5 replies to this topic

[KevinKorell]

The Times of Trenton, NJ, 12/26/14:

NJ Transit suspends Princeton Dinky train service due to mechanical issues

 

The Dinky train service in Princeton has been suspended until further notice due to mechanical problems, NJ Transit spokesman William Smith said Friday.

Story here.

 

Nothing about what those mechanical issues are.  Assuming it has to do with the one 2-car "consist" assigned to the line.  I wonder if they swap the equipment out once in a while for maintenance?

[KevinKorell]

Not much more insight from NJT themselves.  Their online service advisory:

 

Dec 26, 2014  01:12:58 PM

The Princeton Shuttle (The Dinky) is suspended due to mechanical problems. Substitute buses are replacing the shuttle to accommodate passengers.

[KevinKorell]

Princeton, NJ Packet says the same thing, "mechanical problems", without any elaboration. The NJT spokesperson doesn't even know what the mechanical problems are. My guess?  They gave either the conductor, engineer, or both an extra day off and didn't provide anyone to cover their shift. Unspecified "mechanical problems" makes for a believable excuse. Note in the article that the same issues happened in July and November of this year.

 

PRINCETON: Dinky service down -- Repair time unknown

 

New Jersey Transit’s “Dinky” train service is down, indefinitely, officials said Friday.

 

“The Dinky is currently experiencing mechanical problems, so we are providing substitute bus service from Princeton to Princeton Junction,” NJ Transit spokesperson William Smith said Friday afternoon.

 

More

[KevinKorell]

It appears that the Dinky will be down throughout the weekend.  And that is just stinky.

 

An operation the size of NJ TRANSIT doesn't have the equipment available on a slow business day Friday or a weekend to maintain operations on a 2-car shuttle?  If the problem is the track, this would be more believable, but then why is the so-called mechanical issue shrouded in secrecy? Call it a track issue if it is.

[KevinKorell]

WNYW-TV, Fox-5 in New York, NY, 12/27/14:

 

Dinky train service restored in Princeton area

 

 

New Jersey Transit says the Dinky train service in Princeton has been restored, one day after it was suspended due to mechanical problems.

Good news

 

 

The two-train service was suspended after the mechanical problems were discovered around 6:30 a.m. Friday.

Um, for the record it's ONE train, two cars.

[AlanB]

I went by Princeton Junction twice on Friday, once around 2PM and again around 9PM, and the two-car train was just sitting locked in it's little fenced in area with no one around or working on the consist.

So whatever the "mechanical" issues was, it wasn't on the trainset itself.