Maurice River Railroad
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Railroad |
| Founded | June 7, 1887 |
| Founder | West Jersey Railroad |
| Defunct | December 31, 1887 |
| Fate | Absorbed into West Jersey Railroad |
| Headquarters | Manumuskin, New Jersey , United States |
Area served | Maurice River, New Jersey |
The Maurice River Railroad was established in 1887 as a U.S. railway entity by the West Jersey Railroad with the purpose of building a 9.71-mile spur stretching from Manumuskin, New Jersey to Port Norris, New Jersey along the course of the Maurice River. This track was finalized within the same year and subsequently absorbed into the West Jersey Railroad.
History
During the 1800s, the Delaware Bay served as a significant hub for oyster harvesting, which led several railroads to seek access to the Maurice River's commercial activities. The earliest among these was the Bridgeton and Port Norris Railroad, inaugurated in 1872 and later restructured in 1887 as the Cumberland and Maurice River Railroad, operating under the Central Railroad of New Jersey.
As a strategic move, the West Jersey Railroad formed the Maurice River Railroad on June 7, 1887. This branch extended 9.71 miles from West Jersey's primary route at Manumuskin, following the eastern bank of the Maurice River. After its completion in November 1887, the line was integrated into the West Jersey Railroad by December 31 of that year.