HOMETOWN MEMORIES
A photo of the New Jersey & New York Railroad's "Hayshaker" local freight headed railroad westbound through Park Ridge NJ on 09-17-1973. The local is about to cross Madison Avenue with 1500HP GP7 1232 and caboose C874 and at least nine other freight cars in tow. This photo was taken from the Bratt& Doxey Building and Supply Company unloading dock. The siding that ran across Madison Avenue, in earlier years, served as a drop off point for heating coal and livestock feed for the Bradford Feed Company in earlier years. I lived just off to the left at 26 Hawthorne Avenue in a four apartment building that shared space with Joseph P. Kanya Plumbing and Heating. I spent a lot of time in my youth, especially during the summer, hanging around the railroad. The station, in earlier years, was manned by a station agent by the name of Joe Donahue. He sold tickets to the commuters, fired up the two coal stoves when needed, and communicated by telegraph key with others stations. I also helped him to unload LCL packages (Less than carload) out of boxcars to be put into the freight station for REA (Railroad Express Agency) trucks to pick up for local delivery. One of his favorite sayings was "The Indians are attacking Hillsdale" meaning a train was past Hillsdale NJ and coming our way. Joe was such a kind gentleman that my mother allowed me to go with him every Friday during his lunch break to E.J. Korvettes on Route 59 in Nanuet NY to spend my allowance on a Matchbox toy. Cherished memories of a kid growing up in Park Ridge. Howard Kent Jr.
HOMETOWN MEMORIES
A photo of the New Jersey & New York Railroad's "Hayshaker" local freight headed railroad westbound through Park Ridge NJ on 09-17-1973. The local is about to cross Madison Avenue with 1500HP GP7 1232 and caboose C874 and at least nine other freight cars in tow. This photo was taken from the Bratt& Doxey Building and Supply Company unloading dock. The siding that ran across Madison Avenue, in earlier years, served as a drop off point for heating coal and livestock feed for the Bradford Feed Company in earlier years. I lived just off to the left at 26 Hawthorne Avenue in a four apartment building that shared space with Joseph P. Kanya Plumbing and Heating. I spent a lot of time in my youth, especially during the summer, hanging around the railroad. The station, in earlier years, was manned by a station agent by the name of Joe Donahue. He sold tickets to the commuters, fired up the two coal stoves when needed, and communicated by telegraph key with others stations. I also helped him to unload LCL packages (Less than carload) out of boxcars to be put into the freight station for REA (Railroad Express Agency) trucks to pick up for local delivery. One of his favorite sayings was "The Indians are attacking Hillsdale" meaning a train was past Hillsdale NJ and coming our way. Joe was such a kind gentleman that my mother allowed me to go with him every Friday during his lunch break to E.J. Korvettes on Route 59 in Nanuet NY to spend my allowance on a Matchbox toy. Cherished memories of a kid growing up in Park Ridge. Howard Kent Jr.