Black River and Western Railroad
Encyclopedia
The Black River and Western Railroad is a short-line railroad operating in Hunterdon County, New Jersey
between Flemington
and Ringoes
. The railroad features vintage steam and diesel powered locomotives. The railroad maintains a regular limited freight service, but is operated mostly as a tourist attraction.
in the late 1950s. A portion of the defunct Rockaway Valley Railroad
went through his back yard. He and his sons started collecting rolling stock and an engine. They started laying tracks but then the expansion of I-78
halted their dream of building a railroad at that location. They moved their equipment to the Chester Hill branch of the Central Railroad of New Jersey
with the hope of starting a railroad there. The section of railroad they were scouting soon became landlocked by the construction of I-80
.
The Black River & Western Railroad (BR&W) was incorporated in 1961. The railroad's name is derived from the Black River
, a river in Chester, and the direction that the river flows. The cars were moved to Flemington, New Jersey and the search for a place to start their tourist train was continued. A leasing arrangement was created the Pennsylvania Railroad
(PRR) that allowed a tourist train to operate from Flemington to Lambertville
. BR&W paid $5,000 a year and rehabilitated the railroad (the PRR operated freight service on the line during this period). Steam engine #60 pulled the first trip out of Flemington on May 16, 1965. Weekend and holiday schedules were devised. On March 16, 1970 the Black River & Western Railroad took over the ownership and operations of the entire Flemington/Lambertville line, purchasing it from the Penn Central. With the acquisition of both freight and passenger trains, a true shortline railroad was born.
On April 1, 1976 the central branch, which runs from Flemington to Three Bridges
, was purchased from the Central Railroad of New Jersey.
Train service from Flemington and Lambertville ceased in 1998 due to several factors. The Federal Railroad Administration demoted the poor trackage to "exempted", reducing the amount of trains traveling the line. In addition, a quarry at the end of the line in Lambertville cancelled their contract with the BR&W. As the tourist trains generated little income, service was ultimately.
Hunterdon County, New Jersey
Hunterdon County is a county located in the western section of the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 128,349. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Flemington....
between Flemington
Flemington, New Jersey
Flemington is a borough in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the borough population was 4,581. It is the county seat of Hunterdon County....
and Ringoes
Ringoes, New Jersey
Ringoes is an unincorporated area located within East Amwell Township, in Hunterdon County, New Jersey. The community is served by the United States Postal Service as ZIP Code 08551. As of the United States 2000 Census, the population for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 08551 was 5,082.-History:Ringoes is...
. The railroad features vintage steam and diesel powered locomotives. The railroad maintains a regular limited freight service, but is operated mostly as a tourist attraction.
History
The Black River & Western Railroad was started by William Whitehead in Oldwick, New JerseyOldwick, New Jersey
Oldwick is an unincorporated area within Tewksbury Township in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, United States. The area is served as United States Postal Service ZIP Code 08858. As of the United States 2000 Census, the population for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 08858 was 177.Oldwick was formerly known as...
in the late 1950s. A portion of the defunct Rockaway Valley Railroad
Rockaway Valley Railroad
The Rockaway Valley Railroad, affectionately known as the Rock-A-Bye Baby, was an American short line. Built from a connection with the Central Railroad of New Jersey mainline in White House Station, New Jersey the railroad traveled north to Watnong, New Jersey , a total distance of approximately...
went through his back yard. He and his sons started collecting rolling stock and an engine. They started laying tracks but then the expansion of I-78
Interstate 78
Interstate 78 is an Interstate Highway in the Northeast United States, running 144 miles from Interstate 81 northeast of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, through Allentown, Pennsylvania, and western and northern New Jersey to the Holland Tunnel and Lower Manhattan in New York City.I-78 is a major road...
halted their dream of building a railroad at that location. They moved their equipment to the Chester Hill branch of the Central Railroad of New Jersey
Central Railroad of New Jersey
The Central Railroad of New Jersey , commonly known as the Jersey Central Lines or CNJ, was a Class I railroad with origins in the 1830s, lasting until 1976 when it was absorbed into Conrail with the other bankrupt railroads of the Northeastern United States...
with the hope of starting a railroad there. The section of railroad they were scouting soon became landlocked by the construction of I-80
Interstate 80
Interstate 80 is the second-longest Interstate Highway in the United States, following Interstate 90. It is a transcontinental artery running from downtown San Francisco, California to Teaneck, New Jersey in the New York City Metropolitan Area...
.
The Black River & Western Railroad (BR&W) was incorporated in 1961. The railroad's name is derived from the Black River
Black River (New Jersey)
The Black River, known as the Lamington River downstream of Pottersville, is a tributary of the North Branch Raritan River in central New Jersey in the United States....
, a river in Chester, and the direction that the river flows. The cars were moved to Flemington, New Jersey and the search for a place to start their tourist train was continued. A leasing arrangement was created the Pennsylvania Railroad
Pennsylvania Railroad
The Pennsylvania Railroad was an American Class I railroad, founded in 1846. Commonly referred to as the "Pennsy", the PRR was headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
(PRR) that allowed a tourist train to operate from Flemington to Lambertville
Lambertville, New Jersey
Lambertville is a city in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 3,906.Lambertville was originally incorporated as a town by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 1, 1849, from portions of West Amwell Township...
. BR&W paid $5,000 a year and rehabilitated the railroad (the PRR operated freight service on the line during this period). Steam engine #60 pulled the first trip out of Flemington on May 16, 1965. Weekend and holiday schedules were devised. On March 16, 1970 the Black River & Western Railroad took over the ownership and operations of the entire Flemington/Lambertville line, purchasing it from the Penn Central. With the acquisition of both freight and passenger trains, a true shortline railroad was born.
On April 1, 1976 the central branch, which runs from Flemington to Three Bridges
Three Bridges, New Jersey
Three Bridges is an unincorproated community in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, United States, on the South Branch Raritan River, named for the three original bridges there which crossed the river. Farmers, John Vlerebone and Harriet Foster Cline were original land owners in the area of Three Bridges...
, was purchased from the Central Railroad of New Jersey.
Train service from Flemington and Lambertville ceased in 1998 due to several factors. The Federal Railroad Administration demoted the poor trackage to "exempted", reducing the amount of trains traveling the line. In addition, a quarry at the end of the line in Lambertville cancelled their contract with the BR&W. As the tourist trains generated little income, service was ultimately.