Hi,
My question concerns B&O and Reading freight operations in NJ. I know that those two railroads used the CNJ mainline to reach the Jersey City Terminal with their passenger trains. Where did the freight trains for those two carriers terminate in NJ? I know that the B&O owned the Staten Island RR at one time and I know that the B&O was associated with the CNJ, too. Was Port Reading the Reading's freight terminal? Thanks in advance for any info anyone can provide.
B&O and RDG passenger trains went to CNJ's JC terminal; freight was scatterd along the JC waterfront south of there. RDG did go to Port Reading because they had a coal dock there but not much other freight; this line took off from the RDG west of the CNJ connection at Bound Brook. B&O did own and operate the SIRR until CR.
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The freights that connected the B&O Staten Island operation with the B&O north of PHiladelphia were technically joint CNJ-Reading freight trains. B&O power did not operate through on freights to Staten Island, but Reading and CNJ power were used to the bridge, and B&O power on the Island, definitely including some camel-backs, the only ones I ever saw in actual operaton on a freight, owned by B&O.
I am not sure where the power and crew swap took place, however.
Yeah...I don't remember ever seeing B&O power on freights but did see CNJ and RDG east of Bound Brook. However, on SI itself was a B&O switcher.
Right. S1's replaced steam and lasted through MTA ownership, being replaced only about a year ago, some of the very last S1's in operation, used on work trains after freight service stopped.
B&O freight, east of Philadelphia, other than the B&O traffic to Staten Island, went to Jersey City to be placed on car floats to a freight terminal at W 26th and the river plus to several piers in the New York Harbor. Same for the return operation, west..
The original agreement called for no B&O power or crews on freights to work east of Philadelphia. Still, at times, due to power shortages, B&O power would work east of Philadelphia. After the B&O's Jersey City passenger service was discontinued in1958, B&O freight traffic would continue and beginning in 1964, B&O power was added to the Reading-CNJ power pool east of Philadelphia.
Norman
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