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Tracking the Light: New Jersey Transit’s Hoboken Terminal, December 2015—a dozen new images!

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I made my first photographs at the old Lackawanna Hoboken Terminal with my father back in 1976. He made his first photos there about 20 years earlier.

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Today, Hoboken Terminal survives as one of the last great waterfront railroad terminals. Perhaps, the last great American waterfront terminal.

There’s no longer a Lackawanna Limited for Buffalo, nor any of the Lackawanna EMD F3s or F-M Trainmasters that my dad saw, but New Jersey Transit’s Hoboken Terminal remains as one of the most atmospheric locations in the New York City area to make railway images.

Hints of the old order; the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western was one of the great railway companies of the early 20th century.
Hints of the old order; the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western was one of the great railway companies of the early 20th century.

While I’ve featured Hoboken Terminal previously on Tracking the Light, (see: Hoboken?!) I exposed all of these photos in one morning about ten days ago using my Lumix LX7.

My intent here was no to make one photo, but rather a group of images that capture the character of the place.

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I featured New Jersey Transit’s Hoboken Terminal in my new book Railway Depots, Stations & Terminals published by Voyageur Press this year. The book is available through Amazon and other outlets.

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Tracking the Light Presents a New Angle Every Day!

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NJT_Hoboken_terminal_P1350245NJT_Hoboken_terminal_skylight_P1350247NJT_Hoboken_terminal_detail_P1350282NJT_4201_Hoboken_trailing_view_P1350460New Jersey Transit’s Hoboken Terminal is in my new book Railway Depots, Stations & Terminals published by Voyageur Press this year. The book is available through Amazon and other outlets.

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America’s Shortest Passenger Branch.

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Not as long as it used to be.

NJ Transit's Dinky approaches Princeton Junction on June 30, 2014.
NJ Transit’s Dinky approaches Princeton Junction on June 30, 2014. Lumix LX7 photo.

There’s something fascinating about a branch line. A single meandering track, often built for the single purpose of linking an important town or industry with the mainline. Branch lines are simple railroads; light appendages; feeder lines.

Once upon a time branch line passenger trains were part of the fabric of American transportation. A single engine and coach might traverse the line several times daily to meet through trains on the mainline. The conductor on the branch was a friendly chap who may have worked the line for years.

Mainline conductor directs passengers to the Dinky at Princeton Junction on June 29, 2014. Canon EOS 7D with 200 mm lens.
Mainline conductor directs passengers to the Dinky at Princeton Junction on June 29, 2014. Canon EOS 7D with 200 mm lens.
The Dinky arrives at Princeton Junction on June 29, 2014. Lumix LX7 photo.
The Dinky arrives at Princeton Junction on June 29, 2014. Lumix LX7 photo.
Take spin, it isn't very far. Lumix LX7.
Take spin, it isn’t very far.
Lumix LX7.
View from the Dinky towards a Trenton-bound train on the mainline. Lumix LX7 photo.
View from the Dinky towards a Trenton-bound train on the mainline. Lumix LX7 photo.
Princeton Junction on June 30, 2014.
Princeton Junction on June 30, 2014.

New Jersey Transit’s Princeton Branch is the shortest regular scheduled branch passenger train in the United States. A pair of electric EMU’s scuttle back and forth on the train to connect with the Northeast Corridor at Princeton Junction.

Until a few months ago, the branch served a handsome old station in Princeton. But the ever wise transportation visionaries decided this was too good to continue and forced a trimming of the line, moving its terminus further from downtown. It’s an old story, new again.

End of track near Princeton. The short branch was made even shorter. Exposed with a Lumix LX7 on June 30, 2014.
End of track near Princeton. The short branch was made even shorter. Exposed with a Lumix LX7 on June 30, 2014.
Not everyone is impressed by Princeton's latest improvement. A pen-wielding pundit wrote 'The Princeton Buck Stops Here.'
Not everyone is impressed by Princeton’s latest improvement. A pen-wielding pundit wrote ‘The Princeton Buck Stops Here.’

Someone said something about it being cheaper to run a bus? Better than an electric train?

Might the Princeton Dinky join the hundreds of other branch American services that once dotted the pages of the official guide? There’s always that nefarious illusion of ‘progress’ often offered as the explanation for ill-minded change.

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Smiles at Princeton Junction on June 29, 2014.
Smiles at Princeton Junction on June 29, 2014.
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Princeton Junction, New Jersey, June 29, 2014.

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Views on the Long Tangent.

The former Pennsylvania Railroad at Princeton Junction is on an exceptionally long level tangent and on fast track. A headlight appears as a twinkle. Minutes pass. The rails begin to sing and the catenary starts to resonate. Then a train blasts by at more than 100 mph!

Amtrak's Acele Express blasts through Princeton Junction at more than 100mph. Exposed with a Lumix LX-7.
Amtrak’s Acele Express blasts through Princeton Junction at more than 100mph. Exposed with a Lumix LX-7.

It was here that my father captured the United Aircraft TurboTrain on trial at speed back in the 1960s.

Princeton Junction is also where you can switch to the ‘Dinky’, which traverses NJ Transit’s shortest branch (recently made even shorter) to Princeton.

Old Pennsylvania Railroad position light signals (modified with color aspects) remain standard on the Northeast Corridor. Exposed using a Canon 7D with 200mm lens.
Old Pennsylvania Railroad position light signals (modified with color aspects) remain standard on the Northeast Corridor. Exposed using a Canon 7D with 200mm lens.
On the evening of July 29, 2014, an Amtrak Keystone train approaches Princeton Junction. The old PRR tower is on the right. An eastbound Keystone from Harrisburg was bearing down at the same time. The two trains passed at the station with a closing speed of more than 200 mph!
On the evening of June 29, 2014, an Amtrak Keystone train approaches Princeton Junction. The old PRR tower is on the right. An eastbound Keystone from Harrisburg was bearing down at the same time. The two trains passed at the station with a closing speed of more than 200 mph!
Think fast and act faster; I had only a few moments to turn around and catch this running meet between Amtrak Keystone trains. Both are moving at more than 100 mph!
Think fast and act faster; I had only a few moments to turn around and catch this running meet between Amtrak Keystone trains. Both are moving at more than 100 mph!
An NJ Transit train from New York Penn Station pauses on the platform at Princeton Junction. Exposed with a Canon EOS 7D with 200mm lens.
An NJ Transit train from New York Penn Station pauses on the platform at Princeton Junction. Exposed with a Canon EOS 7D with 200mm lens.
An eastbound New Jersey Transit train from Trenton glides toward Princeton Junction. Since track 1 is out of service, passenger will board from platform extensions to track 2. The fading light of this June evening made for an atmospheric image on the busy North East Corridor. Canon EOS 7D with 200mm lens.
An eastbound New Jersey Transit train from Trenton glides toward Princeton Junction. Since track 1 is out of service, passenger will board from platform extensions to track 2. The fading light of this June evening made for an atmospheric image on the busy North East Corridor. Canon EOS 7D with 200mm lens.

Tomorrow, Tracking the Light takes a spin on the Dinky!

Tracking the Light posts new material every morning.

Please share Tracking the Light!

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