The New York and Long Branch Railroad is now the NJ Transit North Jersey Coastline. This trackage began life as the New York & Long Branch Railroad. Although, technically, the NY&LB started in Perth Amboy where the PRR and CNJ would join at the junction for the trips to Bay Head, NJ. The CNJ line is known as the “chemical Coast”.
My rail companion and I visited South Amboy, NJ many times in the 1970’s and 1980’s to watch and photograph the engine changes. The New York City trains were pulled by GG-1’s and would be switched off at South Amboy - which was the end of the catenary at that time.
In the 1980’s, New Jersey Department of Transportation was the authority for running trains and busses. In 1983, NJDOT became New Jersey Transit. Many of the GG-1’s carried the ‘N J Dept of Trans Owner’ stencil below the number.
What was quite interesting in this time frame was the many varieties of E-8 paint schemes.
I used a film offered by RGB from California. It was Eastman-Kodak 35mm movie film and gave me slides and negatives. However, the slides and film did not age very well! But, I can not go back to retake these photos.
Union Tower, Rahway, NJ
In the NJT era, the line started at Union Tower in Rahway, NJ.
Former Central Railroad of New Jersey GP-40P #4110 is heading south (which is designated as west in the timetables) on the former New York & Long Branch trackage in 1984 at Rahway, NJ. The train has left the Amtrak mainline and has ducked under the main line trackage on it’s way to Bay Head, NJ.
GG-1 #4874 is at Union Tower, Rahway, NJ to head east on the NEC from the old NY&LB as it passes McGraw Yard in January 1977.
CNJ GP40-P #3679 is east bound in January 1976. Union Tower in in the background as this train has come up from the NY&LB trackage.
GG-1 #4872 is pulling an eastbound NYC train up the grade from NY&LB in August 1980.
GG-1 #4872 with eastbound NYC passenger train is going onto the main line at Union Tower in Rahway, NJ in August 1980.
South Amboy, NJ
South Amboy is where the motors were changed for the E-8 diesels for the trip to Bay Head.
SA Tower near the Raritan Bay bridge which is between South Amboy & Perth Amboy, This tower would be torn down in 2023.
South Amboy in a view looking south (west) in a time exposure I took at night in February 1975.
South Amboy looking north. The GG-1 going to layover yard after crossing Augusta Street in September 1982.
Penn Central MP54 train sets in the South Amboy holding track in this night photo on September 25, 1973.
A few years later, the old MP54 cars have been replaced by NJT MU train sets, which are in the South Amboy layover yard. Cars #554 and #591 in this night photo on February 25, 1976.
Penn Central E-7 # 4244 & #4233 sit at the South Amboy engine house in April 1980.
South Amboy engine house is former PRR engine house. E-8 #4152, ex-E-L #4014, a former E-L switcher #8696 are at the house. GG-1 #4878 & #4876 are on the motor pit tracks in April 1983.
South Amboy engine house and the remains from steam engine days in April 1983.
More remnants from the steam engine days at the South Amboy engine house in April 1983.
The railroad crossing gates were manual operated in those days.
The South Amboy gates are manual operated. This is the crossing guard house with his trusty German Shepherd sitting next to the building in September 1983.
The gates are hand operated at Augusta Street in September 1983.
Another view of the hand operated mechanical crossing gates at Augusta Street in September 1983.
Ex-Penn Central E-8 #4233 with the engineer is waiting for the ‘high ball’ to proceed west to Bay Head at South Amboy in October 1981.
GG-1 #4878 is arriving with a train from NYC and is crossing Augusta Street for engine transfer to E-8’s for the run to Bay Head in September 1983.
E-8 #4328, which is ex- PRR #5885 that was built in March 1950, is in Penn Central paint. The E-8 is heading west at the John Street crossing guard house, after leaving the South Amboy station for Bay Head in September 1980.
GG-1 #4878 dropped train off and E-8 #4305 will couple up at South Amboy for run to Bay Head in early April 1983.
E-8 #4285 & another E-8 are west after the engine change at South Amboy and will head to Bay Head in September 1980.
The southbound commuter train engineer has opened the throttle as she heads for Bay Head in September 1980.
A GG-1 is coupling up to an eastbound train at South Amboy for the trip to NYC in September 1983.
GG-1 #4879 departs the station with a NYC bound night train in September 1981.
E-8 #4251 meets another E-8 at the Augusta Street crossing in September 1980.
E-8 #4323 at the station in September 1982. #4323 is ex-NYC & PC #4076, and was built in July 1952.
GP-40P #4105 is westbound leaving the station in July 1981.
GP-40P #4100 is running long nose forward as she travels west in September 1982.
GP40P #4107 west in September 1982. She was CNJ GP40-P #3680.
Ex-Southern E-8 #4331 is reversing to the train at the August Street crossing in September 1982.
E-8’s #4328 & #4014 are reversing to a train in South Amboy. Their location is near the Minnie Ditch in September 1980. #4014 was built for the Erie in February 1952 and became E-L #808.
E-8’s #4257 and ex-Southern #4330 are coupled to the train from NYC at the South Amboy ready to head west to Bay Head in August 1983.
GG-1 #4877 arriving with a train from NYC in the evening in September 1980. Although this photo is not good, it was the only time I saw #4877 before the repainting.
GG-1 #4877 being christened in July 1981. Walter Grosselfinger is the MC at the ceremony.
Walt Grosselfinger shaking hands with the engine crew of GG-1 #4877in July 1981.
After the christening, GG-1 #4877 heads east to NYC in July 1981.
GG-1 #4877 is arriving at South Amboy with the train from NYC in July 1981.
Former PRR GG-1 #4877 is celebrated on October 1983 in Matawan, NJ for the “Last Run of the GG-1”. She is reversing to couple onto the 1st run of the day.
A Photo runby at Perth Amboy occured on last run of GG-1’s on the Satuday in October 1983. NJ Transit did the requiem celebration in the right way!
E-8 #4153 is heading west at John Street in the evening of September 18, 1982.
E-8 #4272 with another paint scheme. This unit was PRR #5702 and built in September 1952, the became Delawawre, Lackawanna & Western #808 and then became Penn Central #4272 &E-8 #4285 which was New York Central and & Penn Central #4080 are at South Amboy in the evening in August 1981.
E-8 #4251 & Conrail GP-40 #3251 are heading to the layover yard in South Amboy in September 1979..
GP40-P #4105 & #4102 are crossing Augusta Street to the Minnie Ditch to wait for a NYC train in October 1983. GP40-P #4105 is former CNJ #3679 & #4102 is CNJ #3675.
GP-40P #4103 is eastbound at the Augusta Street crossing in September 1981. There is no engine change since these trains terminate at Newark, NJ.
GG-1 #4883 is arriving with a train from NYC in the early evening in September 1983.
GG-1 # 4874 has uncoupled from her train during the engine swap in September 1980.
Commuters are departing from MU train set #567. this train came from NYC in September 1980.
E-8 #4257 & 2nd unit are westbound at the Minnie Ditch in September 1983. This is the “AC Motor Stop” section, as noted by the sign on catenary wires. Pity the poor motor man who disregards that sign!
GG-1 #4879 with the final run of a GG-1 approaching South Amboy, NJ with evening NYC train. The Shore Commuter Club car behind the GG-1 in November 1983. She was draped in paper when she entered South Amboy.
GG-1 #4879 on her last run brings the end of the GG-1’s forever. She is bringing the westbound NYC passenger & the Jersey Shore Commuters Club car behind GG-1 as the train crosses Augusta Street in November 1983.
Last run of all GG-1’s. GG-1 #4879 heads to the layover yard for the last time as the sun sets in November 1983. The King is Dead, Long Live the King!
A few years later, NJ Transit retired their E-8’s with a last run fan trip.
E-8 #4253, #4247 & #4257 are the power on the end of E-8 fan trip on NY&LB. The trip headed west to Bay Head west as the train crosses Augusta Street on a rainy day in September 13, 1987.
E-8 #4253, #4247 & #4257 lead the end of the with an E-8 fan trip. The train cross John Street soon in the rain on September 13, 1987.
The Raritan River Railroad had an interchange inSouth Amboy. The Raritan River RR SW-900 # 3 with a freight at the interchange track in September 1979.
Raritan River RR SW-900 # 3 and caboose # 9 on the interchange track in September 1979.
Conrail freight with GP-9 #7048 (ex-PRR) is westbound at South Amboy. The train is going to the former Raritan River Railroad trackage on August 21, 1980.
The Layover Yard
GG-1’s # 4879 & 4874 mingle t with the MU’s in layover tracks in September 1980.
Former PRR GG-1 #4877 is repainted in the PRR Tuscan Red scheme, is in the layover yard in September 1983.
Former PRR GG-1 #4877 in the layover yard in July 1983. I took this black & white photo, which is reminiscent of the 1950’s in South Amboy.
GG-1 #4880 is heading to the layover track and will be called for the next run to NYC in February 1979.
GG-1 #4880 is in layover yard awaiting another assignment in February 1979.
GG-1 #4883 with a PRR decal on front in September 1983. PRR lives on!
The South Amboy, layover yard with GG-1’s waiting for an assignment in September 1983.
E-60 #967 and other E-60’s are in the layover yard on a cloudy, rainy day in April 1987. This is what replaced the GG-1…hmmmm.
E-60 # 967 on a passenger train in the layover yard with Comet cars on a cloudy day in April 1987.
Details of a GG-1
When I was taking photos in the South Amboy layover yard, I took a few detail photos of GG-1 #4880 and other GG-1’s.
GG-1 #4880 front photo while she was in the layover yard September 1983.
GG-1 #4880 running gear detail.
GG-1 #4884 underframe details.
GG-1 #4875 cab view of the engineer’s controls. I took this photo in August 1980.
Another view of GG-1 #4875’s cab in August 1980. Notice the arch above the area of the cab signals.
GG-1 #4875 in the layover yard at South Amboy in August 1980. Many times they would be in the darker area of the yard.
Views south of South Amboy
E-8 #4334 is westbound at the Cliffwood Avenue crossing in Cliffwood Beach, NJ in September 1982. Railfans named this E-8 the 'White Elephant"!
GP-40P #4101 is westbound at the Cliffwood Avenue crossing at Cliffwood Beach in September 1982.
E-8 #4305 is westbound at the Cliffwood Avenue crossing in September 1982.
NJT. GP40P #4108, west at Cliffwood Ave, Cliffwood Beach in September 1985.
GP-40P #4104 is westbound at the Cliffwood Avenue crossing Cliffwood Beach in September 1983. The CNJ stripes have been painted over.
GP40FH-2 #4136 is west at Cliffwood Avenue, Cliffwood Beach. in September 1983.
GP40FH-2 rebuild #4138 is eastbound in the rain at Belmar, NJ in June 2008.
GP-40PH-2 #4147 is westbound as it crosses 16th Avenue in Belmar in March 2012. #4147 was former Penn Central & Conrail GP40 #3174 that was built in October 1968.
Back in those days, no visit to Point Pleasant Beach, NJ was complete without riding the Jenkinson’s Beach train. I took this photo in September 1998 and within a few years the train disappeared!
