Philadelphia and Atlantic City Railway
| Company type | Railway company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Rail transport |
| Founded | 1876 |
| Fate | Purchased by Philadelphia and Reading Railroad in 1883; reorganized as Philadelphia and Atlantic City Railroad; merged into Atlantic City Railroad in 1889 |
| Headquarters | Camden, New Jersey , United States |
Area served | Camden, New Jersey; Atlantic City, New Jersey |
| Products | Passenger and freight rail services |
The Philadelphia and Atlantic City Railway, which was later renamed the Philadelphia and Atlantic City Railroad, was established in 1876 as a direct rival to the Camden and Atlantic Railroad. By 1877, it had completed a narrow gauge route connecting Camden, New Jersey and Atlantic City, New Jersey. Due to financial troubles, control of the line was assumed by the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad in 1883. Subsequently, in 1889, the reorganized entity combined with four additional railroads to create the Atlantic City Railroad.
History
The Camden and Atlantic Railroad inaugurated the first rail connection between Camden, New Jersey and Atlantic City, New Jersey in 1854. Competition arose in the mid-1870s when the Philadelphia and Atlantic City Railway was incorporated on March 24, 1876. Supported by former directors of Camden and Atlantic, the company opted for a narrow gauge track to lower both construction and operational expenses. Although the line commenced service on July 25, 1877, its opening was marred by a derailment that resulted in fatalities.
The railway faced challenges stemming from its narrow gauge limiting interchange options, scant freight business, and dependence on passengers redirected from Camden and Atlantic. It entered receivership on July 13, 1878, less than twelve months after starting operations. In 1880, it launched a branch line known as the Pleasantville and Ocean City Railroad, running from Pleasantville, New Jersey to Somers Point, New Jersey. This branch was sold in 1882 to the West Jersey Railroad, which was affiliated with the Pennsylvania Railroad.
An effort by Camden and Atlantic to acquire the company was unsuccessful due to resistance from shareholders. Following the Pennsylvania Railroad's acquisition of Camden and Atlantic in 1883, the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad purchased Philadelphia and Atlantic City on October 31 of that year. The company was then reorganized as the Philadelphia and Atlantic City Railroad. The track gauge was converted to standard gauge in October 1884. On March 29, 1889, it merged with the Camden, Gloucester and Mount Ephraim Railway, Glassboro Railroad, Williamstown and Delaware River Railroad, and Kaighn's Point Terminal Railroad to establish the Atlantic City Railroad.