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{{Short description|Defunct Class I railroad in the U.S. state of New Jersey (1839-1976)}} {{Short description|Defunct Class I railroad in the U.S. state of New Jersey (1839-1976)}}
{{Infobox SG rail {{Infobox rail
|railroad_name = Central Railroad of New Jersey | name = Central Railroad of New Jersey
| other_name = Jersey Central, Jersey Central Lines or New Jersey Central
|logo_filename = File:Central_Railroad_Company_of_New_Jersey_Logo,_October_1974.svg | logo = Central_Railroad_Company_of_New_Jersey_Logo,_October_1974.svg
|logo_size = 125 | logo_size = 125px
⚫ |system_map = {{maplink-road|from=Central Railroad of New Jersey.map|from2=New York and Long Branch Railroad.map|from3=Toms River Railroad.map|from4=New Jersey Southern Railroad.map|from5=New York and Newark Railroad.map|from6=Perth Amboy and Elizabethport Railroad.map|from7=Dover and Rockaway Railroad.map|from8=Hibernia Mine Railroad.map|from9=Lehigh and Susquehanna Railroad.map |from10=Nesquehoning Valley Railroad.map|from11=Ogden Mine Railroad.map}}
| logo_alt =
|map_size =
⚫ | system_map = {{maplink-road|from=Central Railroad of New Jersey.map|from2=New York and Long Branch Railroad.map|from3=Toms River Railroad.map|from4=New Jersey Southern Railroad.map|from5=New York and Newark Railroad.map|from6=Perth Amboy and Elizabethport Railroad.map|from7=Dover and Rockaway Railroad.map|from8=Hibernia Mine Railroad.map|from9=Lehigh and Susquehanna Railroad.map |from10=Nesquehoning Valley Railroad.map|from11=Ogden Mine Railroad.map}}
|map_caption =
|image = USA-NYC-Jersey Historic Train Station crop.jpg | image = USA-NYC-Jersey Historic Train Station crop.jpg
| image_size = 300px
|image_caption = ], ]<br>] | caption = ] at ] in ]
⚫ |marks = CNJ
| regions = ]
⚫ |length = {{convert|693|mi|abbr=off}}
|locale = ]<br>]<br>] | secregions = ]<br>]
| headquarters = 148 ]<br>], ], U.S.
⚫ |start_year = {{start date and age|1839}}
| founders =]<br />]
⚫ |end_year= {{end date and age|1976}}
⚫ | marks = CNJ
| successor_line = ]|
⚫ | start_year = {{start year|1839}}
|hq_city = 148 Liberty Street<br>]
⚫ | end_year = {{end date|1976}}
| successors = ] (freight)<br/>] (passenger)
⚫ | length = {{convert|693|mi|abbr=off}}
}} }}


The '''Central Railroad of New Jersey''', also known as the '''New Jersey Central''' or '''Jersey Central Lines''' {{reporting mark|CNJ}}, was a ] with origins in the 1830s. It was absorbed into ] in April 1976 along with several other prominent bankrupt railroads of the ]. The '''Central Railroad of New Jersey''', also known as the '''Jersey Central''', '''Jersey Central Lines''' or '''New Jersey Central''' {{reporting mark|CNJ}}, was a ] with origins in the 1830s. It was absorbed into ] in April 1976 along with several other prominent bankrupt railroads of the ].

The CNJ's main line had a major presence in New Jersey. Most of the main line is now used by the ] passenger service. CNJ main line trackage in ] became part of the ] under Conrail.


==History== ==History==
===19th century===
] ] in ], {{Circa|1900}}]]
⚫ The earliest railroad ancestor of the CNJ was the Elizabethtown & Somerville Railroad, incorporated in 1831 and opened from ] to ] in 1836. Horses gave way to steam in 1839, and the railroad was extended west, reaching ] at the beginning of 1842. The Somerville & Easton Railroad was incorporated in 1847 and began building westward. In 1849 it purchased the Elizabethtown & Somerville and adopted a new name: Central Railroad Company of New Jersey. The line reached ], on the east bank of the ], in 1852. It was extended east across ] to ] in 1864, and it gradually acquired branches to ], ], ], ], and ].<ref name=drury>{{cite book | last = Drury | first = George H. | authorlink = | title = The Historical Guide to North American Railroads: Histories, Figures, and Features of more than 160 Railroads Abandoned or Merged since 1930 | publisher = Kalmbach Publishing | year = 1994 | location = ] | pages = 56–59 | doi = | id = | isbn = 0-89024-072-8}}</ref>
]]]
The earliest railroad ancestor of the CNJ was the Elizabethtown & Somerville Railroad, incorporated in 1831 and opened from ] to ] in 1836. Horses gave way to steam in 1839, and the railroad was extended west, reaching ] at the beginning of 1842. The Somerville and Easton Railroad was incorporated in 1847 and began building westward.


⚫ In 1849, it purchased the Elizabethtown & Somerville and adopted a new name: Central Railroad Company of New Jersey. The line reached ], on the east bank of the ], in 1852. It was extended east across ] to ] in 1864, and it gradually acquired branches to ], ], ], ], and ].<ref name=drury>{{cite book | last = Drury | first = George H. | authorlink = | title = The Historical Guide to North American Railroads: Histories, Figures, and Features of more than 160 Railroads Abandoned or Merged since 1930 | publisher = Kalmbach Publishing | year = 1994 | location = ] | pages = 56–59 | doi = | id = | isbn = 0-89024-072-8}}</ref>
⚫ The New Jersey Southern (NJS) began construction in 1860 at ]. The railroad worked its way southwest across lower New Jersey and reached ], on the Delaware River west of ] in 1871. The NJS came under control of the CNJ in 1879. CNJ's influence briefly extended across the Delaware River in the form of the Baltimore & Delaware Bay Railroad, from ], east of ], to ]. That line became part of the ] (PRR) family in 1901.<ref name=drury/>


⚫ The New Jersey Southern (NJS) began construction in 1860 at ]. The railroad worked its way southwest across lower New Jersey and reached Bayside, New Jersey, on the ] west of ] in 1871. The NJS came under control of the CNJ in 1879. CNJ's influence briefly extended across the Delaware River in the form of the Baltimore & Delaware Bay Railroad, from ], east of ], to ]. That line became part of the ] (PRR) family in 1901.<ref name=drury/>
⚫ CNJ's lines in Pennsylvania were built by the ] as the Lehigh & Susquehanna Railroad (L&S). The main line was completed between Phillipsburg, New Jersey and ] in 1866. A notable feature of the line was the ], a steep stretch of line (maximum grade was 14.65%) operated by cables driven by stationary engines, which remained in service until after ] (WWII). CNJ leased the L&S in 1871. The line was extended to ] in 1888 by a subsidiary of the L&S, the Wilkes-Barre & Scranton; L&S leased the line upon completion and assigned the lease to the CNJ. The bulk of the traffic on the Pennsylvania lines was ] coal, much of it produced by subsidiaries of the railroad, until the Commodities Clause of the ] forbade railroads to haul freight in which they had an interest.<ref name=drury/>


⚫ CNJ's lines in Pennsylvania were built by the ] as the Lehigh and Susquehanna Railroad (L&S). The main line was completed between Phillipsburg, New Jersey and ] in 1866. A notable feature of the line was the ], a steep stretch of line (maximum grade was 14.65%) operated by cables driven by stationary engines, which remained in service until after ] (WWII). CNJ leased the L&S in 1871. The line was extended to ] in 1888 by a subsidiary of the L&S, the Wilkes-Barre & Scranton; L&S leased the line upon completion and assigned the lease to the CNJ. The bulk of the traffic on the Pennsylvania lines was ] coal, much of it produced by subsidiaries of the railroad, until the Commodities Clause of the ] forbade railroads to haul freight in which they had an interest.<ref name=drury/>
⚫ ]From 1883 to 1887 the CNJ was leased to and operated by the ], with which it formed a New York-Philadelphia route. CNJ resumed its own management after reorganization in 1887. In 1901, the ] (RDG), successor to the Philadelphia & Reading, acquired control of the CNJ through purchase of a majority of its stock, and at about the same time ] (B&O) acquired control of the RDG, gaining access to New York over RDG and CNJ rails.<ref name=drury/><ref name="alecknavage">{{cite web|url=http://www.trainweb.org/phillynrhs/rdg.html|title=Philly NRHS - Reading Company History|date=July 6, 2003|first=Albert|last=Alecknavage II|accessdate=2009-12-06}}</ref>


From 1883 to 1887, the CNJ was leased to and operated by the ], with which it formed a New York-Philadelphia route. CNJ resumed its own management after reorganization in 1887.
⚫ In 1929, CNJ inaugurated the '']'', a deluxe coach train operating twice daily between Jersey City and ]. It was painted blue from the pilot of its 4-6-2 to the rear bulkhead of its observation car, and its refurbished cars offered a level of comfort much higher than the usual day coach of the era. The train was the forerunner of the coach streamliners that blossomed nationwide in the late 1930s and the 1940s. It succumbed to automobile competition in 1941. Also in 1929 CNJ purchased a 30 percent interest in the ], a 12-mile (19&nbsp;km) short line from Perth Amboy to New Brunswick. In 1931 it acquired total ownership of the Wharton & Northern Railroad and a partial interest in the Mount Hope Mineral Railroad from Warren Foundry & Pipe Corporation.<ref name=drury/>

The primary rolling stock repair shops were located in ] along Trumbull Avenue. In 1901 the original shops were razed and new, concrete shops took their place, capable of servicing 430 locomotives and 20,000 freight cars annually. With the primary freight and passenger yards at ] opposite Manhattan, a terminal and shop site was also needed in the ] neighborhood. This facility was modernized in 1914 and included two roundhouses and light repair shops.<ref>{{cite book| title=The Back Shop Illustrated, Volume 1: Northeast and New England Regions| author=Starr, Timothy| year=2022}}</ref>

===20th century===
⚫ ] in 1910]]
⚫ In 1901, the ] (RDG), successor to the Philadelphia & Reading, acquired control of the CNJ through purchase of a majority of its stock, and at about the same time ] (B&O) acquired control of the RDG, gaining access to New York over RDG and CNJ rails.<ref name=drury/><ref name="alecknavage">{{cite web|url=http://www.trainweb.org/phillynrhs/rdg.html|title=Philly NRHS - Reading Company History|date=July 6, 2003|first=Albert|last=Alecknavage II|accessdate=2009-12-06}}</ref>

⚫ In 1929, CNJ inaugurated the '']'', a deluxe coach train operating twice daily between Jersey City and ]. It was painted blue from the pilot of its 4-6-2 to the rear bulkhead of its observation car, and its refurbished cars offered a level of comfort much higher than the usual day coach of the era. The train was the forerunner of the coach streamliners that blossomed nationwide in the late 1930s and the 1940s. It succumbed to automobile competition in 1941. Also in 1929 CNJ purchased a 30 percent interest in the ], a 12-mile (19&nbsp;km) short line from South Amboy to New Brunswick. In 1931 it acquired total ownership of the Wharton & Northern Railroad and a partial interest in the Mount Hope Mineral Railroad from Warren Foundry & Pipe Corporation.<ref name=drury/>


⚫ The lines in Pennsylvania were organized as the Central Railroad of Pennsylvania (CRP) in 1946 in an effort to escape taxation by the state of New Jersey. CNJ resumed its own operation of the Pennsylvania lines at the end of 1952. The CRP continued in existence as owner of the Easton & Western, four miles of track in ].<ref name=drury/>
{{Rail_freight {{Rail_freight
|title=Revenue freight traffic, in millions of net ton-miles |title=Revenue freight traffic, in millions of net ton-miles
Line 49: Line 65:
|1970|124 |1970|124
}} }}
Following ], passenger traffic diminished, and was almost entirely commuter business, requiring great amounts of rolling stock for two short periods five days a week. Three-fourths of CNJ's freight traffic terminated on line; the railroad was essentially a terminal carrier, which meant little profit was made, if any. In addition, heavy{{according|date=March 2022}} taxes levied by the state of New Jersey ate up much{{specify|date=March 2022}} of CNJ's revenue.
⚫ When the ] was abandoned in 1961 CNJ acquired a few of its branches and organized them as the ]. In 1963 Lehigh Coal & Navigation sold its railroad properties to the RDG, but the lease to the CNJ continued. In 1965 CNJ and the ] consolidated their lines along the ] in Pennsylvania and portions of each railroad's line were abandoned; the anthracite traffic that had supported both railroads had largely disappeared. CNJ operations in Pennsylvania ended March 31, 1972.<ref name=drury/>

⚫ In 1946, the lines in Pennsylvania were organized as the Central Railroad of Pennsylvania (CRP) in an effort to escape taxation by the state of New Jersey. CNJ resumed its own operation of the Pennsylvania lines at the end of 1952. The CRP continued in existence as owner of the Easton & Western, four miles of track in ].<ref name=drury/>

⚫ The merger between the ] and ] proposed in 1965 sought to counter the impending PRR merger with ] merger was to have included CNJ, but the bankruptcy of ] killed that prospect. CNJ drafted elaborate plans for reorganization; they came to naught as neighboring railroads collapsed. ] took over freight operations of the CNJ on April 1, 1976; with passenger routes transferred to the ] including the present ] ] and ].<ref name="drury" />

In 1961, the ] was abandoned, and CNJ acquired a few of its branches and organized them as the ]. In 1963, Lehigh Coal & Navigation sold its railroad properties to the RDG, but the lease to the CNJ continued.

In 1964, the state of New Jersey began subsidizing commuter service, and the tax situation changed{{specify|date=March 2022}} in 1967.

⚫ In 1965, CNJ and the ] consolidated their lines along the ] in Pennsylvania and portions of each railroad's line were abandoned; the commercial ] traffic that had supported both railroads had largely disappeared. CNJ operations in Pennsylvania ended March 31, 1972.<ref name=drury/>


CNJ maintained a small carfloat terminal in ]. It was the site of the first successful Class 1 railroad diesel operation. Over the years CNJ maintained an extensive marine operation on ], including a steamer line to Sandy Hook.
⚫ ], 1910]]
⚫ CNJ maintained a small carfloat terminal in ]. It was the site of the first successful Class 1 railroad diesel operation. Over the years CNJ maintained an extensive marine operation on ], including a steamer line to Sandy Hook. CNJ's last marine service, the ferry line between ] and CNJ's ], made its last run on April 30, 1967. It was also the last day for the terminal itself; the next day CNJ passenger trains began originating and terminating at the ] via the ], where New York passengers could transfer to either PRR or ] trains.<ref name=drury/>


⚫ On April 30, 1967, CNJ's last marine service, the ferry line between ] and CNJ's ], made its last run, which was also the last day for the terminal itself; the next day CNJ passenger trains began originating and terminating at the ] via the ], where New York City passengers could transfer to either PRR or ] trains.<ref name=drury/>
===Decline===
⚫ The years after WWII were not kind to CNJ. Passenger traffic was almost entirely commuter business, requiring great amounts of rolling stock for two short periods five days a week. Three-fourths of CNJ's freight traffic terminated on line&nbsp;— the railroad was essentially a terminal carrier, which meant little profit was made, if any. In addition, heavy{{according|date=March 2022}} taxes levied by the state of New Jersey ate up much{{specify|date=March 2022}} of CNJ's revenue. The state of New Jersey began subsidizing commuter service in 1964, and the tax situation changed{{specify|date=March 2022}} in 1967. The merger between the ] and ] railways that was proposed in 1965 to counter the impending PRR-] merger was to have included CNJ, but the bankruptcy of ] killed that prospect. CNJ drafted elaborate plans for reorganization; they came to naught as neighboring railroads collapsed. ] took over freight operations of the CNJ on April 1, 1976; with passenger routes transferred to the ] including the present ] ] and ].<ref name=drury/>


CNJ emerged from bankruptcy in 1979 as Central Jersey Industries (later CJI Industries), a corporate shell. It merged with the packaging company Triangle Industries, owned by ], in 1986. In 1979, CNJ emerged from bankruptcy as Central Jersey Industries, later renamed CJI Industries. In 1986, it merged with the packaging company Triangle Industries, owned by ].


==Main initial corridors== ==Main initial corridors==
Line 66: Line 90:
==Portions still operated== ==Portions still operated==
*Aldene-High Bridge (Main Line): ] (NJT) ] *Aldene-High Bridge (Main Line): ] (NJT) ]
*Jersey City-Bayonne (Main Line and ]): NJT ]
*Perth Amboy-Bay Head: NJT ] *Perth Amboy-Bay Head: NJT ]
*Elizabethport-Aldene; Elizabethport-Perth Amboy; Jersey City-Bayonne; Red Bank-Lakehurst: ] *Elizabethport-Aldene; Elizabethport-Perth Amboy; Red Bank-Lakehurst: ]
*Lakehurst-Woodmansie: ] *Lakehurst-Woodmansie: ]
*Winslow Junction-Vineland: ] *Winslow Junction-Vineland: ]
*Dover & Rockaway Branch (Wharton-Rockaway); ] (Kenvil-Flanders): ] *Dover & Rockaway Branch (Wharton-Rockaway); ] (Kenvil-Flanders): ]
*White Haven PA - Laurel Run PA: ] -- remnant of the joint operation with the Lehigh Valley post-1965


==Gallery== ==Gallery==
Line 81: Line 107:
File:Camelback.jpg|CNJ ] built by ] in 1912. File:Camelback.jpg|CNJ ] built by ] in 1912.
File:Elizabeth, NJ-1.jpg|Elizabeth Station File:Elizabeth, NJ-1.jpg|Elizabeth Station
File:CRRNJ Newark Lafayette Broad jeh.jpg|], Newark File:CRRNJ Newark Lafayette Broad jeh.jpg|], Newark
</gallery> </gallery>


Line 124: Line 150:
*'']'': Jersey City, New Jersey-Washington, D.C. (B&O) *'']'': Jersey City, New Jersey-Washington, D.C. (B&O)


== Heritage Units == == Heritage units ==
] ]
As a part of Norfolk Southern's 30th anniversary in 2012, the company painted 20 new locomotives into predecessor schemes. NS #1071, an ] locomotive, was painted into the Central Railroad of New Jersey orange and blue. To celebrate its 30th anniversary in 2012, Norfolk Southern painted 20 new locomotives with predecessor schemes. NS #1071, an ] locomotive, was painted with the CNJ orange and blue.


In 2019, NJ Transit unveiled locomotive 4109 painted in a heritage scheme based on that of the CNJ GP40P. In 2019, NJ Transit painted locomotive 4109 in a heritage scheme based on that of the CNJ GP40P.


==See also== ==See also==
Line 142: Line 168:
*{{cite news| title=Railway Consolidation| url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9E02E5DA1739EF34BC4152DFB5668389669FDE|newspaper=The New York Times| date=March 19, 1872| page=5 }} *{{cite news| title=Railway Consolidation| url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9E02E5DA1739EF34BC4152DFB5668389669FDE|newspaper=The New York Times| date=March 19, 1872| page=5 }}
*{{cite news| title=New-York and Suburban News| url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9A02E7DE1439EF34BC4953DFB0668389669FDE |newspaper=The New York Times| date=June 1, 1872| page=8 }} *{{cite news| title=New-York and Suburban News| url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9A02E7DE1439EF34BC4953DFB0668389669FDE |newspaper=The New York Times| date=June 1, 1872| page=8 }}
*{{cite web| url=http://www.prrths.com/PRR_hagley_intro.htm| title=PRR Chronology }} *{{cite web| url=http://www.prrths.com/PRR_hagley_intro.htm| title=PRR Chronology| access-date=2005-09-12| archive-date=2006-09-07| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060907213349/http://www.prrths.com/PRR_hagley_intro.htm| url-status=dead}}
*"" by Philip M. Goldstein


{{Former Class I}} {{Former Class I}}

Latest revision as of 03:55, 24 December 2024

This article may contain citations that do not verify the text. Please check for citation inaccuracies. (June 2024) (Learn how and when to remove this message)
Defunct Class I railroad in the U.S. state of New Jersey (1839-1976)
Central Railroad of New Jersey
Jersey Central, Jersey Central Lines or New Jersey Central
Central Railroad of New Jersey Terminal at Liberty State Park in Jersey City, New Jersey
Overview
Main region(s)New Jersey
Other region(s)New York State
Pennsylvania
Headquarters148 Liberty Street
New York City, New York, U.S.
FoundersJohn Taylor Johnston
John Kean
Reporting markCNJ
Dates of operation1839 (1839)–1976 (1976)
SuccessorsConrail (freight)
Raritan Valley Line (passenger)
Technical
Length693 miles (1,115 kilometres)

The Central Railroad of New Jersey, also known as the Jersey Central, Jersey Central Lines or New Jersey Central (reporting mark CNJ), was a Class I railroad with origins in the 1830s. It was absorbed into Conrail in April 1976 along with several other prominent bankrupt railroads of the Northeastern United States.

The CNJ's main line had a major presence in New Jersey. Most of the main line is now used by the Raritan Valley Line passenger service. CNJ main line trackage in Phillipsburg, New Jersey became part of the Lehigh Line under Conrail.

History

19th century

CNJ's Liberty Street Ferry Terminal in New York City, c. 1900
A 1915 CNJ advertisement for service from New York City to Philadelphia

The earliest railroad ancestor of the CNJ was the Elizabethtown & Somerville Railroad, incorporated in 1831 and opened from Elizabethport to Elizabeth, New Jersey in 1836. Horses gave way to steam in 1839, and the railroad was extended west, reaching Somerville at the beginning of 1842. The Somerville and Easton Railroad was incorporated in 1847 and began building westward.

In 1849, it purchased the Elizabethtown & Somerville and adopted a new name: Central Railroad Company of New Jersey. The line reached Phillipsburg, on the east bank of the Delaware River, in 1852. It was extended east across Newark Bay to Jersey City in 1864, and it gradually acquired branches to Flemington, Newark, Perth Amboy, Chester, and Wharton.

The New Jersey Southern (NJS) began construction in 1860 at Port Monmouth. The railroad worked its way southwest across lower New Jersey and reached Bayside, New Jersey, on the Delaware River west of Bridgeton, New Jersey in 1871. The NJS came under control of the CNJ in 1879. CNJ's influence briefly extended across the Delaware River in the form of the Baltimore & Delaware Bay Railroad, from Bombay Hook, Delaware, east of Townsend, to Chestertown, Maryland. That line became part of the Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR) family in 1901.

CNJ's lines in Pennsylvania were built by the Lehigh Coal & Navigation Company as the Lehigh and Susquehanna Railroad (L&S). The main line was completed between Phillipsburg, New Jersey and Wilkes-Barre in 1866. A notable feature of the line was the Ashley Planes, a steep stretch of line (maximum grade was 14.65%) operated by cables driven by stationary engines, which remained in service until after World War II (WWII). CNJ leased the L&S in 1871. The line was extended to Scranton in 1888 by a subsidiary of the L&S, the Wilkes-Barre & Scranton; L&S leased the line upon completion and assigned the lease to the CNJ. The bulk of the traffic on the Pennsylvania lines was anthracite coal, much of it produced by subsidiaries of the railroad, until the Commodities Clause of the Interstate Commerce Act of 1920 forbade railroads to haul freight in which they had an interest.

From 1883 to 1887, the CNJ was leased to and operated by the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad, with which it formed a New York-Philadelphia route. CNJ resumed its own management after reorganization in 1887.

The primary rolling stock repair shops were located in Elizabethport, New Jersey along Trumbull Avenue. In 1901 the original shops were razed and new, concrete shops took their place, capable of servicing 430 locomotives and 20,000 freight cars annually. With the primary freight and passenger yards at Jersey City, New Jersey opposite Manhattan, a terminal and shop site was also needed in the Communipaw neighborhood. This facility was modernized in 1914 and included two roundhouses and light repair shops.

20th century

CNJ train at Plainfield station in 1910

In 1901, the Reading Company (RDG), successor to the Philadelphia & Reading, acquired control of the CNJ through purchase of a majority of its stock, and at about the same time Baltimore & Ohio Railroad (B&O) acquired control of the RDG, gaining access to New York over RDG and CNJ rails.

In 1929, CNJ inaugurated the Blue Comet, a deluxe coach train operating twice daily between Jersey City and Atlantic City. It was painted blue from the pilot of its 4-6-2 to the rear bulkhead of its observation car, and its refurbished cars offered a level of comfort much higher than the usual day coach of the era. The train was the forerunner of the coach streamliners that blossomed nationwide in the late 1930s and the 1940s. It succumbed to automobile competition in 1941. Also in 1929 CNJ purchased a 30 percent interest in the Raritan River Railroad, a 12-mile (19 km) short line from South Amboy to New Brunswick. In 1931 it acquired total ownership of the Wharton & Northern Railroad and a partial interest in the Mount Hope Mineral Railroad from Warren Foundry & Pipe Corporation.

Revenue freight traffic, in millions of net ton-miles
Year Traffic
1925 2513
1933 1511
1944 3735
1960 1948
1970 1455
Source: ICC annual reports
Revenue passenger traffic, in millions of passenger-miles.
Year Traffic
1925 480
1933 337
1944 480
1960 175
1970 124
Source: ICC annual reports

Following World War II, passenger traffic diminished, and was almost entirely commuter business, requiring great amounts of rolling stock for two short periods five days a week. Three-fourths of CNJ's freight traffic terminated on line; the railroad was essentially a terminal carrier, which meant little profit was made, if any. In addition, heavy taxes levied by the state of New Jersey ate up much of CNJ's revenue.

In 1946, the lines in Pennsylvania were organized as the Central Railroad of Pennsylvania (CRP) in an effort to escape taxation by the state of New Jersey. CNJ resumed its own operation of the Pennsylvania lines at the end of 1952. The CRP continued in existence as owner of the Easton & Western, four miles of track in Easton, Pennsylvania.

The merger between the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway and Norfolk and Western Railway proposed in 1965 sought to counter the impending PRR merger with New York Central Railroad merger was to have included CNJ, but the bankruptcy of Penn Central Transportation Company killed that prospect. CNJ drafted elaborate plans for reorganization; they came to naught as neighboring railroads collapsed. Conrail took over freight operations of the CNJ on April 1, 1976; with passenger routes transferred to the New Jersey Department of Transportation including the present New Jersey Transit North Jersey Coast Line and Raritan Valley Line.

In 1961, the Lehigh and New England Railroad was abandoned, and CNJ acquired a few of its branches and organized them as the Lehigh and New England Railroad. In 1963, Lehigh Coal & Navigation sold its railroad properties to the RDG, but the lease to the CNJ continued.

In 1964, the state of New Jersey began subsidizing commuter service, and the tax situation changed in 1967.

In 1965, CNJ and the Lehigh Valley Railroad consolidated their lines along the Lehigh River in Pennsylvania and portions of each railroad's line were abandoned; the commercial anthracite traffic that had supported both railroads had largely disappeared. CNJ operations in Pennsylvania ended March 31, 1972.

CNJ maintained a small carfloat terminal in The Bronx. It was the site of the first successful Class 1 railroad diesel operation. Over the years CNJ maintained an extensive marine operation on New York Bay, including a steamer line to Sandy Hook.

On April 30, 1967, CNJ's last marine service, the ferry line between Manhattan and CNJ's rail terminal at Jersey City, made its last run, which was also the last day for the terminal itself; the next day CNJ passenger trains began originating and terminating at the PRR station in Newark via the Aldene Connection, where New York City passengers could transfer to either PRR or Port Authority Trans-Hudson (PATH) trains.

In 1979, CNJ emerged from bankruptcy as Central Jersey Industries, later renamed CJI Industries. In 1986, it merged with the packaging company Triangle Industries, owned by Nelson Peltz.

Main initial corridors

CNJ had its northeastern terminus at Elizabethport, New Jersey. In 1864 CNJ extended its railroad across the bay into Bayonne, and north to the Jersey City terminus. It had used a succession of bridges over the years, the last being Newark Bay Bridge, demolished in the 1980s.

From Elizabethport, trains went to different corridors. One headed towards Elizabeth and Plainfield and points west and southwest. The second went south towards Perth Amboy and today's North Jersey Coast Line and different southern New Jersey destinations. CNJ operated several trains into Pennsylvania and other points west or south, in association with the RDG. B&O also used CNJ tracks for the final approach to Jersey City.

Portions still operated

Gallery

Further information: List of stations on the Central Railroad of New Jersey

Predecessor railroads

  • Buena Vista Railroad
  • Carteret & Sewaren Railroad
  • Carteret Extension Railroad
  • Cumberland & Maurice River Railroad
  • Cumberland & Maurice River Extension Railroad
  • Elizabeth Extension Railroad
  • Freehold & Atlantic Highlands Railroad
  • Lafayette Railroad
  • Manufacturers' Extension Railroad
  • Middle Brook Railroad
  • New Jersey Terminal Railroad
  • New Jersey Southern Railroad
  • Navesink Railroad
  • Passaic River Extension Railroad
  • Raritan North Shore Railroad
  • Sound Shore Railroad
  • Toms River Railroad
  • Toms River & Barnegat Railroad
  • Vineland Railroad
  • Vineland Branch Railway
  • West Side Connecting Railroad
  • West End Railroad

Named passenger trains

CNJ operated several named trains, most of which were interstate operations:

Several non-CNJ trains operated over CNJ trackage north of Bound Brook, New Jersey to the Jersey City terminal:

Heritage units

GP40PH-2 4109 enters Maplewood Station

To celebrate its 30th anniversary in 2012, Norfolk Southern painted 20 new locomotives with predecessor schemes. NS #1071, an EMD SD70ACe locomotive, was painted with the CNJ orange and blue.

In 2019, NJ Transit painted locomotive 4109 in a heritage scheme based on that of the CNJ GP40P.

See also

References

  1. ^ Drury, George H. (1994). The Historical Guide to North American Railroads: Histories, Figures, and Features of more than 160 Railroads Abandoned or Merged since 1930. Waukesha, Wisconsin: Kalmbach Publishing. pp. 56–59. ISBN 0-89024-072-8.
  2. Starr, Timothy (2022). The Back Shop Illustrated, Volume 1: Northeast and New England Regions.
  3. Alecknavage II, Albert (July 6, 2003). "Philly NRHS - Reading Company History". Retrieved 2009-12-06.
  4. ^ "Jersey Central: Coal, Commuters, and a Comet" Classic Trains, Winter 2011, archived October 6, 2013, from the original.
  5. Joseph Corso, The Central Railroad of New Jersey http://www.jcrhs.org/cnj.html
  6. "The Central Railroad of New Jersey, The Big Little Railroad" AmericanRails.com http://www.american-rails.com/central-railroad-of-new-jersey.html

Further reading

Class I railroads of North America
Current
United States
Canada
Mexico
Former
1956–present
pre-1956
Timeline
Railroads in italics meet the revenue specifications for Class I status, but are not technically Class I railroads due to being passenger-only railroads with no freight component.
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