Camden County Railroad
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Railroad |
| Predecessor | Southern New Jersey railroads of the Philadelphia and Reading Railway |
| Founded | April 1, 1889 |
| Defunct | 1933 |
| Fate | Merged into Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines |
| Headquarters | United States |
Area served | Southern New Jersey |
| Parent | Philadelphia and Reading Railway (until 1933) |
The Atlantic City Railroad functioned as a subsidiary of the Philadelphia and Reading Railway until its merger into the Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines in 1933. By the close of 1925, it managed of road spanning of track, with freight traffic amounting to 43 million ton-miles and passenger travel reaching 204 million passenger-miles.
History
On April 1, 1889, the Philadelphia and Reading Railway unified its Southern New Jersey railroads under the Atlantic City Railroad banner.
Speed achievements
On July 20, 1904, train number 25 journeyed from Kaighn's Point in Camden to Atlantic City, covering the distance in 43 minutes at an average velocity of . The stretch between Winslow Junction and Meadows Tower (), was traversed in 20 minutes at an average speed of , with a top speed of recorded between Egg Harbor and Brigantine Junction.
Camden, Gloucester and Mount Ephraim Railway
Founded on June 17, 1873, by investors from Gloucester City, this railway aimed to link the ferry terminal at Kaighn's Point in Camden with Gloucester City's industrial district (), subsequently extending another to Mount Ephraim Borough.
Due to tight curves along city streets, a narrow gauge track was selected. Construction commenced in January 1874; service from Kaighn's Point to Gloucester City began by February 1874 and was extended to Mount Ephraim Borough by May 1876. Control transferred to the Philadelphia and Reading Railway in November 1884, which then converted the lines to standard gauge in 1885.
Philadelphia and Atlantic City Railway
In 1875, Samuel Richards led four directors from the Camden and Atlantic Railroad (C&A) to establish an alternative route from Camden, New Jersey, to Atlantic City via Clementon. Incorporated on March 24, 1876, this railway adopted a 3 ft 6 in narrow gauge to minimize operational expenses. Construction started in April 1877 and was completed within 90 days; the line spanning 54.67 miles opened on July 7, 1877. Bankruptcy followed on July 12, 1878. Subsequently, the Central Railroad of New Jersey (CNJ) and Philadelphia and Reading Railway purchased it for $1 million on September 20, 1883. The company was renamed Philadelphia and Atlantic City Railroad on December 4, 1883, and converted to standard gauge by October 5, 1884. Full ownership was assumed by Philadelphia and Reading Railway on December 4, 1885.
Williamstown and Delaware River Railroad
Established in 1883 as a reorganization of the insolvent Williamstown Railroad, this company operated between Williamstown and Atco, New Jersey. It extended its Williamstown Branch to Glassboro between 1883–1884 and further to Mullica Hill by 1888, covering a total of 22 miles.
Cultural context
During the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, railroads played a vital role in transporting visitors to New Jersey’s coastal beaches. PRR lines facilitated travel for beachgoers originating from Philadelphia and Camden.
Railroads acquired in 1901
The Atlantic City Railroad was reestablished on June 14, 1901 through consolidation with other railroads...
Camden County Railroad
Incorporated on September 17, 1889, this railroad extended the Atlantic City Railroad’s Gloucester Branch from Mount Ephraim Borough down to Spring Mills—location of Bateman Manufacturing’s agricultural equipment factories. By the end of 1890, five miles south of Mount Ephraim had been completed. The final segment of 2.19 miles was finished on May 10, 1891; the first train arrived in March with initial farm equipment shipments commencing in April. Stations were set up at Bellmawr, Runnemede, Glendora, Chews Landing (previously South Glendora), Blenheim, Blackwood, and Spring Mills (later renamed Grenloch). After completion, the Camden County Railroad was leased to the Atlantic City Railroad. The first timetable showing service between Mount Ephraim and Grenloch took effect on April 14, 1892.
- ACRR Gloucester Branch
- P-RSL Grenloch Branch
Cape May, Delaware Bay, and Sewell's Point Railroad
Functioning from 1863 through the 1920s, this railroad linked Sunset Beach in Lower Township, New Jersey, with South Cape May (currently South Meadows), Cape May City, Sewell's Point (now home to the Coast Guard Training Center), and Schellenger's Landing, enabling connections to trains headed toward Philadelphia.
Ocean City Railroad
This line operated between Ocean City Junction and Ocean City, New Jersey.
Seacoast Railroad
The Seacoast Railroad provided service connecting Winslow Junction with Tuckahoe, Sea Isle City, and Cape May.
Stone Harbor Railroad
Purchased in April 1932, this route extended from Cape May Court House to Stone Harbor and was integrated into the PRSL system by 1936.
Wildwood and Delaware Bay Short Line Railroad
Acquired in July 1930, this railroad ran from Wildwood Junction to Wildwood and was merged with the ACRR (which later became part of the PRSL) in 1934.
Pleasantville & Ocean City Railroad
Formed in June 1880 with William Massey serving as president, this narrow-gauge railroad connected Pleasantville to Somers Point, New Jersey. It was operated by the Philadelphia & Atlantic City Railway. In 1882, ownership transferred to the West Jersey and Atlantic Railroad, which leased the line and initiated a conversion to standard gauge track.
Brigantine Railroads
The Brigantine Beach Railroad was established in August 1889 to construct a line from Pomona on the Camden and Atlantic Railroad to Brigantine Island. Subsequently, the Pomona Beach Railroad was incorporated in April 1890 to link with the Atlantic City Railroad at Pomona. Both lines were leased to the Atlantic City Railroad later that year and consolidated in January 1891 into a single route stretching 13.9 miles from Brigantine Beach to Brigantine Junction.
In 1893, the Brigantine Transit Company introduced a 6.25-mile electric trolley service along Brigantine Beach. After foreclosure in 1895, George H. Cook acquired the Brigantine Beach Railroad and reincorporated it as the Philadelphia & Brigantine Railroad in 1896, also leasing the transit company.
The Atlantic City Railroad terminated its lease agreement in September 1897. A severe storm damaged the trestle to Brigantine Island in September 1903, resulting in complete cessation of all rail services by October of that year.
Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines
On November 2, 1932, the Pennsylvania Railroad and Reading Company consolidated their southern New Jersey rail operations into a joint enterprise known as the Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines. The Pennsylvania Railroad retained a two-thirds ownership stake while the Reading Company held one-third.
Subsequently, on July 15, 1933, the Atlantic City Railroad leased the West Jersey & Seashore Railroad and adopted the Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines name.
See also
- Central Railroad of New Jersey
- New Jersey Southern Railroad
- Pennsylvania Railroad
- Reading Company
- 1896 Atlantic City rail crash
- 1922 Winslow Junction Train Derailment
External links
- Companies affiliated with the Reading Company
- Defunct New Jersey railroads
- 1889 establishments in New Jersey
- Predecessors of the Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines
- Railway companies established in 1889
- Railway companies disestablished in 1933
- Former Class I railroads in the United States
- Railroads transferred to Conrail
- Standard-gauge railways in the United States
- Predecessors of the Atlantic City Railroad