I was in Cape May three weeks ago and was looking forward to taking the CMSL from Cold Spring into town for lunch. Were were disappointed that the railroad was “temporarily” shut down due to “bridge rehabilatation work” on the swing bridge across the canal into Cape May. We drove into Cape May and looked at the bridge and there was no work in progress there. Here it is three weeks later and the railroad is still not running. Last year the line was closed as a boat hit the swing bridge and broke the center shaft gear. The bridge was fixed but service did not resume until September. This year it looks like the rail line is out again maybe until Sept. I believe that the army corps of engineers w NJ Transit maintains this bridge .
Since it is a tourist line, it seems that repair work on the line is never a priority. Tony Macrie, the owner of the rail line has gone a long way and survivied under some very difficult circumstances to get the line going again. It is hoped that this latest setback will allow the railroad to begine running trains to Cape May again. We will be down in the Cape may area again on the weekend of August 25th and hope that the rail line is functioning by that time. Does anyone have an update?
I have a sister who has been living in Cape May for a few years now and she and her husband will be coming home to South Dakota next month for a visit with the rest of my family. I could ask them if they know what the situation is with the Cape May Seashore lines being temporarily shut down for bridge rehab.
My sister and her husband are going to put their house on the market and as soon as they find a buyer they will be moving back to Sioux Falls, South Dakota where all of us kids had grown up. My sister has been a resident of New Jersey for something like 35 to 40 years and she wants to be closer to home and family…and I can’t blame her for that. And because of this, it looks like I will never make a trip to Cape May to see the Cape May Seashore Lines in operation, which is a bit unfortunate.
CANADIANPACIFIC2816
My wifes family has a summer home in Cape May and becuase of this, we get to go there often. Getting the CMSL running again has to be one of the most remarkable acheivements of the last 10 years. The line was abandoned since about 1982 and through the work of one man service was restored on both ends of the line. There were plans to get the entire 40 miles of the line running but I don’t know what stage of rehab the trackage is in. Recently as new freight service was just announced and we have that bridge situation right now.
Perhaps you will visit Cape May one day. It’s lovely to visit, and on the national register of historic places. World class restaurants, upscale lodging, boating, museums, a beautiful beach, the railroad, tours, shows, shopping and the ambiance of a town that looks much as it did at the turn of the century.
As for CMSL I am hoping for it’s long term survival and look forward to extention of service.