Penn-Reading Seashore Lines

[Anonymous]

[Looking for information on the Penn-Reading Seashore Lines. Did they run Baldwin AS-616s, or just the AS-16?

Thanks,
Bob

[kenneo]

PRSL had 16 AS-16's purchased new 6007-16 and 6022-6027
6 DRS 4-4-15 purchased new 6000-6007
11 S-12 purchased new 6017-6021 and 6028-6033

[Anonymous]

They also had a single Baldwin S8 for use around Camden terminal, and a bunch of EMD GP38's. Don't ask for numbers; I'm not a PRSL fan...

[rf16a]

PRSL's S-8 was 6006.
Their GP-38s were 2000 to 2009. They had an extended cab to accomodate dual control stands and could run long or short hood forward.

The West Jersey Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society publishes a book ,West Jersey Rails 2, that contains a section on PRSL diesels as well as a PRSL diesel roster. Check their website at www.nelliebly.com/westjersey for price/availability and ordering info.

PRSL had a few AS-16 with slightly higher hoods, I believe they were 6024-27.
DRS 4-4-1500s look the same as an AS-16, at least to me.

Stewart makes an S-8 and made/makes PRSL AS-16s.
You'll have to do some kit bashing to get a higher hood version.
An Athearn S-12 can be easily modified to PRSL, or use a Stewart S-12.
Champ has PRSL decals available. Get them before they are gone!
Bowser makes an N-5 cabin car (caboose) in two different PRSL schemes.

[kenneo]

Sorry, I missed the S-8! The AS-16's with the higher short hood were the 6007-6016 and 6026 & 6027. Along with ERIE 1140, MKT 1787 and 1788 and Reading 560-563 they had steam generators that required the extra height.

When in the summer between my junior and senior years in high school, I made a trip from Portland, OR to Atlantic City on the Empire Builder, Broadway Limited and the PRSL horsehair upholstry walkover seat commute train behind one of those AS-16's from Philly 30th Street to AC and back. Didn't have a clue what history I was riding behind! Or, that not too far into the future, that train would be gone.

[rf16a]

After looking through some of my PRSL books, I'm pretty sure that the PRSL "high hood" AS-16s were 6022, 6023, 6024, 6025, 6026, and 6027.

There's a good web site called The Baldwin Diesel Zone with lots of Baldwin info and pictures. Go to www.yardlimit.railfan.net/baldwindiesels/index. While there, click on the Conrail section and scroll down for a color picture of PRSL AS-16 6025. Compare that to the other PRSL AS-16s and you'll see what I mean by "high hood".

The Cape May Seashore Lines in Cape May County, New Jersey has all but one of the still existing PRSL RDCs, and were running two of them. They've also got two ex PRSL P-70 coaches waiting for restoration.

[Anonymous]

Did Conrail later buy them?

DOGGY

[rf16a]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Doggy

Did Conrail later buy them?

DOGGY

PRSL was one of the roads that went into Conrail in 1976.
Conrail took the ex PRSL Baldwins out of service.

[Anonymous]

In old magazines from the 1950's it showed that the Penn Reading Seashore lines ran a string of self powered Budd Diesel Electric cars. Each train was divided into three segments with three engineers. The train would run from Camden to Cape May twice a day. Along the way a car or two was uncoupled and dispatched to Ocean City. Further down the line ( at Wildwood junction) another car was uncoupled and dispatched to Wildwood. The remaining train cars went on to Cape May. It was an econonical way to serve the shore cities via branch lines while also providing service to Cape May. Sadly service ended on this line in 1982 and the track was taken up.. However, through the efforts of Tony Macrie the Cape May Seashore lines was established about 5 years ago and now provides summer service from Woodbine to Cape May. The branch lines to Wildwood and Ocean City may never be restored to service but the line still runs all vintage equipment on a very large part of the original line.