The LOST Central Railroad of New Jersey - The Story of NJ's Forgotten Trains - IT'S HISTORY
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 30 ก.ย. 2024
- As one of the most influential railroads in all of New Jersey, the Central New Jersey Railroad has had an incredible impact on the Garden State’s growth throughout the 19th century. It flourished, carrying millions of passengers throughout its lifespan-though it met a tragic end thanks to the rise of automobiles and the widespread fall of railroads all across America. But did you know that not only an abandoned terminal remains, but a replica of a Blue Comet train car still remain? Today, we’ll be taking a look at the lost glory of the Central New Jersey Railroad.
IT’S HISTORY - Weekly tales of American Urban Decay as presented by your host Ryan Socash.
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Scriptwriter - Imana Schoch
Editor - Rishi Mittal
Host - Ryan Socash
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» NOTICE
Some images may be used for illustrative purposes only - always reflecting the accurate time frame and content. Events of factual error / mispronounced word/spelling mistakes - retractions will be published in this section.
Thanks for covering this, it would be great if NJ transit reactivated the Blue Comet line! Its a shame that alot of the CNJ right of ways have been grown over or lost completely.
Nice to see you here Alan...
@Jersey Railfan 104. It's also mostly single track lines now with a single freight train on Thursday nights. Much of the area along the right of way is full of NIMBYs who would never let it activate again. The long forgotten proposed MOM railway could use this if it could of just got the approval, demand and funding
@@soeasilynoticed also to add most of the track is in horrible condition with the max speed being 15mph max and several sections have no ties and a spike every 2 ties in some places. Where the tracks cross 547 into Lakewood there is a section of track that is floating above the ties and not supported im betting on a derail by summer at the latest.
NJ Transit is a bus company with a few train routes. They have no interest in expanding service on their own. They run 230 bus lines. The name says it all./
@Jersey Railfan 104 not to mention the restoration of the Lackawanna Cut Off
I grew up in Hoboken and lived in Cranford. Now in South Plainfield I often take day trips to Liberty State Park. That terminal is now a wonderful museum.
Cranford gang
I am from Linden
Beautiful. Parents lived in Sleepy Hollow in Plainfield.
Secaucus here, now Arizona.
Funny name Hoboken?
I really admire the Americans for their railroad pioneering, Greetings from Germany :)
We could say the same of Germany and its operation as the rail crossroads of Europe - Cheers from New Jersey
There’s nothing pioneering about not maintaining a track for 30 years so it bends and warps more than a roller coaster but STILL run trains over them.
Why? The British invented railways. Everybody else got theirs from them (and much else of the modern world)!
look up bridgeton nj and the influence on industry and science it had back in the day for a fun read
they had built the machines which built the machines which built the very large rail equipment there.
a very rich european investment group came in and bought all of it and shipped it off to europe.
a bit on magnetic recording and henry fords camping buddies is also involved in that cities history
The Clinton Station diner has a car from the blue comet attached to it that they serve patrons in.
The Clinton Station Diner is located right off I-78 in Clinton east of Phillipsburg
@@thomaschew2191 AND THOSE BIG HAMBURGERS
I was born in Jersey City but grew up in Bergen County. When I was a boy there was abandoned rail infrastructure scattered all over the state. Most of it has since been bulldozed and cut up for scrap. It's amazing how much America just throws away.
If something like a railroad outlives its usefulness, then you may as well recycle the steel and bulldoze the tracks so you can develop the space. Otherwise, what else are you going to do with obsolete rail?
Why wouldn't they? No one was riding the trains. Are they supposed to keep the tracks and bridges just for show?
@@helbent4 these railfans have no sense of reality.
@@mirzaahmed6589 You know what, I'll walk back my comment just a little. Some disused rail lines and bridges can be converted to recreational use. By all means, keep some of the more picturesque or useful infrastructure. But it shouldn't all be sacrosanct.
@@helbent4 You can use them to develop the cities and the region?
Like, in Paris in the 70's, we reupgraded many of our old 19th century raillines, and made them cross the city. It became the RER and those that don't cross the city are the transiliens. They have their own problems, but something like line A moves 1.3 million people daily.
The Newark Bay Bridge was a lift bridge, not a swing bridge. I grew up in Bayonne, my grandfather was an engineer and retired in 1967 from the Jersey Central.
I think the video states the original bridge was a 2 track swing bridge and replaced by the 4 track lift bridge sometime in the early 20th century. It would make sense, The longest railroad lift bridge in the world is across the Kill van kull to Staten Island, that is a replacement for a swing bridge that was originally there.
@@eileencoffey6657 I must have missed that, and yes, it makes sense. Sure wish my grandpops was still around, so many things I wish I could ask him about!
@@eileencoffey6657 I wonder is this was the bride that old time New York Yankee player Snuffy Stirnweiss was killed on coming from N.J. to Ny.
@@str8alphamale Yes that was the bridge. 48 people died in that disaster.
@@JJNJ49 In 1958.
As a resident of Central NJ I cant get enough of your NYC and NJ episodes. Keep it going. There is so much history to be told here.
They've been talking about extending NJ Transit to Phillipsburg, Easton, Bethlehem and Allentown since 2015. So far, all they've done is repaint repaint the bridge where the old Easton Station was. I think they also installed lighting in the exterior.
Amtrak had a meeting about reopening the Cut-off in Stroudsburg last week.
My god father and father both work for transit told me about this. They are low on train equipment, workers due to covid and they’ve been wanting to do this put they are also low on money. Transit also won’t stop the Atlantic City line for odd reasons. My god father said they’ve gotten the clear to build more track and also own all that track on the valley line but transit is just too lazy
And also transits plan is from what I’ve heard is to make Allentown express stopping at Easton Bethlehem philipsburg and going straight to raritin Plainfield dunellen roselle park Westfield Union Newark and New York
Yeah that’s true, that’s all they’ve done so far
@@wooiiin7281 I've been looking into this but can't find any recent information on it considering reinstating the nj transit stop in Phillipsburg. Where did you hear this from
Born and raised in Toms River. Lovin all this Jersey history. I remember fishing and jumping off those old railroad bridges as a kid. Too much fun and a lot of great memories. Great channel my man, keep the Jersey stories coming!
If you are talking about the remains of the RR bridge from Bayville across the Barnaget Bay to Seaside Park, that bridge belonged to the Pennsylvania RR.
I grew up in forked river, by the remains of what I believe was the Tuckerton railroad. There an old wooden trestle in town still standing that people use to jump from into the water. The rest of the old right of way is still clearly visible behind the ShopRite too. It's now a dirt path.
Grew up in Waretown, that's the Cedar Creek trestle bridge just east of Hebrew Park. Most of the right-of-way has been converted into a Rail Trail from Bayville to Barnegat. There is still some freight service into Lakewood. In the early 2000's the rails were restored into Lakehurst for Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst to use in removal of contaminated soil from the old Hercules(?) Missile base that had a fire back in the 60's and contaminated the area with Plutonium.
@@sirbrigit That's the one! Hebrew park! Gosh it's been so long since I've been there, I've forgotten the name. It's been over a decade, maybe I'm due for a visit.
Bayville kid here the replaced the old Barneget Branch Trussel in Lacey Bayville border with a walking/biking bridge, was a year late to jumping off the old one but the new one is still sick. Happened maybe about 4-5 years ago. Loved spending my middle school years biking that trail
The Blue Comet got Bobby Bacala whacked! If he wasn't playing with toy trains he'd have been aware of the danger he was in!
It's his hobby. Why you gotta belittle it?
Possibly a video on one of the more hidden and obscure railroads in New Jersey. The Lehigh & Hudson River Railway, which served as a bridge route for multiple railroads between Philipsburg, NJ and Maybrook, NY.
Ummm Monmouth NJ not mammoth 🦣
I caught that, and "Sportswood' too! Did you catch 'JESREY' at 11:56 ?
@@FromSagansStardust omfg jesrey NJ ohhhh yeah baby. Lol nice catch.
Lackawanna cutoff next please...
Thank you so much for covering NJ. I would love it if the trains started running again. We have dead tracks and old stations that would be wonderful if reactivated.
I'm sorry but this video is not totally accurate. They have to do a better job with the information they put out.
Perhaps you can share what was inaccurate.
It's not called "The" Conrail. It's just called Conrail.
I caught that too
Great story of the CNJ. Did anyone else notice that at 11:58 "Jersey" is misspelled?
The artificial film grain is really distracting.
The Whippany Train Museum is located in the Township of Hanover, Morris County, New Jersey. Great place to visit! 👌
you forgot the other surviving CNJ car, clinton station diner has one, and the last steam engine to pull the blue comet is at the B&O its a 4-4-2C
Is that the one on Rt 78? Are you sure it was a Blue Comet coach?
They tore down the station in South Toms River!What a disgrace! The station in Beachwood was a library when I was a kid!
There was a station in Seaside also!
That's sad. I grew up Hunterdon Co btw Clinton and Flemington during the 80s and early 90s but have NJ roots in South Jersey going back to late 19th Century. I recognize a lot of the pictures and trains, and knew parts of this history but embarrassingly couldn't put a timeline history together like this! I remember the Toms River station (had close friend that lived there). Nostaligic for NJ now!
Whitehouse Station on the Raritan Valley Line has their town library in the station.
Isn't that spotswood NJ
So many trains went to Philipsburg back then. It was probably an affluent town. Shame what it's become
My great grandma worked there as a car cleaner for decades. After it stopped being in use, they would have some events there. I remember after the Berlin Wall fell, they had parts of the wall on display at the terminal along items that people used to escape (a car with the car seat inside cut out to hide someone for example). Great place and hopefully it can open up again at some point!
I really like these history videos especially the ones from New jersey. I never knew about most of these things. Great work
The CNJ terminal in Jersey City isn't really "abandoned." As the video notes, it's used as the departure point for the ferries to Ellis and Liberty Islands (one of the original ferry slips was restored for this purpose). The head house itself is in good shape, having been restored and recently repaired after damage caused by Hurricane Sandy. The platform area is indeed reclaimed by nature, and the tracks (with one exception) are long gone, but the train shed also looks to be in pretty good shape. The combination makes for some striking photos as seen here. For an idea of how this terminal would operate in its heyday, visit the nearby Hoboken Terminal, built by the DL&W; it's still in use as an intermodal facility for trains, ferries, trollies (light rail), buses, and rapid transit. PATH, nee the Hudson & Manhattan, was supposed to link all the NJ railroad terminals on the west bank of the Hudson with NYC, and while it did connect to the terminals of the PRR (Exchange Place), Erie (Newport), and DL&W, the plans to extend it south to the CNJ never came to fruition. This likely saved the terminal from demolition as it made abandonment easier than redevelopment, which destroyed the PRR and Erie terminals.
Yes the Communipaw terminal is now a museum and part of Liberty State Park, The Lackawanna one in Hoboken is the last one still in use in its original purpose with NJ Transit.
Many miles of different railroad tracks up in Sussex and Warren Counties have had the rails, ties and ballast removed and have been turned into the Rails to Trails program. Before that those of us who were avid horseback riders used them. You could go all day and many miles. They were beautiful.
It's almost painful to hear about the amazing rail access we used to have
We used to have the best railroads in the world. This country is just a declining shit hole
@@jackchen7003: All because the Auto Industry and Federal Government colluded on the Federal Highway Program. That's why the Private Sector Railroads went bankrupt and into Fallen Flags.
Hi could you do a episode on history of the Lackawanna cutoff built by the DL&W?
Hightstown...not Heightstown; Spotswood....not Sportswood....Somerville...not Summerville. You're not from NJ, are you.
Port Mammoth????? Seriously.
0:10 so what you’re saying is what it lacked in length, it made up for in girth 😳
Im from south Jersey (near glassboro). Usually whenever I hear history stories about NJ it’s always relative to north.
If that train still ran new york to ac atlantic city It'd be a much different place today
One thing: Its just "Conrail", not "The Conrail".
yup. Consolidated Railroad now part of Norfolk Southern.
Was this part of the line that went up to Ramsey? Thanks for your time and effort. Nothing like "high" taxes to kill jobs. Thanks again......
No, the line to Ramsey was the Erie Railroad.
I grew up in Neptune City, NJ in Monmouth County. It's the hometown of Jack Nicholson and Danelectro Guitars. Currently living in Aomori, Japan. Would love to see a rise and decline and revival of Asbury Park video in the future. Love this channel.
They need to bring back some of these lines to help with traffic. Just think all these less cars on the road from these trains running again
13:30 - That’s Lehigh and New England, not Lehigh to New England.
I love it how you cover my favorite railroad and home railroad, there is actually a abandoned CNJ line behind my house and the old CNJ station at Elizabeth where the Northeast Corridor is
At least the Raritan Valley Line and North Jersey Coast Line have been used by NJ Transit and part of the HBLR uses tracks that the CNJ had once used
Just change your name to ITS JERSEY!!
How about a video obout the Woodbridge n j bankers express train crash of the 1950 s
Today, having been replaced by the Parkway and Turnpike, there is very little railroad coverage in the state.
Even the busses have limited coverage.
Hey? Ryan. Thank you for your video. I was Liberty State Park in around 1977. And again aroumd sevetal times 1978 and 1979. I was at a train show. With my friend Jim Emnerly. He had jims custome trains..I go with him as his helper
It was fun. I then started selling at train show on my own.i was at Libberty State park just befor 911 ywin tower attack. 1996. 1997. 1999. 2001. I sold at the yrain show. It was much different then time period of 1977 1978 1979. The station had slight decay. The tails were in tact in the 1977 1978 1979. I temember Ywo Peensy GG1,S Were on display. A couple of steam engines. E8,s and some other old time engines. They jad a excursion out of Libberty State Park.. we thought thecsyeam engine was heading to Bay Head. But detered to the western part of nj. We met that night at our train club. In the old Elberone train station in Elberone Nj. So we went up to the show. I stayed with my friend jim emmerly. To.help him out. He made jersey central railroad cammelbacks. He took mantua camnelbacks. Replace the motors with pennlinebowsers motors.. I have 12 of his cteations. And they still run. Some are 1 of kinds. He had a CNJ RR 2_8_0 Consalidation. He made a pennsylvania rr DOODLE BUG. E3. And jersey Central rr Double ender. I have the cnj rr #774# camelback. And 5 CNJ RR ABA F3ABA,S. Sets. Their Athern Bluebox kits. Custome painted. Tanaged orange and Blue. Jims models still run great. Any way. Im a admin to 3 groups about the jersey central rr. Thank you for your video. Ot brought me back to 1977 1978 1979. It was awsome. I understand that the state dose not want to spend the money to restore the station. I hrard a fumkor. That light rail comes in. I know the ferrys still run. I loved going to Liberty Park jersey city nj. I own a original coppy of jersey central railroads. VHS. The Big Little Railroad. Its awsome. Your video is better. Do you sell DVDS Of your video. How much for each one?. Id like to buy please. Brett L.
Hey there, no DVDs but these videos should stay up on TH-cam and Facebook so you can share it with your friends. It must have been something to work at they rail yard!
I grew up in South Jersey. Far fewer trains there but still, this is incredibly cool information.
I love history and railroads but I don't think this video is good at either.
By the author's own claim, the C.R.N.J. went bankrupt numerous times and not just after the Interstate Highway System, Federally subsidized air travel, and the Army Corp of Engineers' improvements of locks and canals had put the railroads of the Northeast into steep decline. Other important events affecting the Central, such as the construction of the Hudson & Manhattan (now P.A.T.H.) tunnels and the Pennsylvania R.R.'s tunnels to the new Penn Station (which probably diverted most of the Central's commuter traffic to N.Y.C.), aren't even touched upon.Then there's the statement that coal becoming obsolete around the 1940s sealed the Central's fate. Coal is still in demand today, even with ecological opposition. Certainly it was much in evidence in N.Y.C. in the 1960s when I grew up there. How could a railroad remain in bankruptcy from 1939 - 1949, a time of enormous traffic for America's railroad as war demand ended the Depression?
Yet there's more to this than that. Anyone driving or riding a train from S. N.J. to Manhattan passes by the massive port facilities of the Inner Harbor. While Manhattan was a good choice for acquisition by the Dutch for military reasons, it was a poor choice for commerce. An island separated from much of the rest of the mainland by wide rivers simply isn't a good choice for trade. The right place for a city involved in transhipment among riverine, oceanic, and land traffic in this region is the Inner Harbor. The Central could have served the port and bought land in Bayonne and Jersey City, slowly building a city which would have eventually taken much of N.Y.C.'s trade.
From what I can tell, the Central was a small, local railroad run by persons with little vision, content to serve the local trade they had, rarely in the right place at the right time, which slowly sank after other railroads and then other modes of transportation bypassed it.
I also can't say much for a documentary which frequently doesn't match its photos to the narration. Surely he could do better than showing pictures of locomotives from the 19th century while talking about the railroad's decline in the mid-20th century.
Dear Ryan, Can you decuss some time in 1 of your video's about South Cape May, New Jersey. From what I understand I heard that south Cape May, New Jersey & The Train that went there got swept un into the Atlantic Ocean, Ty Dan Tierson
I like your episodes, but I think they’d be much better if you didn’t try to make newly filmed videos look old or put the old effect on black and white photos.
I grew up in Belmar in the 1960s and we rode the New York and Long Branch all the time for something to do. One time taking a CNJ passenger train south to Bay Head the conductor let us stay on the train as it went around the loop. We got out and chatted with the crew that refueled the locomotive. It was a very nice gesture I was probably about 12 or 13. This was sometime around 1970. Both the CNJ and Pennsylvania RR ran passenger trains on the NYLBRR the Pennsylvania were pulled by A-B-A E-7s I think they were, the CNJ a single diesel. The ride quality and the interiors of the Pennsylvania coaches were far superior. My Dad told us on more than one occasion to appreciate the locomotives in PA red and the Keystone placard on the front because their days were numbered. Sometime around 1972 a trainman gave me a PennCentral lapel pin which is of course lost to time. I do however have 2 Pennsey and 1 CNJ kerosene signal lanterns one of them (Pennsylvania) was given to my Dad when he was a kid by a NYLBRR trainman. Grandpop owned a Diner in Belmar and this guy ate there often. This would have been in the late 1930s early 40s.
I grew up in Union Co. and according to a history written of the area (Along The Upper Road by Jean Turner) there was an old incomplete rail line (bankrupted)... that was supposed to run from Newark southward towards Rahway. According to the history... they stopped construction somewhere along the planned route.
As a teenager I found a half dozen badly corroded iron 'blobs' along an old embankment... I later determined they were old railroad spikes.
As far as I know that old embankment is still there... in an area of land completely enclosed by residential properties.
As a teenager I was fascinated by archeology... and that area screamed (even to a young and inexperienced youth) that this little depression... had been radically changed by humans.
If you look at the sides of the depression they are irregular and 'natural looking' slopping down to the lowest point... but the embankment is an almost straight line... cutting across the depression... at a fairly consistent level.
This embankment ends abruptly in our backyard (my father told me a previous owner had leveled the area) and doesn't exist beyond our yard. From the look of it... it seems the work stopped in our yard... and the natural contours (beyond our yard) continues on.
I've aways wondered what might be buried under all of that overgrowth and decades of decomp. As far as I know the space is public owned... and should be accessible for investigating.
The area is in Hillside NJ... and is defined by Clark St on the south, Munn Ave on the west, Morris Place on the east, and Williamson Ave on the north. My old home was 1523 Munn Ave.
“If that train still ran New York to AC…… Atlantic City would be a different place today”
That’s about all I know about this train pre-video.
Imagine sitting in the club car, sipping on a Negroni.
Bobby would still be alive if it wasn't for the Blue Comet and his toy train collection addiction.
As a resident of the New Jersey in one of the towns along the railroad, I can just say that you missed one important point. Although it is not necessarily integral to your video I feel it would be important to point out that a large part of the railroad is still used for freight. It has never been upgraded and the logistics are terrible but I live in a small town and every Thursday night traffic in our town comes to standstill because a freight train comes through...
1976 they ran the Blue Comet from north Jersey to Bay Head I got some great photos behind Monmouth Park racetrack.
I live along the Morris & Essex line and at the end of January, I saw the New Jersey Transit CNJ Heritage Locomotive 4109, a GP40PH-2, at my local train station.
Edit: I love the Whippany Railway Museum. It's only a 20-30 minute drive for me which is awesome.
“What it lacked in length” is something I’ll hear but not with trains
My Grandfather started as an Oiler with the Central RR, then operated a roundhouse turntable on 12 hour shifts. Finished his career as Chief Engineer of the Central RR powerhouse on the Jersey City waterfront, where the coal dumper operated.
Ugg, 0:43 There's no "e" after the "m" in remnants.
I live in Long Branch & that's the story of New Jersey"remains 😡
I grew up in Bayonne. Spent 37 years there. Left only 2 years ago. But I'm still in NJ.
There's an old VHS tape, "The Big Little Railroad." Bought it decades ago but can't find it any longer. Was a nice show.
Why add NOISE to your video?
both my grandfather and great grandfather worked for the central railroad on freight trains for a combined time of over 90 years, heard some stories over the years.
One of the steam locomotives that were regularly seen on the Central Railroad of New Jersey (CNJ)were Camelbacks. This type of locomotive had the engineer's cab placed in the center of the locomotive and straddling the boiler thus giving the locomotive a hump profile. The fireman and engineer were separated because the unique configuration. The large fireboxes allowed for the burning of readily available cheap culm (anthracite coal waste). A remaining CNJ camelback can be seen at the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Museum. It is CNJ No. 592 with a 4-4-2-wheel arrangement.
Since the CNJ had extensive commuter service which terminated at the Hudson River facility, the company acquired six double cab diesel locomotives (Baldwin DRX-6-4-2000) which eliminated the need to turn around each locomotive at Jersey City.
There is a Camelback on Rt 30 in Absecon NJ in front of a Harley Davidson dealership. Located less the 1/4 mile from the Garden State Parkway.
Ive never stopped to see it , Im guessing a NJC or PRR Camelback.
@@Cha-y412 That is an 0-4-0t Saddle Tank switcher that used to work for the Philidelphia Navy Yard. It was USN 3, It did not run for CNJ or PRR
Thanks. I grew up in South Jersey, and the quickest route from my house to the shore went through Chatsworth in the Pinelands, where the road took a right, went over some railroad tracks, then went left. I was curious about the tracks as a kid, and only later learned they were part of the CNJ and that the Blue Comet had traveled over those tracks through Chatsworth. I've long since moved from NJ, but enjoy reading about NJ's hitory.
“What it lacked in length was made up in the sheer amount of traffic it handled daily”🙃🙃
Originally from Long Valley. I believe the High Bridge portion of the CNJ line ran through LV (German Valley) at the time. Super interesting. Thanks for this.
My grandfather worked for the Central Railroad. Union county has had plans to reactivate the line as a light rail from Plainfield to port Elizabeth and put in a ferry terminal. Safe to say those plans have not been acted on.
bochie said she lived in port Elizabeth, whole town 's area is now just a r.r. cross x in the Middle of no where!?.
saw an image of the r.r. crossing in a r.r. magazine years ago. magazine came out of brookfield? in Wisconsin.?
At least the memory lives on with many Blue Comets and the CNJ for that matter surviving on model train layouts across the country.
I inherited my grandfather's vintage Lionel Blue Comet from the 80s. I've always wanted to see a color photo of the real train.
A Lionel Blue Comet set was part of the plot of one of the last episodes of "The Sopranos", titled "The Blue Comet". Many, many trains were harmed in the making of that episode. You can see the relevant scene here on YT under "The Sopranos, Bobby Gets Wacked". Truly some great cinematography of a mobster meeting his untimely demise in a model train store as he was just about to spend some big bucks on said Lionel train set, but one from the 1950s.
It's not about the length of the track, it's the total amount of traffic you handle on a daily basis. Know what I'm sayin?
You should do the Staten Island railroad next.
I can't look at that Blue Comet train without thinking about Bobby's demise.
Grew up in Union County. *Fascinating video :)*
This engine nammed eagel Looks exatly like the first German engine Adler. Also at least one picture ist showing the adler and Not the eagel.
@12:00 "Jesrey" Central Lines!
Before the Pennsylvania RR bought the Lehigh Valley it also came into Jersey City Terminal. I have a few pieces of CNJ and JCL dining car silverware. I use everyday.
Someone needs to teach the robot voice that "Colonel" is pronounce Kernel, like in corn - not "Col-oh-nell"
They are working on restoring a section between Lakehurst and the Woodmansie section of Woodland Townshiplp for use by Clayton Sand.
Lot of dirt biking in that area back in the early 70s.
When the pinelands were unrestricted. Rode all up and down that line around Chatsworth.
The CNJ ran through Cranford as noted. The original name of Cranford was Crane's Ford, not "Foot". The Crane Family owned the ford across the Rahway River.
Steven Crane, the author of The Red Badge of Courage, was one of them.
Grew up in Hunterdon County. Thanks for this!
Go see the Black River & Western in Ringoes & Phillipsburg has a nice ride along the river.
ELMINAC?! You mean ALMANAC?!
My grandfather worked for this RR. My father played on a semi-pro baseball team in Port Reading NJ, in the 1930's called the Blue Comets.
😏👈🏽 I was born and rise camden nj cherry Hill 🍒 great video 📹 👌
Sportswood?!?!
Please do more North East railroad videos!
Thank you Ryan, that was great history right there. Jersey Strong.
They finally finished replacing that raising bridge between jersey city and newark
I think you meant from Hightstown to Spotswood.
Fantastic video as always! I think a great video idea is the Milwaukee Road, the largest electrified rail network in the world for many decades and they decided to extend the network from Chicago to Seattle at absolutely insane effort, through Montana, Idaho and Washington which at the time was as remote as it gets in 1901, not only did they cross the Rockies and build the still in use today: Cascade tunnels in the Cascades in WA state, but the entire line was Electrified too!! They built power plants and electric switching stations in the middle of the most remote parts of the country, up and down mountains, bridges, steep grades and so on. I have visited some of what is left of the network such as bridges still today marked with Milwaukee Road logos, I have some cool photos, as well as the remaining power transfer station that still stand or today are museums.
I like to listen to Ryan Socash's narration. Reminds me of a dude I knew in Junior High School and High School who was a smart book worm type of guy who never got teased or bullied because he was such a likable guy. His reports were so detailed that even the kids who normally wouldn't pay attention? Like myself, LOL would be at the edge of our seats. This "It's History" Channel has become one of my favorites. I've been to Detroit for "Youmacon" anime convention. And always wondered about the Booker Building. That was the most unique building I ever seen. So I loved Ryan's take on what a great work of Architecture it is.
The Communipaw terminal was also used by the Baltimore & Ohio too in fact the locomotive P7 5300 The George Washington on my profile pic and in cosmetic restoration in Baltimore were cousins of the Blue Comet steamers and were often frequently seen alongside eachother at the old engine servicing facility which had since been removed, The P7 class was meant for use on the CNJ mainline towards Philadelphia and they were used there until the 1940s when dieselzation took effect
I live near Winslow junction I would love to see some of these old rails in use
I agree either a bike trail or the rail road cars like they have in Cape May.
Winslow Junction is still actively used
Grew up in Highlands and Toms River, always fascinated by NJ's railroad history. Thanks for posting.
When we were kids being driven to the beach club in Sea Bright guys used to job off that 36 bridge. We’d be stopped to have it open for the sailboats & they’d be climbing all over in their cut offs 😂
My town has a plaque marking where the town’s train station used to be. There’s even still a railway bridge, albeit without the rails.
Same here In Mays Landing
Did glassborough ever go to atco?
15:22 I remember Conrail in Cleveland! THAT'S MY CITY! WOOO!
Kinda reminds me of Hochimachi Suisei
Terrific historical research! Hope they will restore rail to ferry service as a back up to the tunnels. Anyone know one book that covers the many layered history of the different NJ rail lines?
Do you have any information on the Musconetcong Tunnels? There is an abandoned original tube and a newer tube from the 30's I think that is still used for freight. These pass through Pattenburg through West Portal. I believe it was part of the Lehigh Valley Line
The one observation car is a diner in Clinton NJ