Atlantic City Railroad — BrandWiki

Atlantic City Railroad

railroad name	Atlantic City Railroad
map size	150px
locale	Camden and Winslow Junction, New Jersey, to Atlantic City and Ocean City and Cape May
start year	1889
end year	1933
successor line	Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines
hq city	Camden, New Jersey, U.S.

The Atlantic City Railroad was a Philadelphia and Reading Railway subsidiary that became part of Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines in 1933. At the end of 1925, it operated 161 mi of road on 318 mi of track; that year it reported 43 million ton-miles of revenue freight and 204 million passenger-miles.

History

Effective 1 April 1889, the Philadelphia and Reading Railway consolidated all of its railroads in Southern New Jersey into the Atlantic City Railroad.[1]

Speed records

On 20 July 1904, the regularly scheduled train no. 25, which ran from Kaighn's Point in Camden, New Jersey, to Atlantic City, New Jersey, with Philadelphia and Reading Railway class P-4c 4-4-2 No.334 and 5 passenger cars, set a speed record. It ran the 55.5 mi in 43 minutes at an average speed of 77.4 mph. The 29.3 mi between Winslow Jct and Meadows Tower (outside of Atlantic City) were covered in 20 minutes at a speed of 87.9 mph. During the short segment between Egg Harbor and Brigantine Jct, the train was reported to have reached 115 mph.[1]

Camden, Gloucester and Mount Ephraim Railway

Incorporated on 17 June 1873 by a group from Gloucester City, which wanted a rail line to link the busy passenger ferry landing at Kaighn's Point in Camden to the Gloucester City industrial area 3.9 mi away, then from that point another 1.3 mi to Mount Ephraim Borough.

A narrow gauge was required, as much of the right of way used existing city streets with sharp curves. Work began in January 1874 and the line from Kaighn's Point to Gloucester City opened on 14 February 1874. The line to Mount Ephraim Borough opened in May 1876. In mid-November 1884, the Philadelphia and Reading Railway gained control of the Camden, Gloucester and Mt Ephraim Railway. The lines were converted to in 1885.[1]

Philadelphia and Atlantic City Railway

During 1875, four of the Camden and Atlantic (C&A) Board of Directors, led by Samuel Richards (an officer of the C&A for 24 years) left to build a second railroad from Camden, New Jersey, to Atlantic City by way of Clementon.[1] It was incorporated on 24 March 1876. A track gauge was selected because narrow gauge was successful at the time and saved in lower operating cost. Work began in April 1877. The track work was completed in 90 days. On 7 July 1877, the final spike was driven and the 54.67 mi line was opened. On 12 July 1878, the P&AC RY slipped into bankruptcy. The Philadelphia and Atlantic City Railway was acquired by the CNJ and the Philadelphia and Reading Railway for $1,000,000 on 20 September 1883. The name was modified to Philadelphia and Atlantic City Railroad effective 4 December 1883. The first task was to convert the line to, which was completed on 5 October 1884. The Philadelphia and Reading Railway acquired full control on 4 December 1885.[1]

Williamstown and Delaware River Railroad

The Williamstown and Delaware River Railroad was incorporated in 1883 to reorganize the bankrupt Williamstown Railroad, which owned a line between Williamstown, New Jersey, and Atco, New Jersey. The reorganized Williamstown and Delaware River Railroad extended the Williamstown Branch to Glassboro in 1883–1884 and then Mullica Hill, New Jersey, in 1888, for a total length of 22 mi.[1]

Railroads operated or leased

Pleasantville & Ocean City Railroad

On 9 June 1880, Pleasantville & Ocean City Railroad incorporated in New Jersey, with William Massey as president (Val). On 26 October, Pleasantville & Ocean City Railroad ( narrow-gauge) opened between Pleasantville and Somers Point, NJ, operated by Philadelphia & Atlantic City Railway. The opening excursion ran from Philadelphia to Ocean City. The Ocean City Association operated connecting steamboat between Somers Point and Ocean City. (Val, Lee)

In May 1882, William Massey sold the Pleasantville & Ocean City Railroad to the West Jersey and Atlantic Railroad. On 1 June, the West Jersey and Atlantic Railroad leased the Pleasantville & Ocean City Railroad and converted to began on 4 June.

Brigantine Railroads

On 7 August 1889, Brigantine Beach Railroad incorporated in New Jersey to build from Pomona on the Camden and Atlantic Railroad to Brigantine Island.

On 21 April 1890, Pomona Beach Railroad incorporated in New Jersey to build from Camden and Atlantic Railroad to the Atlantic City Railroad at Pomona, to connect the Brigantine Beach Railroad with the ACRR. On 18 August, the Brigantine Beach Railroad and Pomona Beach Railroad were leased to Atlantic City Railroad.

On 27 January 1891, Pomona Beach Railroad consolidated with Brigantine Beach Railroad, now running 13.9 mi from Brigantine Beach to Brigantine Junction..

In 1893, the Brigantine Transit Company was built as an electric trolley line. The road extended along Brigantine Beach NJ a distance of 6.25 mi

On 27 June 1895, George H Cook, the secretary of Brigantine Transit Company, bought the Brigantine Beach Railroad at foreclosure sale.

On 1 April 1896, the Brigantine Beach Railroad reincorporated as Philadelphia & Brigantine Railroad with George H. Cook as president. The Philadelphia & Brigantine Railroad leased the Brigantine Transit Company.

On 30 September 1897, Atlantic City Railroad canceled the lease of Philadelphia & Brigantine Railroad.

On 12 September 1903, a storm destroyed trestle leading to Brigantine Island on Philadelphia & Brigantine Railroad. (Coxey) On 9 October, the Philadelphia & Brigantine Railroad abandoned all service. (Coxey)