Government Waste - 32 Abandoned Trains (New Jersey Transit's Darkest Secret)

A huge thank you to ‪@tracksiderailproductions802‬ for helping me out with this video!
In 2010, New Jersey Transit decommissioned 32 ALP-44 electric locomotives. They have been sitting abandoned, neglected, and derelict on some abandoned tracks ever since the day they were decommissioned in 2010. Over the years, they have been vandalized and damaged beyond repair, and any value they now have is only for scrap. There were several opportunities over the past 10+ years where these locomotives could have been sold for the value of functioning locomotives, and other agencies could have added them to their fleet. Instead, they still sit forgotten and abandoned, waiting to find their final resting place.

[@ForgottenUSA]

Be sure to follow @forgottenusa on Instagram to follow my adventures daily!

[@arthure.petersenjr.8089]

These locomotives were custom built to order for NJT and are unique. Because of this, spare parts and components are no longer available and many of the original suppliers are out of business. As they came due for major repairs, they were pulled from service and decommisioned, thereby becoming parts supplies for the remaining operational locomotives. Ultimately, all of the locomotives were replaced with a more modern, efficient and capable fleet that complies with current safety standards, are more reliable and meet current operational requirements. Finally, there is no market for these obsolete locomotives as, besides NJT, there are only five electrified commuter railroads in the US, all of which have ugraded their locomotive fleets.

[@F40PH-2CAT]

What utter bullshit.

[@j.martin6787]

Thanks for explaining this to the clueless trespasser who posted this video.

[@t1m3f0x]

SEPTA also had one.

[@chrisw1647]

The 2:00 marks, those foot pedals from left to right are HORN, ACKNOWLEDGE, DOOR OVERRIDE. The ALP-44 did NOT have a deadman. At the 9:00 mark, the ALP 46 is NOT a duel mode, it’s an electric locomotive, not diesel. The ALP-44 as well as the ALP-46 had 4000hp.

[@BloodRaven1969]

Thank you for a very informative video! Also as someone who grew up with family working for PRR and truck driving: Please don't try running train crossings OR cut in close in front of a rig, they are heavy and CANNOT stop fast. The life you save will be you own, and maybe others as well.

[@JPaul60]

The ALP 44 has 4 1850hp electric traction motors.. NJT wanted to spend money that the Department of Transportation was offering them and if you don't use it you lose it. That's why public transportation is so expensive to run for those that don't even use it. I ran and worked on AEM 7's and ALP 44's. We took took those toilets out because the crews would leave klinkers in there and abuse them. The coach cleaners were stuck cleaning them out so out they went. Not to mention those screw air compressors ran hot as hades and your back would be up against a 180 degrees mixing line. They sure do know how to waste money. Just print some more. GG1's ran for over 50 years. ALP 44's not so much. Even AEM 7's got more than 25 years with Amtrak ,Marc and Septa.

[@ecoRfan]

I do miss the ALP-44s. NJT could have done an overhaul a-la Amtrak AEM-7AC to make them more powerful and reliable but trains got too heavy for these smallish locomotives to handle. They would rather just buy new locomotives with parts commonality to their larger locomotives.

[@jasonlieu5379]

Very knowledgeable young man

[@SKWEEZY1000]

I noticed when you mentioned about the alp 44’s had a hard time pulling the bi level cars, I always seen two 44’s pull the bi level cars then noticed the new 46’s on the scene that the 44’s was going to go or be shortened

[@BrianHolzheimer-mg4qt]

Wow beautifully preserved and ready for service again 🚂🚂🚂🚂

[@sperryworker]

thats the lackawanna cutoff they are sitting on

[@NorthAtlanticRails]

Replaced by the newer ALP-45DPs and ALP-45As. Unfortunate that these weren't preserved

[@LindaCooper-i3f]

If my oldest son gets enough Wall Street stock in CSX, he plans to revive the Chessie System and restore these old locomotives possibly for transporting bituminous from Kentucky to Ohio for the steel mills.

[@journeywithjay]

This is one my favorite locations. It's shame they are just sitting there rotting away

[@ForgottenUSA]

Was my first time there, was crazy to see

[@jon9148]

BTW Not abandoned very much owned and monitored, Not compatible with the new systems of the multi -level fleet. Unable to be upgraded to the new computers needed and phased out by the Alp46 fleet.

[@gordonjustin4787]

The locomotives should be cleaned and fixed up. It should be sold to other countries. Thank You

[@brooklynelite5428]

Thats sad to see these trains which some could have been kept and refurbished and still continue a few more years of service unlike now just wasting away. If i has the money and i mean millions id get one or two of them from nj transit take it to my luxury space in the countryside and fix it up remodeled it the whole works paints etc and convert the inside to my comfortable man cave.

[@LearnwithJanice]

🇺🇸 hello from Kansas

[@ForgottenUSA]

hello!

[@BritishRail60062]

Great video guys. Please do more of these.

[@ForgottenUSA]

Just filmed one the other day that I think you may like!

[@odakyuodakyu6650]

not abandoned. you cant just take them home. 'disused', 'out of service' 'withdrawn from service' , but abandoned implies there is no owner. someone owns that, its worth a fortune in scrap. its about time urbexy people and normal people stop using the word abandoned incorrectly.

[@ForgottenUSA]

This is one of the stupidest things I’ve read in a long time😂

[@kennethhanks6712]

@@ForgottenUSA You might want to re-think your statement because the other statement was correct about the term abandoned. As per Websters abandon: To give up with the intent of never again claiming a right or interest in. That equipment possibly awaiting scrapping prices to reach proper level for disposal or maybe equipment trust arrangements made when equipment originally purchased to reach an expiration date so transaction can be made. It would truly be amazing if some gov agency or other party does still not have title, ownership and redponsibility of this equipment. It is even possible the locos when retired were set aside for possible sale to another operator but never occurred and unfortunately the vandals are sealing their fate. You will probably also scoff at this thought but you should consider that while you are crawling all over that equipment (without permission?) you do not want to have an accident and have to face those consequences. Responsible railfanning often requires a fair amount of descretion and restraint where someone else's property and operations are concerned.

[@rustynail6819]

@@ForgottenUSA Arm chair minutia experts.

[@LindaCooper-i3f]

Even so, these need restoration for possibly running bituminous from Kentucky to the steel mills in Toledo, Youngstown, and Cleveland, just to name a few places, especially if any of these locomotives are powered by either wire above the track as well as a third rail running along the track itself.

[@evanstauffer4470]

Let's face it: The English language in America is being butchered because more and more people are proud to be ignorant and just don't care.

[@tracksiderailproductions802]

Great video! Just wait til we go to some more abandoned spots!

[@ForgottenUSA]

Can't wait!

[@tomcarroll3808]

Where are these?

[@adambycholski1670]

Lackawanna cutoff.

[@crazy4chrissypoo]

Are they for sale? The reason I ask is the capacitors can be use in a GG1 since their capacitors are toxic maybe bring one of the iconic electric locomotive back to life.

[@kenwoodburn5244]

Nah they won’t sell

[@philipnasadowski1060]

The PCB issue is the main transformers on the GG-1 and in any case, the main truck frames on all of them are basically destroyed. You'd have to make new frames to run a GG-1 ever again. The transformers could be rewound, but you'd probably need a de-rating.

[@RDC2003]

Rip ALP-44's 1990-2011/2018

[@jasonlieu5379]

Location is somewhere in boonton New Jersey

[@RDC2003]

@@jasonlieu5379 it’s in hopatcong. Been there since I commented this. Super fun and mesmerizing, definitely recommend

[@9751asd]

One ALP-44 has been saved and sent to a museum

[@Transporter_Not_Statham]

I saw that being delivered when I was driving the bus at Wayne Transit Center and thought I was hallucinating

[@tommyg9719]

wonder why they kept 4 of em? maybe one day we can see one out and about

[@9751asd]

One of the 4 has been donated to a museum

[@chrissoutdoorsgardening1261]

@@9751asdI work on the electronics for it. We have it running I don’t know if you saw. It can only run off of battery as the pantograph isn’t working yet but maybe soon it will be. Also it’s missing its atc so micro cab doesn’t work

[@9751asd]

@@chrissoutdoorsgardening1261 when it’s restored any plans to run excursions???

[@Urbex_Undergroundexploring22]

Can I ask where this location is?

[@davidstewart5694]

And this is why people messing around through stored engines creates problems and delays for crews have to switch them.

[@philipnasadowski1060]

These units will never run again. NJT only has them still because if they scrap them now, they have to pay back the money the FTA gave them to buy them. In a few more years, they will be out of their obligation to own them, and they will go right to the scrapper. NJT is looking to junk their even newer PL-42 fleet, already. They're horrid at fleet management. These could have run a few more years in actual service, but NJT is all crazy about buying more junk from Bombardier.

[@davidfuller581]

@@philipnasadowski1060 The PL42s don't meet newer EPA standards and they're unreliable at best. That's why they're getting rid of them.

[@chrissoutdoorsgardening1261]

@@philipnasadowski1060the alp 44 was a special order from njt half of its electronics were made by companies that stoped existing a couple years after they were built. The alp44s weren’t very reliable and the pl42s are junk and don’t meet emissions limits. The alp45 is actually an alright dual mode loco also it’s comfortable compared to the others

[@dylanguttman]

I've been on that trail going ATVing I don't live to far from it either

[@ForgottenUSA]

very cool, you probably passed us on an atv while we were there lol

[@dmac6004]

I believe these locomotives were flooded during superstorm Sandy. Assuming that is so they were flooded with brackish water and thus damaged very seriously. It is not a dark secret this was reported in the papers and it developed significant issues for NJT

[@javonbrandon]

Are these locomotives still there

[@chrissoutdoorsgardening1261]

Yes

[@chrissoutdoorsgardening1261]

I live 2 minutes from them lol their not going anywhere anytime soon

[@dr.woozie7500]

When was this recorded? are the ALP44s still there?

[@ForgottenUSA]

This was recorded in October 2022. As far as I know, they are still there.

[@SteveRoberts5330]

This is the Lackawanna Cutoff East of Andover. These locomotives were stored for spare parts and have since moved on their final resting place as the Cutoff Restoration proceeds forward here in 2023. They were moved in the months following this video.

[@dr.woozie7500]

@@SteveRoberts5330 do you know where they were moved?

[@SteveRoberts5330]

@@dr.woozie7500 As far as I know from TriState and a few other local rail sources - they were scrapped, all but one or two of them which were saved for preservation.

[@urieloreos1405]

Im interested in purchasing these locomotives. What would be a good contact number?

[@NorthernExposureSlots]

How do I exactly get here

[@harrychest4303]

RR 202 Boonton, NJ

[@harrychest4303]

Parallels I 287.