Wildwood and Delaware Bay Short Line Railroad
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Railroad |
| Predecessor | Southern New Jersey railroads of the Philadelphia and Reading Railway |
| Founded | April 1, 1889 |
| Defunct | July 15, 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 before its integration into the Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines in 1933. By late 1925, it managed of mainline track across of total trackage, generating 43 million ton-miles from freight services and 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, traveling from Kaighn's Point in Camden to Atlantic City, was powered by Philadelphia and Reading Railway's class P-4c 4-4-2 No.334 locomotive pulling five passenger coaches. This service established a speed milestone by covering in 43 minutes, averaging . The segment between Winslow Junction and Meadows Tower took only 20 minutes at , with peak speeds reaching between Egg Harbor and Brigantine Junction.
Camden, Gloucester and Mount Ephraim Railway
Formed 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 manufacturing district (), later extending to Mount Ephraim Borough ().
Because of tight curves along urban streets, the line was initially built using a narrow gauge. Construction commenced in January 1874; the route from Kaighn's Point to Gloucester City opened on February 14, 1874, and was extended to Mount Ephraim by May 1876. The Philadelphia and Reading Railway took control in November 1884 and converted the tracks to standard gauge by 1885.
Philadelphia and Atlantic City Railway
In 1875, a group of four directors from the Camden and Atlantic Railroad (C&A), led by Samuel Richards, established a second railroad connecting Camden to Atlantic City via Clementon. Incorporated on March 24, 1876, it initially adopted a narrow gauge of 3 ft 6 in to lower operational expenses. Construction began in April 1877, with the entire 54.67-mile line opening on July 7, 1877. Following bankruptcy in July 1878, ownership transferred to the Central Railroad of New Jersey (CNJ) and Philadelphia and Reading Railway for $1 million on September 20, 1883. Renamed the Philadelphia and Atlantic City Railroad in December of that year, the line was converted to standard gauge by October 1884. Full control was assumed by the Philadelphia and Reading Railway in December 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 the Williamstown Branch to Glassboro during 1883–1884 and further to Mullica Hill in 1888, totaling approximately 22 miles.
Cultural significance
By the turn of the century, railroads played a crucial role in providing access to New Jersey's coastal beaches. Lines operated by PRR facilitated transport for visitors traveling from Philadelphia and Camden.
Railroads merged in 1901
The Atlantic City Railroad was reestablished on June 14, 1901 through a consolidation involving several other railroads...
Camden County Railroad
Established on 17 September 1889, the Camden County Railroad was created to extend the Atlantic City Railroad's Gloucester Branch from Mount Ephraim Borough to Spring Mills, the location of Bateman Manufacturing Company. By December 1890, five miles of track were completed, with the final 2.19 miles finished by May 1891. This route included stops at Bellmawr, Runnemede, Glendora, Chews Landing (previously South Glendora), Blenheim, Blackwood, and Spring Mills (later called Grenloch). Initially formed exclusively for this extension project, the Camden County Railroad was leased to the Atlantic City Railroad upon completion. The Gloucester Branch timetable first recorded service between Mount Ephraim and Grenloch on 14 April 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 with South Cape May (now South Meadows), Cape May City, Sewell's Point (currently Coast Guard Training Center), and Schellenger's Landing. It provided connections to trains heading toward Philadelphia.
Ocean City Railroad
This line operated between Ocean City Junction and Ocean City in New Jersey.
Seacoast Railroad
The Seacoast Railroad connected Winslow Junction with Tuckahoe, Sea Isle City, and Cape May.
Stone Harbor Railroad
Purchased in April 1932, the Stone Harbor Railroad ran from Cape May Court House to Stone Harbor before its merger with the PRSL in 1936.
Wildwood and Delaware Bay Short Line Railroad
Acquired in July 1930, this route extended from Wildwood Junction to Wildwood and was absorbed into the Atlantic City Railroad (later PRSL) in 1934.
Pleasantville & Ocean City Railroad
Formed on 9 June 1880 under the leadership of President William Massey, this narrow-gauge railroad opened service between Pleasantville and Somers Point in October 1880. It was operated by the Philadelphia & Atlantic City Railway and connected to Ocean City via steamboat. In May 1882, it was sold to the West Jersey and Atlantic Railroad, which leased it and converted it to standard gauge by June.
Brigantine Railroads
The Brigantine Beach Railroad was incorporated on 7 August 1889 with plans to construct a line from Pomona on the Camden and Atlantic Railroad to Brigantine Island. Following this, the Pomona Beach Railroad was established in April 1890 to link the Brigantine Beach Railroad with the Atlantic City Railroad at Pomona. Both railroads were leased to the Atlantic City Railroad later that year and consolidated in January 1891 into a continuous 13.9-mile route stretching from Brigantine Beach to Brigantine Junction.
In 1893, the Brigantine Transit Company introduced a 6.25-mile electric trolley line running along Brigantine Beach. After foreclosure proceedings in June 1895, George H. Cook took ownership of the Brigantine Beach Railroad, which was reestablished as the Philadelphia & Brigantine Railroad in April 1896 with Cook as president; this company also leased the trolley operation.
The Atlantic City Railroad terminated its lease of the Philadelphia & Brigantine Railroad on 30 September 1897. A storm in September 1903 destroyed the trestle leading to Brigantine Island, resulting in all services being discontinued by October.
Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines
On November 2, 1932, the southern New Jersey railroads owned by the Pennsylvania Railroad and Reading Company were merged to form The Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines. In this partnership, the Pennsylvania Railroad possessed a two-thirds stake, while the Reading Company held the remaining one-third.
Subsequently, on July 15, 1933, the Atlantic City Railroad took over the lease of the West Jersey & Seashore Railroad and adopted the name Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines.
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