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Aerotrain

The Zip it train.

Back when the Areotrain first made its appearance, it came through Rahway around 8:30 am. Each day westbound. I, living one block from the main line, as us kids called the PRR. NY. to DC. Line. On Saturday's I would peddle my JC. Higgins bicycle (sold by Sears & Roebuck) down to New Brunswick Ave. Climb the bank on the eastbound connecting track from the PA&W. Station myself on top of the PA&W duck under, and watch it go through. I'm sure the Union tower operator could see me up there, as well as the Areotrain crew, and the many other trains that went through! The Areotrain engineer always gave me two toots on the Leslie S-3L that the locomotive was equipped with, which was totally foreign to me. All I ever heard on the main line, was the Leslie A-200's that the GG-1's, and the P-5's were equipped with. I always thought they sounded like a cow! (Cow horn) The Leslie S-3L was a treat!

I was never bothered by anyone, or told to leave. Of course now, this is Amtrak's corridor, and I'm sure if caught up there, you would be cooling your heel's in the pokey! But this is now, and that was then, also the advent of VHF. Radios hadn't come to the New York region yet, and the induction train phone wasn't used on this end of the RR.

My Dad, also an Ed, Worked for Allen Industries, which was located on New Brunswick Ave. Where it intersected with St. Georges Ave. Pop was not a rail buff in any way, but his department, which he worked in, was located in front of the plant, so he had a good view of the main line.

Now, my Dad was born and raised in Dupont, Pa. Moved to NJ. in 1939, met my Mom, made his life in Rahway, because like the rest of his brothers who worked in the mines, wanted no part of that! Anyway, he never lost his Northeastern Pa. Accent, or sayings.

So knowing his son liked trains, one day he comes home from work, and says "HEY BUTCH!” (As I was called, to avoid the confusion of having two Eddie's around home) “I SEEN THE, HOW YA CALL IT, THE ZIP IT TRAIN TODAY!" Pop had the knack for when he couldn't think of a name, or place, he made one up! Back then, one of the popular sitcoms on TV was Lloyd Bridges's SEA HUNT which was about the adventures of a SCUBA diver. My Dad used to say “YOU KNOW THAT SHOW WITH THE GUY WITH THE ZUBA GEAR" is on!

Ed K. PRRT&HS 6480 at cp Laurel Run

Edward J. Kaspriske