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Steam in New Jersey
https://www.rypn.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=9562		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  Al Patterson [ Sat May 01, 2004 8:04 pm ]
Post subject:  Steam in New Jersey
I just got back from a day trip to Phillipsburg New jersey where I rode behind the NYS&W Mikado #142. Great scenery along the uppper Delaware River. Good luck to NYS&W, Black River & Western, and the town of Phillipsburg.

Steam on the Bel-Del
acp19809@yahoo.com
Author:  Matt Renesseu [ Sat May 01, 2004 9:20 pm ]
Post subject:  Constuctive Comments
I also rode today. If any of the people involved are on this board, please consider the impressions of a first timer to Phillipsburg:

1. The direction signs are very hard to read, the black arrows on black backgrounds caused me to miss two turns.

2. The parking - ouch! It looked like there were only about 35 or so parking spots. I parked on a side street about three blocks beyond the museum.

3. The police in town need to understand we are tourists. Yelling at me for crossing the street before he waved me across was embarassing - I didn't know he was directing pedestrians as well as traffic.

4. What is the relationship between the train ride and the museum? The people in the museum told me they were responsible for the train being there and they wanted me to write politicians to save the museum. Very angry people. Someone on the train told me they are separate from the museum. You need to make this more clear as I was very turned off by the people there. I almost didn't go to the train because of them.

Once I got on the train I had a great time. I wish getting to it had been more pleasant.

Matt

mr71@destinyone.com
Author:  Dave O. [ Sun May 02, 2004 12:12 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Constuctive Comments
> I also rode today. If any of the people
> involved are on this board, please consider
> the impressions of a first timer to
> Phillipsburg:

> 1. The direction signs are very hard to
> read, the black arrows on black backgrounds
> caused me to miss two turns.

> 2. The parking - ouch! It looked like there
> were only about 35 or so parking spots. I
> parked on a side street about three blocks
> beyond the museum.

> 3. The police in town need to understand we
> are tourists. Yelling at me for crossing the
> street before he waved me across was
> embarassing - I didn't know he was directing
> pedestrians as well as traffic.

> 4. What is the relationship between the
> train ride and the museum? The people in the
> museum told me they were responsible for the
> train being there and they wanted me to
> write politicians to save the museum. Very
> angry people. Someone on the train told me
> they are separate from the museum. You need
> to make this more clear as I was very turned
> off by the people there. I almost didn't go
> to the train because of them.

> Once I got on the train I had a great time.
> I wish getting to it had been more pleasant.

> Matt
Hey its a start. I too rode the steam excursion today in Phillipsburg and had a ball.True there were some problems and the good outweighed the bad. Parking wasn't a problem if you weren't elderly or handicapped. True there wasn't a close by paved parking right next to the "station". But I found parking on Mainstreet two blocks from where the train was boarded. The signs directing you where to go for the train could have been better and see why some one not famliar with the area would have a problem. Those I would say are the only negatives to the whole day. As for the positives its a great shot in the arm for the town of P'burg and while walking the streets many of the shop owners had tables set up outside of their stores in a quasi-street fair which it wasn't. There was even an artist sketching on the sidewalk. There was parking for a small donation to a local church at the other railroad museum a little distance from the NJ State museum. Plenty of porta johns and a good police presence in a very busy area. This area is very congested with cars due to the shad running( thats a fish for you foamers ) on the Delaware and the motorists using the "Free Bridge" to Easton to beat the tolls. There was plenty of food vendors set up and no one went hungry or thirsty.
As for the steam excursion itself fantastic!!
Where for $10 can you ride behind a live steam engine in a clean coach with for the most part open windows and see beautiful scenery lovely ladies in bikinis on boats. True we weren't out there for a marathon 5 hour trip to over the DL to Portland. But this was billed a "ride on a steam train" and I think down and back was about 40 minutes. An hour is about all a younger child can take on an excursion and then they get "rammy". So it was short enough and the price was right. And it was great for the rail mileage buffs.
As for chasing the train you really can't. We did set up at a road crossing at Carpentersville and got some shots. You can give up and trying to fake a Pennsy Bel Del passenger train but it was neat none the less. I can see some "nimby" backlash from the locals in the area. So watch were you park and don't tresspass.
All in all a very enjoyable trip with friendly people and excellant food especially the London broil sandwhich.
As for the museums in Phillipsburg I think there are two. The State of NJ group which want to rebuild the Pennsy facility as the museum and are going for the money. And the local group which is located next the NS main and east of PU tower. These folks weren't open or running the old Becker Farm equipment. Could have made some money. Maybe you all ou there might have some more info on these two groups.
Hey go down to P'burg and go for a train ride its only $10 bucks you won't be disappointed.

memnon11075@earthlink.net
Author:  Rob Davis [ Sun May 02, 2004 1:47 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Constuctive Comments
> Very angry people.

And, that in a nutshell, is why there is no state museum yet. Too much venom and partisan politics.

The #142 trips are a great thing and should not suffer from guilt by association with the anger.
Author:  Al Patterson [ Mon May 03, 2004 7:40 pm ]
Post subject:  Steam in NJ - Pictures!
Here are a few of the digital shots from Saturday. They're on the linked page under the "Bel-Del Steam 2004" link on the left side of the page. Enjoy!

Al's Rail Photos
acp19809@yahoo.com
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