The New York Susquehanna &
Western Technical & Historical Society Inc. was
formed in
the fall of 1988 by several longtime observers
of the railroad who felt that there was a need for an
organization to preserve the history of the
"Susquehanna, its ancestor corporations and the rich
railroading history of New Jersey.
Since that
time, the Society has grown to over 550 members from 30
states, Canada and New Zealand. The society is
incorporated in the state of New Jersey as a non-profit
educational organization. It is also recognized by the
Internal Revenue Service as a tax-exempt organization,
as defined in section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal
Revenue Code.
The Society
produces an annual color calendar as well as its
newsletter the Susquehanna Reflector. Bi-monthly
meetings are held in Wyckoff, New Jersey, at the Wyckoff
Public Library.
The Society
also takes an active roll in community affairs; among
them are the Children's Brain Tumor Foundation, and
Operation Lifesaver. We are also members of the United
Railroad Historical Society (URHS) and the Paulinskill
Train committee as a furtherance of its endeavors.
A hallmark
of the Society is its operations division, which has
restored Budd Rail Diesel Car (RDC) M-1 to operating
condition. This car has been active as an educational
tool as well as a resource available for promoting the
NYS&W Railway, the Society itself, and attractions
adjacent to the railroad. Revenue generated by the M-1
will be used to support further enhancements to the car,
as well as other activities of the Society.
The
Susquehanna used the RDC's for its Paterson NJ to Time
Square (New York City) service. The service established,
which didn't physically run into New York City (ran to
Susquehanna Transfer near North Bergen NJ, connecting
with a shuttle to the Port Authority Bus Terminal), was
10 minutes faster than the competing Inter-City Bus, and
30 minutes faster than the Erie Hudson Ferry.
By
1958, the Susquehanna was into a decline that would not
be reversed until 1980. After a petition to end all
passenger service, the Public Utilities commission
allowed the NYS&W to end RDC service on January 12th of
1958. The RDC's were then sold to the Central Railroad
of New Jersey (CNJ) in April of 1958. The ex NYS&W
Budd's were renumbered 558-561, and joined several other
Budds already owned by the CNJ. The M-1 and her sister
Budd cars frequently ran through Dunellen. Following the
demise of the CNJ in 1976, the car became property of
the New Jersey Department of Transportation, and later
New Jersey Transit. The M-1 ended its career on lease to
the MBTA, Boston area commuter agency, as a non-powered
coach in February of 1988.
