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on Sun Apr 20 17:28:45 2014
edf40wrjww2msgDetail:detailStr fiogf49gjkf0d Easton Express-Times
500 stranded aboard Easter train, hundreds others delayed after brush fires along railroad tracksBy Matthew Bultman | The Express-Times | on April 19, 2014 at 5:30 PM, updated April 19, 2014 at 5:53 PMHundreds of passengers hoping to take an Easter train excursion through Pohatcong Township and Phillipsburg were stranded or delayed today after the train ignited more than a dozen brush fires along the railroad tracks.
The fires, sparked by burning leaves and embers shot from the train's smokestack, forced firefighters to stop the Easter Bunny Train Ride for more than two hours this afternoon. About 500 passengers were stranded aboard the train while hundreds more had their trips delayed, officials said.
Jeffrey Madonna, who was on the train with his 3-year-old son, Jordan, said the planned 1 hour and 45 minute ride started out fun, with a banjo player, Easter Bunny and egg hunt.
While some passengers started to grow anxious as the ride stretched past four hours, Madonna said he took it in stride.
"What are you going to do? It happens," the Bergen County man said. "It's out of their control, out of our control. We had a good time and now we'll go celebrate Easter."
Meghan Ryan, who accompanied Madonna and his son on the ride, said passengers could smell the smoke and see the firefighters. She said it was a relief to finally be back.
"It was stop and go. Stop and go. Stop and go," she said. "You wait longer and longer. Some people were getting a little bit on edge."
The diesel engine-pulled train left Phillipsburg at 11 a.m. and the first fire sparked around 11:30 a.m. along the tracks, according to Peter Pursell, fire chief of Huntington Volunteer Fire Co. in Pohatcong Township.
The burning leaves ignited eight fires along a two-mile stretch of tracks in Pohatcong Township and seven more on a half-mile stretch in Phillipsburg, forcing fire officials to shut down the train until the fires were brought under control.
Richard Hay, chief of the Phillipsburg Fire Department, said the fires took about three hours to extinguish.
No property was damaged, although the fire got near one home at Carpentersville Road near River Road in Pohatcong Township.
"It was more of a nuisance," Pursell said of the series of fires.
Chris Cotty, vice president and general manager of Delaware River Railroad Excursions, said the dry weather made conditions ripe for fires. He said it was the first time something like this had happened in the 11 years the nonprofit company has been running trains.
"The worst part was people had to spend a lot of time with two big Easter bunnies, and jugglers and banjo players," he said. "We had one customer say they certainly got their money's worth today."
A few hundred people expecting to catch the 12:30 p.m. train waited for two and a half hours until it arrived. As the minutes dragged on, and with uncertainty over whether later trains would run, some decided to call it a day.
"It's frustrating," said Easton's Kenny Slutter as he waited in line to see if his tickets would be refunded. "We've got Easter cooking and other things to do and the kids are here, just waiting for the train."
A loud cheer went up from those who had waited out the delays as the Easter train pulled into Phillipsburg around 3 p.m. A second excursion started shortly after.
"It was getting a little stressful," said train passenger Mike Goldman, of Danielsville, as he headed toward his car after the first excursion.
Cotty said purchased tickets not used today would be honored on a future ride. He advised ticket holders to go to the Railroad Excursions website where accommodations would be made.
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