Njt-rail Raritan Valley Disp??

[CW1NY3478]

Anyone know what freq does the raritan valley train dispathcer uses to communicate with the road trains

thanks

 

[Analogrules]

Good question. I once had the same question, until I finally was able to RF capture them on my handheld using 160.860 MHz. The Raritan Valley Line shares the tracks with Conrail, so their dispatchers use that "Conrail" frequency to communicate amongst each other. Some of their trains go beyond Newark into Hoboken, so at that time they would switch to 160.890 to communicate with the NJT Hoboken dispatcher. Those are their main two frequencies. However, they also have the capability to use 161.400 which is the main interop frequency used by ALL the train lines and 161.235 is used to communicate with the Newark dispatcher by ALL trains that arrive and depart Newark Penn Station. 160.830 is of course used by the NJ Transit PD. Good luck and let us know what you hear.

Ben N2ZGE

 

[shaunwhitman]

Raritan Valley Trains operate over 3 different railroads between High Bridge and Newark and talk with three different dispatchers.

NJT Raritan Valley Disp- High Bridge to Aldene(Cranford), NJ Transit- 161.235
Conrail North Jersey Dispatcher- Aldene to NK(Connection with Amtrak NEC)- 160.860
Amtrak "Dock Tower"- Hunter to Newark- 161.010

161.235 is also used by the North Jersey Coast Line Dispatcher.
161.400 is used over on the Hoboken Division, and is not used by Newark Division Trains unless they are operating on the M&E into Hoboken Terminal....

 

[Analogrules]

Good information on that last posting. However, (not saying it can't happen), but I must admit that I never heard the Raritan Valley line communicating on 161.235. I've only heard the Newark dispatcher use that frequency to communicate with the North Jersey Coast line trains. Also, 161.400 is designated as the MAIN INTEROP NJ transit train frequency. EVERY dispatcher on EVERY train line (including light rail in north and south jersey) has access to this frequency if need be, NOT just the Hoboken Division. You can see this if you go to: http://forums.scan-nj.com/ then just click on railroad monitoring. They have a very good description of what each frequency is used for. Also, NE Corridor line uses 161.010. I 'RF captured them" several times while riding on the train far away from Newark heading near Trenton. I always enjoy playing with my handheld on the trains using the close-call caption feature. Just by doing that, you will learn a lot more about what frequencies they REALLY use despite what may be listed from other sources.

Ben N2ZGE

 

[shaunwhitman]

I'm telling you the facts, but its up to you if you want to take them...

161.235 is the NJCL and the RVL Dispatcher.

Keep in mind as I said, that a Raritan Valley train from Raritan to Newark will run over three different railroads and be handled by three different railroad's dispatchers on three different channels. A Raritan Valley train is only under the control of the Raritan Valley Dispatcher between High Bridge and Cranford, NJ. At other times it is under Conrail or Amtrak control.

NJT- High Bridge to Aldene, a.k.a.- Cranford(Connection with Conrail)- 161.235
Conrail- Aldene to NK(Connection with Amtrak NEC)- 160.860
Amtrak- Hunter to Dock, a.k.a.- Newark Penn- 161.010

You are correct though in saying that 161.010 is Amtrak's Northeast Corridor between Morrisville, PA and NYC. All trains, whether they are NJ Transit, Amtrak or Conrail, are under Amtrak control and talk to Amtrak's various dispatchers while on the Corridor.
When the RVL trains enter the NEC at Hunter Interlocking and run to Newark Penn and continue into Hudson Yard, they are under the control of Dock Tower and use this frequency.

The website you mention that states that 161.400 is an all purpose channel is incorrect.

161.400 is the Hoboken Division road channel.
161.235 is the Newark Division road channel.

My other frequencies and usage information posted above is correct. Trust me, I use 'em.

 

[Analogrules]

161.400 is their MAIN INTEROP Frequency!!

161.400 is their main INTEROP frequency. It's right in the actual FCC (government) database where it lists ALL the licenses assigned to that frequency. Are you claiming that the FCC database itself is incorrect??? I apologize for making you look like a fool in front of everyone on this forum, but everyone can see that just by going to: http://svartifoss2.fcc.gov/reports7/ and typing in 161.400, you'll see that it's used by NJ transit all over the state, not just Hoboken. The FCC database does not lie and I rest my case.

 

[Erik_T_Romatowski]

161.400 is their main INTEROP frequency. It's right in the actual FCC (government) database where it lists ALL the licenses assigned to that frequency. Are you claiming that the FCC database itself is incorrect??? I apologize for making you look like a fool in front of everyone on this forum, but everyone can see that just by going to: http://svartifoss2.fcc.gov/reports7/ and typing in 161.400, you'll see that it's used by NJ transit all over the state, not just Hoboken. The FCC database does not lie and I rest my case.

It may be in the FCC datatabase like this, but this is not how it is used. It is used as the Hoboken Division dispatch frequency, with 161.235 as the Newark Frequency. Not as you have stated.

 

[shaunwhitman]

I apologize for making you look like a fool in front of everyone on this forum....

No apology necessary. I'm not the one looking like a fool.

 

[jmp883]

As has been posted the FCC information is incorrect regarding the usage of 161.400 MHz.

In 2002 I took a break from public safety dispatching and spent most of that year as a NJT train dispatcher trainee on the Hoboken Division. Unfortunately things didn't work out and I went back to public safety dispatching on 1/2/2003. Anyway, 161.400 MHz is the Hoboken Division frequency. The Hoboken Division encompasses all of the Morristown & Essex lines and the Main/Bergen/Southern Tier/Pascack Valley Lines. I also believe one of the lines in South Jersey uses 161.400, but I'm not sure. I don't know the frequency for the Light Rail but I can tell you that they are not dispatched by the rail dispatchers. That was a sticking point with the union when I was working there and according to a friend of mine who is still there they still don't dispatch Light Rail.

On the Main Line desk (where I trained) all trains, passenger and freight, operated on 161.400. West of Suffern, NY all trains switched to the old Conrail Ch. 1, 160.800.

I can't remember how each of the desks are equipped frequency-wise, it's been too long. I do believe that locomotive radios are equipped with all the frequencies allocated by the FCC to the railroads to allow for run-through service. To verify both of these points I'd have to check back with my friend who is still dispatching for NJT. Prior to that he spent a number of years as an engineer and conductor for both Conrail and NS. If anyone would know, he would.

Let's not make anyone here look stupid or ridicule anyone for posting 'wrong' information, just remember that things aren't always what they seem to be .