Princeton Jct. trains. 150mph Acela’s, flying ACS64’s, Arrow MU’s and AA2 horns, and donuts. 4/17/24

[@BilltheHiker]

Tim, I never get tired of watching your videos of the NEC at Princeton Junction. What a racetrack! My family has ridden this line from Richmond to Philadelphia to visit cousins and to NYP to visit my sister in Manhattan. By the way, thanks for the kind words about the Silver Meteor. My dad worked for the SAL in its Richmond HQ and we rode to Florida on the Star and Meteor to visit my grandfather. More great memories. Also, I love your RFW work. It will be a priceless piece of history for future generations. Thank for what you do.

[@PeterMigliorini-x4o]

This was truly a "gem" & a "joy" to watch since it represents both railroading "past" & "present" in my world of railroading observation & pleasure. I could not help to smile in seeing AMTRAK adopting the time honored "push me / pull you" of so many "commuters" that the old CNJ once used. And, I agree with your "HORN" assessment when discussing the old Arrow units of the past. I really enjoyed this offering & please accept my sincere thanks for sharing!!!! This is Peter, out!

[@steffanmaximum]

Great video, I just love those Yankee trains. Makes our British one's seem like toys.

[@MatthewSmith-cv7op]

Nice to see Princeton Junction getting more train service. It wasn’t too long ago that only maybe 3-5 trains stopped here.

[@scottyerkes1867]

Another great railfanning spot!! Amtrak trains, NJ Transit trains. Speed. Thank you Tim💚👌👌🥰

[@RobertStoll-vb5jk]

I always enjoy going the nec lines always a good variety

[@gerardmoran9560]

Another great video! As for those NJT trains, one of the best elements of the train riding experience is the view. The shallow, porthole like windows is a mystery to me. Let the sun in!

[@andrewclarkson3401]

It's great to visit Princeton Junction again. When I'm watching on video, my life doesn't flash before my eyes the way it did when I stood on the platform and had an Amtrak go flying by. The Dinky hasn't changed.

[@ffemt2638]

One of these days Tim, I hope to run into you trainspotting at Princeton Junction. It's one of my favorite places to ride out to on motorcycle, enjoy some lunch, and watch some fast train action.

[@tokugawa12able]

Local stuff!! Great to see. Princeton Junction is THE Place. And WH AA-2s. Music.

[@evangouldtransit]

731 sounds like it still has its original LIRR K5LA. beautiful.!!!!

[@3985uprr]

I don’t think so.

[@evangouldtransit]

@@3985uprr either way still sounds good.

[@413TomaccoRoad]

What is the Springfield to Newport News train named? Still Northeast Regional?

[@3985uprr]

No name. Just number. #125

[@thomaspagan4914]

What a great show! I really enjoyed those fast AMTRAKs!!! Those NJT double decker cars look very heavy! THANK YOU!

[@robertmullen2083]

Great spot for watching them fly through. Such a nice job describing the action and always appreciate your interchanges with the help.

[@paultitterton3805]

Terrific video. I enjoyed all of it!

[@presspound7358]

Very relaxing and informative. Thanks. While I wouldn’t avoid boarding a train which had its propulsion in the back end only … it would be a little strange to be sitting in that lead passenger rail car.

[@rodhard688]

Imagine all those people on the Highway without the railroads!

[@JoeyLovesTrains]

Love the AA2’s I think it’s such a grand sounding horn

[@cryorig_transit05]

Gotta love the roars of the ACS-64

[@exerosis5758]

Have you ever walked down the canal path to the dinky bridge? It can be a fun place to watch, I used to climb up and stand on the pulled out track side and listen to the horn as it crosses the river. I hope that the dink stays around for years to come, I'll fight tooth and nail if I have to.

[@BrianJColby15YT]

You are correct - Mansfield and Attleboro MA and Kingston through Westerly RI (and maybe as far as New London) are sections where the Acelas do the max. The AA2 horns used to be on the older MBTA Orange and Red Line trains, plus some of the Green Line trolleys.

[@OldsVistaCruiser]

And the first 3 generations of SEPTA Silverliners as well as their Broad Street subway in Philly.

[@supermarioworld04]

And the C&NW/Metra 8700 cabcars

[@egbutler114]

Speaking of heritage units, Septa has converted one of your beloved cars to reflect its heritage.

[@3985uprr]

I heard. One of those. Well, they came to Septa with Reading logos on them.

[@evangouldtransit]

a Silver 5 got wrapped.?

[@3985uprr]

A 4

[@OldsVistaCruiser]

​@evangouldtransit - The 280 got a Reading diamond on the end.

[@OldsVistaCruiser]

The 280 was originally the 9018, the alpha of the RDG order. 9031 (now the 410) was the last car of that order.

[@Bowfinger10]

Another fantastic video capturing the thrill of railfanning that station! I'd love to stop and watch some day (coming from Pittsburgh via the Pennsylvanian and NJT)...are there any public bathrooms at the station? That might make or break my stay there for an afternoon, haha.

[@3985uprr]

Yes, the station with the ticket office has restrooms in it. It’s on the New York bound platform. This is even a little minimart in the building open during daylight hours.

[@JoeyLovesTrains]

15:25 I believe almost all the subway cars in Boston have them, not only the new ones. I know the green Line cars and the red line cars do.

[@anthonyguinan4906]

Those Arrow III maybe 50 years old but B-52’S are still flying.Those cars do not look old.

[@3985uprr]

They look really sleek and graceful

[@KofCFrank06511]

Tim, like always very informative. Thank You. BTW heard a Hancock horn this afternoon between the Mill River & old "Air" junctions but I was too late to see what train it was, (Going west)

[@toy4x4nj]

Always wanted to ride the Dinky. Any restaurant suggestions in downtown Princeton?

[@3985uprr]

I’m sure you won’t have any problem there. I can’t mention any specific places, but I’m sure there are quite a few nice restaurants.

[@transitriderproductions]

They have WaWa right at the station then walk up few blocks, downtown has tons of restaurants. plenty of them!

[@Touchybanana]

SEPTA does have heritage units but it's on a Silverliner IV.

[@413TomaccoRoad]

It's more aerodynamic to have an engine front and back.

[@AlanRoeckel]

Any idea when Amtrak is going to replace Metroliner cab cars with demotored HH-8s?

[@3985uprr]

Fairly soon

[@ldifalco2010]

The NJT Erie Lackawanna ALP45DP 4519 is apparently at MMC and totaled. No one seems to know why this relatively new loco is in complete disrepair. Also Pennsy 4636 hasn't been seen in weeks.

[@3985uprr]

I thought the Erie Lackawanna was back up again

[@ThomasELeClair]

@@3985uprr ,,,,What does MMC mean,,,,and where is it......30 th street station ???

[@AlanRoeckel]

Always enjoyed railfanning at Princeton Junction and riding the Dinky into Princeton.

[@arsinoeivlostprincess4228]

The one going to New Orleans the track isn't electrified now is it? Those units can switch to diesel or do they put on another engine? Seems to me they can get up to full running speed with two engines. Which saves time.

[@3985uprr]

It’s electric

[@johnplampin7274]

Engine change in Washington.

[@ThomasELeClair]

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,wow that was just yesterday.....................................Thanks a bunch and a whole lot.....................

[@zazaranger5]

Hey Tim, unfortunately that septa canceled the order for the BI level coaches.

[@3985uprr]

See what SV6’s are like

[@nickcef]

Always wondered if that track for the Dinky connects with the NEC above Princeton Jct? I never noticed the switch.

[@3985uprr]

Yes, there is a switch because sometimes they have to send the equipment to MMC. Those specific cars are not captive.

[@nickcef]

@@3985uprr What would be cool is if Amtrak ran a through train from NY to Princeton University via the Dinky line.

[@Ih8kone]

When were you here? I was just here on Monday.

[@3985uprr]

Yesterday

[@grantwareham946]

Fabulous video, Tim! I assume there's a way for the shoving ACS-64 to be controlled by the one on the point?

[@3985uprr]

It is MU’d through the train.

[@jaminthomas]

@@3985uprrIs it a physical connection or radio controlled?

[@1llenium]

21:35 that was nice of that guy to stay out of the shot for you

[@Markthebasketballplayer]

15:58 the dinky sounds like the M3 thats similar

[@Ih8kone]

You forgot to mention that the Arrows have reversible seats.

[@3985uprr]

I can’t think of everything. That’s better than the fixed seats the Silverliner 4’s have

[@mygins5820]

What ever happened to the hhp8s?

[@3985uprr]

They are going to use them as cab cars. MARC still has a few.

[@NERJ607]

Mechanical problems proved them worthless, however some if not all are being converted to NPCU’s for various push-pull services. As previously stated, MARC still uses a few of their own

[@thefanridrshow1967]

Love it

[@JamesGJGSUSHI]

What’s a clunker?

[@3985uprr]

Slowpoke. Makes a lot of stops.

[@hamlinfan69]

Stupid question but how many stops does the dinky do?

[@3985uprr]

One. Used to be 2 but Penns Neck was cut years ago

[@meanmetalmike666]

Should railfan at my stomping ground spot Perryville MD train station

[@3985uprr]

Edgewood looks inspiring

[@martyn6792]

What voltage is overhead, 25kv AC ?

[@3985uprr]

12.5kv I think. It’s 25kv from New Haven to Boston

[@mr.conductorfromsts4204]

Actually it was 12 kV and 25 Hz

[@michaellittlejohns7968]

I don’t think the ham and eggs engineer saw u

[@3985uprr]

He did. He texted me later asking if that was me

[@vaughnbode1420]

Why is an engine on each end better than a cab car?

[@MatthewSmith-cv7op]

It reduces times in the terminal and also it’s an FRA regulation.

[@vaughnbode1420]

@@MatthewSmith-cv7op A cab car on the other end would also reduce turn around time. And other trains on this line have one engine and a cab car, so how do those escape the FRA's attention?

[@MatthewSmith-cv7op]

I think 8 or more must have an engine up front or something like that.

[@vaughnbode1420]

@@MatthewSmith-cv7op OK. Thanks. I'll start counting cars.

[@bahnspotterEU]

@@MatthewSmith-cv7op That can’t be right though. NJT and Metra run trains with cab cars forward that are longer than 8 coaches.

[@carltonkeys6205]

17. 200hp

[@Markthebasketballplayer]

16:02

[@egbutler114]

Those AA-2 horns sound old and weak. I hated them running the budd cars. They even had a rope to pull to activate them. SIV is stronger and meant business

[@ThomasELeClair]

,,,,,,,,,,,Once you hear a K5LA......nothing in the universe can come close.......Imagine back in the day when the super badass looking GG1 had that lame ass tugboat horn........Back in my day,,,I loved my Eldorado trumpet horns in my caddy's,,,,people jumped when they sang...............I'm 73.......lived to long.......hate change,,,,,most of it anyway..........................

[@3985uprr]

My knowledge of electronics suck!!