Morristown & Erie MX-97 on the Dundee Spur - Farewell to the New York & Greenwood Lake 10/3/20.

A little over 6 years ago, I came to Garfield to bear witness to the historic movement of U34CH 3372 as it was rescued from Passaic and taken to Boonton by the Morristown & Erie. Aside from a very brief resurrection in 2017, the New York & Greenwood Lake Dundee Spur has been completely dead ever since then, and it was made official earlier this year that the line and the railroad would be abandoned and torn up. Due to legal issues, the fate of the equipment left behind in Passaic was up in the air, but in September, it was announced that Operation Toy Train would take possession of most of the equipment, and the rest would either be sold to interested parties or used for a potential museum in Port Jervis.

Last week, Morristown & Erie had brought a work train to the Island Yard in Passaic to load rails and ties on as the yard was torn up. Word soon started to spread that they would also be moving the NYGL equipment out of Passaic during one of the next two weekends. When it didn't happen on the 26th, it became clear that the historical move would almost certainly happen on the first Saturday of October. This was indeed the case, as was confirmed when I found at least 40 railfans lining Monroe Street upon arriving at Garfield on the morning of the 3rd. Here is all the footage I was able to get of Morristown & Erie MX-97 travelling along the Dundee Spur and delivering the equipment to the NYSW PC Yard in Saddle Brook. Please enjoy.

0:00 MX-97 slowly works its way up Monroe Street with SW1500 20 in charge, pulling 13 pieces of equipment towards the Bergen Line. In order, the train consists of DM&E hopper 49355, NYGL boxcars 32751 and 32717, baggage car 1001, GP9 1268, coach 2939, ex-LIRR FA-1 7375, Erie caboose C340, caboose 262, coach 15046, NYGL boxcar 32707, GP9 1267, and the caboose on the flatcar. The train makes a few brief stops before making a very long stop. During the stop, I figured I would take a few walks up and Monroe Street to show off as much of the equipment as I could.
13:10 Train 1858 crosses Monroe Street with Comet V Cab Car 6030 leading the way. ALP-45DP 4527 is trailing. In the background, 20 can be seen on the interchange track with the DM&E hopper, having uncouple it from the rest of the train.
14:28 20 shoves the hopper onto the Monroe Street crossing and the Bergen Line, then reverses back onto the Dundee Spur to couple onto the rest of the train.
16:46 20 pulls the remainder of the equipment off of Monroe Street and the Dundee Spur, couples it back onto the DM&E hopper, then shoves the whole train onto the Bergen Line. A few minutes later, it starts heading towards Saddle Brook.
26:55 MX-97 shoves the equipment across Midland Avenue and into the NYSW PC Yard.
30:23 After dropping off the equipment, 20 pushes the DM&E hopper across Midland Avenue and back to the Bergen Line.
32:34 20 races across Midland Avenue as it heads back to Garfield with the DM&E hopper in tow. The hopper would be dropped off at the interchange track and couple up to the hopper that has been sitting there for the past three years.
33:40 20 runs lite down Monroe Street as it travels down the Dundee Spur to pick up the loaded work train in the Island Yard. I was able to walk at a comfortable pace to follow 20 all the way down to the Half Moon Bridge, where it would make a brief stop before heading into the yard. Sadly, I was unable to see the work train shoving back to the Bergen Line due to leaving to get lunch at a bad time.

Видео Morristown & Erie MX-97 on the Dundee Spur - Farewell to the New York & Greenwood Lake 10/3/20. канала GenesisSanctuary