I live in Columbus New Jersey. I usually drive to Bordentown to take the Riverline to the Camden waterfront. At Walter Rand I take PATCO to Philly. Other times I take the Riverline to Trenton Transit Center and take SEPTA into Philadelphia or NJTransit to New York City via PATH at Newark or to NYP. I also go beyond NYC via Long Island Railroad, Metro North or Amtrak from Trenton Transit Center to Stamford, or Alexandria Virginia. Does anyone know where I can get information like train schedules for what used to be the Bordentown Secondary? As far as I know its now operated by CSX during the midnight hours due to the Riverline’s scheduling. Does freight run through the Bordentown station platforms during the midnight hours? and where does it operate to when it’s heading towards Trenton? Where can I find information regarding freight operations of the Northeast? Such as the line that crosses route 35 at grade in Woodbridge Township New Jersey. I believe it was part of the Lehigh Valley Railroad. As a transit railway enthusiast, I know very little about freight which I think is sad. Any help will be very much appreciated.
For a lot of your present information, see the latest issue of Trains for the article about Conrail. Anything about NS or CSX will tell you about other freight operations. Bordentown Secondary was the original Camden and Amboy which was operated by the PRR, PC, CR and was the route of the famous Nely Bly from New York to Atlantic City. PRR I believe had passenger services of some kind through the 50’s. A broad history can be found in the late John Cunningham’s Railroads of New Jersey found in many NJ railroad museums or hobby shops in soft cover. More precise histories and poctorials of the PRR can also be found. Of course, check you local libraries for a complete list of books.
If by “Bordentown Secondary” you mean the line to Robbinsville, the map in Trains indicates that it is operated by Conrail Shared Assets Operation.
I believe the line crossing Rt. 35 in Woodbridge is the New York & Long Branch, a former joint operation between the PRR and the Central RR of NJ.
I’m not real familiar with either of these, so will welcome any further information or corrections, etc.
A useful reference is the atlas series for the NorthEastern US states by “Steam Powered Video” of the UK.
-Paul North.
Thanks for your help.
Grade crossing in Woodbridge would be CSAO as the PRR was (is) on an embankment through there. The grade crossing is probably the Port Reading branch of CSAO (ie if is east west or the Chemical Coast line, the former CNJ line, if it is north/south. The New York and Long Branch railroad began where the PRR and CNJ joined just north of Perth Amboy station; CSAO uses that section of NJT to South Amboy to access the former Camden and Amboy to Jamesburg and Cranbury.
Conrail runs a local, FC46, north from Burlington every weekday evening as far north as Windsor and back, but I suspect it only goes that far sporadically. There is also a local, FC45, that takes cars from Pavonia (Camden) up to Burlington and back every night approx 11PM, working along the way. There is also a Sunday night FC53 that does the same as FC45 without the local work en route.
I know the NJT River Line’s northern terminus is right at the Corridor’s Trenton station. However, was this line continuois from there to become the Bel-Del or did the Bel Del take off from the Corridor east of Trenton station with no connection to the Bordentown/C&A line?