of NY Waterway. The boat will make five trips, departing on the hour from the ferry terminal at the end of the concourse, starting at 12 p.m.For further information on the NJ TRANSIT Festival please contact NJ TRANSIT at 1-800-626-RIDE or visit www.njtransit.com. For additional information on the Hoboken Fall Art and Music Festival call 201-420-2207 or visit www.nj.com/hobokenfest.
I believe that it was at this festival last year that they highlighted those restored PRR E-8s. Man those alone are worth the trip!! I really do not think that I can go but I really am going to try! Russ
Russ, the E-8s were there last year. NICE! The Trade Center was there too. My buddy Joe and I took Path from the WTC over to Hoboken and took the ferry back marveling at a scene I've seen ten thousand times before. The City skyline........ We sat on a bench that morning in front of 5 WTC having coffee. (Maybe you noticed them in front of the flaming buildings. GRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!) Hope anyone here can make it. Me and the old lady are going over. Great places to eat in Hoboken too. Try Scotland Yard Pub on Washington St. for local blues singers and musicians that show up around 4pm on Saturdays and Sundays. Wonderful! It's a 5 minute walk from the terminal. The Light Rail system is incredible too! Has it reached Hoboken yet? Not sure, but you can take Path right from there to Jersey City, or I do believe there was a free bus that takes you to it. Anyone know if it's operating in Hoboken yet? If you ride the Path to Newark, see beautiful Penn Station there and check out the really cool railroad bridges along the route alongside the path ROW and TOFC/COFC yard that you run right through!!!!!!! I do believe it is the CSX Oak Island Yard. Fighter jets overhead now. Loud. [ 12. September 2002, 21:31: Message edited by: Johnny Trains ]
Johnny trains. Don't let the old lady hear you call her the old lady or your goose is cooked. Living on the west coast makes it impossible for me to make it as much as I would like to go.
Dick, wish you could be here too! It's nice that our commuter railroads get good publicity for themselves by being so nice to their riders and the general public at least one day a year! The Metro North Commuter railroad is holding it's Open House at their Harmon Shops next month also! That's really great too! The weather for Sunday sounds good and I hope we have some fun! There are so many people there who aren't railfans when they first get there......but when they go home...........and think about it.............
Johnny Trains Fitz just sent me a Email about some steam stuff going on in my neck of the woods up at yreka. Sure wish I could make it up there. I got called for jurry duty in October and also sometime soon I will have to get a cortozone shot in my back as my nerves are all bundled up causing pain in my right hip and numbness in my right leg. After all this our kids are having a big party to celebrate our 50th anniversary. Our anniversary is on October 29th but the party is Saturday Oct. 26th. An open house. Everybody is invited to the Woodland United Fellowship church. I pray that I am in good enough shape to enjoy it. Then my birthday on the 31st
WOW! Your 50th! How wonderful! My parents went to Saint Patricks Cathedral a few years back to a Mass for any couple celebrating their 50th. The trouble was they never told any of us! LOL! They thought it might be too crowded! I think they wanted to be alone! Wish I could get out your way some day. You guys have a lot of steam runs out there. We don't have many excursions here that much. Once in a while, but not much. I hope your back is feeling better. A good train outing is good medicine!
