ERIE LACKAWANNA

This page will continue the former Delaware, Lackawanna and Western passenger main from Summit to the end of the traditional
commuter zone in Dover, NJ.  The line was electrified back in the 1930's and the original cars lasted into the 1980's.  The Erie-
Lackawanna merged into Conrail on April 1, 1976, but the EL commuter zone remained unchanged until NJ Transit was formed in
the early 1980's.  Serving some very well-off communities, this line saw some rather quick changes.  First was a replacement of the
overhead wires and most support poles.  Because NJ Transit decided on a higher voltage system, everything was upgraded and of
course the 1930's era cars were all to to go.  They lasted over 50 years in frequent stop and go service so I think they earned their keep.

    On a cool, crisp fall day in mid-November of 1977, a four car Sunday train to Dover heads west at
the junction in Summit.  The Gladstone branch swings off here.  This is train number 963.

  The next station stop west of Summit is the town of Chatham, NJ.  November 1977.

  About one year later, October 1978, is train 961 about to make its stop at Chatham.

  Just a few moments later, train 962 heading to Hoboken stops right on time. 

  The rather large and impressive station at Madison.  August 1975.

        The scheduled meeting point for the hourly service on this line was here at
Madison.  Although not every time, but more often than not, the trains would meet at the east end of the platform.
Here on a sultry, hot day in August of 1975, these two EL trains meet.  They are 961 and 962.

    On November 13, 1977, the same meet takes place between trains 965 and 966.

  West of Madison is Convent Station.  Not a town, but there is indeed a convent here.

    On a beautiful October day in 1978, this Sunday train passes through without stopping.

  Train 964 is eastbound enroute to Hoboken.  October 15, 1978.

  The largest town west of Summit is Morristown.  November 1977.

  The above the street platforms required to use of an elevator for baggage and mail service when the Lackawanna
handled them back in the day.

  It is 1983 and NJ Transit is rebuilding the system.  During the middle of the day, the wires were de-energized to allow
crews to replace the overhead catenary.  To maintain service, diesel trains were substituted.  July 11, 1983.

    Train 630 makes its stop after waiting for the westbound above to clear.  During the re-construction
period most trains ran late and one track was used to get around the work trains.  For a while it was a headache, but end result was a much
newer and more reliable system.  Today, the use of dual voltage engines allows direct service to Penn Station in New York, something not
possible back in the EL days.

  The next stop is Morris Plains.  November 13, 1977.

  In the very last moments of daylight, train 968 is arriving at Morris Plains.  November 1977.

    On October 15, 1978, train 966 does the same.

  Train 966 passes through the full fall colors near Denville.  

  As viewed from the tower at Denville Jct., train 963 makes a stop.  We are looking west toward Dover and the mainline from Morristown
is off to the left while the Boonton line comes in on the right.  At this point it is all Lackawanna.  Further east things get mixed up a bit, but that's another story.

    Over by the station looking back at the tower a westbound stops at the Denville Station.  1977.

    Back in 1975, this is an eastbound Sunday local, train 964.  

  A long lens brings this eastbound into view approaching the switches at the junction.  October 1978.

  Jumping ahead to 1984, we see a "Jersey Arrow" car on an eastbound train.  New support poles, new wire, newer cars have made improvements 
for the riders, but the historic original aspects of the true Lackawanna are now gone.

  West of Denville the mainline skirts the edge of some lakes, known as Indian Lakes.  Train 967 on 10-15-78.

    Eastbound train 970 catches the suns glint as it heads toward Hoboken.

  The station at Dover on a fall evening.  November 1977.

  In the last light of day, train 970 is getting ready to head to Hoboken.  November 1977.

  Another view on a fall evening in October 1978.

  It is 1977 and the EL is now Conrail, but the passenger service remains unchanged.  NJT is not quite around yet.
Dover is as far west as the electric service goes.  The diesels are used on the Boonton Line trains.  Today, NJT runs as far west as
Hackettstown, but all the equipment is parked here in Dover.

      By 1978, the diesels have received their Conrail numbers, but not many big changes yet.

  Ten years later, NJ Transit runs the trains.  This is a former CNJ GP40P before re-building.

  NJT's kit-bashed unit 4142 at Dover in 1991.

The Arrow cars are the standard during this time period.  The EL lines had the overhead voltage changed to 25k volts, while the former
PRR lines remain 11k volts.  Only the dual-voltage ALP-44 electric motors can operate on both.

  Just west of the passenger station was the small freight yard.  On a Sunday in May 1988, two GP-15's spend the weekend.

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