The Blue Comet | The Seashore's Finest Train

In the 1920s, a passenger train made ultra-luxurious travel available for the middle class. Could this business model hold its own in the worst of times though?
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[@camelback5924]

never noticed the parallels between the ACES and the blue comet both being similarly launched around times economic struggle

[@CrossOfBayonne]

Hey fellow CNJ fan

[@TailsFan369no2]

What aces

[@SouthJerseyRailfan]

Pretty good video. One critique I'd like to make would be at 7:30. The RVL is a different line in the central/northern part of the state. The Atlantic City Rail Line is the route that serves AC. The Blue Comet took the CNJ Southern Division down to Hammonton, where it went onto the PRSL (now the AC line) at Winslow Junction for the final stretch to Atlantic City.

[@HighIron]

Pretty sure I made that clear when I didn't use the words, "on the same route."

[@bracdude181]

The line that this train used to reach South Jersey is still in use today. The Conrail Southern Secondary, formerly CNJs Southern Division, still sees one freight train a week. Many of the rails on the active section have been there long enough to have had the Blue Comet fly over them. In one weeks time the line will be under Chesapeake and Delaware LLC.

[@richardmcgowan8854]

I wish they brought passenger service back to that line. It could possibly alleviate traffic on route 9 and the parkway, the only thing is Atlantic City has to become a desirable destination

[@AirchimeLTDproductions174]

Fantastic production!! I've loved the Blue Comet dearly for years now and always will for it is a hallmark of the Jersey Seashore Railroads. Not to mention I've grown up along the Atlantic City Line as well. I'd also love to see you guys cover the Reading Crusader next. My personal favorite passenger rail service.

[@HighIron]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@cjstrader8171]

The Crusader was an interesting concept of its own in its time.

[@CrossOfBayonne]

Same bud

[@CrossOfBayonne]

@@Finn-Windu I like 833 seen in this vid and I hope she should make her comeback.

[@CrossOfBayonne]

@Finn-Windu I know sadly, But when time travel comes to light I'll bring back 833, She deserves second chance

[@jerseyrailbuff4147]

Amazing video, gave it a like before even fully watching. The Blue Comet will always be a favorite of mine, the state of the line from Red Bank to Winslow is in a sorry state and is now only operated twice a week by the CSAO which only goes to Lakewood

[@HighIron]

Thanks a ton!

[@Michael-eg3rs]

finally. Some coverage for the most underrated passenger train

[@TailsFan369no2]

The fact it was a name train that put the cnj on the map AND models being produced make it just above underrated

[@42Trainboy]

It’s always been my favorite train when I was younger I even have a Old sketch of the blue comet. Thank you for making this video I hope to see more historical videos like this one in the future!🇺🇸

[@DerpyPossum]

Always wanted to learn more about this train :)

[@Rexyboygamer-Vlogs]

If you saw the picture of the RDC and the station, that is Ocean City’s 10th street station. It still exists today, along with the rails and ties. Haven Avenue has rails all along it from 10th street to 52nd street. 52nd street used to have a station, where the wye was. One way would head towards tuckahoe, another towards downtown ocean city, and the other way towards sea isle which at one point had a train bridge connecting the two. Heading west towards tuckahoe, you will come across a creek with no bridge. There used to be a swing bridge there until a hurricane hit it around the 70s or 80s. The tracks go under the Garden State Parkway and then go to tuckahoe station. After having a house in OC for so many years you really learn a lot. Also, apparently there was a trolley leading across the bay from OC to the western side.

[@modelrailpreservation]

I love the Blue Comet. I have this dream of buying enough of the existing cars to recreate the train, and buying the camelback from the B&O museum to pull them. There's probably ways to get around any laws about camelback locos, if the drive rods were remanufactured out of a new material that is not prone to cracking, and the loco were fed by an automatic stoker (Animatronic fireman on the deck for visual purposes only) and the real fireman in the cab, then perhaps it might be possibe? I also dream of my own model train museum, and the idea of once a week, running the Blue Comet from Chicago, to Milwaukee, to Hartford, WI (My town) and back later to bring visitors, well, that's a dream worth having to me.

[@CrossOfBayonne]

And also if it's likely possible saving the original Pacific used on it, I want the 833 depicted in this vid and on my pfp back.

[@Railfan124]

I used to love this train a few years ago, I love how Trainz has interiors that you are (were) able to ride in.

[@jwrailve3615]

My layout is based on three branch lines that all have there terminus on the Texas coast line. I have three different wharfs and several water scenes including the bay, a barge canal a S curve through a bayou, and a river. It’s based from 1910-1935 so I enjoy smaller steam and coastal railroading

[@CrossOfBayonne]

Great vid and the Blue Comet was arguably about as New Jersey as you can get one of my favorites, It was even a Sopranos episode

[@wavesnbikes]

Bobby Bacalla having negroni, on the Dining Car... Imagine that.

[@Pyrotrainthing]

Leave it to my state to not consider saving the most unique train it had! Great video!

[@YukariAkiyamaTanks]

I've been very curious about this train for quite a while now. Thank you for the new knowledge!

[@HighIron]

Glad to help!

[@harrisonallen651]

One of the most beautiful American steam locomotives I’ve ever seen

[@paulrickman7549]

Watching the CG runbys with the Speedway At Nazareth instrumental playing on the stereo, sweet.

[@FistyMcBeef0001]

"If that train still ran New York to AC, Atlantic City would be a much different place today"

[@Jynxix]

Who really knows

[@wilsonb1121]

“Better class of people”

[@necjerseyrailfan7500]

The best named passenger train in America (my opinion)

[@TankEngineMedia]

Same

[@CarolinaSpecial-No.1397]

I've watched this many times before, seeing as I am fascinated with the Blue Comet. One coincidence is that the day it was inaugurated is also my birthday, which is pretty odd, yet ironic. It is sad none of the G3s survived, but we do at least have some of the original cars preserved, so I'm glad their at least still around.

[@matthewpowell2429]

Nice job on the video! The Blue Comet is one of my favorite trains that are considered underrated. I especially liked your use of the Trainz Simulator version to showcase it. Looking forward to future videos.

[@TailsFan369no2]

The fact it was a name train that put the cnj on the map AND models being produced make it just above underrated

[@hmhobbies]

My god, I love the blue comet so much. I’m curious to see what would the train look like if it made it to the diesel era.

[@DARTHNECRION]

Agreed! It would’ve looked simply dashing with an ALCO PA or EMD E-unit at the front.

[@EasternSeaboardProductions]

The Raritan Valley Line is from Newark, NJ to High Bridge, NJ, the Blue Comet did not even take that route, the Atlantic City Line takes part of the route.

[@CrossOfBayonne]

The 833 depicted in this video later did after the service ended

[@kenmonko5528]

I love that every episode of High Iron starts with a jump scare. /Gen

[@jimmypetrock]

nice to know more about a train that most dont know about also one the finest seaboard engines

[@HumancityJunction]

Really great video. I enjoyed the information and you did a great job with the presentation.

[@HighIron]

Glad it was helpful!

[@GreenbeanProductions]

I’m satisfied that they made a video on my home Railroads flag ship train

[@prairierailproductions6737]

The blue comet, the first good thing to come from New Jersey!! :p

[@HighIron]

Now now, we still have the John Bull to talk about... :P

[@2JZ.LEGENDS]

I love it keep up the good work and here’s a fun fact i I live in nj and I also live near the station that the blue comet would go to which was the central railroad of New Jersey terminal and Hoboken terminal so when I saw this vid I was excited keep up the great work

[@HighIron]

Thanks for the info

[@2JZ.LEGENDS]

@@HighIron no problem

[@jsgaming3248]

nice work 👏👏 thanks for the video about probably Central Railroad of New Jersey's famous train service.

[@HighIron]

Thank you very much!

[@thegoat6189]

Rip Bobby🗣️

[@berkshire4607]

This is pretty one of America's most beautiful trains

[@Bendy_devil_darling]

I have this locomotive in trainz 2 and it’s my favorite locomotive I use in that game

[@Chescat124]

As yes, the blue comet, my favorite train of all time

[@pixelcat29]

Me to

[@danielmkubacki]

Cool video and Locomotive / Train.

[@davidtull452]

The blue comet Is my favorite steam locomotive

[@floridasteamer]

Love these kinds of vids. Keep ‘em up

[@HighIron]

Thanks for watching!

[@Dannyedelman4231]

The San Francisco and St. Louis railroad, aka Frisco, had the same thing except it was just named the meteor

[@mikestudioz216]

Greetings! I’m Squidward Tentacles, Your host of Squidward Chat! Today on Squidward Chat, we’re gonna talk about one of the Central Railroad of New Jersey’s Finest Passenger Trains: The Blue Comet!

[@MiddletownBranchProd.]

bit rude, brian (bryan?) can’t help the way he speaks

[@mikestudioz216]

@@MiddletownBranchProd. I mean no offense

[@Charles-um5hd]

The NJ Transit line that runs to AC is called the Atlantic City Line. NJ Transit's Raritan Valley Line is a completely different line in northern NJ.

[@jimmypetrock]

cool awesome High Iron!

[@TailsFan369no2]

You vaguely mentioned what's left in terms of equipment: A camelback Several cars

[@crazyman762]

Great clip thanks for posting.

[@prestonhaon3500]

great as always

[@HighIron]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@MiddletownBranchProd.]

2:05 ah yes, the ol’ valley line

[@northpennvalleysteamrailroad]

Awesome video! I have O gauge blue comet engines and cars!

[@jackboy317]

Been waiting for this..

[@Braydontheconfidentengine76]

I have two hallmark blue comet ornaments, a big one and small one, sadly the big one broke during shipping (I also added this video in my presentation)

[@Guytrains]

Very nice

[@trainchugger53]

I'll never forgive N3V for fucking up the Blue Comet's locomotive textures so they don't match the cars AND not making them editable. Lovely documentary btw!

[@HighIron]

They showed screenshots of a new PBR version a while ago. Looked promising

[@trainchugger53]

@@HighIron Oh thank goodness, might get me back into Trainz once more

[@TailsFan369no2]

I still liked it

[@michaelellison]

I love blue comet blue comet is best steam engine in world

[@TankEngineMedia]

To me , I think the blue comet is one of (if not) the most beautiful locomotives I’ve ever seen

[@zachmiller9175]

The late 1920s up to the stock market crash must have been an absolutely incredible time to be alive, revolutionary technology and design at every turn.

[@SouthernRailwayProductio-rw8wb]

CNJ Is My Favorite!

[@CrossOfBayonne]

Same here, As a New Jerseyian myself I agree

[@prestonhaon3500]

Are you guys ever going to do the story of the crescent

[@BMMEC6000]

Fun fact. I was born on the 83rd anniversary of The Blue Comet’s Derailment in 1939

[@Trainboy11]

Amazing buddy I have that in Trainz driver 2

[@overly7997]

just a head's up, Penn isn't lower manhattan, it's midtown

[@Steamytheme419]

*The poster boy of trainz...*

[@TheStickCollector]

I want to ride this

[@jimmypetrock]

yes new video plus never knew

[@backonpro5679]

What route(s) did you use in your Union Pacific superpower addiction video?

[@willberestartingthischanne9984]

Nice!

[@HighIron]

Thanks!

[@SouthernerFloridain2006]

Actually when I think about it The 20th century, Broadway, Blue Comet and Crescent and few more had their own color schemes for locomotives and rolling stock, All the listed there’s like barley surviving equipment of those famous trains, for the Broadway limited you have a couple of locomotive and few rolling stock, Crescent: 1 locomotive and a few rolling stock 20th and Blue Comet just barely surviving rolling stock. I forgot about some locomotives we’re planned for future excursion service but canceled due to budget or other problems examples, 614, FEC 113 & 153, even SOU 1401 was planned for Excursion service but that already been probably explained in the 290 video, if anyone get what I’m getting at then you get it. Or Even Projects we’re planned that to bring a extinct class of Steam Locomotive (N&W 2174, NYC j3a, etc) I’m probably be annoying about this entire thing so probably doesn’t even matter at this point (Side note: So I Figure out that even Mention Southern 722 it will start a argument so probably no one don’t mention at all because some or most might agree or disagree or go full on rage from my experience)

[@paulwalter2590]

As more of a midwest railfan and modeler, I always assumed the Blue Comet was made up by Lionel.

[@jadebullet3884]

Any chance you could do a video on the Sister train to the Comet, the Bullet?

[@Interiorlineman]

Imagine. Riding in that club car sipping a Negroni.

[@traderalex1]

Don't think you have been to Atlantic City, recently. Hot travel destination? AC has had its second crash-n-born. Most of the hotels and casinos are permanently closed and the boardwalk is in disrepair. Looks more like a ghost town than a fun place even 10-12 years, ago.

[@GreatNW]

What is the small tank on the top of the front of the locomotive for?

[@JayTheTrainFan]

I Have The Blue Comet in TDJ4

[@dangerboyproductions1223]

this may be an awkward question but still Can you add a character in the san juan series called charles a pennsylvania a5 engine

[@thehind3119]

I thought the blue comet was destroyed ( we'll most of the passenger cars and tender was ) by a storm that took place before the stock market crashed ?

[@slepey_]

Where did you get the PRR engine models? K&L?

[@war9808]

If Central Railroad Of New Jersey # 810 was never scraped and put into a museum or excursion service and it could’ve worn the blue comet colors for everyone to see it

[@jimmypetrock]

High Balling Iron

[@runawaysmudger7181]

No mention of how it became Trainz' poster boy?

[@Hummelstownlines]

Where did you get that Crusader model?

[@miles_da-tractor_man]

When is the next sanjuan branch line epasode coming out

[@jacobtarchichi2373]

Finally, people realize how crucial new jersey my home state is worth for the railroading industry. PLS PIN NEWEST SUBSCRIBER

[@trainanimator8150]

can you please post more i understand you're hard working but you're one of my favorite train youtuber but still keep up hard work

[@HighIron]

Thanks, I do my best with what I can.

[@bumblingbureaucrat6110]

Have you done a video on Utah TRAX?

[@vgcq02]

Bobby Baccala was killed by this train

[@dr.trains119]

Nah the daylight the best train by the seashore

[@SouthernerFloridain2006]

I wonder a short documentary about the Southern Steam Program through its entirety?

[@HighIron]

It's already been made. It's called, "And Then There Was One."

[@SouthernerFloridain2006]

@@HighIron Oh I thought that was mainly towards 4501 but then nevermind

[@HighIron]

I might do something with it from a different standpoint, we'll see. ;)

[@ashipcrafter2440]

What happened to the San Juan branch line series

[@Arturobrito0502]

Its probably still going, idk when the next episode will come out but it will probably be when high iron can do it, in the mean time we will just have to wait.

[@Vextrix739]

Ah the Blue Comet,the few 4-6-2s i like (no offense to those who like 4-6-2s i just don't like it) it's a shame they're extinct

[@jimmymccartney2049]

Year built:1928

[@kingsleyrocketry]

compelling argument, unfortunately, in my opinion, the 20th century limited holds the spot for the best passenger train in the united states, and since my opinion is 100% factually correct, i regret to inform you that the century is better

[@HighIron]

Hot take: The Empire State Express got the better streamlining.

[@kingsleyrocketry]

@@HighIron true... but its not the century that J3a they used was hot tho i would say its better than the dreyfuss but then id be sent to NYC hell (trenton new jersey) buy henry dreyfuss himself

[@ironphilly2366]

its blue

[@PowerTrain611]

Atlantic City is a dump. You can't walk 2 blocks in that city without someone panhandling for money or a cigarette. I would know... I was homeless there as a teenager. It sucked. There's like 2 shelters in the whole state and they're both there... one for minors and one for adults.

[@CrossOfBayonne]

Unfortunately true because when I was down there it was quite dirty and grimy also hotels there have smoking rooms

[@glenm5034]

Shame on America wasted their rails ,so many rails torn up for what?