The following pictures are from a short trip to Raritan, about 30 miles west of Newark. It was only after arriving there that I pulled out my cell phone to record the ride into the siding:
After arrival, Raritan NJ, 29.2.2024
Signals, Raritan NJ, 29.2.2024
Signals, Raritan NJ, 29.2.2024
The old "RA/Boyd Tower" is apparently no longer used as a signal box (all internet posts only refer to it in the past), but is fully maintained and also has air conditioning. So something is still going on in there ...:
RA/Boyd Tower, Raritan NJ, 29.2.2024
RA/Boyd Tower, Raritan NJ, 29.2.2024
Once again the signal cantilever:
Signals, Raritan NJ, 29.2.2024
Here one can still see heavy rails fixed by spikes:
Spiked rails, Raritan NJ, 29.2.2024
Spiked rails, Raritan NJ, 29.2.2024
The spikes do not exert any (or much) vertical force, so it does not matter if they move (a little) out of the sleepers:
Spiked rails, Raritan NJ, 29.2.2024
There are insulating joints in all rails below the signal:
Insulating joints, Raritan NJ, 29.2.2024
Here is a picture of the switch machine:
Switch machine, Raritan NJ, 29.2.2024
Apparently balises are also used here—but I haven't figured out what for:
Two balises, Raritan NJ, 29.2.2024
Raritan is a typical small American town that was pretty sleepy on this cold day. The usual overhead power and telephone lines are probably only noticeable to Europeans:
Raritan NJ, 29.2.2024
Raritan NJ, 29.2.2024
The old station building has been beautifully restored:
Station building, Raritan NJ, 29.2.2024
Information about its history is posted outside:
Station history, Raritan NJ, 29.2.2024
I interrupted my return trip to Newark Union to take pictures of the gauntlet tracks, which are used to guide freight trains with their larger profile past the platforms:
NJT ALP-45DP 4513 pushes its set toward Newark, Union NJ, 29.2.2024
Offset tracks for passenger and freight trains, Union NJ, 29.2.2024
Finally, a picture of the switch at the beginning of the gauntlet, still in the "slightly branching" position for my suburban train:
Switch, Union NJ, 29.2.2024
Translated partially with DeepL.com (free version)