08/31/2011 - CSX Ex-Erie Northern Branch, Palisades Park, NJ - CSX C777 (aka NB51, "Five-One Local")

CSX SD50-2 8558 running long hood forward leads the days' C777, known to some of the CSX old heads who works this area as the original Conrail designator NB51, or also the "Five-One", running about 10 MPH (MAS, Maximum Authorized Speed for this line, which is in pretty crappy track shape) thru Palisades Park, NJ. This local runs the Northern Branch Monday thru Friday, on duty at North Bergen Yard, and runs during daylight hours. "Five-One" is seen here at the Roosevelt Street grade crossing in Palisades Park, NJ.

Due to the decline in customers on the line, "Five-One" often does not venture any further north than Englewood. On the way north, 5-1 services W.R. Grace, just north of 83rd Street in North Bergen; Delta Corrugated in Palisade Park; Admiration Food, Supreme Oil, a maker of salad dressing, mayonnaise and other such products, in Englewood; J. J. Demarest Lumber and Weyerhaeuser in Closter; and Cove Distribution in Northvale. On the return trip the crew stops at Lowe Paper and Colorite Polymer in Ridgefield. On that rare thing, a normal day, the train will be found working in Englewood in the late morning. "Five-One", generally, goes north of Englewood only on Tuesday and Thursday. Lowe Paper was sold in 2006. The new owner demolished the plant in Ridgefield. Delta Corrugated in Palisades Park is no longer a customer. Weyerhaeuser closed its Closter facility after a fire in 2007. Also, Cove Distribution in Northvale, is still a customer and gets a visit once a week, as "Five-One" rarely goes north of Englewood, again no more than 2 times a week.

As mentioned, this line is in some pretty crappy shape, so tagging along with this train is easy if one chooses to chase it thru Bergen County, because it goes no faster than 10 MPH.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Trains
• Railroad
• Railroads
• CSX
• CSXT
• Northern Branch
• C777
• Five-one
• NB51

[chealy349]

awesome catch Paul!! nice to see C777 around!

[MNRRConductor2006]

@chealy349 Did you know this line is being considered as one of two things possible in the future.......

A). A DMU-operated rail line similar to the NJT River LINE between Camden NJ and Trenton NJ

B). A possible extension of the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail Line all the way north thru Bergen County to at least Englewood.

One thing is for certain, Chris, don't look for this line to be upgraded any.

[chealy349]

@MNRRConductor2006 I've heard that "they" wanted to extend it all the way to Nyack where at one time, it used to go! The old grandview station on this line is in my grandparents' yard!! so if they do that, trains will running through my grandparents' property, literally!! I hope they do that, but as you said, it won't be upgraded any time soon!

[MNRRConductor2006]

@chealy349 The actual tracks (albeit extremely weedy and overgrown, end just shy of the NY/NJ state line. The Piermont station is actually still standing and has been restored, and nearby the old Erie milepost (JC 25) still stands in place.

[buixrule]

I used to live right up the street from this line in Cresskill. I loved the mystique of this train, almost like the woodwork on a 200 year old house is what it reminded me of. Just doesn't get any better. I'm sad to hear it only comes up that far twice a week. When I lived there it was every day.

[CSXACe]

Awesome catch! This is always a fun train to catch!

[chealy349]

@MNRRConductor2006 i've seen the piermont station numerous times! It's acually a rail-trail which I do ride.

[GenesisSanctuary]

Awesome catch!