New York City Law Increases Biodiesel Blends

The Morristown & Erie's customer, Renewable Energy Group, recently posted an article on their website regarding the the law passed by New York City that affects biodiesel blends in municipal vehicles. 

From the article: 

Renewable Energy Group® (NASDAQ: REGI) hailed New York City’s new law that will utilize a five percent blend of biodiesel in the city’s vehicle fleet beginning next year, and increasing to 20 percent in the near future. [...]

The new law requires the city fleet to use a B5 biodiesel blend beginning July 1, 2014. Beginning July 1 2016, the city fleet must use a B20 blend from April to November. The city will also launch a pilot program prior to December 1, 2016 to study year round usage of B20 with no fewer than 5 percent of the city fleet. [...]

In addition to the fleet law, the city has had a B2 biodiesel requirement for home heating oil in effect since last year. The New York State legislature recently passed B2 statewide legislation, requiring all heating oil for use in any building within Nassau, Rockland, Suffolk and Westchester counties to contain at least two percent biodiesel, effective October 1, 2014. On July 1, 2015, all heating oil sold for use in any building statewide will meet this standard.

Renewable Energy Group is the nation's largest biodiesel producer and marketer, and the firm's rail-served facility on the Morristown & Erie in Whippany is one of the New York metropolitan area's leading distribution points for biodiesel. The Morristown & Erie looks forward to an outstanding business partnership with REG as biodiesel production increases in the near future!

For more information on Renewable Energy Group, please visit their website.

"Lehigh Limited" Celebrates M&E Anniversary in Style

On Saturday, August 24, 2013, the Morristown & Erie Railway successfully operated a 175-mile round-trip passenger excursion over the tracks of four railroads (NJ Transit, Amtrak, Conrail Shared Assets, and Norfolk Southern). Named the Lehigh Limited, the 16-car train was operated in celebration of the M&E’s 110th year of operation since its inception in 1903. 

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Motive power for the trip was Morristown & Erie C424 #18, Norfolk Southern GP40-2 #3031, and NJ Transit P40BH #4802. Norfolk Southern also supplied three coaches for its employees and guests, and the M&E leased three NJ Transit Comet V coaches. The remainder of the equipment was comprised of ten privately-owned historic passenger cars that have been upgraded to current Amtrak and FRA standards. These cars came from as far away as Maine and West Virginia. NS #3031 led the westbound trip over the CR/NS Lehigh Line, while M&E #18 led the eastbound return trip over the NS Washington Secondary and the NJT Morristown Line.

The 9.5-hour round-trip from Hoboken, NJ to Bethlehem, PA and back included on-board food services provided by the M&E and a catered lunch provided by That’s Amore restaurant in Bethlehem. Tents, tables, chairs, and serving stations were set up to facilitate serving almost 700 passengers, crew, and staff in under 30 minutes, allowing another hour for everyone to eat and enjoy the beautiful weather before boarding the train again. Police and EMTs were on hand to ensure the safety and security of all passengers and personnel as the locomotives changed ends of the trains while lunch was served.

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The entire operation of the Lehigh Limited went on without incident, due to the diligent preparation by the M&E staff as well as the attentiveness and professionalism of M&E, NS, and NJT personnel and crews. Its success is a testament to the cooperation, safety, and dedication to service within the railroading industry, a combination that made the Morristown & Erie’s 110th anniversary a celebration that was truly remarkable and memorable.

Thanks to all who participated!

M&E Attends Grand Central Terminal Centennial

The magnificent Grand Central Terminal in New York City celebrated the 100th anniversary of its construction with a large exhibition on May 11th & 12th, 2013. The Morristown & Erie's private railcar Birken was in attendance and open for public viewing, as well as 15 other privately-owned historic railcars. The Terminal's main concourse and wings were filled with other exhibits explaining the Terminal's history from its construction in 1913 for the New York Central Railroad through its present operation by the Metro-North Railroad.

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M&E Announces "Lehigh Limited" 110th Anniversary Excursion

The Morristown & Erie Railway announced today that it has partnered with Norfolk Southern and NJ Transit to operate a special excursion on Saturday, August 24, 2013 celebrating the M&E’s 110th year of operation. This trip will be operated in conjunction with Norfolk Southern’s employee appreciation program, and will be the first major mainline public rail excursion operated in the region in over a decade. 

The train, named the Lehigh Limited, will depart from NJ Transit’s Hoboken Terminal, with one station stop at Newark Penn Station before continuing on Norfolk Southern’s Lehigh Line to Bethlehem, PA, where the train will stop and allow passengers off the train for a catered lunch at Norfolk Southern’s piggyback facility. After lunch, the train will return east via Phillipsburg and Hackettstown on Norfolk Southern’s Washington Secondary and NJ Transit’s Morristown Line. The train will stop at Newark Broad Street Station before completing its journey back to Hoboken Terminal. 

The Lehigh Limited will consist of 16 passenger cars featuring several privately owned and restored first class cars, heritage coaches, and standard commuter coaches. Norfolk Southern and Morristown & Erie employees and their families will occupy railcars provided exclusively for their use. 

The Lehigh Limited’s two first class observation cars (the Kitchi Gammi Club and the Babbling Brook) and the train’s snack car (the Birken) will be on display at Grand Central Terminal in New York City on Saturday, May 11th and Sunday, May 12th during the Parade of Trains exhibit for the Terminal’s Centennial Celebration. The cars will be open for public display from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM on both days, and M&E representatives will be on hand to answer any questions.

Tickets for the August 24th excursion will be available for sale online on May 31, 2013 at 10:00 AM at www.anniversary.merail.com. Both coach seats and first class seats will be available to the general public.

For further information on the trip, please visit www.anniversary.merail.com.