The North Jersey Coast Line

also known as the New York & Long Branch

Page 1

These pages will cover what was basically a shared operation between the Pennsylvania Railroad ( later-PC ) and the Central Railroad of New Jersey.  The NJCL basically begins at the point where the PRR and the CNJ meet in Perth Amboy, NJ.  The line has always been a passenger route with local freight service provided largely by the CNJ.  

A better history of this line is included as part of the "Trail of the Blue Comet" book by William Coxey, Christoper Baer and Paul W. Schopp and published by the West Jersey Chapter of the NRHS.

For the purposes of this page, it will be a photo collection from 1973 to 2000, so the images below run from the PC/CNJ years to NJ Transit's current operations. 

Although the NJCL technically begins in Perth Amboy, we will begin at Newark, NJ.  At Rahway the NJCL line joins the mainline and heads south toward the Jersey Shore.  One note here, although the railroad physically runs due north-south, all trains heading away from New York are westbound and those going to New York are eastbounds.

  A CNJ NJCL train lays over in the Harrison, NJ yard just over the river from Newark.

  First, at Hunter interlocking in Newark, NJ is a westbound CNJ train for the NJCL.  After the CNJ pulled out of their Jersey City terminal in 1967, all NJCL trains operated over the PRR to Newark.  There passengers changed either PATH trains or to PRR trains to Penn Station, New York.  The CNJ did not operate any electric equipment, so the change was necessary to reach NYC.

  Lane Tower, Newark       North Elizabeth    Elizabeth.  These four images are through the courtesy of Mr. Paul Carpenito.

  Another NJCL train passing through Linden on the former PRR main.  Photo courtesy of Gary Madden (GM).

  In a photo dated from 1971, a CNJ GP40P pulls a train of older 1920's era coaches through Rahway.  (GM)

  Another former CNJ unit makes a stop at Rahway station.  Although the CNJ trains ran through to Newark from Perth Amboy without stopping at any PRR stations, NJ Transit gradually modified schedules to eliminate the two different railroad practices.

  On a rather foggy day, a former CNJ GP40P leads a short train past 'Union' tower in Rahway.  Union controlled the junction with the NJCL.  Here is the west end of the six track main.  There are two ramps and tunnels leading westbound trains off the mainline so as to avoid crossing over the eastbound mainline tracks.  Much like today's interstate highway ramps, the PRR was well designed to keep as many trains moving as possible.

  4101 exits one of the tunnels under the mainline enroute to Bay Head.  The CNJ GP40P units were built in 1968 to replace the Fairbanks Morse Trainmasters.  They had dual control cabs and the flat long hood end was to accommodate a steam generator.

Although all the photos above are of CNJ trains on the PRR main, most PRR ( later Penn Central ) trains blended in with other mainline trains.  For those images, click here.

  From the Dutch door of a former Great Northern coach, here is a train curving out of the tunnels and heading south toward Perth Amboy.  Remember the train is a westbound.  The eastbound track is on the left and leads up to aught track.  The center track could be used in either direction.

      On October 29, 1983, NJ Transit ran a days worth of excursions from Matawan to Newark to mark the final runs of the famous GG-1 locomotive.  4877 in full Pennsylvania maroon and pinstripes leads the first train east at "Union".

  Later in the day, 4877 had some trouble and 4879 brought the train back to Matawan. (GM)

   Near Avenel, our CNJ train meets a set of MP54's on a South Amboy to New York local.

  Woodbridge station with the old PRR red sign.

  'Wood' tower in Perth Amboy controlled the junction of the PRR and the CNJ from Elizabethport.  This point marks the beginning of the New York and Long Branch.  All mileposts on the line to Bay Head start here.

  Our train meets what may be JS-1 making a reverse move near Wood tower.  Note the caboose behind the SD's.

  Perth Amboy station.  The tracks here are below street level.

  On a cold day in 1974, 4873 heads a New York bound train at Perth Amboy.

  A short time later a short train southbound makes its stop.  Note the CNJ type signals.  These begin at Wood.

  Here is one of my favorite shots.  4878 pulls away with two Pennsy P70 coaches in a timeless scene.

  4873 heads to New York crossing the Raritan River in 1975.

  From the shore on the Perth Amboy side, a set of MU's heads toward South Amboy.

  Crossing the movable swing span of the bridge.

  On the final day of GG-1 operation, the fan trip crosses the river into South Amboy.  10-29-83. (GM)

  'Essay' tower is at the south end of the bridge and controlled movements to the old Camden and Amboy freight line to Parlin and engines coming in and out of the South Amboy engine house.  The name Essay, come from the pronunciation of the old call sign, "SA".

  GP40P 3673 heads a 'Jersey Builder' train to Bay Head in 1975. 

  A more contemporary shot of 4403 going under the tracks leading to the old engine terminal.  There was a decent size yard just west of this spot for the coal traffic destined for the dumper once located here.  A power plant still here used to burn the coal also.

A few miscellaneous shots at the South Amboy engine terminal.

  On weekends, the MP54's assigned to the South Amboy locals sat in a small yard just north of the station.  This yard was not directly connected to the freight yard leading to the old coal dumper and was basically for these cars.

      In a ritual done for years, the ten minute South Amboy engine change is performed here in 1974.  The E-units are cutoff and head in to a pocket track, then a waiting GG-1 comes off another track and couples up to take the train into New York.

  4248 in a nice gray and blue paint scheme stop at the South Amboy station.  The colors came from the U34CH's on the E-L.

  Shortly after the Conrail takeover, things got pretty bad motive power-wise.  Here a freight GP40 leads a CNJ GP7 and 3 E8's.

         The parade of morning commuter trains on June 9, 1980.

For the Raritan River railroad page, Click Here !!  

             Along the Raritan Bay below South Amboy.

  3674 northbound at Morgan.  Photo courtesy of Paul Carpenito.

The next point of interest is the Morgan Creek drawbridge. Some various views of the area from 1974 to present.  The overhead wire was extended from South Amboy to Matawan in 1983.  4877 photo courtesy of Gary Madden (GM).

  On a drab winter day, 4324 heads toward Bay Head at Cliffwood, NJ.   A more current view.

  Just prior to crossing over the Garden State Parkway, 4877 on one of the final day excursion trips, heads back to Matawan. (GM)

     CNJ GP40P 3678 pauses at Matawan station en route to Newark.

  During the catenary extension construction in 1982, a train of four cars and an E8 on each end was run during the off peak hours.

  A former CNJ GP40P 4111 stops at Matawan with a rush hour train in 1982.

  A more mundane view of the switches just south of Matawan station.  It was here that the CNJ branch to Atlantic Highlands joined the New York and Long Branch.  The branch to Freehold also came into Matawan. The foreground track is what was left of the lead for the Freehold line.  NJ Transit calls this interlocking plant "High".   Passenger service to Freehold ended way back in the mid-1950's while service to Atlantic Highlands lasted to the mid-1960's.  A walking trail occupies the Atlantic Highlands branch ROW.

  FP40 4129 and an MU meet at the station.

                             On October 29, 1983, 
NJ Transit ran several excursions from Matawan to Newark behind GG-1's.  This was the Farewell to the GG-1 Day.  Ironically, 
GG-1's never operated in regular service from Matawan making this a true one of a kind day.  (Last photo-GM)

         Things have changed a bit here.  A new high-level platform was built west of the old
Matawan Station and is named Aberdeen -Matawan.  The old branch switch still remains, however.  October 21, 2009.

     On a wonderful winter day, some trains pass through Hazlet, NJ  

      The overhead wire was again extended as far as Long Branch in the mid-1980's. 

    One of the last trains to have E8's assigned regularly was 5310.  This was  former CNJ train number.

  Former Amtrak E60 963 heads toward New York on a morning train at Hazlet.  Strangely, this train is considered an eastbound since it is heading for New York, but it is physically heading westward at this particular location. 

    Hazlet also has new high-level platforms.  Photos from October 21, 2009.

     One of the last gasp movements of sand from South Jersey was this conveyor train operated
 for a time by Conrail.  It featured a GP38 on each end and a machine to load the side dump cars. August 1987.

  ALP-44 440 brings a Long Branch bound local to a stop in Hazlet.  Today's service is a vast improvement over thirty years ago.

        A few views between Hazlet and Middletown.  Mid-1980's.

Middletown, NJ.  Once a small stop north of Red Bank, it is now a major commuter station.  A new high level platform station has replaced the quaint red depot.  The old station building still exists, however.

  A rather steep grade begins in Red Bank and crests at the Centerville Road crossing in Holmdel.  4107 at Oak Hill Road crossing.

      A beautiful bridge crosses the Navesink River into Red Bank. This view can 
easily be had from the West Front Street Bridge.  

  A CNJ train heading to Newark leaves Red Bank and crosses the bridge in 1974.

  Just prior to the electrified service start-up in 1988, F40 4114 crosses the bridge on the way to Bay Head.

Jump to Page 2, Red Bank to Bay Head Jct.