December 2015 update

Liberty State Park Update (December) In a late November press release the NJ DEP unveiled possible ideas for development in LSP which arose from a study done by Biederman Redevelopment Ventures (BRV).  They included a low-rise hotel within the preserved / restored envelope of the Train Shed: Re-creation of famous NJ restaurants; and Museums either for immigration or transportation and technology.  These venues would create a World Class Destination and provide the income to properly care for LSP and other NJ parks.  NJ DEP hasn’t made any decisions regarding the development ideas generated in the BVR study or initial NJ DEP review.

NJ DEP has concluded that restoration of the entire Train Shed is “unattainable”.  The NJ State Historic Preservation Office has determined that preserving only part of Shed - its perimeter and exterior “look” - could be acceptable.  The BRV report acknowledges that access to LSP remains an issue, but it avoids mention of the Sam Schwartz Engineering study done for Jersey City that found feasible construction of a trolley / railway connection between the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail station near Liberty Science Center and the Train Shed.

LHRy fully supports the following objectives;

∙ Re-use of the crumbling Train Shed site that stabilizes and restores its perimeter and retains its “look”.

∙ Re-use of Train Shed space that documents its role in immigration and / or transportation history.

∙ Restoration of Track #1 for a covered platform terminus for a trolley shuttle operating from that point to the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail station adjacent to Liberty Science Center.

∙ Use of the NJ DEP engineering study, commissioned by LHRy and performed by Curtis & Ginsberg, on stabilization of the Train Shed’s structural perimeter.

∙ An electric trolley shuttle would be an environmentally friendly way to move people, in preference to automobiles, providing mass transit to the currently auto-dependent LSP.

New Train / Track Announcement Signage

The new CRR of NJ Jersey City Terminal Train / Track announcement curtains and signage which was researched and proposed by LHRy have been completed and installed, but the concourse is not yet open to the public.  They now cover all 20 tracks, look wonderful, and will greatly improve the historic interpretation of the past glory of this most important terminal which served four major railroads for a century.

Preservation of a NJ Steam locomotive (December)

Many years ago, the Great Falls Development Corp. acquired an 0-4-0 Saddle Tank steam locomotive built in Paterson by Alco - Cooke in 1910.  It has been displayed, in the open, behind the Paterson Museum for decades.  This past Summer exposed asbestos was discovered, due to the deterioration of the locomotive by the elements and GFDC did not have the funds for the required abatement.  LHRy funded the asbestos removal and consultant’s fees.  LHRy has also proposed funding for full restoration of #102 to working order and that it be housed in a suitable building.

Donation to Whippany Railway Museum (December)

In 2014 LHRy donated their title to the 1906 Stephenson / Lisbon trolley car to WRyM.  Now, LHRy has donated $10,000 specifically designated to the care and protection of that trolley.  We hope it will soon join the many excellent displays and exhibits at the Whippany site.

Donation to the Electric City Trolley Museum Association The Chair of LHRy has made a donation of $1,000 to the Scranton, PA Trolley Museum in the name of LHRy to assist the continuation of the outstanding restoration work they have been doing on their collection of vintage trolley cars.

Donation to New Jersey Fire Museum (November)

The New Jersey Fire Museum & Fallen Firefighter’s Memorial has struggled for decades to establish a dedicated building for the storage and display of their historic fire equipment.  Their dream finally came true in 2015!  LHRy has donated $10,000 to help them along with their new facility in Allentown, NJ.

1990 Dodge Hi-Rail Truck Restored

A 1990 Dodge pick-up was painted Jersey Central Pullman green with LHRy logos.  The 3/4 ton truck with hi-rail gear, acquired from Leopard Trucking, was originally owned and operated by the US Navy @ Naval Weapons Station, Earle and used on their internal railway system.  The truck appeared at the URHS Museum For A Day event at Boonton.  In the past it has been used to haul many, many loads of RR and track materials, supplies, artifacts, Belgian block, etc. to Phillipsburg for storage.   

Liberty State Park Update

The CNJ Terminal windows, doors, and roof which were damaged by Super Storm Sandy have been repaired and restored.  The train / track sign fixtures have been restored and repainted, but replicated train announcement signs have not yet been installed.  Work is progressing on the storm resistant restoration / replacement of utilities.  This work is expected to be completed by Labor Day but reopening of the Terminal may not occur until 2016.  The collapse of one concrete panel of the Terminal Train Shed over track No. 1 appears imminent.  Phillip Street has been milled in preparation for re-paving.

A Restoration Offer From LHRy

We noticed that the wheels, axles, and frames of Thomas Edison’s two 1882 electric locomotives on display outside, in front of his West Orange Laboratory, are in an advanced state of deterioration.  They had been developed and used at Edison’s Menlo Park facility.  The needed  restoration would have been an excellent project for LHRy to fund.  However, National Park staff told us that they had the funding and that the work was to be completed soon.

Promotion Effort

We are most appreciative for the gratis promotional table given to us at the TransAction Conference at Atlantic City by its leader, Frank Reilly.  LHRy Chair, Bill McKelvey and Larry Gross manned the table for the three days (21, 22, & 23 April) of NJ’s 39th annual transportation conference.  We promoted the United Railroad Historical Society, their many member and other local transportation organizations with literature and give away materials.

LHRy Director Moves On

We are indebted to Director Doug McQueen and most appreciative for his service as treasurer for LHRy and his excellent work with the predecessor Rutgers Bloustein School of Planning Graduate Student Studio which explored solutions for future transportation needs and other initiatives for Liberty State Park.  Doug is moving on with his aviation / legal career path and is unable to continue as an active director.  We welcome Doug to the LHRy rank of Director Emeritus!  We will sorely miss his hospitality for our board meetings at the LeClairRyan office.

Terminal Opening Delayed

The CRR of NJ Jersey City Terminal repairs and restoration from Superstorm Sandy will delay the reopening of the Terminal until Fall of 2015 or early 2016.  However, a complete restoration of the train / track announcement signs, reflecting the period 1938 to 1941, as researched by LHRy, will be in place on the concourse when the work is completed.

New LHRY Director

Liberty Historic Railway is pleased to announce the addition of a new director - Gregory Bender, PE of South Bound Brook, NJ.  Replacing retired director, Bill Vigrass, PE, Greg recently retired from Picatinny Arsenal where he was Senior Transportation and Packaging / Handling Engineer, Director, Staff.  He is a Rutgers University Trustee, past president of the Rutgers Alumni Association, the Rutgers Alumni Engineering Society and current member of Task force to improve Governing Board Efficiency.  He is a recognized public advocate for New Jersey public transit systems, including bus, rail, light rail, and water systems.  He is his town’s current representative on the Raritan Valley Rail Coalition; past Chair, Ocean County Public Transportation Board and VP Emeritus of the Shore Commuter Coalition.  We sincerely hope that LHRy can meet Greg’s expectations

Train Shed Grant

NJ DEP (Parks) has submitted a $1,000,000 grant application for the initial work toward stabilization of the Central RR of NJ, Jersey City Terminal Train Shed, which is on both the National and NJ Historic Registers.  LHRy gave written support for this grant and commends Parks for this first step away from demolition by neglect.

Locomotive Donation

The 45 ton, 300 hp, General Electric switching locomotive (Serial No. 12977) purchased and restored by the Chairman of LHRy has been donated to United Railroad Historical Society of NJ for use at their Boonton Yard.  It will be on display at the third annual Transportation Heritage Festival at Boonton scheduled by URHS for Sunday, 21 September. 

Five strikes and we are totally out!

Over the past 5 years Liberty Historic Railway has spent nearly $100,000 attempting to 1. Jumpstart restoration of the Train Shed in Liberty State Park; 2. Provide a 1+ mile trolley shuttle between the Hudson Bergen Light Rail station and the Ferry Dock @ the terminal; and 3. Provide a place to display pedigree items of rail equipment which served the Terminal and have been preserved by United Railroad Historical Society.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation has announced that our application for their 11 Most Endangered Structures List for the Train Shed was rejected for the third year in a row (three strikes).  LHRy will not make any additional attempts to save the structure as a feasibility study concluded that it was not possible to raise from private or corporate sources the $26,000,000 to stabilize the shed nor the $92,000,000 to fully restore it.  So, it will either collapse or be demolished, probably to make way for more parking for additional visitors to Liberty State Park by motor vehicle...

Our second objective to provide a viable and needed transit link in the Park was vehemently and fanatically rejected by the Friends of Liberty State Park (strike 4).  So, the motor vehicle will continue to be the necessary access to the Park which is already auto dominated.

Our third objective to restore a short rail connection to move a display sample of rail locomotives and cars, which used the Jersey City Terminal was also fanatically opposed by Friends of Liberty State Park (strike 5).

We are glad that we gave these needed amenities our best and full effort, but we are deeply disappointed that all three initiatives have met with failure.

However, we are most pleased to report that NJ DEP Parks is proceeding with our recommended upgrading and restoration of Train / Track announcement signage and interpretive panels for all 20 tracks on the concourse of the Terminal.  Restoration of the Superstorm Sandy damage to the Terminal is well under way and it should reopen in 2015.