The LOST Central Railroad of New Jersey - The Story of NJ's Forgotten Trains - IT'S HISTORY

[@zach1810]

As a resident of Central NJ I cant get enough of your NYC and NJ episodes. Keep it going. There is so much history to be told here.

[@alanthefisher]

Thanks for covering this, it would be great if NJ transit reactivated the Blue Comet line! Its a shame that alot of the CNJ right of ways have been grown over or lost completely.

[@Robloxity_News]

Nice to see you here Alan...

[@soeasilynoticed]

@Jersey Railfan 104. It's also mostly single track lines now with a single freight train on Thursday nights. Much of the area along the right of way is full of NIMBYs who would never let it activate again. The long forgotten proposed MOM railway could use this if it could of just got the approval, demand and funding

[@gunrunner7224]

@@soeasilynoticed also to add most of the track is in horrible condition with the max speed being 15mph max and several sections have no ties and a spike every 2 ties in some places. Where the tracks cross 547 into Lakewood there is a section of track that is floating above the ties and not supported im betting on a derail by summer at the latest.

[@Westerner78]

NJ Transit is a bus company with a few train routes. They have no interest in expanding service on their own. They run 230 bus lines. The name says it all./

[@_SP64_]

@Jersey Railfan 104 not to mention the restoration of the Lackawanna Cut Off

[@anthonybranca1800]

I grew up in Hoboken and lived in Cranford. Now in South Plainfield I often take day trips to Liberty State Park. That terminal is now a wonderful museum.

[@tpdabomb3]

Cranford gang

[@pupusalandia7079]

I am from Linden

[@samanthab1923]

Beautiful. Parents lived in Sleepy Hollow in Plainfield.

[@itsjohndell]

Secaucus here, now Arizona.

[@noblehillministerprophet8689]

Funny name Hoboken?

[@MrSloika]

I was born in Jersey City but grew up in Bergen County. When I was a boy there was abandoned rail infrastructure scattered all over the state. Most of it has since been bulldozed and cut up for scrap. It's amazing how much America just throws away.

[@helbent4]

If something like a railroad outlives its usefulness, then you may as well recycle the steel and bulldoze the tracks so you can develop the space. Otherwise, what else are you going to do with obsolete rail?

[@mirzaahmed6589]

Why wouldn't they? No one was riding the trains. Are they supposed to keep the tracks and bridges just for show?

[@mirzaahmed6589]

@@helbent4 these railfans have no sense of reality.

[@helbent4]

@@mirzaahmed6589 You know what, I'll walk back my comment just a little. Some disused rail lines and bridges can be converted to recreational use. By all means, keep some of the more picturesque or useful infrastructure. But it shouldn't all be sacrosanct.

[@marcbuisson2463]

​@@helbent4 You can use them to develop the cities and the region? Like, in Paris in the 70's, we reupgraded many of our old 19th century raillines, and made them cross the city. It became the RER and those that don't cross the city are the transiliens. They have their own problems, but something like line A moves 1.3 million people daily.

[@darylreed7771]

Born and raised in Toms River. Lovin all this Jersey history. I remember fishing and jumping off those old railroad bridges as a kid. Too much fun and a lot of great memories. Great channel my man, keep the Jersey stories coming!

[@Cha-y412]

If you are talking about the remains of the RR bridge from Bayville across the Barnaget Bay to Seaside Park, that bridge belonged to the Pennsylvania RR.

[@PowerTrain611]

I grew up in forked river, by the remains of what I believe was the Tuckerton railroad. There an old wooden trestle in town still standing that people use to jump from into the water. The rest of the old right of way is still clearly visible behind the ShopRite too. It's now a dirt path.

[@sirbrigit]

Grew up in Waretown, that's the Cedar Creek trestle bridge just east of Hebrew Park. Most of the right-of-way has been converted into a Rail Trail from Bayville to Barnegat. There is still some freight service into Lakewood. In the early 2000's the rails were restored into Lakehurst for Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst to use in removal of contaminated soil from the old Hercules(?) Missile base that had a fire back in the 60's and contaminated the area with Plutonium.

[@PowerTrain611]

@@sirbrigit That's the one! Hebrew park! Gosh it's been so long since I've been there, I've forgotten the name. It's been over a decade, maybe I'm due for a visit.

[@jayson7136]

Bayville kid here the replaced the old Barneget Branch Trussel in Lacey Bayville border with a walking/biking bridge, was a year late to jumping off the old one but the new one is still sick. Happened maybe about 4-5 years ago. Loved spending my middle school years biking that trail

[@Catwoman1464]

I really admire the Americans for their railroad pioneering, Greetings from Germany :)

[@robaitken4592]

We could say the same of Germany and its operation as the rail crossroads of Europe - Cheers from New Jersey

[@andyrob3259]

There’s nothing pioneering about not maintaining a track for 30 years so it bends and warps more than a roller coaster but STILL run trains over them.

[@Zebred2001]

Why? The British invented railways. Everybody else got theirs from them (and much else of the modern world)!

[@charleswidmore5458]

look up bridgeton nj and the influence on industry and science it had back in the day for a fun read they had built the machines which built the machines which built the very large rail equipment there. a very rich european investment group came in and bought all of it and shipped it off to europe. a bit on magnetic recording and henry fords camping buddies is also involved in that cities history

[@ManvilleMatt]

The Clinton Station diner has a car from the blue comet attached to it that they serve patrons in.

[@thomaschew2191]

The Clinton Station Diner is located right off I-78 in Clinton east of Phillipsburg

[@arielfilmsinc1926]

@@thomaschew2191 AND THOSE BIG HAMBURGERS

[@2pugman]

@@arielfilmsinc1926 Great food !

[@Trainfan1055Janathan]

They've been talking about extending NJ Transit to Phillipsburg, Easton, Bethlehem and Allentown since 2015. So far, all they've done is repaint repaint the bridge where the old Easton Station was. I think they also installed lighting in the exterior.

[@samanthab1923]

Amtrak had a meeting about reopening the Cut-off in Stroudsburg last week.

[@wooiiin7281]

My god father and father both work for transit told me about this. They are low on train equipment, workers due to covid and they’ve been wanting to do this put they are also low on money. Transit also won’t stop the Atlantic City line for odd reasons. My god father said they’ve gotten the clear to build more track and also own all that track on the valley line but transit is just too lazy

[@wooiiin7281]

And also transits plan is from what I’ve heard is to make Allentown express stopping at Easton Bethlehem philipsburg and going straight to raritin Plainfield dunellen roselle park Westfield Union Newark and New York

[@jacobbuxton932]

Yeah that’s true, that’s all they’ve done so far

[@davideddings2385]

@@wooiiin7281 I've been looking into this but can't find any recent information on it considering reinstating the nj transit stop in Phillipsburg. Where did you hear this from

[@debanam]

Thank you so much for covering NJ. I would love it if the trains started running again. We have dead tracks and old stations that would be wonderful if reactivated.

[@FromSagansStardust]

The Newark Bay Bridge was a lift bridge, not a swing bridge. I grew up in Bayonne, my grandfather was an engineer and retired in 1967 from the Jersey Central.

[@eileencoffey6657]

I think the video states the original bridge was a 2 track swing bridge and replaced by the 4 track lift bridge sometime in the early 20th century. It would make sense, The longest railroad lift bridge in the world is across the Kill van kull to Staten Island, that is a replacement for a swing bridge that was originally there.

[@FromSagansStardust]

@@eileencoffey6657 I must have missed that, and yes, it makes sense. Sure wish my grandpops was still around, so many things I wish I could ask him about!

[@str8alphamale]

@@eileencoffey6657 I wonder is this was the bride that old time New York Yankee player Snuffy Stirnweiss was killed on coming from N.J. to Ny.

[@JJNJ49]

@@str8alphamale Yes that was the bridge. 48 people died in that disaster.

[@jackcraig4268]

@@JJNJ49 In 1958.

[@michaelgabriel7919]

I grew up in Union Co. and according to a history written of the area (Along The Upper Road by Jean Turner) there was an old incomplete rail line (bankrupted)... that was supposed to run from Newark southward towards Rahway. According to the history... they stopped construction somewhere along the planned route. As a teenager I found a half dozen badly corroded iron 'blobs' along an old embankment... I later determined they were old railroad spikes. As far as I know that old embankment is still there... in an area of land completely enclosed by residential properties. As a teenager I was fascinated by archeology... and that area screamed (even to a young and inexperienced youth) that this little depression... had been radically changed by humans. If you look at the sides of the depression they are irregular and 'natural looking' slopping down to the lowest point... but the embankment is an almost straight line... cutting across the depression... at a fairly consistent level. This embankment ends abruptly in our backyard (my father told me a previous owner had leveled the area) and doesn't exist beyond our yard. From the look of it... it seems the work stopped in our yard... and the natural contours (beyond our yard) continues on. I've aways wondered what might be buried under all of that overgrowth and decades of decomp. As far as I know the space is public owned... and should be accessible for investigating. The area is in Hillside NJ... and is defined by Clark St on the south, Munn Ave on the west, Morris Place on the east, and Williamson Ave on the north. My old home was 1523 Munn Ave.

[@biglittlerailroad874]

Possibly a video on one of the more hidden and obscure railroads in New Jersey. The Lehigh & Hudson River Railway, which served as a bridge route for multiple railroads between Philipsburg, NJ and Maybrook, NY.

[@frankjonathan8043]

Great story of the CNJ. Did anyone else notice that at 11:58 "Jersey" is misspelled?

[@ibrown3KC]

The Blue Comet got Bobby Bacala whacked! If he wasn't playing with toy trains he'd have been aware of the danger he was in!

[@getyourshinebox3900]

It's his hobby. Why you gotta belittle it?

[@tomf.2327]

My great grandma worked there as a car cleaner for decades. After it stopped being in use, they would have some events there. I remember after the Berlin Wall fell, they had parts of the wall on display at the terminal along items that people used to escape (a car with the car seat inside cut out to hide someone for example). Great place and hopefully it can open up again at some point!

[@RoadTripTelevisionNJ]

The Whippany Train Museum is located in the Township of Hanover, Morris County, New Jersey. Great place to visit! 👌

[@chrisscerbo5731]

I really like these history videos especially the ones from New jersey. I never knew about most of these things. Great work

[@jerseyjoyride1316]

This is why I like walking. In some places where you drive by constantly there are things you'll never see unless you walk. I've only started recording my walks and adventures in New Jersey. Recently I was walking on 46 in Totowa and came across the railroad tracks that are next to the LensCrafters. I'd almost forgotten that those railroad tracks used to run across the highway there!

[@GreenbeanProductions]

I love it how you cover my favorite railroad and home railroad, there is actually a abandoned CNJ line behind my house and the old CNJ station at Elizabeth where the Northeast Corridor is

[@BuChan89]

I grew up in Neptune City, NJ in Monmouth County. It's the hometown of Jack Nicholson and Danelectro Guitars. Currently living in Aomori, Japan. Would love to see a rise and decline and revival of Asbury Park video in the future. Love this channel.

[@terrisomers7843]

Many miles of different railroad tracks up in Sussex and Warren Counties have had the rails, ties and ballast removed and have been turned into the Rails to Trails program. Before that those of us who were avid horseback riders used them. You could go all day and many miles. They were beautiful.

[@kevinkern2149]

The CNJ terminal in Jersey City isn't really "abandoned." As the video notes, it's used as the departure point for the ferries to Ellis and Liberty Islands (one of the original ferry slips was restored for this purpose). The head house itself is in good shape, having been restored and recently repaired after damage caused by Hurricane Sandy. The platform area is indeed reclaimed by nature, and the tracks (with one exception) are long gone, but the train shed also looks to be in pretty good shape. The combination makes for some striking photos as seen here. For an idea of how this terminal would operate in its heyday, visit the nearby Hoboken Terminal, built by the DL&W; it's still in use as an intermodal facility for trains, ferries, trollies (light rail), buses, and rapid transit. PATH, nee the Hudson & Manhattan, was supposed to link all the NJ railroad terminals on the west bank of the Hudson with NYC, and while it did connect to the terminals of the PRR (Exchange Place), Erie (Newport), and DL&W, the plans to extend it south to the CNJ never came to fruition. This likely saved the terminal from demolition as it made abandonment easier than redevelopment, which destroyed the PRR and Erie terminals.

[@Voucher765]

Yes the Communipaw terminal is now a museum and part of Liberty State Park, The Lackawanna one in Hoboken is the last one still in use in its original purpose with NJ Transit.

[@Robloxity_News]

Lackawanna cutoff next please...

[@jerseystrongg2g352]

Thank you Ryan, that was great history right there. Jersey Strong.

[@keith8758]

Grew up in Highlands and Toms River, always fascinated by NJ's railroad history. Thanks for posting.

[@samanthab1923]

When we were kids being driven to the beach club in Sea Bright guys used to job off that 36 bridge. We’d be stopped to have it open for the sailboats & they’d be climbing all over in their cut offs 😂

[@FirstnameLastname-qc3xx]

Im from south Jersey (near glassboro). Usually whenever I hear history stories about NJ it’s always relative to north.

[@thomaschew2191]

I grew up in Belmar in the 1960s and we rode the New York and Long Branch all the time for something to do. One time taking a CNJ passenger train south to Bay Head the conductor let us stay on the train as it went around the loop. We got out and chatted with the crew that refueled the locomotive. It was a very nice gesture I was probably about 12 or 13. This was sometime around 1970. Both the CNJ and Pennsylvania RR ran passenger trains on the NYLBRR the Pennsylvania were pulled by A-B-A E-7s I think they were, the CNJ a single diesel. The ride quality and the interiors of the Pennsylvania coaches were far superior. My Dad told us on more than one occasion to appreciate the locomotives in PA red and the Keystone placard on the front because their days were numbered. Sometime around 1972 a trainman gave me a PennCentral lapel pin which is of course lost to time. I do however have 2 Pennsey and 1 CNJ kerosene signal lanterns one of them (Pennsylvania) was given to my Dad when he was a kid by a NYLBRR trainman. Grandpop owned a Diner in Belmar and this guy ate there often. This would have been in the late 1930s early 40s.

[@PoconoMountaineer405]

you forgot the other surviving CNJ car, clinton station diner has one, and the last steam engine to pull the blue comet is at the B&O its a 4-4-2C

[@thomaspaccione7214]

Is that the one on Rt 78? Are you sure it was a Blue Comet coach?

[@edwinsalau150]

They tore down the station in South Toms River!What a disgrace! The station in Beachwood was a library when I was a kid! There was a station in Seaside also!

[@LTMarhman]

That's sad. I grew up Hunterdon Co btw Clinton and Flemington during the 80s and early 90s but have NJ roots in South Jersey going back to late 19th Century. I recognize a lot of the pictures and trains, and knew parts of this history but embarrassingly couldn't put a timeline history together like this! I remember the Toms River station (had close friend that lived there). Nostaligic for NJ now!

[@samanthab1923]

Whitehouse Station on the Raritan Valley Line has their town library in the station.

[@reneesalazar1431]

I grew up in Bayonne. Spent 37 years there. Left only 2 years ago. But I'm still in NJ.

[@johnstraley9057]

My Grandfather started as an Oiler with the Central RR, then operated a roundhouse turntable on 12 hour shifts. Finished his career as Chief Engineer of the Central RR powerhouse on the Jersey City waterfront, where the coal dumper operated.

[@dacechasinghawk3910]

I like to listen to Ryan Socash's narration. Reminds me of a dude I knew in Junior High School and High School who was a smart book worm type of guy who never got teased or bullied because he was such a likable guy. His reports were so detailed that even the kids who normally wouldn't pay attention? Like myself, LOL would be at the edge of our seats. This "It's History" Channel has become one of my favorites. I've been to Detroit for "Youmacon" anime convention. And always wondered about the Booker Building. That was the most unique building I ever seen. So I loved Ryan's take on what a great work of Architecture it is.

[@drscopeify]

Fantastic video as always! I think a great video idea is the Milwaukee Road, the largest electrified rail network in the world for many decades and they decided to extend the network from Chicago to Seattle at absolutely insane effort, through Montana, Idaho and Washington which at the time was as remote as it gets in 1901, not only did they cross the Rockies and build the still in use today: Cascade tunnels in the Cascades in WA state, but the entire line was Electrified too!! They built power plants and electric switching stations in the middle of the most remote parts of the country, up and down mountains, bridges, steep grades and so on. I have visited some of what is left of the network such as bridges still today marked with Milwaukee Road logos, I have some cool photos, as well as the remaining power transfer station that still stand or today are museums.

[@peterfitzpatrick8960]

My grandfather worked for this RR. My father played on a semi-pro baseball team in Port Reading NJ, in the 1930's called the Blue Comets.

[@prof.michaelnetta6311]

My grandfather worked for the Central Railroad. Union county has had plans to reactivate the line as a light rail from Plainfield to port Elizabeth and put in a ferry terminal. Safe to say those plans have not been acted on.

[@stanpolchinski8956]

bochie said she lived in port Elizabeth, whole town 's area is now just a r.r. cross x in the Middle of no where!?. saw an image of the r.r. crossing in a r.r. magazine years ago. magazine came out of brookfield? in Wisconsin.?

[@gonzoengineering4894]

It's almost painful to hear about the amazing rail access we used to have

[@jackchen7003]

We used to have the best railroads in the world. This country is just a declining shit hole

[@joeruiz4010]

@@jackchen7003: All because the Auto Industry and Federal Government colluded on the Federal Highway Program. That's why the Private Sector Railroads went bankrupt and into Fallen Flags.

[@Davids_Hobbies]

I live along the Morris & Essex line and at the end of January, I saw the New Jersey Transit CNJ Heritage Locomotive 4109, a GP40PH-2, at my local train station. Edit: I love the Whippany Railway Museum. It's only a 20-30 minute drive for me which is awesome.

[@richlaue]

Today, having been replaced by the Parkway and Turnpike, there is very little railroad coverage in the state. Even the busses have limited coverage.

[@MarineRecon6682]

I grew up in Jersey City and visited the train station so many times I just truly can't believe the decay of it. I think the last time I was there was around 1991 yes all of the buildings are beautiful and of course all the track is long gone. Thank you for bringing this video to me I very much enjoyed it considering that I lived all over the state of New Jersey

[@kurtmuller6750]

I grew up in South Jersey. Far fewer trains there but still, this is incredibly cool information.

[@jeffg.8964]

There's an old VHS tape, "The Big Little Railroad." Bought it decades ago but can't find it any longer. Was a nice show.

[@Bill-in3cn]

both my grandfather and great grandfather worked for the central railroad on freight trains for a combined time of over 90 years, heard some stories over the years.

[@RCAvhstape]

I can't look at that Blue Comet train without thinking about Bobby's demise.

[@jetsons101]

Was this part of the line that went up to Ramsey? Thanks for your time and effort. Nothing like "high" taxes to kill jobs. Thanks again......

[@fantailspringdale]

No, the line to Ramsey was the Erie Railroad.

[@donkensler]

Thanks. I grew up in South Jersey, and the quickest route from my house to the shore went through Chatsworth in the Pinelands, where the road took a right, went over some railroad tracks, then went left. I was curious about the tracks as a kid, and only later learned they were part of the CNJ and that the Blue Comet had traveled over those tracks through Chatsworth. I've long since moved from NJ, but enjoy reading about NJ's hitory.

[@billylozito1789]

Hi could you do a episode on history of the Lackawanna cutoff built by the DL&W?

[@JerseyJeff84]

I'm a South Jersey native, born & bred. I love history, especially about places I have lived or been. Never know or heard about this railroad. So cool!

[@charlescrawford7039]

One of the steam locomotives that were regularly seen on the Central Railroad of New Jersey (CNJ)were Camelbacks. This type of locomotive had the engineer's cab placed in the center of the locomotive and straddling the boiler thus giving the locomotive a hump profile. The fireman and engineer were separated because the unique configuration. The large fireboxes allowed for the burning of readily available cheap culm (anthracite coal waste). A remaining CNJ camelback can be seen at the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Museum. It is CNJ No. 592 with a 4-4-2-wheel arrangement. Since the CNJ had extensive commuter service which terminated at the Hudson River facility, the company acquired six double cab diesel locomotives (Baldwin DRX-6-4-2000) which eliminated the need to turn around each locomotive at Jersey City.

[@Cha-y412]

There is a Camelback on Rt 30 in Absecon NJ in front of a Harley Davidson dealership. Located less the 1/4 mile from the Garden State Parkway. Ive never stopped to see it , Im guessing a NJC or PRR Camelback.

[@kevinjennerproductions2024]

@@Cha-y412 That is an 0-4-0t Saddle Tank switcher that used to work for the Philidelphia Navy Yard. It was USN 3, It did not run for CNJ or PRR

[@OriginalBongoliath]

At least the memory lives on with many Blue Comets and the CNJ for that matter surviving on model train layouts across the country.

[@sarasotasage6135]

It's not called "The" Conrail. It's just called Conrail.

[@Boxpok]

I caught that too

[@UsedNapkin458]

0:10 so what you’re saying is what it lacked in length, it made up for in girth 😳

[@chrisscerbo5731]

They need to bring back some of these lines to help with traffic. Just think all these less cars on the road from these trains running again

[@skippermatt7939]

I inherited my grandfather's vintage Lionel Blue Comet from the 80s. I've always wanted to see a color photo of the real train.

[@paulw.woodring7304]

A Lionel Blue Comet set was part of the plot of one of the last episodes of "The Sopranos", titled "The Blue Comet". Many, many trains were harmed in the making of that episode. You can see the relevant scene here on YT under "The Sopranos, Bobby Gets Wacked". Truly some great cinematography of a mobster meeting his untimely demise in a model train store as he was just about to spend some big bucks on said Lionel train set, but one from the 1950s.

[@Michaelengelmann]

“What it lacked in length” is something I’ll hear but not with trains

[@williamschlenger1518]

1976 they ran the Blue Comet from north Jersey to Bay Head I got some great photos behind Monmouth Park racetrack.

[@docnecrotic]

This was local history during my childhood. Thanks for covering this.

[@anthonysaggio6551]

What a great story i love railroad history especially in NJ

[@kirkstinson7316]

So many trains went to Philipsburg back then. It was probably an affluent town. Shame what it's become

[@markiewodi3371]

I sooooo love your channel!! Keep it up!

[@pbernikier7028]

As a resident of the New Jersey in one of the towns along the railroad, I can just say that you missed one important point. Although it is not necessarily integral to your video I feel it would be important to point out that a large part of the railroad is still used for freight. It has never been upgraded and the logistics are terrible but I live in a small town and every Thursday night traffic in our town comes to standstill because a freight train comes through...

[@krisjeff97]

Originally from Long Valley. I believe the High Bridge portion of the CNJ line ran through LV (German Valley) at the time. Super interesting. Thanks for this.

[@timosha21]

Ding ding! I'm a tram and I approve this video! Great footage!

[@karldammann]

Excellent content.

[@LTMarhman]

Grew up in Hunterdon County. Thanks for this!

[@samanthab1923]

Go see the Black River & Western in Ringoes & Phillipsburg has a nice ride along the river.

[@JohnLounsberry-z4u]

If you ever get back to Winslow Jct, the first Railroad Bridge you come to off of County Rte 561 was the Atlantic City RR. The train derail taking a switch lined upto go south. The train rolled over onto the West Jersey & Seahore Railroad, which was owned by the Pennsylvania Railroad. After the merger of the ACRR and WJ&S to form the Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore in 1933. Most of the ACRR line was removed from Winslow Jct to Atlantic City.

[@ronalddevine9587]

Fascinating video. Lionel, whose factories were in New Jersey made a few "Blue Comets." Any chance of doing a video on the New Haven Railroad?

[@PhilliesNostalgia]

At least the Raritan Valley Line and North Jersey Coast Line have been used by NJ Transit and part of the HBLR uses tracks that the CNJ had once used

[@Paddyboro]

Nice subtle bit of Satie there fella, quality upload as per, cheers bud.

[@richardhoff1626]

As a young boy, my mother took us on a trip to New York on one of the last runs of the ferry from the Jersey City terminal to lower Manhattan. My father used to love taking taking the ferry every day to his office. The PATH was not so enjoyable (even back when it was reliable).

[@billsonsin7547]

My father rode the CNJ between Westfield and JC daily when he worked in lower Manhattan (1955 - 1966). They had "club cars" on each of the commuter trains which were air conditioned (most of the coaches were not) and bar service in the evenings. Trains from Wfld JC were express trains. Still remember the fights between the commuters and the RR people when they proposed routing the trains into Penn Station in Newark (the Aldene Plan) which they ultimately did after he retired. Whole system is part of NJ Transit now.

[@richlaue]

They are working on restoring a section between Lakehurst and the Woodmansie section of Woodland Townshiplp for use by Clayton Sand.

[@williamgerkens573]

Lot of dirt biking in that area back in the early 70s. When the pinelands were unrestricted. Rode all up and down that line around Chatsworth.

[@1shakirphilippe1]

Grew up in Union County. *Fascinating video :)*

[@soulman4292]

“If that train still ran New York to AC…… Atlantic City would be a different place today” That’s about all I know about this train pre-video.

[@therevolvingmonk]

Imagine sitting in the club car, sipping on a Negroni.

[@ibrown3KC]

Bobby would still be alive if it wasn't for the Blue Comet and his toy train collection addiction.

[@louislamonte334]

I just love the Central RR of New Jersey!!

[@brettlopez1291]

Hey? Ryan. Thank you for your video. I was Liberty State Park in around 1977. And again aroumd sevetal times 1978 and 1979. I was at a train show. With my friend Jim Emnerly. He had jims custome trains..I go with him as his helper It was fun. I then started selling at train show on my own.i was at Libberty State park just befor 911 ywin tower attack. 1996. 1997. 1999. 2001. I sold at the yrain show. It was much different then time period of 1977 1978 1979. The station had slight decay. The tails were in tact in the 1977 1978 1979. I temember Ywo Peensy GG1,S Were on display. A couple of steam engines. E8,s and some other old time engines. They jad a excursion out of Libberty State Park.. we thought thecsyeam engine was heading to Bay Head. But detered to the western part of nj. We met that night at our train club. In the old Elberone train station in Elberone Nj. So we went up to the show. I stayed with my friend jim emmerly. To.help him out. He made jersey central railroad cammelbacks. He took mantua camnelbacks. Replace the motors with pennlinebowsers motors.. I have 12 of his cteations. And they still run. Some are 1 of kinds. He had a CNJ RR 2_8_0 Consalidation. He made a pennsylvania rr DOODLE BUG. E3. And jersey Central rr Double ender. I have the cnj rr #774# camelback. And 5 CNJ RR ABA F3ABA,S. Sets. Their Athern Bluebox kits. Custome painted. Tanaged orange and Blue. Jims models still run great. Any way. Im a admin to 3 groups about the jersey central rr. Thank you for your video. Ot brought me back to 1977 1978 1979. It was awsome. I understand that the state dose not want to spend the money to restore the station. I hrard a fumkor. That light rail comes in. I know the ferrys still run. I loved going to Liberty Park jersey city nj. I own a original coppy of jersey central railroads. VHS. The Big Little Railroad. Its awsome. Your video is better. Do you sell DVDS Of your video. How much for each one?. Id like to buy please. Brett L.

[@ITSHISTORY]

Hey there, no DVDs but these videos should stay up on KZbin and Facebook so you can share it with your friends. It must have been something to work at they rail yard!

[@americansaxon2101]

15:22 I remember Conrail in Cleveland! THAT'S MY CITY! WOOO!

[@bryanm2021]

I work for New Jersey transit track dept. From 80’s to now it is a complete different railroad

[@larrydimeo650]

WE WANT MORE JERSEY HOSTORY! THANK YOU!

[@larryjohnson6385]

We must not forget about the Morris canal which crossed north NJ from the Delaware to the Hudson rivers… I grew up in Port Murray which was a beautiful little town, and famous for the Dairy PM milk What great memories 👍

[@robertcramer117]

My grandfather (Bishop Smith) was one of the Blue Comet Engineers. I met him in the mid Fifties and was to young to know what a historic icon he was. I have some of his memorabilia but to this day have always wondered if there was a dish-ware pattern unique to the Blue Comet. Any help or pictures would truly be appreciated. Ate at the “Clinton Station Diner” this past week. Living history. Thanks

[@doctordeath.5716]

I love the history of the railroads and I am a big into trains and passenger trans and are you able to do more videos on trains and the different railroads in the United states please Ryan, I really appreciate and enjoy your videos and I am glad I came across your KZbin channel.

[@mellowyellow6572]

My town has a plaque marking where the town’s train station used to be. There’s even still a railway bridge, albeit without the rails.

[@hemsurvival3413]

Same here In Mays Landing

[@Salty_reviews]

Please do more North East railroad videos!

[@Westerner78]

Before the Pennsylvania RR bought the Lehigh Valley it also came into Jersey City Terminal. I have a few pieces of CNJ and JCL dining car silverware. I use everyday.

[@kaoz250f1]

Do you have any information on the Musconetcong Tunnels? There is an abandoned original tube and a newer tube from the 30's I think that is still used for freight. These pass through Pattenburg through West Portal. I believe it was part of the Lehigh Valley Line

[@kuy_mell8702]

I think you meant from Hightstown to Spotswood.

[@carltonthesponge]

one of my favorite Sopranos episodes

[@Goprof150]

You should do the Staten Island railroad next.

[@Voucher765]

The Communipaw terminal was also used by the Baltimore & Ohio too in fact the locomotive P7 5300 The George Washington on my profile pic and in cosmetic restoration in Baltimore were cousins of the Blue Comet steamers and were often frequently seen alongside eachother at the old engine servicing facility which had since been removed, The P7 class was meant for use on the CNJ mainline towards Philadelphia and they were used there until the 1940s when dieselzation took effect

[@rjl110919581]

thank you sharing your video as great watching

[@ohiovalleyrailfan]

I can tell, you're not a out-and-out railfan, but you clearly did your homework here. Good job.

[@rogerpenske2411]

A very fine video, Ryan

[@cmd062]

I appreciate the effort to share the history of the Central Railroad of New Jersey but the inaccuracies throughout this ranged from mild annoyance to nails on a chalkboard. Hearing you call it the Central Jersey Railroad/Railway had me banging my head on the wall.

[@greylock2672]

Thank you for the video. What is now the Raritan Valley Line was part the mainline for CNJ. For anyone who is interested there is a small museum at Fanwood train station that houses an exhibit about the history of the Central Railroad.

[@sarasotasage6135]

@12:00 "Jesrey" Central Lines!

[@dizzydnice82]

Isn't that spotswood NJ

[@MillerMeteor74]

Thanks for covering this. This was actually my second time watching this, though I didn't realize till I clicked on it. Anyway, a small correction. It is not known as the Central Jersey or Central New Jersey. It is known as the Jersey Central.

[@chrisscerbo5731]

They finally finished replacing that raising bridge between jersey city and newark

[@THR33STEP]

13:30 - That’s Lehigh and New England, not Lehigh to New England.

[@jackshittle]

Born in Lakewood then moved to Brick. My brothers live on Arnold Ave in Pt. Pleasant Beach so it is about a 2 minute walk from their house to the train station (NJ Transit). I used the train for the first time to go to MSG to see the Beastie Boys/RUN DMC play. Then the second time was to take a snowboard trip to northern Vermont. I took NJ Transit to Penn Station - then from there got on an Amtrak line called "The Montrealer". The last stop in the U.S. was St. Albans, VT. I got out there and then got a ride to Jay Peak. Back then nobody really cared about age & alcohol. So I had a blast having a few drinks up there and back.

[@charlespaterson9714]

The CNJ ran through Cranford as noted. The original name of Cranford was Crane's Ford, not "Foot". The Crane Family owned the ford across the Rahway River.

[@SandfordSmythe]

Steven Crane, the author of The Red Badge of Courage, was one of them.

[@hemsurvival3413]

I live near Winslow junction I would love to see some of these old rails in use

[@matthewstreet5870]

I agree either a bike trail or the rail road cars like they have in Cape May.

[@SouthJerseyRailfan]

Winslow Junction is still actively used