Tri-State Santa Train 2007

I start the day early and leave home about 7 a.m.  I drive to NJ

Transit's Port Morris Yard, where our train has already been

assembled: GP40PH-2 4102 and PL42AC 4007, with nine Comet I or IB

coaches, 5232, 5160, 5740, 5724, 5110, 5222, 5231, 5746, 5117.  We

number the cars 1 through 9, from the engines.  I will car-host in

car 9 with John Welsh.  I think he and I have had the same car for

three or four years in a row.

By 8 a.m., we're loading our supplies directly from Barry Levitt's
truck into the train.  John and I decorate our car and stow the
snacks, drinks, etc to avoid blocking seats.  The train heads west at
9:22, but we stop for a hand-thrown switch for two minutes before
going.  We stop short of the grade crossing at Netcong station
(presumably to wait for the gates to drop), then arrive at 9:32 after
respotting the train to let the gates rise.  The platform is crowded
but we get everyone aboard quickly.  Santa starts in my car, so we
give out the snacks and drinks after he finishes.

We go through Hackettstown just after 10 a.m. and turn the train,
returning to the station at 10:19.  Boarding takes just five minutes
and we're underway with a full load.  I collect trash, then go
through the car showing our selection of stocking stuffers.  Sales
are good!

We're back at Port Morris at 10:51, turn in 10 minutes, then return
to Netcong to finish the first group at 11:06.  We only have three
doors on the platform, so it takes longer to unload - 12 minutes.  We
run west and pass Hackettstown again at 11:38, then are back in the
station to unload and reload.  We're moving again at 11:55.  We stop
at Netcong at 12:14, back up to clear the crossing, then load up
again for the second Netcong run.  We head east to Port Morris, stop
at 12:31, and head west at 12:37.  We hand out snacks and drinks
after Santa leaves our car, collect trash and show the souvenirs.

At 1 p.m., we're stopped west of Hackettstown and in the station
five minutes later to unload the second group.  I get too busy to log
times of the third Netcong group, but we're moving toward Dover at
1:55.  Lake Hopatcong stop is done at 2:07, and the dispatcher puts
us on track 1 (nominal westbound) at CP MORRIS.  This will keep us
out of the way of New York trains at Dover, which usually use track
2.  Santa goes, we give out the snacks and drinks, collect the trash,
and sell souvenirs.

We run through Dover at 2:23 and stop east of the interlocking - I
look at the Salem Street bridge reconstruction.  We return to the
station at 2:35 and take seven minutes to load, leaving just as train
6925 arrives - seven minutes early, unused schedule pad ("Shirley
Time").

We pass Netcong and stop at Mount Olive at 3:04 for 13 minutes.  I
think one Santa needs more time, but that's alright.  We're back in
Netcong at 3:24 and unload in 13 minutes (three doors again).  John
and I clear our car since we're done, then we relax.  Lake Hopatcong
is at 3:43, five minutes, and we take track 1 again to Dover.

We run through the station at 4:02 and stop beyond the

interlocking.  Train 6930 goes east before we return to the station

and let our Dover group leave at 4:12.  At 4:30, we pass Port Morris

and stop beyond the yard lead, then back in and stop at 4:37.

John Hemmings brings Barry's truck to the train, stopping between
cars 8 and 9, then 1 and 2, to collect our supplies, unused snacks
and drinks, garbage, recyclable cardboard, etc.  I help pass things
into the truck, then dump the garbage into NJT's compactor.  The
cardboard goes into my car for dropoff at Rockaway Township's
recycling center on Monday.

I stop briefly to call my son and ask what he wants to do for
dinner.  He wants sushi, so I get his order and get it on the way
home, arriving shortly after 6 p.m.

contributed by Gary Kazin