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| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Camden, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Locale | Camden andWinslow Junction, New Jersey, toAtlantic City andOcean City andCape May |
| Dates of operation | 1889–1933 |
| Successor | Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines |
| Technical | |
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)standard gauge |
TheAtlantic City Railroad was aPhiladelphia and Reading Railway subsidiary that became part ofPennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines in 1933. At the end of 1925, it operated 161 miles (259 km) of road on 318 miles (512 km) of track; that year it reported 43 million ton-miles of revenue freight and 204 million passenger-miles.
Effective 1 April 1889, the Philadelphia and Reading Railway consolidated all of its railroads in Southern New Jersey into the Atlantic City Railroad.[1]
On 20 July 1904, the regularly scheduled train no. 25, which ran from Kaighn's Point in Camden, New Jersey, toAtlantic City, New Jersey, with Philadelphia and Reading Railway class P-4c 4-4-2 No.334 and 5 passenger cars, set a speed record. It ran the 55.5 miles (89.3 km) in 43 minutes at an average speed of 77.4 mph (124.6 km/h). The 29.3 miles (47.2 km) between Winslow Jct and Meadows Tower (outside of Atlantic City) were covered in 20 minutes at a speed of 87.9 mph (141.5 km/h). During the short segment between Egg Harbor and Brigantine Jct, the train was reported to have reached 115 mph (185 km/h).[1]
Incorporated on 17 June 1873 by a group fromGloucester City, which wanted a rail line to link the busy passenger ferry landing at Kaighn's Point inCamden to theGloucester City industrial area 3.9 miles (6.3 km) away, then from that point another 1.3 miles (2.1 km) toMount Ephraim Borough.
A3 ft (914 mm)narrow gauge was required, as much of the right of way usedexisting city streets with sharp curves. Work began in January 1874 and the line from Kaighn's Point toGloucester City opened on 14 February 1874. The line toMount Ephraim Borough opened in May 1876. In mid-November 1884, thePhiladelphia and Reading Railway gained control of the Camden, Gloucester and Mt Ephraim Railway. The lines wereconverted to4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)standard gauge in 1885.[1]
During 1875, four of theCamden and Atlantic (C&A) Board of Directors, led by Samuel Richards (an officer of the C&A for 24 years) left to build a second railroad fromCamden, New Jersey, to Atlantic City by way of Clementon.[1] It was incorporated on 24 March 1876. A3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) track gauge was selected because narrow gauge was successful at the time and saved in lower operating cost. Work began in April 1877. The track work was completed in 90 days. On 7 July 1877, the final spike was driven and the 54.67-mile (87.98 km) line was opened. On 12 July 1878, theP&AC RY slipped into bankruptcy. The Philadelphia and Atlantic City Railway was acquired by theCNJ and the Philadelphia and Reading Railway for $1,000,000 on 20 September 1883. The name was modified toPhiladelphia and Atlantic City Railroad effective 4 December 1883. The first task was toconvert the line to4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)standard gauge, which was completed on 5 October 1884. ThePhiladelphia and Reading Railway acquired full control on 4 December 1885.[1]
TheWilliamstown and Delaware River Railroad was incorporated in 1883 to reorganize the bankruptWilliamstown Railroad, which owned a line betweenWilliamstown, New Jersey, andAtco, New Jersey. The reorganized Williamstown and Delaware River Railroad extended theWilliamstown Branch to Glassboro in 1883–1884 and thenMullica Hill, New Jersey, in 1888, for a total length of 22 miles (35 kilometers).[1]
At the end of the nineteenth century and the early decades of the twentieth century, railroads were primary channels for accessingNew Jersey shore beaches. PRR property railroads carried beachgoers fromPhiladelphia andCamden.
The Atlantic City Railroad was reincorporated on 14 June 1901 as a merger with other railroads......[1]
TheCamden County Railroad was incorporated on 17 September 1889 with the purpose of extending theACRR's Gloucester Branch exCamden, Gloucester & Mt Ephraim Railway betweenMount Ephraim Borough and Spring Mills, home of the Bateman Manufacturing Company where two plants were in use constructing farm equipment. As of 31 December 1890, 5 miles of railroad were completed south of Mt. Ephraim. The remaining 2.19 miles were finished on 10 May 1891. Spring Mills saw its first train during the third week in March, while the first carload of farm equipment and tools did not leave Bateman Manufacturing until the beginning of April. Stations were constructed along theCamden County Railroad atBellmawr,Runnemede,Glendora,Chews Landing formerly South Glendora,Blenheim,Blackwood, and Spring Mills, renamedGrenloch (inGloucester Township, New Jersey ) upon completion of the line. After construction was complete, theCamden County Railroad, which had been established with the sole purpose of constructing this extension, was leased to theAtlantic City Railroad.[1] Atlantic City Railroad Timetable No. 3, effective 14 April 1892, was the first to show trains operating on the Gloucester Branch between Mt. Ephraim and Grenloch.
This particular line existed from 1863 until the 1920s,[2] and ran from Sunset Beach inLower Township, around the Point toSouth Cape May (now known as South Meadows), intoCape May City, out to Sewell's Point (now the Coast Guard Training Center), and back around to Schellenger's Landing, where visitors could then connect to Philadelphia-bound trains.[3]
Ocean City Junction toOcean City
Winslow Junction toTuckahoe,Sea Isle City andCape May
Acquired in April 1932, the SHRR ran fromCape May Court House toStone Harbor; it was merged with the PRSL in 1936.[1]
Acquired in July 1930, the W&DBSLRR ran fromWildwood Junction toWildwood; it was merged with the ACRR (by then PRSL) in 1934.[1]
On 9 June 1880, Pleasantville & Ocean City Railroad incorporated in New Jersey, with William Massey as president (Val). On 26 October, Pleasantville & Ocean City Railroad (3 ft 6 in /1,067 mmnarrow-gauge) opened between Pleasantville and Somers Point, NJ, operated by Philadelphia & Atlantic City Railway. The opening excursion ran from Philadelphia to Ocean City. The Ocean City Association operated connecting steamboat between Somers Point and Ocean City. (Val, Lee)
In May 1882, William Massey sold the Pleasantville & Ocean City Railroad to the West Jersey and Atlantic Railroad. On 1 June, the West Jersey and Atlantic Railroad leased the Pleasantville & Ocean City Railroad andconverted to4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)standard gauge began on 4 June.
On 7 August 1889, Brigantine Beach Railroad incorporated in New Jersey to build from Pomona on the Camden and Atlantic Railroad to Brigantine Island.
On 21 April 1890, Pomona Beach Railroad incorporated in New Jersey to build from Camden and Atlantic Railroad to the Atlantic City Railroad at Pomona, to connect the Brigantine Beach Railroad with the ACRR. On 18 August, the Brigantine Beach Railroad and Pomona Beach Railroad were leased to Atlantic City Railroad.
On 27 January 1891, Pomona Beach Railroad consolidated with Brigantine Beach Railroad, now running 13.9 miles (22.4 km) from Brigantine Beach to Brigantine Junction..
In 1893, the Brigantine Transit Company was built as an electric trolley line. The road extended along Brigantine Beach NJ a distance of 6.25 miles (10.06 km)
On 27 June 1895, George H Cook, the secretary of Brigantine Transit Company, bought the Brigantine Beach Railroad at foreclosure sale.
On 1 April 1896, the Brigantine Beach Railroad reincorporated as Philadelphia & Brigantine Railroad with George H. Cook as president. The Philadelphia & Brigantine Railroad leased the Brigantine Transit Company.
On 30 September 1897, Atlantic City Railroad canceled the lease of Philadelphia & Brigantine Railroad.
On 12 September 1903, a storm destroyed trestle leading to Brigantine Island on Philadelphia & Brigantine Railroad. (Coxey) On 9 October, the Philadelphia & Brigantine Railroad abandoned all service. (Coxey)
On 2 November 1932, thePennsylvania Railroad andReading Company joined their southern New Jersey railroad lines into one company, ThePennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines which the Pennsylvania Railroad had a 2/3 ownership, And the Reading Company had a 1/3 ownership.[4][page needed]
On 15 July 1933, The Atlantic City Railroad leased the West Jersey & Seashore Railroad and changed its name toPennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines.[4][page needed]
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