Abandoned rail

[styckx]

Took a trip to start checking out an abandoned rail line today in New Jersey along Rt 47. I was always curious about this little line and not sure if it's any of the old seashore lines or just some old freight spur down here.

I didn't do much planning and just drove straight to where I knew they were at as they've been here since I was a child.

Here is a map of the area in the photos.



Fully exploring the line is a little rough since the only access I am aware of is here. a 50mph stretch of Route 47.



I headed down the line that the camera is pointed at. I didn't get far.

Just past the intial growth it opens up into a mini little water crossing. This doesn't look built like this and nature has taken its course and eaten away any pipe that might have been under this along with land to divert water under the tracks.



I walk ahead to the brush line turn around for this shot looking back where I came from.



Crossing the street and checking out the other side you're looking at this. Lots of growth.



A little further down



It then opens up to a short little rail bridge. I decided to cross it.



And then I got stopped in my tracks (rimshot). This has been washed out over time. First gap was about 4 feet, second gap was about 4 also, then the 3rd gap was 5-6ft. Too risky to attempt a crossing. This is tidal water, no telling how deep it is.



I'm going to go through the maps and see if I can intersect this old line somewhere else and go do some more exploring along it.

[Trainguy76]

That's some pretty cool stuff!

[qrfan3]

Great photos there Bill..... , now that's what I call railfanning.....
There would be some history on them there rails and do hope you track the line down to a possible road name.

Nicely done!!!

[styckx]

It's not super old. You can tell by the condition of the ballast and ties and such. I'm thinking this was let go within the past 20 years. Athough, I've never once in 33 years of my life ever seen a train run on this line. It was semi recently the road was finally paved over the tracks. That bridge is known as the BricksBoro bridge.

Looking at the map and following the line north, I found cars. About 2 miles up line, which shortly converge with another set of double rail track.

click for full size

Bottom circle is where I was at, top circle is where train cars appear.



Going south, 2 miles also, I lose the line as it turns into a road of some sort. No idea if the road followed the line or not, the road shortly ends up running into a heavily housed area. This is the last area I lose definite signs of the line though.

Map showing where I was (top) to where I last lose track of the line. (bottom)

Thumbnail



Close up of EOL. You can see how I was tracking the tree line above the circle.

Thumbnail

[dejoh]

Nice shots. I always find this subject intresting. I'm surprised the rails weren't removed, as they are a very valuable resource
and much sought after.

[styckx]

Bingo! Found out exactly what this is after some digging and googling I finally found the page I was looking for that had all the answers.

According to the SPV atlas, this line was originally the West Jersey & Seashore, later the Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines, and more recently the northern portion was run by the Winchester & Western. The line roughly paralleled the eastern bank of the Maurice River, from Manumuskin south to the Delaware Bay at the small port town of Maurice River.

The rails are mostly still in place in the middle segment from Bricksboro south through Mauricetown to Dorchester, but they are severely deteriorated. The line was likely used to haul sand and gravel.

The line was likely abandoned in stages, from the 1950s to the 1980s.

http://www.abandonedrails.com/Manumuski ... rice_River

[styckx]

What a fun day exploring. I returned back to further explore this old abandoned line. And even got an awesome surprise to end the day. Most of the shots I had to shoot in full automatic. The horseflies and other various bugs trying to bite me made me flap my arms and run like a sissy a few times. ;)

I first decided to head south of my previous location where the rail bridge was.

About 1 mile from the rail bridge I traveled to the first street crossing for signs of the line. Surprisingly there was a lot left.



This is what appeared to be a diverging track, to the left is a still intact track with ties etc showing.



To the left of the previous shot



This was sitting near that diverging track. No idea what it is, never seen one before. Looks like an electric ship moaring.



Heading further south driving around a lot of forest I stop where the tracks pop back out. Coincidentally enough the road these tracks disappear into is called RailRoad Ave. This is also the last place I'm aware of any sign of the rails.



Traveled down railroad avenue for what seemed like 2-3 miles until it came to a dead end. I then traveled where they should have emerged and found nothing. Behind me is a dirt road and not designed for automobiles. Looks like park ranger access via ATV or something.



Map location



I had to drive down to the marina and back around to see where the trail behind me in the previous shot lead to. This is all a wildlife area now. Rangers and such. No signs left of the track here.



Map location. Interesting thing is. The tell tale sign of a diverging junction is between these two spots.



Next post.. Heading North of the rail bridge!

[styckx]

Heading north of the rail bridge I again drive to where I should if there are any left see signs of the track still, and indeed there is.





Then I turn around where the tracks cross a dirt road and see this. The literal EOL for what's left of this spur.

I didn't want to follow the tracks much further on foot. This is the type of area where someone will definitely notice your car parked on the side of the road. No place close by to park and walk. These weren't rotting but did appear as they've been sitting a bit.








I then drove up north to where this line met up and converged into another set of rail.

The diverging track to the right leads down to where I just was and down through the abandoned sections. This is a yard of some sorts and by the condition of the rail has been used frequently. Athough these ties and ballast have seen much better days in the area the cars are parked although a pile of new ties sits nearby and looks as if they've already replaced them up to the switch.





These things look incredibly clean and new. Minor graffiti but everything else was like it just came out of the shop recently.

[styckx]

From there I decide to drive about 6 miles down line which is the next closest access point.

Looking south down towards where I just came from.



What's left of the diverging track from the previous shot on the other side of the road.



Looking north is a string of Petroleum tank cars. This whole end of the track appears to be a very extended yard.



Ready to go home I decided one last stop to get a drink. About 2 miles north I head for Millville and stop at a laundry mat which had a parking lot right next to the line. I get out of my car to check the condition of the rail and see.. A TRAIN! And holy heck, it's not a big railroad. Woohoo for the little guy. But.. It's heading away from me and the tell tale hood of a Geep! Awesome



My train chasing instincts kick in and I try to cut it off on the opposite end. I Indeed cut it off but.. It's stopped at an industry that no matter what I couldn't figure out how to get to. I'm at a stand still. I break out the zoom lens to see if I can identify it at all. Nope, I do find out though it's got a loco front and back and can't from this distance figure out what the power was on the back end.



It kept its lights on which led me to believe it wasn't staying there for a crazy period of time and knew there was only one way it was going since a string of tankers blocked the other way. I decided to wait it out. 2hrs passed and I'm growing tired. Sitting in the laundry mat parking lot I get out for one last look down the line to see if this thing is coming yet. DITCH LIGHTS ON! About time! Switch camera to manual mode and set it up.

Out from the trees appears a stunning GP9 highhood!





Then the trailing.... UNITS? TWO? Another GP9 high hood and a low hood to go with it. WOW.





I have no idea why they had 3 units running a train that was at most 12 cars in length. I'm not complaining though how often do you get to see a GP9 doing its thing still, let alone 3 of them all on one train and both variants to boot? Nevermind it was a little shortline and the paint job was classic old school styling. Incredible!

[arizonachris]

He he he, looks like you were chasing rails that day, Sty. Nice pics. Nice Geep, too. A GP9 is far and few between. And the livery, " Winchester and Western" very unusual. Good work, bro.

[Trainguy76]

That is amazing, good storytelling too.

[qrfan3]

Ditto on Alex & Chris comments...one of the best threads I've followed and enjoyed in a while....
You done a lot of foot work....maybe a silica sand and gravel small shortline route down to the river area for barges in the making there Bill ?.....

[styckx]

Thanks all! I always knew tracks ran through Millville, I just never knew it was all part of that abandoned section I explored. Also never knew it was a shortline.

From my reading that shortline runs from the initial set of hoppers I found (near the dirt road) which is part of a silca/sand company, up to a transfer/yard where it's part of the Conrail Shared Assets line, then CSX takes things from there. So that little shortline runs all the little back industry buried in the area to basically hand it off to CSX.

Their wiki also backs up your thoughts also.

The W&W is exclusively a freight line with the majority of its freight supplied by the quarry of its parent company, Unimin, in Gore. In New Jersey, the W&W also serves Unimin sand interests and some grain traffic.

Interesting read. They have survived through times when most of these old lines were eaten up by the big boys, and they're actually growing.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winchester ... n_Railroad

All and all, I had a blast exploring and retracing the now abandoned section except the bastard horseflies. I would love to walk the old line into the forests but between the bugs, ticks, and horseflies.. No thanks ;)

From nothing, to abandoned, to an operating shortline. Fun travels!

[pikehkr]

Where the heck is Millville?

Great find, great story! Reminds me of getting stuck in the woods of Batsto and going horseback riding with my Sister. Those flies are not right.

Will we be seeing some repaints in WW colors soon?

pikehkr

[ex-railwayman]

You're a regular Sherlock Holmes, Bill. All that sneeking around and hours sitting waiting in the car bore a lot of fruit at the end of the day, I bet you were as pleased as punch to see 3 locos in such pristine condition and knowing the fact that part of the line is still in use today. Well done young man.

So, now you have a new route to build and locomotives to reskin accordingly, you'd better get cracking then.....

Cheerz. ex-railwayman.