The LOST Central Railroad of New Jersey - The Story of NJ's Forgotten Trains - IT'S HISTORY 

Thanks for covering this, it would be great if NJ transit reactivated the Blue Comet line! Its a shame that alot of the CNJ right of ways have been grown over or lost completely.

I grew up in Hoboken and lived in Cranford. Now in South Plainfield I often take day trips to Liberty State Park. That terminal is now a wonderful museum.

As a resident of Central NJ I cant get enough of your NYC and NJ episodes. Keep it going. There is so much history to be told here.

I really admire the Americans for their railroad pioneering, Greetings from Germany :)

I was born in Jersey City but grew up in Bergen County. When I was a boy there was abandoned rail infrastructure scattered all over the state. Most of it has since been bulldozed and cut up for scrap. It's amazing how much America just throws away.

Born and raised in Toms River. Lovin all this Jersey history. I remember fishing and jumping off those old railroad bridges as a kid. Too much fun and a lot of great memories. Great channel my man, keep the Jersey stories coming!

The Clinton Station diner has a car from the blue comet attached to it that they serve patrons in.

The Newark Bay Bridge was a lift bridge, not a swing bridge. I grew up in Bayonne, my grandfather was an engineer and retired in 1967 from the Jersey Central.

They've been talking about extending NJ Transit to Phillipsburg, Easton, Bethlehem and Allentown since 2015. So far, all they've done is repaint repaint the bridge where the old Easton Station was. I think they also installed lighting in the exterior.

Thank you so much for covering NJ. I would love it if the trains started running again. We have dead tracks and old stations that would be wonderful if reactivated.

Possibly a video on one of the more hidden and obscure railroads in New Jersey. The Lehigh & Hudson River Railway, which served as a bridge route for multiple railroads between Philipsburg, NJ and Maybrook, NY.

Great story of the CNJ. Did anyone else notice that at 11:58 "Jersey" is misspelled?

My great grandma worked there as a car cleaner for decades. After it stopped being in use, they would have some events there. I remember after the Berlin Wall fell, they had parts of the wall on display at the terminal along items that people used to escape (a car with the car seat inside cut out to hide someone for example). Great place and hopefully it can open up again at some point!

Many miles of different railroad tracks up in Sussex and Warren Counties have had the rails, ties and ballast removed and have been turned into the Rails to Trails program. Before that those of us who were avid horseback riders used them. You could go all day and many miles. They were beautiful.

I grew up in Bayonne. Spent 37 years there. Left only 2 years ago. But I'm still in NJ.

Lackawanna cutoff next please...

Im from south Jersey (near glassboro). Usually whenever I hear history stories about NJ it’s always relative to north.

I love it how you cover my favorite railroad and home railroad, there is actually a abandoned CNJ line behind my house and the old CNJ station at Elizabeth where the Northeast Corridor is

My grandfather worked for this RR. My father played on a semi-pro baseball team in Port Reading NJ, in the 1930's called the Blue Comets.

They tore down the station in South Toms River!What a disgrace! The station in Beachwood was a library when I was a kid! There was a station in Seaside also!

Today, having been replaced by the Parkway and Turnpike, there is very little railroad coverage in the state. Even the busses have limited coverage.

The Blue Comet got Bobby Bacala whacked! If he wasn't playing with toy trains he'd have been aware of the danger he was in!

you forgot the other surviving CNJ car, clinton station diner has one, and the last steam engine to pull the blue comet is at the B&O its a 4-4-2C

I really like these history videos especially the ones from New jersey. I never knew about most of these things. Great work

I grew up in Neptune City, NJ in Monmouth County. It's the hometown of Jack Nicholson and Danelectro Guitars. Currently living in Aomori, Japan. Would love to see a rise and decline and revival of Asbury Park video in the future. Love this channel.

I like to listen to Ryan Socash's narration. Reminds me of a dude I knew in Junior High School and High School who was a smart book worm type of guy who never got teased or bullied because he was such a likable guy. His reports were so detailed that even the kids who normally wouldn't pay attention? Like myself, LOL would be at the edge of our seats. This "It's History" Channel has become one of my favorites. I've been to Detroit for "Youmacon" anime convention. And always wondered about the Booker Building. That was the most unique building I ever seen. So I loved Ryan's take on what a great work of Architecture it is.

The CNJ terminal in Jersey City isn't really "abandoned." As the video notes, it's used as the departure point for the ferries to Ellis and Liberty Islands (one of the original ferry slips was restored for this purpose). The head house itself is in good shape, having been restored and recently repaired after damage caused by Hurricane Sandy. The platform area is indeed reclaimed by nature, and the tracks (with one exception) are long gone, but the train shed also looks to be in pretty good shape. The combination makes for some striking photos as seen here. For an idea of how this terminal would operate in its heyday, visit the nearby Hoboken Terminal, built by the DL&W; it's still in use as an intermodal facility for trains, ferries, trollies (light rail), buses, and rapid transit. PATH, nee the Hudson & Manhattan, was supposed to link all the NJ railroad terminals on the west bank of the Hudson with NYC, and while it did connect to the terminals of the PRR (Exchange Place), Erie (Newport), and DL&W, the plans to extend it south to the CNJ never came to fruition. This likely saved the terminal from demolition as it made abandonment easier than redevelopment, which destroyed the PRR and Erie terminals.

My grandfather worked for the Central Railroad. Union county has had plans to reactivate the line as a light rail from Plainfield to port Elizabeth and put in a ferry terminal. Safe to say those plans have not been acted on.

The Whippany Train Museum is located in the Township of Hanover, Morris County, New Jersey. Great place to visit! 👌

I grew up in Jersey City and visited the train station so many times I just truly can't believe the decay of it. I think the last time I was there was around 1991 yes all of the buildings are beautiful and of course all the track is long gone. Thank you for bringing this video to me I very much enjoyed it considering that I lived all over the state of New Jersey

It's almost painful to hear about the amazing rail access we used to have

Thank you Ryan, that was great history right there. Jersey Strong.

Grew up in Highlands and Toms River, always fascinated by NJ's railroad history. Thanks for posting.

There's an old VHS tape, "The Big Little Railroad." Bought it decades ago but can't find it any longer. Was a nice show.

“What it lacked in length” is something I’ll hear but not with trains

My Grandfather started as an Oiler with the Central RR, then operated a roundhouse turntable on 12 hour shifts. Finished his career as Chief Engineer of the Central RR powerhouse on the Jersey City waterfront, where the coal dumper operated.

1976 they ran the Blue Comet from north Jersey to Bay Head I got some great photos behind Monmouth Park racetrack.

At least the memory lives on with many Blue Comets and the CNJ for that matter surviving on model train layouts across the country.

It's not called "The" Conrail. It's just called Conrail.

I grew up in Belmar in the 1960s and we rode the New York and Long Branch all the time for something to do. One time taking a CNJ passenger train south to Bay Head the conductor let us stay on the train as it went around the loop. We got out and chatted with the crew that refueled the locomotive. It was a very nice gesture I was probably about 12 or 13. This was sometime around 1970. Both the CNJ and Pennsylvania RR ran passenger trains on the NYLBRR the Pennsylvania were pulled by A-B-A E-7s I think they were, the CNJ a single diesel. The ride quality and the interiors of the Pennsylvania coaches were far superior. My Dad told us on more than one occasion to appreciate the locomotives in PA red and the Keystone placard on the front because their days were numbered. Sometime around 1972 a trainman gave me a PennCentral lapel pin which is of course lost to time. I do however have 2 Pennsey and 1 CNJ kerosene signal lanterns one of them (Pennsylvania) was given to my Dad when he was a kid by a NYLBRR trainman. Grandpop owned a Diner in Belmar and this guy ate there often. This would have been in the late 1930s early 40s.

One of the steam locomotives that were regularly seen on the Central Railroad of New Jersey (CNJ)were Camelbacks. This type of locomotive had the engineer's cab placed in the center of the locomotive and straddling the boiler thus giving the locomotive a hump profile. The fireman and engineer were separated because the unique configuration. The large fireboxes allowed for the burning of readily available cheap culm (anthracite coal waste). A remaining CNJ camelback can be seen at the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Museum. It is CNJ No. 592 with a 4-4-2-wheel arrangement. Since the CNJ had extensive commuter service which terminated at the Hudson River facility, the company acquired six double cab diesel locomotives (Baldwin DRX-6-4-2000) which eliminated the need to turn around each locomotive at Jersey City.

I sooooo love your channel!! Keep it up!

Fantastic video as always! I think a great video idea is the Milwaukee Road, the largest electrified rail network in the world for many decades and they decided to extend the network from Chicago to Seattle at absolutely insane effort, through Montana, Idaho and Washington which at the time was as remote as it gets in 1901, not only did they cross the Rockies and build the still in use today: Cascade tunnels in the Cascades in WA state, but the entire line was Electrified too!! They built power plants and electric switching stations in the middle of the most remote parts of the country, up and down mountains, bridges, steep grades and so on. I have visited some of what is left of the network such as bridges still today marked with Milwaukee Road logos, I have some cool photos, as well as the remaining power transfer station that still stand or today are museums.

both my grandfather and great grandfather worked for the central railroad on freight trains for a combined time of over 90 years, heard some stories over the years.

I'm a South Jersey native, born & bred. I love history, especially about places I have lived or been. Never know or heard about this railroad. So cool!

Excellent content.

0:10 so what you’re saying is what it lacked in length, it made up for in girth 😳

What a great story i love railroad history especially in NJ

@12:00 "Jesrey" Central Lines!

15:22 I remember Conrail in Cleveland! THAT'S MY CITY! WOOO!

This was local history during my childhood. Thanks for covering this.

thank you sharing your video as great watching

I can't look at that Blue Comet train without thinking about Bobby's demise.

Thank you.

I inherited my grandfather's vintage Lionel Blue Comet from the 80s. I've always wanted to see a color photo of the real train.

Thanks. I grew up in South Jersey, and the quickest route from my house to the shore went through Chatsworth in the Pinelands, where the road took a right, went over some railroad tracks, then went left. I was curious about the tracks as a kid, and only later learned they were part of the CNJ and that the Blue Comet had traveled over those tracks through Chatsworth. I've long since moved from NJ, but enjoy reading about NJ's hitory.

So many trains went to Philipsburg back then. It was probably an affluent town. Shame what it's become

I grew up in South Jersey. Far fewer trains there but still, this is incredibly cool information.

They need to bring back some of these lines to help with traffic. Just think all these less cars on the road from these trains running again

Was this part of the line that went up to Ramsey? Thanks for your time and effort. Nothing like "high" taxes to kill jobs. Thanks again......

A very fine video, Ryan

Originally from Long Valley. I believe the High Bridge portion of the CNJ line ran through LV (German Valley) at the time. Super interesting. Thanks for this.

My grandfather (Bishop Smith) was one of the Blue Comet Engineers. I met him in the mid Fifties and was to young to know what a historic icon he was. I have some of his memorabilia but to this day have always wondered if there was a dish-ware pattern unique to the Blue Comet. Any help or pictures would truly be appreciated. Ate at the “Clinton Station Diner” this past week. Living history. Thanks

Grew up in Hunterdon County. Thanks for this!

I grew up in Union Co. and according to a history written of the area (Along The Upper Road by Jean Turner) there was an old incomplete rail line (bankrupted)... that was supposed to run from Newark southward towards Rahway. According to the history... they stopped construction somewhere along the planned route. As a teenager I found a half dozen badly corroded iron 'blobs' along an old embankment... I later determined they were old railroad spikes. As far as I know that old embankment is still there... in an area of land completely enclosed by residential properties. As a teenager I was fascinated by archeology... and that area screamed (even to a young and inexperienced youth) that this little depression... had been radically changed by humans. If you look at the sides of the depression they are irregular and 'natural looking' slopping down to the lowest point... but the embankment is an almost straight line... cutting across the depression... at a fairly consistent level. This embankment ends abruptly in our backyard (my father told me a previous owner had leveled the area) and doesn't exist beyond our yard. From the look of it... it seems the work stopped in our yard... and the natural contours (beyond our yard) continues on. I've aways wondered what might be buried under all of that overgrowth and decades of decomp. As far as I know the space is public owned... and should be accessible for investigating. The area is in Hillside NJ... and is defined by Clark St on the south, Munn Ave on the west, Morris Place on the east, and Williamson Ave on the north. My old home was 1523 Munn Ave.

Grew up in Union County. *Fascinating video :)*

I work for New Jersey transit track dept. From 80’s to now it is a complete different railroad

thank you!

They are working on restoring a section between Lakehurst and the Woodmansie section of Woodland Townshiplp for use by Clayton Sand.

As a young boy, my mother took us on a trip to New York on one of the last runs of the ferry from the Jersey City terminal to lower Manhattan. My father used to love taking taking the ferry every day to his office. The PATH was not so enjoyable (even back when it was reliable).

Love it. Grew up in a tiny unincorporated historical area adjacent to Monmouth Battlefield. Still has a freight line once in a while to support local producers but it used to be a real active line. Maybe to long branch. Found this vid so interesting and got me wondering 🤔

Hi could you do a episode on history of the Lackawanna cutoff built by the DL&W?

I currently live in Long Branch and could have sworn that I once saw a map with an easement that showed railroad tracks that led from the end of White Street in the North end of town that runs behind the houses in Monmouth Beach. I always wondered what that was all about and I think this video just solved a question I have had for 25 years since I live in the North end and walk my dog past this spot daily.

I just love the Central RR of New Jersey!!

At least the Raritan Valley Line and North Jersey Coast Line have been used by NJ Transit and part of the HBLR uses tracks that the CNJ had once used

Nice subtle bit of Satie there fella, quality upload as per, cheers bud.

Thank you for the video. What is now the Raritan Valley Line was part the mainline for CNJ. For anyone who is interested there is a small museum at Fanwood train station that houses an exhibit about the history of the Central Railroad.

Fascinating video. Lionel, whose factories were in New Jersey made a few "Blue Comets." Any chance of doing a video on the New Haven Railroad?

It's amazing how much of the CNJ is gone. There are only two steam locomotives left from the railroad, of which one is actually operational, the CNJ 113, which runs out of Minersville Pennsylvania on the Reading and Northerm. The other is a 4-4-2 Camelback which resides in the Baltimore and Ohio railroad museum in Baltimore, Maryland.

Love this homies

The Communipaw terminal was also used by the Baltimore & Ohio too in fact the locomotive P7 5300 on my profile pic were cousins of the Blue Comet steamers and were often frequently seen alongside eachother at the old engine servicing facility which had since been removed, The P7 class was meant for use on the CNJ mainline towards Philadelphia and they were used there until the 1940s when dieselzation took effect

GREAT HISTORY! I wish you would do a post about the steep Los Angeles cable car. I ride it once. It has quite a history I understand.

“If that train still ran New York to AC…… Atlantic City would be a different place today” That’s about all I know about this train pre-video.

Please do more North East railroad videos!

My town has a plaque marking where the town’s train station used to be. There’s even still a railway bridge, albeit without the rails.

I grew up in Tuckerton and had no idea about the Tuckerton Railroad

I was with some friends near Carranza memorial and we saw some overgrown tracks in the woods near there. I was wondering what they were, but that map at 9:15 makes me think it was the southern division CRRNJ line, between Atsion and Whitings. Cool stuff! Wish we still had some of these lines around today.

one of my favorite Sopranos episodes

You should do the Staten Island railroad next.

13:30 - That’s Lehigh and New England, not Lehigh to New England.

Now if only NJ could be lost forever

They finally finished replacing that raising bridge between jersey city and newark

As a resident of the New Jersey in one of the towns along the railroad, I can just say that you missed one important point. Although it is not necessarily integral to your video I feel it would be important to point out that a large part of the railroad is still used for freight. It has never been upgraded and the logistics are terrible but I live in a small town and every Thursday night traffic in our town comes to standstill because a freight train comes through...

My Grandparents lived in Lakehurst NJ and my grandfather worked for the Railroad

Before the Pennsylvania RR bought the Lehigh Valley it also came into Jersey City Terminal. I have a few pieces of CNJ and JCL dining car silverware. I use everyday.

Born in Lakewood then moved to Brick. My brothers live on Arnold Ave in Pt. Pleasant Beach so it is about a 2 minute walk from their house to the train station (NJ Transit). I used the train for the first time to go to MSG to see the Beastie Boys/RUN DMC play. Then the second time was to take a snowboard trip to northern Vermont. I took NJ Transit to Penn Station - then from there got on an Amtrak line called "The Montrealer". The last stop in the U.S. was St. Albans, VT. I got out there and then got a ride to Jay Peak. Back then nobody really cared about age & alcohol. So I had a blast having a few drinks up there and back.

A decent historical look at the CNJ railroad. What wasn't mentioned is the restoration of the Blue Comet line now underway, the significance of the railroad to vacationers at the Jersey Shore or the huge oyster business at BiValve that saw loaded freight trains of oysters daily into the cities of NY and Philadelphia

I hired out as an engineer and became certified in 1968 I worked all over Jersey City yards jersey city mainline passenger and freight,Until 1976 when the north east railroad’s went bankrupt,Conrail was formed by the federal government.Consolidated rail corporation. North East railroads went bankrup

can you try to do one about the original sacramento northern? it once ran from oakland all the way to sacramento. much of it is covered over but you can still find some trackbed

I enjoy riding along side this abandoned railway in ocean, Atlantic and Camden County in my jeep nice and slow. So peaceful back there