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Pleasantville and Ocean City Railroad

From Alfawiki
Pleasantville and Ocean City Railroad
Company typeRailroad company
IndustryRail transport
Founded1880
FounderPhiladelphia and Atlantic City Railway
Defunct1882
FateSold to West Jersey and Atlantic Railroad; merged
Area served
New Jersey, United States
Key people
William Massey (president)
ProductsRail transport services

The Pleasantville and Ocean City Railroad was a railway enterprise in the United States, established in 1880 by the Philadelphia and Atlantic City Railway (P&AC), which was undergoing bankruptcy proceedings at the time. Its purpose was to construct a branch line extending from Pleasantville to Somers Point. This route commenced operations within the same year. In 1882, ownership transferred to the West Jersey Railroad, and it was subsequently integrated into the West Jersey and Atlantic Railroad.

History

Founded in 1876, the Philadelphia and Atlantic City Railway (P&AC) aimed to rival the Camden and Atlantic Railroad by initiating a narrow gauge route between Camden and Atlantic City in 1877. However, financial difficulties led to its placement in receivership by 1878.

To boost traffic for the P&AC while managing risk exposure, the bankruptcy trustees established the Pleasantville and Ocean City Railroad on June 7, 1880. This new company was tasked with building a southern branch from Pleasantville to Somers Point, situated across Great Egg Harbor Bay from Ocean City. William Massey was appointed president, and construction began on July 2; the line officially opened on October 26, 1880. Passengers would transfer at Somers Point via ferry to reach Ocean City. The railroad owned a single coach and one combination car; nevertheless, all operations were conducted by P&AC.

Ongoing financial struggles prompted Massey to sell his stake in May 1882 to associates affiliated with the West Jersey Railroad. The West Jersey's subsidiary, known as the West Jersey and Atlantic Railroad, had completed its own track to Atlantic City in June 1880, intersecting near the Pleasantville and Ocean City line close to its junction with P&AC. On June 4, 1882, the board of Pleasantville and Ocean City consented to a sale to West Jersey and Atlantic. Following this acquisition, the track was swiftly converted to standard gauge. The formal merger into West Jersey and Atlantic occurred on December 8. A portion of track leading toward P&AC was dismantled, while both passenger cars continued service under P&AC management.

References

  • Cook, W. George; Coxey, William J. Atlantic City Railroad. Crusader Press, Ambler, Pennsylvania, 1980.
  • Coverdale & Colpitts 4
  • Hilton Narrow Gauge
  • Treese, Lorett. Railroads of New Jersey: fragments of the past in the Garden State landscape. Stackpole Book, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, 2006. ISBN 978-0-8117-3260-4
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