From the December, 1938 issue of Erie Railroad Magazine:
When veteran Engineer James J. Kelly of the Greenwood Lake Division made his last run from Jersey City to Wanaque last Oct. 29th (1938) after 50 years service, he recalled many incidents in his long career but none more thrilling than the runaway ice train back in the late 90s before the day of airbrakes.
Feeling fine, the 69-year old veteran pulled out of Jersey City yards accompanied by officials, relatives and friends. According to the following account from the Paterson Evening News, whistles in the yards blew continuously from the time the train rolled out of the station until it reached the tunnel, while employes turned to shout congratulations as the engine passed. At each station regular passengers waved farewell as they alighted.
Running a few seconds ahead of schedule, the train pulled into the Great Notch station, where Mr. Kelly's nephew, Edward J. Shelton, is agent, and pictures were taken, while available whistles were sounded.
Mr. Kelly began with the Erie in 1888, as a checker of all materials used in the Piermont Coal Docks, and the following summer was promoted to the Brown Hoist Conveying machine. In 1891 he started as a fireman on the Greenwood Lake Division, and a little later was made first and second grade engineer.
Following his last run, Mr. Kelly was guest at dinner at the home of his sister and brother-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. James E. Shelton, of 202 Brighton Avenue, East Orange. Others present were Mr. and Mrs. Frank Shelton, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Healey, Mr. and Mrs. Edward J. Shelton and Miss May Shelton.
Reminiscing about his years of service, Mr. Kelly told what he considers the most thrilling experience he has ever had on the railroad:
In the summer of 1899, he left Greenwood Lake with Conductor Jenock, now retired, and a train of 35 carloads of ice. At the Glens, the connection between two cars snapped, leaving sixteen cars with the engine and the other nineteen rolling on their own momentum close behind. Immediately Engineer Kelly gave three long whistles, warning the men in the detached cars, and received a return signal from them.
The country from the Glens on is all down hill and it was a wild dash to keep ahead of the loose cars, which would have smashed the entire train to bits if they had crashed into the cars ahead. The engineer's gauge showed 50 pounds of steam, but the cars still followed close behind, so the train crew in the detached cars went through each car, applying hand brakes, as there was no such thing as air brakes in those days.
Finally all brakes were applied, and the cars were brought to a stop at Monks, while the engine came to a stop at Midvale.
The train crew on Mr. Kelly's last run included Chief Engineer Harry Smith, Conductor Martin, and brakemen McCurdy and Fallon.
From the January, 1939 issue of Erie Railroad Magazine:
New York Division Engineer J.J. Kelley of Jersey City was retired recently under the new federal Railroad Retirement statute at age 69 after 46 years, 11 months of service.
From the September, 1940 issue of Erie Railroad Magazine:
James J. Kelly, retired engineer of East Orange, NJ, lost his brother-in-law, James E. Shelton, retired track foreman of 202 brighton Avenue, East Orange, who died July 30, 1940 of a heart attack.