I guess it's true what I've heard...about how easily we take things for granted and we don't know what we have until it's gone. I used to take Comet IIs for granted when I used to go to Raritan and film the trains there way back when. I figured they'd always be around for future generations. How wrong I was! I wish I could take a time machine to back when the older Comets were always around and correct my mistake of taking them for granted. Sigh...
I wish NJT would stop f**king around with the "new" trains and bring back the classic Comet cars (like the Comet Is and the unrebuilt Comet IIs). No offense to those that prefer the new trains over the older ones. It's just that I grew up with the older trains and I miss seeing them around. I haven't seen the Comet Is for a long time...and even longer time since I've seen the low-door Comet Is and the original Comet IIs. Great catch, my friend.
I shot this on May 3, 2008. I guess I kind of took the Comets for granted, as this was my first time seeing NJT except for a few times on the highway driving to my cousin's house (they live in NJ, I live in MA) and I was paying attention to holding the camera still with numb fingers...
I only asked because there are roughly 80 Comet Is left and there's rumors that they're going to be gone very, very, soon. Although it has been confirmed by an NJT conductor (YT channel: ERIELACKU34CH) that they're not getting rid of any equipment because there's a rolling stock shortage (despite recently selling cars to SEPTA and AMT in Montreal). Oops!
Ah. I've seen photos of the cars that were sold to AMT, but I didn't know about the SEPTA deal.
Do you think they'll buy more new cars to replace the Comet 1s? What will happen to the Comets after that? I know the Whippany Railroad Museum bought some, so at least there will still be some in the area. Maybe some will go to other commuter lines?
They already have purchased and placed into service multi-level coaches that are meant to replace the Comet Is and IIIs. They're mostly on the Northeast Corridor line. Unfortunately only 50 or so have been delivered since 2007 so that's why some of the older coaches are still hanging around. Some un-rebuilt (low-door) Comet Is have gone to Utah's FrontRunner service and Metrolink in Los Angeles.
Nice catch on the Comet Is! Is the date added, the date that you shot this? If so, or somewhere around it then that means that that's one of only three matched sets of Comet Is left on NJ Transit (15 total). The other 50 or so are in mixed sets on the Montclair-Boonton Line.
I guess it's true what I've heard...about how easily we take things for granted and we don't know what we have until it's gone. I used to take Comet IIs for granted when I used to go to Raritan and film the trains there way back when. I figured they'd always be around for future generations. How wrong I was! I wish I could take a time machine to back when the older Comets were always around and correct my mistake of taking them for granted. Sigh...
Dac719 1 year ago
I wish NJT would stop f**king around with the "new" trains and bring back the classic Comet cars (like the Comet Is and the unrebuilt Comet IIs). No offense to those that prefer the new trains over the older ones. It's just that I grew up with the older trains and I miss seeing them around. I haven't seen the Comet Is for a long time...and even longer time since I've seen the low-door Comet Is and the original Comet IIs. Great catch, my friend.
Dac719 1 year ago
Nice catch on the solid Comet I consist! There are now only three sets of CIs running around.
Various CIs have been sold to Metrolink, Caltrain, UTA, SEPTA, and probably others. More are also on lease to AMT.
The MLs are used mostly on NEC. Almost all MidTown Direct trains are now MLs.
As for the CIIIs, there is still now word on whether they will be retired/scrapped/sold or if they will receive a mid-life rebuild.
ns3010 3 years ago
I shot this on May 3, 2008. I guess I kind of took the Comets for granted, as this was my first time seeing NJT except for a few times on the highway driving to my cousin's house (they live in NJ, I live in MA) and I was paying attention to holding the camera still with numb fingers...
TrainManTy 3 years ago
I only asked because there are roughly 80 Comet Is left and there's rumors that they're going to be gone very, very, soon. Although it has been confirmed by an NJT conductor (YT channel: ERIELACKU34CH) that they're not getting rid of any equipment because there's a rolling stock shortage (despite recently selling cars to SEPTA and AMT in Montreal). Oops!
cbehr91 3 years ago
Ah. I've seen photos of the cars that were sold to AMT, but I didn't know about the SEPTA deal.
Do you think they'll buy more new cars to replace the Comet 1s? What will happen to the Comets after that? I know the Whippany Railroad Museum bought some, so at least there will still be some in the area. Maybe some will go to other commuter lines?
TrainManTy 3 years ago
They already have purchased and placed into service multi-level coaches that are meant to replace the Comet Is and IIIs. They're mostly on the Northeast Corridor line. Unfortunately only 50 or so have been delivered since 2007 so that's why some of the older coaches are still hanging around. Some un-rebuilt (low-door) Comet Is have gone to Utah's FrontRunner service and Metrolink in Los Angeles.
cbehr91 3 years ago
Nice catch on the Comet Is! Is the date added, the date that you shot this? If so, or somewhere around it then that means that that's one of only three matched sets of Comet Is left on NJ Transit (15 total). The other 50 or so are in mixed sets on the Montclair-Boonton Line.
cbehr91 3 years ago