Is New Jersey Transit the best rail option to get from Pennsylvania Station, New York, to Asbury Park, NJ?
When I was a youngster my parents took us to Asbury Park for summer vacations. I would like to see what it is like today. I thought I would take the train to Asbury Park, have lunch, and then return to New York. Is Asbury Park still a nice place to visit or has it gone the way of Detroit and so many other American cities?
Not only the best rail option, the only rail option, change at Long Branch. Except for the one or two trains from Hoboken maybe.
NJ Transit is great for trip to Asbury Park, many new restaurants clubs near train station east of tracks. Boardwalk, Convention Hall, Beach are in pretty good shape. Do not go west of tracks as that area has high crime/drug problem after dark. Taxis at station for trip to beach area. I lived in town just south at the next train station -Bradley Beach
Thanks for the help folks.
I recall Bradley Beach. One of the reasons that we went to Asbury Park for vacation was because my father’s brother lived in Neptune, if I remember correctly. He was an engineer with Jersey Central Power and Light Company, I believe. Subsequently he moved up to Morristown, where he was an a senior manager in the marketing department of General Public Utilities.
How long ago was it? At the time some of the North Jersey Coast trains were being pulled by K4s south of Long Branch. Coming from Altoona, PA, I was awed that the stations were so close together that the conductor did not bother to close the car doors between stations.
Sam, ya got me started…another Ride With Me Henry outing has taken shape…possibly Wed. July 31th! Hackettestown, NJ to Bay Head. Lv. Htwn 8:22AM, change at Dover for the 9:07 Morristown LIne train to Newark Broad, Newark light rail to Newark Penn, 11:00Am to Long Branch, change for the Bay Head train and arrive at 1:08PM OFF (old fart fare) $7.00, regular 15.50. Lv Bay Head 2:06PM Ar. Hoboken 4:14 (no change) and leave at 4:30 via Boonton-Montclair :Line arriving at Hackettestown at 6:38P OFF, $5.25, regular $11.50. Will call the Ark ahead for lunch orders at Bay Head and it will be an easy, fun, railfan and OF day!!!
I was at the shore in Asbury Park about 2 weeks ago. I can’t add to the above posts but I agree with them. There are several good restaurants along the boardwalk. If you have a chance you might check out Ocean Grove, next door, with a lot of interesting if touristy shops.
Ditto the recommendation for Ocean Grove. It’s an old Methodist camp. Still has a street with camp tents. Also still has the original auditorium for camp meetings. Directly south of Asbury Park - the boardwalk connects between them. Very walkable from Asbury Park station - if you like walking.
Thanks to all for the good advice. Would I be better off buying a ticket to Bradly Beach and walking back up the boardwalk to Asbury Park? Is it doable?
When we visited Asbury Park in the 40s and 50s (my uncle lived in Neptune), if I remember correctly, Ocean Grove roped off the entery streets on Sundays and would not allow any motorists into the community from early Sunday morning until Sunday night.
very doable. 1/2 mile from station to boardwalk, turn left and you are about 1 mile from Asbury park.
Thanks! This old dog can still walk a long way, albeit not as fast as in my youth. Three miles or more should be a piece of cake.
Doin’ the ridewithmehenry tomorrow…got 4 from Binghamton plus maybes from 3 or 4 to meet along the way. 8:22 from Hackettstown, NJ to Dover, 9:03 Dover to Newark Broad at 10:01, light rail to Newark Penn, 11:00 out to Long Branch and Bay Head, calling ahead to order lunch at the Ark Restaurant, geting 2:08 out of Bay Head through to Hoboken, and #1079 through to Hackettstown via Mont-Boont. Join us enroute if you care to, love to have you along…will have copy of Ark menu so you can order, too! See what happens when someone starts talking train rides around me?
SAM1,
www.apboardwalk.com might appeal to a ‘tad’ younger generation, but they do have ‘links’ to explore. Asbury Park is on the ‘come back’ trail, in my not-so-humble view, and it’s the ‘younger’ crowd that’s making it happen.There ain’t nothin’ like goin’ “downtheshore”…
Enjoy Enjay
Tom-the-JC Kid