Bordentown Secondary (Conrail)
Encyclopedia
Conrail's Bordentown Secondary is a freight line in New Jersey
, running from Pavonia Yard
in Camden
to Trenton
. Today, a large portion of the line from Bordentown
to Camden is used for New Jersey Transit
's River Line
light rail service; as a result, freight movement on the line is restricted to overnight hours.
, became a Penn Central Transportation
line after the Pennsylvania RR-New York Central Railroad
merger, and was transferred to Conrail in 1976.
The line was purchased by New Jersey Transit in 1999 for its River Line
light rail service between Trenton and Camden. As part of the deal, Conrail retains trackage rights over the line.
approval for the operation, light rail and freight operations are time separated. Conrail's agreement with New Jersey Transit gives exclusive access to light rail operations from 22:00 to 06:00 Sunday through Friday, Conrail has exclusive access for freight service during the overnight hours, but may run trains on the southern end of the alignment any other time with prior approval from New Jersey Transit or in emergencies.
Much of the line between Bordentown and South Amboy
is out of service; the track has been pulled up or paved over in several places. In February 2006, the NJ Department of Transportation proposed removing two road crossings on the northern portion of the line.
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, running from Pavonia Yard
Pavonia Yard
Pavonia Yard is a rail yard in Camden, New Jersey. It was built by the Pennsylvania Railroad and opened in 1888.The yard was used to interchange with the West Jersey and Seashore Railroad during 1896 to 1932, and with the Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines during 1932 to 1976. Initially the PRR...
in Camden
Camden, New Jersey
The city of Camden is the county seat of Camden County, New Jersey. It is located across the Delaware River from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 77,344...
to Trenton
Trenton, New Jersey
Trenton is the capital of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the county seat of Mercer County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Trenton had a population of 84,913...
. Today, a large portion of the line from Bordentown
Bordentown, New Jersey
Bordentown City is in Burlington County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 3,924. Bordentown is located at the confluence of the Delaware River, Blacks Creek and Crosswicks Creek...
to Camden is used for New Jersey Transit
New Jersey Transit
The New Jersey Transit Corporation is a statewide public transportation system serving the United States state of New Jersey, and New York, Orange, and Rockland counties in New York State...
's River Line
River Line (New Jersey Transit)
The River Line is a diesel light rail system in New Jersey, United States, that connects the cities of Camden and Trenton, New Jersey's capital. It is operated for New Jersey Transit by the Southern New Jersey Rail Group , which originally included Bechtel Group and Bombardier...
light rail service; as a result, freight movement on the line is restricted to overnight hours.
History
The trackage that makes up much of the present-day Bordentown Secondary was originally laid by the Camden and Amboy Railroad to complete their connection between New York and Philadelphia, via ferries between Pier 1 in New York City, NY and South Amboy, NJ, and between Camden, NJ and Philadelphia, PA. The Camden and Amboy was eventually purchased by the Pennsylvania RailroadPennsylvania 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....
, became a Penn Central Transportation
Penn Central Transportation
The Penn Central Transportation Company, commonly abbreviated to Penn Central, was an American railroad company that operated from 1968 until 1976. It was created by the merger on February 1, 1968, of the Pennsylvania Railroad and the New York Central Railroad...
line after the Pennsylvania RR-New York Central Railroad
New York Central Railroad
The New York Central Railroad , known simply as the New York Central in its publicity, was a railroad operating in the Northeastern United States...
merger, and was transferred to Conrail in 1976.
The line was purchased by New Jersey Transit in 1999 for its River Line
River Line (New Jersey Transit)
The River Line is a diesel light rail system in New Jersey, United States, that connects the cities of Camden and Trenton, New Jersey's capital. It is operated for New Jersey Transit by the Southern New Jersey Rail Group , which originally included Bechtel Group and Bombardier...
light rail service between Trenton and Camden. As part of the deal, Conrail retains trackage rights over the line.
Today
At present, the line is primarily used for New Jersey Transit's River Line light rail service, which operates on the same tracks used by freight trains for much of its route. To achieve Federal Railroad AdministrationFederal Railroad Administration
The Federal Railroad Administration is an agency in the United States Department of Transportation. The agency was created by the Department of Transportation Act of 1966...
approval for the operation, light rail and freight operations are time separated. Conrail's agreement with New Jersey Transit gives exclusive access to light rail operations from 22:00 to 06:00 Sunday through Friday, Conrail has exclusive access for freight service during the overnight hours, but may run trains on the southern end of the alignment any other time with prior approval from New Jersey Transit or in emergencies.
Much of the line between Bordentown and South Amboy
South Amboy, New Jersey
South Amboy is a city in Middlesex County, New Jersey, on the Raritan Bay. As of the 2000 United States Census, the city population was 7,913.South Amboy, and Perth Amboy across the Raritan River, are collectively referred to as The Amboys...
is out of service; the track has been pulled up or paved over in several places. In February 2006, the NJ Department of Transportation proposed removing two road crossings on the northern portion of the line.