by Carl G. Perelman/photos as noted
This year marks the 40th anniversary of NJ Transit Rail Operations (NJTRO). On January 1, 1983, NJ Transit assumed commuter train operations throughout New Jersey from Conrail. During the past 40 years, NJ Transit has vastly improved the commuter railroad lines – This includes re-electrification of the Morris & Essex Line in 1983, the opening of the Frank R. Lautenberg Secaucus Junction Station in Secaucus in 2002, and opening of the Meadowlands Branch and station in 2009. To celebrate its 40th anniversary, NJ Transit, in collaboration with the United Railroad Historical Society of New Jersey, hosted the 40th Anniversary Express from New York Penn Station to Bay Head, N.J., on Saturday, September 30.
The excursion train departed Penn Station, New York at 9:50 a.m. for Bay Head, on the North Jersey Coast Line. Pennsylvania Railroad tribute AL46A 4636 and 40th Anniversary ALP46A 4640 powered five NJ Transit Comet-IV coaches, PRR business car No. 120, Juniata Terminal lounge-buffet car Warrior Ridge, New York Central tavern-lounge car 37, and NYC 20th Century Limited sleeper-lounge-observation Hickory Creek. En route, the train stopped at Newark Penn Station for additional passengers. Upon arrival at South Amboy, passengers were able to disembark to view the re-enactment of the historic engine change. Electric-to-steam, and later, electric-to-diesel locomotive swaps were made on PRR passenger trains at South Amboy until the 1980s. On the NJT excursion train, the two ALP46As were removed and replaced with NJ Transit F40PHCATs 4119 and 4120…