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Port Jervis Line (Metro-North)
Encyclopedia
The Metro-North Railroad
Port Jervis Line is a predominantly single-track commuter rail line running from Suffern, New York
to Port Jervis
. At Suffern, the line continues south into New Jersey
as NJ Transit's
Main Line
.
NJ Transit provides service on the sections of the lines in New York State via a working agreement with Metro-North. This includes trains along the Port Jervis extension of the line with 13 New York-bound and 14 Port Jervis-bound trains on weekdays, and nine trains in each direction on weekends. Norfolk Southern Railway
(NS) shares use of this track for local freight operations between Suffern and Port Jervis. The New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway
operates over the line between Hudson Junction (east of Campbell Hall) and Port Jervis, and onward to Binghamton
over the former Erie's Delaware Division. The tracks have been owned by NS since the 1999 split of Conrail, but were built by the New York and Erie Rail Road and incorporated into Conrail on its formation on April 1, 1976. Metro-North leased the entire line from NS in 2003, with the possibility of outright purchase after 2006. MNR immediately began a substantial track and signal improvement program, in order to provide more reliable and comfortable service.
The Port Jervis line runs through some of the most remote and rural country found on the Metro-North system, and includes both its longest bridge and longest tunnel.
to Harriman
and from Otisville
to Port Jervis were built as the main line of the New York and Erie Rail Road, opening to Port Jervis in 1848. The route south of Suffern is slightly younger (connected for through service in 1853); the original main line ran east from Suffern to Piermont
. The portion from Harriman to Otisville was built in 1904-1908 as a low-level freight bypass named the Graham Line. This portion of the line bypasses the original Erie main line through Monroe
, Chester
, Goshen
and Middletown
.
On November 14, 1973 the MTA
agreed to subsidize existing Erie Lackawanna Railway
service to Port Jervis, which became part of Conrail on April 1, 1976.
In 1983 the Metro-North Railroad was formed to take over the commuter operations of Conrail in the state of New York. This included service west of the Hudson River
, where rail lines do not connect directly with New York City. These lines pass through New Jersey, stopping at Secaucus Junction
, where NJ Transit trains provide service to New York Penn Station multiple times per hour, and terminating at Hoboken Terminal
.
The MTA initially equipped the lines with second-hand equipment. In 1984 the Main Line between Harriman and Middletown was abandoned, and service was moved to the longer (by 6 miles) Graham Line, the Erie
's freight cutoff. New stations were built, but at low cost and without facilities. At the time this was a very unpopular move with commuters, who were used to having their trains stop right in the center of their towns. The Graham Line passed though no populated areas, and driving to the new stations added significant time to their commutes. However, others wanted trains out of the center of the towns, and so the switch was made. The old main line was no longer used for freight, so following the move to the Graham line, it was abandoned. The line from Harriman to Middletown is now the Orange County Heritage Trail.
In the mid-1990s, as Orange County started to become a popular place for commuters, political pressure caused the MTA to start improving service, building a new station in Middletown-Town of Wallkill
, expanding parking at Harriman, and other improvements. In the 2000s growth in Orange County accelerated, so that the MTA added more service, and started to expand parking lots, which made paid lots in line with the rest of the Metro-North system. Recently, the line has been plagued by regular break downs of the ageing locomotive fleet. The MTA brought in leased equipment from the Morristown and Erie Railroad, but ran into even more problems, when it was discovered that the M&E engines would have to be significantly modified to comply with NJT's cab signalling
system.
One oddity that results from the unusual arrangement between the MTA and NJ Transit, is that although the MTA subsidizes the service and maintains all of the facilities (except for the Suffern station), the actual operation of the line is almost totally under the control of NJ Transit- the trains are operated by NJT personnel, the trains are dispatched from Hoboken
, and the fare system is also under NJT control but with a mixture of NJT and Metro-North rules. Thus, the ticket vending machines on station platforms are NJT machines, not Metro-North's. This also means New York passengers on the Port Jervis Line only pay the maximum in-state fare NJT charges for its non-NYC in-state destinations.
Service north of Suffern was suspended due to severe damage from Hurricane Irene
in late August 2011. Shuttle train service between Harriman and Port Jervis started in September; and full train service resumed on November 28, 2011.
and then stops at Secaucus Junction
. Many of the Port Jervis Line trains travel non-stop from Secaucus
to Suffern
, some of them stopping at Ramsey Route 17 station
. Some of the Port Jervis locals run via the Main Line between Secaucus and Ridgewood and the others run via the parallel Bergen County Line
; the expresses may be routed either way at the discretion of the dispatchers. From Suffern
northwards the line follows the same narrow valley as the New York State Thruway
and NY 17
. The Sloatsburg
station is not very far from 17, Tuxedo
is right on 17 and Harriman
has its entrance on 17 but its actual platform adjacent to the Thruway. Harriman is the busiest station on the line. One peak hour train in each direction runs express from Harriman, with the next (or previous) stop being Secaucus Junction
.
After crossing under the on ramp from 17 to the Thruway and passing Woodbury Commons
the line gradually moves away from the Thruway, crossing NY 32
and running along the shoulder of Schunemunk Mountain
, where it twice is crossed by hiking
trail
s. At Schunemunk's north end it curves along to the Moodna Viaduct
, the highest and longest railroad trestle east of the Mississippi River
. Immediately afterwards it crosses NY 94
and arrives at Salisbury Mills-Cornwall
in the Town of Cornwall
.
The westward curve accelerates afterwards and the line begins to run almost east-west across central Orange County
. Campbell Hall is the apex of this curve and the northernmost Metro-North station west of the Hudson River
. This station services the towns of Goshen
, Montgomery
and Walden
.
The southward side begins shortly afterwards, as the track crosses the Wallkill River
, then Interstate 84
, to run parallel to NY 211
near Highland Lakes State Park
for a while. Shortly after leaving the highway's side, trains arrive at Middletown
near the popular Galleria at Crystal Run
shopping mall
.
Almost unnoticed from the highway, the line crosses under the Route 17 expressway (the future Interstate 86
) after leaving Middletown. A second track begins at Howells, to accommodate trains waiting for others to clear the Otisville Tunnel
. The siding
rejoins the main line just after the Otisville station as trains enter a mile-long (1.6 km) tunnel under the Shawangunk Ridge
, the longest on Metro-North.
Once on the western end, in some of the most undeveloped countryside Metro-North passes through, trains make a long descent of the west side of Shawangunk Ridge
, parallel to the Neversink River
valley southwards, reaching valley level just before the terminal station Port Jervis
and the yard beyond.
Since equipment is pooled with NJ Transit, quite a selection can be seen on the line. Most locomotive
s are NJT, ranging from EMD GP40PH2-CATs and F40PH2-CATs A total of eleven locomotives are in Metro-North colors. The entire group of Metro North locomotives are in the process of being rebuilt, one at a time, and will return re-numbered in the 4900-4910 series.
To equip the line, Metro-North has always used an 'add on' clause in their agreements with NJT. This allows Metro-North the option to add onto any NJT rolling stock purchases. With the 2003 purchase of 65 Comet V
coaches, Metro-North included a provision for keeping the Metro-North labeled cars on the New York-based lines as much as possible, and the Bombardier-built coaches previously used were moved to East-of-Hudson service. Currently, all of the peak services are composed of MTA labeled equipment, but some off peaks trains carry the NJT logo.
Operation is push-pull
, with locomotives normally facing west.
Metro-North Railroad
The Metro-North Commuter Railroad , trading as MTA Metro-North Railroad, or, more commonly, Metro-North, is a suburban commuter rail service that is run and managed by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority , an authority of New York State. It is the busiest commuter railroad in the United...
Port Jervis Line is a predominantly single-track commuter rail line running from Suffern, New York
Suffern, New York
Suffern is a village in the Town of Ramapo, Rockland County, New York, United States located north of the State of New Jersey; east of Hillburn; south of Montebello and west of Airmont...
to Port Jervis
Port Jervis, New York
Port Jervis is a city on the Delaware River in western Orange County, New York, with a population of 8,860 at the 2000 census. The communities of Deerpark, Huguenot, Sparrowbush, and Greenville are adjacent to Port Jervis, and the towns of Montague, New Jersey and Matamoras, Pennsylvania face the...
. At Suffern, the line continues south into New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
as NJ Transit's
New Jersey Transit rail operations
New Jersey Transit Rail Operations is the rail division of New Jersey Transit. It provides regional rail service in New Jersey, with most service centered around transportation to and from New York City, Hoboken, and Newark...
Main Line
Main Line (NJ Transit)
The Main Line is a rail line owned and operated by New Jersey Transit running from Suffern, New York to Hoboken, New Jersey. It runs daily commuter service and was once the north-south main line of the Erie Lackawanna Railroad...
.
NJ Transit provides service on the sections of the lines in New York State via a working agreement with Metro-North. This includes trains along the Port Jervis extension of the line with 13 New York-bound and 14 Port Jervis-bound trains on weekdays, and nine trains in each direction on weekends. Norfolk Southern Railway
Norfolk Southern Railway
The Norfolk Southern Railway is a Class I railroad in the United States, owned by the Norfolk Southern Corporation. With headquarters in Norfolk, Virginia, the company operates 21,500 route miles in 22 eastern states, the District of Columbia and the province of Ontario, Canada...
(NS) shares use of this track for local freight operations between Suffern and Port Jervis. The New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway
New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway
The New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway , also known as the Susie-Q, or simply the Susquehanna, is a Class II American freight railway operating over 500 miles of track in the northeastern states of New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. It was formed in 1881 from the merger of several...
operates over the line between Hudson Junction (east of Campbell Hall) and Port Jervis, and onward to Binghamton
Binghamton, New York
Binghamton is a city in the Southern Tier of New York in the United States. It is near the Pennsylvania border, in a bowl-shaped valley at the confluence of the Susquehanna and Chenango Rivers...
over the former Erie's Delaware Division. The tracks have been owned by NS since the 1999 split of Conrail, but were built by the New York and Erie Rail Road and incorporated into Conrail on its formation on April 1, 1976. Metro-North leased the entire line from NS in 2003, with the possibility of outright purchase after 2006. MNR immediately began a substantial track and signal improvement program, in order to provide more reliable and comfortable service.
The Port Jervis line runs through some of the most remote and rural country found on the Metro-North system, and includes both its longest bridge and longest tunnel.
History
The portions of the line from SuffernSuffern, New York
Suffern is a village in the Town of Ramapo, Rockland County, New York, United States located north of the State of New Jersey; east of Hillburn; south of Montebello and west of Airmont...
to Harriman
Harriman, New York
Harriman is a village in Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 2,252 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Poughkeepsie–Newburgh–Middletown, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area as well as the larger New York–Newark–Bridgeport, NY-NJ-CT-PA Combined...
and from Otisville
Otisville, New York
Otisville is a village in Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 989 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Poughkeepsie–Newburgh–Middletown, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area as well as the larger New York–Newark–Bridgeport, NY-NJ-CT-PA Combined...
to Port Jervis were built as the main line of the New York and Erie Rail Road, opening to Port Jervis in 1848. The route south of Suffern is slightly younger (connected for through service in 1853); the original main line ran east from Suffern to Piermont
Piermont, New York
Piermont is a village in Rockland County, New York, United States. Piermont is in the town of Orangetown, located north of the hamlet of Palisades; east of Sparkill and south of Grand View-on-Hudson, on the west bank of the Hudson River. The population was 2,607 at the 2000 census.The village's...
. The portion from Harriman to Otisville was built in 1904-1908 as a low-level freight bypass named the Graham Line. This portion of the line bypasses the original Erie main line through Monroe
Monroe (town), New York
Monroe is a town in Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 31,407 at the 2000 census. The town is named after President James Monroe....
, Chester
Chester (town), New York
Chester is a town in Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 12,140 at the 2000 census. The town is named after another city in Great Britain...
, Goshen
Goshen (town), New York
Goshen is a town in Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 12,913 at the 2000 census.The Town of Goshen contains a village also called Goshen, the county seat of Orange County. The town is centrally located in the county....
and Middletown
Middletown, Orange County, New York
Middletown is a city in Orange County, New York, United States. It lies in New York's Hudson Valley region, near the Wallkill River and the foothills of the Shawangunk Mountains. Middletown is situated between Port Jervis and Newburgh, New York. The city's population was 25,388 at the 2000 census...
.
On November 14, 1973 the MTA
Metropolitan Transportation Authority (New York)
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority of the State of New York is a public benefit corporation responsible for public transportation in the U.S...
agreed to subsidize existing Erie Lackawanna Railway
Erie Lackawanna Railway
The Erie Lackawanna Railway , known as the Erie–Lackawanna Railroad until 1968, was formed from the 1960 merger of the Erie Railroad and the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad...
service to Port Jervis, which became part of Conrail on April 1, 1976.
In 1983 the Metro-North Railroad was formed to take over the commuter operations of Conrail in the state of New York. This included service west of the Hudson River
Hudson River
The Hudson is a river that flows from north to south through eastern New York. The highest official source is at Lake Tear of the Clouds, on the slopes of Mount Marcy in the Adirondack Mountains. The river itself officially begins in Henderson Lake in Newcomb, New York...
, where rail lines do not connect directly with New York City. These lines pass through New Jersey, stopping at Secaucus Junction
Secaucus Junction
The Frank R. Lautenberg Secaucus Junction Station is a major commuter rail hub in Secaucus, New Jersey...
, where NJ Transit trains provide service to New York Penn Station multiple times per hour, and terminating at Hoboken Terminal
Hoboken Terminal
Hoboken Terminal is one of the New York Metropolitan area's major transportation hubs. The commuter-oriented intermodal facility, is located on the Hudson River in Hoboken, New Jersey...
.
The MTA initially equipped the lines with second-hand equipment. In 1984 the Main Line between Harriman and Middletown was abandoned, and service was moved to the longer (by 6 miles) Graham Line, the Erie
Erie Lackawanna Railway
The Erie Lackawanna Railway , known as the Erie–Lackawanna Railroad until 1968, was formed from the 1960 merger of the Erie Railroad and the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad...
's freight cutoff. New stations were built, but at low cost and without facilities. At the time this was a very unpopular move with commuters, who were used to having their trains stop right in the center of their towns. The Graham Line passed though no populated areas, and driving to the new stations added significant time to their commutes. However, others wanted trains out of the center of the towns, and so the switch was made. The old main line was no longer used for freight, so following the move to the Graham line, it was abandoned. The line from Harriman to Middletown is now the Orange County Heritage Trail.
Middletown-Town of Wallkill (Metro-North station)
The Middletown – Town of Wallkill Metro-North station, often just referred to as the Middletown station, serves the residents of those communities in Orange County, New York. Service is to Hoboken, 71.9 miles via the Port Jervis Line; travel time is an hour and 40 minutes. Like all Port...
, expanding parking at Harriman, and other improvements. In the 2000s growth in Orange County accelerated, so that the MTA added more service, and started to expand parking lots, which made paid lots in line with the rest of the Metro-North system. Recently, the line has been plagued by regular break downs of the ageing locomotive fleet. The MTA brought in leased equipment from the Morristown and Erie Railroad, but ran into even more problems, when it was discovered that the M&E engines would have to be significantly modified to comply with NJT's cab signalling
Cab signalling
Cab signalling is a railway safety system that communicates track status information to the cab, crew compartment or driver's compartment of a locomotive, railcar or multiple unit, where the train driver or engine driver can see the information....
system.
One oddity that results from the unusual arrangement between the MTA and NJ Transit, is that although the MTA subsidizes the service and maintains all of the facilities (except for the Suffern station), the actual operation of the line is almost totally under the control of NJ Transit- the trains are operated by NJT personnel, the trains are dispatched from Hoboken
Hoboken, New Jersey
Hoboken is a city in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population was 50,005. The city is part of the New York metropolitan area and contains Hoboken Terminal, a major transportation hub for the region...
, and the fare system is also under NJT control but with a mixture of NJT and Metro-North rules. Thus, the ticket vending machines on station platforms are NJT machines, not Metro-North's. This also means New York passengers on the Port Jervis Line only pay the maximum in-state fare NJT charges for its non-NYC in-state destinations.
Service north of Suffern was suspended due to severe damage from Hurricane Irene
Hurricane Irene (2011)
Hurricane Irene was a large and powerful Atlantic hurricane that left extensive flood and wind damage along its path through the Caribbean, the United States East Coast and as far north as Atlantic Canada in 2011...
in late August 2011. Shuttle train service between Harriman and Port Jervis started in September; and full train service resumed on November 28, 2011.
Line description
The Main Line starts at HobokenHoboken Terminal
Hoboken Terminal is one of the New York Metropolitan area's major transportation hubs. The commuter-oriented intermodal facility, is located on the Hudson River in Hoboken, New Jersey...
and then stops at Secaucus Junction
Secaucus Junction
The Frank R. Lautenberg Secaucus Junction Station is a major commuter rail hub in Secaucus, New Jersey...
. Many of the Port Jervis Line trains travel non-stop from Secaucus
Secaucus Junction
The Frank R. Lautenberg Secaucus Junction Station is a major commuter rail hub in Secaucus, New Jersey...
to Suffern
Suffern, New York
Suffern is a village in the Town of Ramapo, Rockland County, New York, United States located north of the State of New Jersey; east of Hillburn; south of Montebello and west of Airmont...
, some of them stopping at Ramsey Route 17 station
Ramsey Route 17 (NJT station)
Ramsey Route 17 Station is one of two New Jersey Transit rail stations in Ramsey, New Jersey served by Main Line and Bergen County Line trains, as well as select Port Jervis Line trains. The station opened on August 22, 2004...
. Some of the Port Jervis locals run via the Main Line between Secaucus and Ridgewood and the others run via the parallel Bergen County Line
Bergen County Line
The Bergen County Line is a commuter rail line and service owned and operated by New Jersey Transit in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The line loops off the Main Line between the Meadowlands and Glen Rock, with trains continuing in either direction along the Main Line...
; the expresses may be routed either way at the discretion of the dispatchers. From Suffern
Suffern, New York
Suffern is a village in the Town of Ramapo, Rockland County, New York, United States located north of the State of New Jersey; east of Hillburn; south of Montebello and west of Airmont...
northwards the line follows the same narrow valley as the New York State Thruway
New York State Thruway
The New York State Thruway is a system of limited-access highways located within the state of New York in the United States. The system, known officially as the Governor Thomas E. Dewey Thruway for former New York Governor Thomas E. Dewey, is operated by the New York State Thruway Authority and...
and NY 17
New York State Route 17
New York State Route 17 is a state highway that extends for through the Southern Tier and Downstate regions of New York in the United States...
. The Sloatsburg
Sloatsburg, New York
Sloatsburg is a village in the town of Ramapo in Rockland County, New York, United States. It is located east of Orange County, New York and sits at the southern entrance to Harriman State Park. The population was 3,117 at the 2000 census...
station is not very far from 17, Tuxedo
Tuxedo, New York
Tuxedo is a town located in Orange County, New York. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 3,334. The town is in the southeastern part of the county. NY Route 17 and the New York State Thruway pass through the town...
is right on 17 and Harriman
Harriman, New York
Harriman is a village in Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 2,252 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Poughkeepsie–Newburgh–Middletown, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area as well as the larger New York–Newark–Bridgeport, NY-NJ-CT-PA Combined...
has its entrance on 17 but its actual platform adjacent to the Thruway. Harriman is the busiest station on the line. One peak hour train in each direction runs express from Harriman, with the next (or previous) stop being Secaucus Junction
Secaucus Junction
The Frank R. Lautenberg Secaucus Junction Station is a major commuter rail hub in Secaucus, New Jersey...
.
After crossing under the on ramp from 17 to the Thruway and passing Woodbury Commons
Woodbury Common Premium Outlets
Woodbury Common Premium Outlets is an outlet center located in Central Valley, New York. The center is part of the Chelsea Premium Outlets group and takes its name from the town in which it is located...
the line gradually moves away from the Thruway, crossing NY 32
New York State Route 32
New York State Route 32 is a north–south state highway that extends for through the Hudson Valley and Capital District regions of the U.S. state of New York. It is a two-lane surface road for nearly its entire length, with few divided and no limited-access sections. From Harriman to Albany,...
and running along the shoulder of Schunemunk Mountain
Schunemunk Mountain
Schunemunk Mountain is the highest mountain in Orange County, New York. The 1,664-foot summit is located in the town of Blooming Grove, with other portions in Cornwall and Woodbury. The community of Mountain Lodge Park is built up its western slope.The mountain is a popular recreational resource...
, where it twice is crossed by hiking
Hiking
Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
trail
Trail
A trail is a path with a rough beaten or dirt/stone surface used for travel. Trails may be for use only by walkers and in some places are the main access route to remote settlements...
s. At Schunemunk's north end it curves along to the Moodna Viaduct
Moodna Viaduct
The Moodna Viaduct is an iron railroad trestle spanning Moodna Creek and its valley at the north end of Schunemunk Mountain in Cornwall, New York, near the village of Salisbury Mills. The bridge was constructed between 1904 and 1908 by the Erie Railroad as part of the Graham Line and was opened for...
, the highest and longest railroad trestle east of the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
. Immediately afterwards it crosses NY 94
New York State Route 94
New York State Route 94 is a state highway entirely within Orange County in southern New York. The western terminus is at the New York-New Jersey state line, where it continues as NJ 94 for another to Columbia, New Jersey. Its eastern terminus is located at U.S. Route 9W in New Windsor....
and arrives at Salisbury Mills-Cornwall
Salisbury Mills-Cornwall (Metro-North station)
The Salisbury Mills – Cornwall station, on the Metro-North Railroad Port Jervis Line, is in the Town of Cornwall in Orange County. Travel time from there to Hoboken Terminal, 55.4 miles away, is about one hour and 20 minutes....
in the Town of Cornwall
Cornwall, New York
Cornwall is a town in Orange County, New York, USA. It is located about 50 miles north of New York City on the western shore of the Hudson River. The estimated population in 2007 was 12,827....
.
The westward curve accelerates afterwards and the line begins to run almost east-west across central Orange County
Orange County, New York
Orange County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. It is part of the Poughkeepsie–Newburgh–Middletown, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area and is located at the northern reaches of the New York metropolitan area. The county sits in the state's scenic Mid-Hudson Region of the Hudson Valley...
. Campbell Hall is the apex of this curve and the northernmost Metro-North station west of the Hudson River
Hudson River
The Hudson is a river that flows from north to south through eastern New York. The highest official source is at Lake Tear of the Clouds, on the slopes of Mount Marcy in the Adirondack Mountains. The river itself officially begins in Henderson Lake in Newcomb, New York...
. This station services the towns of Goshen
Goshen (town), New York
Goshen is a town in Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 12,913 at the 2000 census.The Town of Goshen contains a village also called Goshen, the county seat of Orange County. The town is centrally located in the county....
, Montgomery
Montgomery (town), New York
Montgomery is a town in Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 20,891 at the 2000 census. It was named in honor of Richard Montgomery, an American Revolutionary War general killed in 1775 at the Battle of Quebec....
and Walden
Walden, New York
Walden is the largest of three villages of the Town of Montgomery in Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 6,978 at the 2010 census. It has the ZIP Code 12586 and the 778 telephone exchange within the 845 area code...
.
The southward side begins shortly afterwards, as the track crosses the Wallkill River
Wallkill River
The Wallkill River, a tributary of the Hudson, drains Lake Mohawk in Sparta, New Jersey, flowing from there generally northeasterly to Rondout Creek in New York, near Rosendale, with the combined flows reaching the Hudson at Kingston....
, then Interstate 84
Interstate 84 in New York
Interstate 84 is a part of the Interstate Highway System that runs from Dunmore, Pennsylvania, to Sturbridge, Massachusetts, in the Eastern United States. In New York, I-84 extends from the Pennsylvania state line at Port Jervis to the Connecticut state line east of Brewster...
, to run parallel to NY 211
New York State Route 211
New York State Route 211 is a state highway located entirely within Orange County, New York, in the United States. The western terminus is at the intersection with US 209 located in Cuddebackville, and the eastern terminus is located at Montgomery at NY 17K, where it becomes the...
near Highland Lakes State Park
Highland Lakes State Park
Highland Lakes State Park is a state park in the State of New York, USA. The park is located in Orange County north of New York City.The park is west of Middletown on Route 211.The park offers hiking, fishing and a bridle path...
for a while. Shortly after leaving the highway's side, trains arrive at Middletown
Middletown, Orange County, New York
Middletown is a city in Orange County, New York, United States. It lies in New York's Hudson Valley region, near the Wallkill River and the foothills of the Shawangunk Mountains. Middletown is situated between Port Jervis and Newburgh, New York. The city's population was 25,388 at the 2000 census...
near the popular Galleria at Crystal Run
Galleria at Crystal Run
The Galleria at Crystal Run is a shopping mall in Wallkill, New York and is the second largest mall in New York's Hudson Valley region. The mall, which opened in 1992, has an area of 1,100,000 square feet with two floors and 250 shops and restaurants as well as a 16-screen AMC Theatres .The mall...
shopping mall
Shopping mall
A shopping mall, shopping centre, shopping arcade, shopping precinct or simply mall is one or more buildings forming a complex of shops representing merchandisers, with interconnecting walkways enabling visitors to easily walk from unit to unit, along with a parking area — a modern, indoor version...
.
Almost unnoticed from the highway, the line crosses under the Route 17 expressway (the future Interstate 86
Interstate 86 (east)
Interstate 86 is an Interstate Highway that extends for through northwestern Pennsylvania and southern New York in the United States...
) after leaving Middletown. A second track begins at Howells, to accommodate trains waiting for others to clear the Otisville Tunnel
Otisville Tunnel
The Otisville Tunnel is the longest tunnel on New York's Metro-North commuter railroad, at in length. Although the track curves at the western opening, underground the tunnel is a straight line, allowing the observer to see all the way through....
. The siding
Rail siding
A siding, in rail terminology, is a low-speed track section distinct from a running line or through route such as a main line or branch line or spur. It may connect to through track or to other sidings at either end...
rejoins the main line just after the Otisville station as trains enter a mile-long (1.6 km) tunnel under the Shawangunk Ridge
Shawangunk Ridge
The Shawangunk Ridge , also known as the Shawangunk Mountains or The Gunks, is a ridge of bedrock in Ulster County, Sullivan County and Orange County in the state of New York, extending from the northernmost point of New Jersey to the Catskill Mountains.The ridgetop, which widens considerably at...
, the longest on Metro-North.
Once on the western end, in some of the most undeveloped countryside Metro-North passes through, trains make a long descent of the west side of Shawangunk Ridge
Shawangunk Ridge
The Shawangunk Ridge , also known as the Shawangunk Mountains or The Gunks, is a ridge of bedrock in Ulster County, Sullivan County and Orange County in the state of New York, extending from the northernmost point of New Jersey to the Catskill Mountains.The ridgetop, which widens considerably at...
, parallel to the Neversink River
Neversink River
The Neversink River is a tributary of the Delaware River in southeastern New York in the United States...
valley southwards, reaching valley level just before the terminal station Port Jervis
Port Jervis, New York
Port Jervis is a city on the Delaware River in western Orange County, New York, with a population of 8,860 at the 2000 census. The communities of Deerpark, Huguenot, Sparrowbush, and Greenville are adjacent to Port Jervis, and the towns of Montague, New Jersey and Matamoras, Pennsylvania face the...
and the yard beyond.
Rolling stock
Locomotive
A locomotive is a railway vehicle that provides the motive power for a train. The word originates from the Latin loco – "from a place", ablative of locus, "place" + Medieval Latin motivus, "causing motion", and is a shortened form of the term locomotive engine, first used in the early 19th...
s are NJT, ranging from EMD GP40PH2-CATs and F40PH2-CATs A total of eleven locomotives are in Metro-North colors. The entire group of Metro North locomotives are in the process of being rebuilt, one at a time, and will return re-numbered in the 4900-4910 series.
To equip the line, Metro-North has always used an 'add on' clause in their agreements with NJT. This allows Metro-North the option to add onto any NJT rolling stock purchases. With the 2003 purchase of 65 Comet V
Comet V
The Comet V railcar is the fifth generation of the Comet railcar series. Produced by the manufacturer Alstom, the Comet V is a much different type of car compared to previous versions of the series...
coaches, Metro-North included a provision for keeping the Metro-North labeled cars on the New York-based lines as much as possible, and the Bombardier-built coaches previously used were moved to East-of-Hudson service. Currently, all of the peak services are composed of MTA labeled equipment, but some off peaks trains carry the NJT logo.
Operation is push-pull
Push-pull train
Push–pull is a mode of operation for locomotive-hauled trains allowing them to be driven from either end.A push–pull train has a locomotive at one end of the train, connected via some form of remote control, such as multiple-unit train control, to a vehicle equipped with a control cab at the other...
, with locomotives normally facing west.
External links
- The Port Jervis Line at piercehaviland.org
- NJT Port Jervis Line by Peggy Darlington