Railfanning Hamilton, NJ 7/18/14--Metro-North Invades Hamilton! +ACS-64, AEM-7, HHP-8 and more!

In today's world of instant alerts and railfanning websites, it is becoming increasingly rare to catch a good ol' fashioned surprise while railfanning. However, sometimes these surprises turn out to be some of the best catches. This was certainly the case with the second train in this video . On July 18th I went out for an hour of afternoon corridor action. I was initially surprised when I saw a diesel train bearing down on me in the normally all-electric territory. Expecting an equipment move I positioned myself and got my camera ready. What actually came by was a dual-purpose test train/equipment movement. The train ran as a test from MMC (Meadowlands Maintenance Complex Kearny, NJ) to Atlantic City, NJ where it swapped out two engines and returned to MMC. This video captures the return leg of the trip. The NJT diesels are unusual to see on the Corridor; however, the real gem in this train was the third engine back--MNCR 4901. It is extremely rare to see anything Metro-North this south of New York City, so that came as a complete surprise. That is what captivates me so much about railfanning the Northeast Corridor--you never know what will show up! Also of note is the temporary platform set up covering the close track.
Enjoy the video and please subscribe! Thanks!

[@necer149]

Sweet video! Hamilton is a great spot, also nice catch with the power move.

[@acelaphillies]

Thanks! Hamilton is a nice spot. It's the easiest NJT station for me to get to, so I go there a lot.

[@SuperStarRendon]

great video! Too bad I missed that Metro North move.

[@acelaphillies]

Thanks! I posted info about the move on RR.NET pretty soon after I saw it because I was hoping to give some of you guys upcorridor a chance to catch it, but unfortunately you guys didn't catch it in time.

[@SuperStarRendon]

acelaphillies Even if I was around( in NYC all day), there was no way I could catch it, since I would probably would off have less than 15 mins to catch it. :)

[@GABRIELADAWSON]

acelaphillies Well i always see that metro-north engine each time i go to Hoboken Terminal

[@turbochargedtransit7241]

Nice video! If you can get to Fairfield, CT on the NEC, it's a cool place. Trust me

[@Wes8761]

You caught 945 which was preserved

[@RedArrow73]

OK,so why on earth are they permanently closing Track # 4 and platforming it over?

[@acelaphillies]

Despite what it looks like, the platform over Track #4 is only temporary. You may have seen temporary bridges over tracks in the past; it is the same idea, but just instead of bridges there is an entire platform. Track #4 is temporarily closed for track/centenary work going on in NJ. Eventually speeds on the "NJ Racetrack" (the very straight section of NEC in NJ) will be raised to 160 mph for Acela trains. Why NJT went for the temporary platform instead of bridges I do not know.

[@PikalaxALT]

acelaphillies They did the same thing on the MNRR New Haven Line between the Southport and Bridgeport crossovers while tracks 1 and 3 were undergoing catenary and bridge renovations. I guess one temporary platform is easier to maintain than 12 separate bridges for long-term work.

[@acelaphillies]

PikalaxALT Interesting, thanks for sharing. The maintenance thing does make sense.

[@toy4x4nj]

I was going to ask the same thing about the platform. it's been to long time since i taken a train out of Hamilton.

[@collinparsons3363]

They went with a platform rather than bridges because the cars NJT uses on that line have different door arrangements. All cars have end doors. Multilevels also have quarter point doors and some single level cars have center doors. Bridges also require the train to stop in an exact location, which requires the train to come into the station very slowly while the train can stop anywhere roughly near the train length markers with a full platform. I guess they could've used bridges for only the end doors, but then conductors would have to remember not to open the center and quarter point doors at a high level station and passengers would have to remember that they wouldn't open, and it would also slow down loading and unloading.

[@Godzilla91210]

Nice Acela Express! Its a différent version French TGV I From France and I like Américan trains.

[@acelaphillies]

Thanks! Indeed the TGV was one of the trains that started it all. You guys have a great rail system in France. Thanks for checking in!

[@Godzilla91210]

Yes in France Awesome High speed Trains! but the American Freight Train is very very long, it's impressive!!!

[@transitRus]

Great video with plenty of action but the sound is not in sync with the video.

[@acelaphillies]

Thanks! What makes you say that the sound is out of sync? I went back and watched the video, as well as the original videos and the edited project and the sound all matched up with the video.

[@transitRus]

Maybe it was my phone as I watched it on the youtube app. I re watched the video and the sound was fine.

[@acelaphillies]

transitRus Ok, sounds good. I appreciate your reporting this though because if the sound really was off I would definitely want to fix it.

[@transitRus]

Your welcome.