Ocean City Railroad (1896)
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Railroad |
| Predecessor | Southern New Jersey railroads of the Philadelphia and Reading Railway |
| Founded | April 1, 1889 |
| Defunct | 1933 |
| Fate | Integrated into Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines |
| Headquarters | United States |
Area served | Southern New Jersey |
| Parent | Philadelphia and Reading Railway (subsidiary) |
The Atlantic City Railroad functioned as a subsidiary of the Philadelphia and Reading Railway before its integration into the Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines in 1933. By the close of 1925, it managed of mainline track over miles of total trackage, producing freight revenues amounting to 43 million ton-miles and passenger traffic totaling 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.[1]
Speed records
On July 20, 1904, train number 25, operating from Kaighn's Point (Camden) to Atlantic City and hauled by Philadelphia and Reading Railway class P-4c 4-4-2 No.334 with five coaches, established a notable speed achievement. The journey covered in just 43 minutes, averaging . The segment between Winslow Junction and Meadows Tower was completed in 20 minutes at , with speeds reaching between Egg Harbor and Brigantine Junction.[1]
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 (Camden) to Gloucester City's industrial district located away, later extending another to Mount Ephraim Borough.
Employing a narrow gauge to accommodate sharp turns on city streets, construction commenced in January 1874. Service began between Kaighn's Point and Gloucester City on February 14, 1874, with an extension to Mount Ephraim completed by May 1876. The Philadelphia and Reading Railway took control in November 1884 and converted the lines to standard gauge during 1885.[1]
Philadelphia and Atlantic City Railway
In 1875, four directors from Camden and Atlantic Railroad (C&A), led by Samuel Richards, departed to establish a competing railroad from Camden, New Jersey to Atlantic City via Clementon. Incorporated on March 24, 1876, this line utilized a narrow gauge to minimize operating expenses. Construction started in April 1877, with the route opening on July 7, 1877. Facing bankruptcy on July 12, 1878, it was purchased jointly by the CNJ and Philadelphia and Reading Railway for $1 million on September 20, 1883. It was renamed Philadelphia and Atlantic City Railroad on December 4, 1883. The track was converted to standard gauge by October 5, 1884. Complete ownership transferred to the Philadelphia and Reading Railway on December 4, 1885.[1]
Williamstown and Delaware River Railroad
Established in 1883 as a reorganization of the bankrupt Williamstown Railroad, this company operated between Williamstown, New Jersey and Atco, New Jersey. It extended the Williamstown Branch to Glassboro (1883–84) and Mullica Hill (1888), covering a total distance of .[1]
Cultural context
Around the early 1900s, railroads played a crucial role in providing access to New Jersey’s shore destinations, with PRR lines facilitating travel for passengers from Philadelphia and Camden, New Jersey.
Railroads acquired in 1901
On June 14, 1901, the Atlantic City Railroad was reestablished through a merger involving several railroads...[1]
Camden County Railroad
Chartered on 17 September 1889, the Camden County Railroad extended the Gloucester Branch of the Atlantic City Railroad from Mt. Ephraim Borough southward to Spring Mills, where Bateman Manufacturing operated two facilities producing farm equipment. By the end of 1890, five miles of track had been laid beyond Mt. Ephraim, with the final 2.19 miles completed by 10 May 1891. The inaugural train arrived at Spring Mills in March, and Bateman Manufacturing dispatched its initial shipment of equipment by April. Stations were positioned at Bellmawr, Runnemede, Glendora, Chews Landing (previously known as South Glendora), Blenheim, Blackwood, and Spring Mills (later renamed Grenloch). Following construction, the Camden County Railroad was leased to the Atlantic City Railroad. The Gloucester Branch timetable No. 3 for the ACRR, effective 14 April 1892, was the first to include service between Mt. Ephraim and Grenloch.
- ACRR Gloucester Branch
- P-RSL Grenloch Branch
Cape May, Delaware Bay and Sewell's Point Railroad
This railroad operated from 1863 through the 1920s, running a route from Sunset Beach in Lower Township, New Jersey, around the Point to South Cape May (currently South Meadows), continuing into Cape May City, extending to Sewell's Point (now the Coast Guard Training Center), and returning to Schellenger's Landing where passengers could transfer to trains headed for Philadelphia.
Ocean City Railroad
Linked Ocean City Junction directly with Ocean City, New Jersey.
Seacoast Railroad
Operated a line connecting Winslow Junction with Tuckahoe, Sea Isle City, and Cape May.
Stone Harbor Railroad
Purchased in April 1932, this railroad ran from Cape May Court House to Stone Harbor and was integrated into the PRSL system in 1936.
Wildwood and Delaware Bay Short Line Railroad
Acquired in July 1930, this line connected Wildwood Junction to Wildwood and was merged with the Atlantic City Railroad (which later became part of PRSL) in 1934.
Pleasantville & Ocean City Railroad
Organized on 9 June 1880 under the leadership of President William Massey, this narrow-gauge railway began service on 26 October between Pleasantville and Somers Point. It was operated by the Philadelphia & Atlantic City Railway, while steamboat connections were provided by the Ocean City Association. In May 1882, Massey sold the line to West Jersey and Atlantic Railroad, which leased it starting 1 June and commenced conversion to standard gauge on 4 June.
Brigantine Railroads
The Brigantine Beach Railroad was established on 7 August 1889 to construct a line from Pomona on the Camden and Atlantic Railroad to Brigantine Island. Subsequently, on 21 April 1890, the Pomona Beach Railroad was incorporated to link with the Atlantic City Railroad at Pomona; both companies were leased by Atlantic City Railroad in August of that year. They merged on 27 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 along Brigantine Beach. George H. Cook acquired the Brigantine Beach Railroad through foreclosure in June 1895 and reestablished it as the Philadelphia & Brigantine Railroad in April 1896 while also leasing the trolley operation. The Atlantic City Railroad terminated its lease of Philadelphia & Brigantine Railroad on 30 September 1897. After a storm destroyed the trestle leading to Brigantine Island in September 1903, all services were discontinued by October.
Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines
On November 2, 1932, the southern New Jersey railroads operated by the Pennsylvania Railroad and the Reading Company combined their operations to form the Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines. The ownership arrangement allocated two-thirds to the Pennsylvania Railroad and one-third to the Reading Company.
Subsequently, on July 15, 1933, the Atlantic City Railroad took over the lease of the West Jersey & Seashore Railroad and began operating under the Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines designation.
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
References
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