NYS&W 05-27-2011 SU-100 Train & Tree Crash Rt.23 Oak Ridge NJ HD

Great catch this morning! At about 10:20am, a 4-loco Susie-Q passed behind my home in Franklin on it's way toward Little Ferry. I ran to Rich's Deli in Stockholm at 10:30, then jumped back in the van, headed down 23 and stopped on the shoulder between Reservoir and Canistear Roads to catch it high above the highway at 10:35 when suddenly the train came to an abrupt stop. After 20 minutes, an NYSW MOW utility truck arrived and the driver grabbed a chainsaw and headed up the embankment. Ten minutes later, a second truck arrived to help. Soon, I could see them cutting portions of a tree that was jammed under the front end of 3022 and tossing the debris down the embankment. By 11:31am, the train began crawling slowly forward with a crewman walking well ahead of it. After about 1/8 mile, the crewman got back aboard and the train continued to inch along. I relocated to Bonter Road (video text says Balton- oops) where it meets Apple Tree Road as there is a MOW path there. I shot the train still crawling as it approached me (and a deer ran ahead of the train, then across its path) before the train again stopped dead in front of me a ways. I began to think my presence was the problem so I backed away and headed for my van when the two MOW trucks arrived again and they talked to the crew a bit. I decided to drive away as the train began rolling again. I caught it next at the Oak Ridge and Post Roads crossing, moving normally, then again at Echo Lake Road, also cruising fine, before I ended the chase.

When I checked the video at home, I found I actually caught 3022 clobbering the tree, leaves flying all over and smoke pouring from beneath as the trains dropped anchor!! What luck to catch the actual crash right in front of me! I also didn't notice as I filmed it, but the handrails on the lead #3022 were mangled already as she came thru Stockholm, and I think the siderail sticking out is what caught the tree. I've since checked video on YT from Wednesday and there was no handrail damage then, so it's quite recent.