by Andy Kirk/photos courtesy NJ Transit
On Monday, March 7, 2022, at about 9:00 p.m., a massive six-foot diameter tree from an adjacent property in Maplewood, N.J., fell onto the steel catenary structure that supports the overhead wires on NJ Transit’s busy Morris & Essex Line. The catenary pole was bent in half.
Crews worked diligently around the clock in all weather conditions throughout the week to restore service as quickly and safely as possible. This included cutting and clearing the tree that fell, in addition to erecting temporary wooden catenary poles and re-installing the overhead wires over the three tracks in order to resume operating electric locomotives through the area – extremely complex work.
NJT offered numerous alternate transportation options for impacted customers along the M&E and Gladstone lines since the onset of the disruption. Customers utilized cross-honoring on NJT and private bus carriers operating in the region, as well as on the Raritan Valley and Montclair-Boonton rail lines. In addition, the Montclair-Boonton line offered enhanced service to accommodate M&E customers…