trisonic Posted May 3, 2013 Share Posted May 3, 2013 I went down to Roselle Park station (on the Rariton Valley NJT line to take some shots of Gantlet track around the station. Â Â It's only on one of the lines through the station. So the question is: Why is it there? Â The simple answer is that at this location the platforms are high level (rather like the normal UK way). This part of the old Lehigh Valley line in New Jersey is used by NJT and Freight traffic. It is on one of the mainlines into the New York/New Jersey Port area that carries "Double - Stacked " container trains. The Gantlet track pushes the freight train away from the platform protecting the structure from the trains and the train from the structure. Â Here's a close up from the platform (note the closely spaced ties/sleepers): Â Â Â Looking west using a long throw lens to the Gantlet Track points (there are no crossing/frogs because at no point do the rails cross each other): Â Â In the above shot it is just possible to see the junction at Aldene (just before the iron bridge) where the NJT peels away to the right onto the old CNJ/B&O/Reading mainline. Â Looking east towards New York bay (about 7 miles away): Â Â More detail looking east: Â Â The track is not really as bad as it looks where the distance is heavily compressed. To the naked eye it looks quite good for wooden tied track. Â Finally a shot from the station car park of a typical west bound commuter train at rest. Not sure but I think the train is hauled by an old Amtrak "Genesis" engine on this one. More typically they are the more modern "Alstom" diesels. Â Â Best, Pete. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Talltim Posted May 3, 2013 Share Posted May 3, 2013 I've come across mentions of this, but never seen the 'switches' at the ends or, for some reason, really considered it from a modelling point of view. It definitely would be a talking point on a layout. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold roundhouse Posted May 3, 2013 RMweb Gold Share Posted May 3, 2013 The Sprinter service between Escondido and Oceanside in In California uses German Desiro units and high level platforms. As there is still frieght along the line, they have used a different approach by having the platforms set back with fold up ramps when a freight passes. Â Ian Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glorious NSE Posted May 3, 2013 Share Posted May 3, 2013 I've come across mentions of this, but never seen the 'switches' at the ends or, for some reason, really considered it from a modelling point of view. It definitely would be a talking point on a layout.  The other (in fact, almost opposite!) way i've seen a gantlet used is to put a double track line across a single track bridge without having (most of the) pointwork, just two frogs - you still need to interlock it (for obvious reasons!) though! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Talltim Posted May 3, 2013 Share Posted May 3, 2013 I have seen that variant modelled. I think you could automate the platform gauntlet, have something (a magnet?) on the bottom of passenger* trains that changes the 'switch' as the train approaches. *you probably have less passenger trains Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glorious NSE Posted May 3, 2013 Share Posted May 3, 2013 It's also fail-safe if you default to the outer track! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
trisonic Posted May 3, 2013 Author Share Posted May 3, 2013 I'll dig out some movies of the Roselle Park location. Â Best, Pete. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Talltim Posted May 3, 2013 Share Posted May 3, 2013 It's also fail-safe if you default to the outer track! A very good point. I wonder if the real thing also has the outer as the default? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
trisonic Posted May 3, 2013 Author Share Posted May 3, 2013 Here's a daytime one. Look out around 2:30 in. Â Â Â Best, Pete. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
trisonic Posted May 3, 2013 Author Share Posted May 3, 2013 More recent "All-Nighter" - in a lot of respects this one is far more interesting than the daytime one - not least for the commentary which is obviously knowledgeable but unintentionally funny at times too! The guy must have relatives in the UK..... Â Â Â Best, Pete. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Boucher Posted May 3, 2013 Share Posted May 3, 2013 The other (in fact, almost opposite!) way i've seen a gantlet used is to put a double track line across a single track bridge without having (most of the) pointwork, just two frogs - you still need to interlock it (for obvious reasons!) though!  My favorite location for this use is Bellows Falls, Vermont.  The thing that makes it interesting to me is that the gantlet is actually part of a turnout.  On the North side of the bridge is a set of points, on the bridge its gantlet track, and the south side of the bridge is the frog to complete the turnout.  Found 1 picture of it online... http://www.panoramio.com/photo/70243633 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supaned Posted May 3, 2013 Share Posted May 3, 2013 Re the NJT diesel , NJT bought three ex Amtrak P40DC units , originally these were used for the Casino sponsored ACES service to Atlantic City which is now finished , so they find themselves in regular use. With a lot of units damaged by floodwater during Hurricane Sandy , they have to use everything that runs. Â Interesting post as well - like to see it in N scale. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
trisonic Posted May 3, 2013 Author Share Posted May 3, 2013 Supaned, Three images I took later the same day down the Raritan Valley line at Fanwood Station: Â Â Â Â enjoy! Â Best, Pete. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JWB Posted May 3, 2013 Share Posted May 3, 2013 This is what Raritan Line trains looked like in 1981: Great shots, any workaday New Jersey stuff you have, definitely keep it coming! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
trisonic Posted May 3, 2013 Author Share Posted May 3, 2013 Was that before "Aldene" JWB???? Â Best, Pete. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JWB Posted May 3, 2013 Share Posted May 3, 2013 No, Aldene was late 1960s. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Boucher Posted May 4, 2013 Share Posted May 4, 2013 Here's a daytime one. Look out around 2:30 in. Â Â Â Best, Pete. Â What the heck are the cars from about 3:38 to 4:00? Â Looks like small containers on TOFC cars, but I've never seen anything like those. Â I know its a tough angle, but they seem to be 4 per car on the bottom, which would make them 12' long or so, which is a non-standard container size AFAIK. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
trisonic Posted May 4, 2013 Author Share Posted May 4, 2013 Dunno, Mike.........but as sure as eggs are eggs someone will..... Â Best, Pete. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pH Posted May 4, 2013 Share Posted May 4, 2013 What the heck are the cars from about 3:38 to 4:00?  Looks like small containers on TOFC cars, but I've never seen anything like those.  I know its a tough angle, but they seem to be 4 per car on the bottom, which would make them 12' long or so, which is a non-standard container size AFAIK.Possibly garbage or 'dirty dirt' containers? Here's a couple of pictures of things that look similar and are used on a UP train moving hazardous material in Utah. http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=417150&nseq=0 http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=250848&nseq=35 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shortliner Posted May 4, 2013 Share Posted May 4, 2013 Almost certainly "Dirty Dirt" or construction waste containers - Garbage or MSW (municpal solid waste) containers are bigger and taller  http://www.atlastrainman.com/hofreight/tmhotrashcontainer.htm - JBW may be able to help - he has a post here including a photo http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/69386-trash-flats-and-containers/  see also http://www.atlasrr.com/books/dc-trashcontainer.htm Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JWB Posted May 4, 2013 Share Posted May 4, 2013 What the heck are the cars from about 3:38 to 4:00? Â Looks like small containers on TOFC cars, but I've never seen anything like those. Â I know its a tough angle, but they seem to be 4 per car on the bottom, which would make them 12' long or so, which is a non-standard container size AFAIK. Those particular containers are for sludge (i.e., processed poop). They are probably owned by EPIC, and they're traveling on purpose-built or rebuilt articulated spine cars. While municipal solid waste of the trash persuasion is carried in various places in the US, I think sludge and the EPIC cars may be unique to the New York area. Â Containers for various kinds of waste begin to appear in my DVD collection in the late 1980s, so this is well-established traffic. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shortliner Posted May 4, 2013 Share Posted May 4, 2013 I thought you'd know the answer to that one! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JWB Posted May 4, 2013 Share Posted May 4, 2013 Further googling brings out a very informative thread on the articulated cars and containers here. The Matt Snell piece in I believe the June 2012 RMC covers both the cars and containers, although I for one am not anxious to model this particular traffic! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shortliner Posted May 4, 2013 Share Posted May 4, 2013 It would work well at an exhibition if you got one of the "niffers" to hang about - but you'd probably not have any viewers! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium melmerby Posted May 4, 2013 RMweb Premium Share Posted May 4, 2013 More info here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gauntlet_track    Not so unusual on tram systems, an example In the UK: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:028140_tramlink_mitcham.jpg  Keith Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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