The Riverline, New Jersey Transit's 35 mile light rail train between Trenton and Camden is approaching 10 years old. The following article reviews its history: [uirl]http://www.nj.com/mercer/index.ssf/2013/11/the_river_line_continues_to_increase_in_ridership_and_cost_as_it_approaches_the_end_of_its_first_dec.html[/url]
The Riverline is expensive. Passenger revenues are about $3 million a year. It looses $24 million a year. At present it carries 9,000 people per week day. However, many people argue that the line is a success because of development that has happened along it. The article gives several examples of that development. Actually, much of the line runs through a very rural area and it was deliberately built there because it was believed that the additional economic development would make it worthwhile.
The Riverline is about 35 miles long but New Jersey Transit sets the fare at only $1.50, a one zone bus fare. A bus fare on NJT's 409 bus line from Trenton To Camden is $4.40.
Finally a historical note. This line is part of the Camden and Amboy Railroad which was built in the 1830's. The first section of the line was built from South Amboy to Bordentown which is the limit of tidewater on the Delaware River. From Bordentown people could travel down river to Philadelphia or up river to Trenton. Shortly after the original section was built tracks were built to Trenton and to Camden. The Trenton and Camden sections are the Riverline today.
Originally the rails were to be laid on stone sleepers quarried at Ossining, New York. When the stone seepers were slow in coming the railroad switched to wood ties and never looked back. Some stone sleepers are still visible at the Bordentown station.
Does the River Line fare still give you a free transfer to the NJT bus from Camden to Philadelphia that competes with the PATCO rail service?
I've been riding regularly since early 2005 and have never known the Riverline to give free transfer to the NJT bus. NJT calls the fare 'continuing trip', more than a zone 1 fare, but but less than a zone 1 + transfer fare, the only case I know where NJT charges less for an interstate 2 vehicle ride than it does for intrastate 2 vehicle ride.
This 'continuing trip' fare is slightly less than the separate Riverline and PATCO fares to get to Philly.
Patrick Boylan
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Just a quick point. The original post stated that:
"Originally the rails were to be laid on stone sleepers quarried at Ossining, New York. When the stone seepers were slow in coming the railroad switched to wood ties and never looked back. Some stone sleepers are still visible at the Bordentown station."
Recent archaeological investigations revealed that the stones near Bordentown were quarried locally. Some of the stone sleepers did come from Ossining but these were used primarily on the northern end of the line where the tracks met the Hudson River.
The citation is:
Roebling Chapter for Industrial Archaeology, THIRTY-THIRD ANNUAL SYMPOSIUM Saturday, November 16, 2013
STONE SLEEPERS OF THE CAMDEN & AMBOY RAILROAD, 1830-32
by Pierre Lacombe, Geologist/Hydrologist, US Geological Survey
Happy Holidays,
kevin
Almost 60 years ago there was a few stone sleepers and rail with a C&A sign (PRR style) monument style west of one of the grade crossings near Jamesburg...I wonder if it still exists and what is the origin of the stones.
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Kevin,
Thank you for the new and fascinating information about the locally quarried C & A stone sleepers. Do you know where they were quarried?
John
henry6 Almost 60 years ago there was a few stone sleepers and rail with a C&A sign (PRR style) monument style west of one of the grade crossings near Jamesburg...I wonder if it still exists and what is the origin of the stones.
I consulted my copy of Anthony Bianculli's book "Iron Rails in the Garden State." Mr. Bianculli has a photo of a C&A monument in Bordentown built of the old stone sleepers and a section of rail. It commemorates the first movement of the "John Bull" along C&A tracks. The monument was originally built in 1891 and was moved to Bordentown in 1970. The photo was taken in 2006. The monument's located at the corner of Farnsworth and Railroad avenues.
Mr. Bianculli also has a photo of what Henry mentioned taken in 1932, but doesn't say if it's still there.
By the way, those Ossining sleepers were cut and shaped by inmates at Sing Sing Prison. Talk about makin' little ones out of big ones!
Dr. Lacombe identified several local quarries whose products that furnished the type of stone that was used for the sleepers. I do not remember the specific locations
sorry about that
OK Kevin. Perhaps I should take another trip down to Bordentown and ceck it out myself. I used to work close to the Hamilton Avenue station but now I'm retired and live in north Jersey. But when the weather gets warmer it could be a pleasant trip. with my grandson.
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