Old Time Ingenuity

Tourist railroad becomes non-profit museum. Current location too small. Railroad has to move.

Two-and-a-half years later, all locomotives and rolling stock have been moved, as well as countless smaller items.

Two locomotives remain at the old location. The problem: they are "backwards" to the rest of the fleet. They have to be turned somehow. No crane was used, everything was loaded and unloaded by ramps onto low-boy tractor-trailers.

What to do?

Cribbing and old ties are used to build a "table" at the new location, built for a rail length long enough for a locomotive, at the height of the trailer.

Truck backs up to table and loco is unloaded "backwards". Truck runs around to other side of table and loco is reloaded the "right way". Truck then backs up to ramp and loco is delivered, now facing the right direction. Go back to old location and bring the last loco to the new site.

Move complete.

Pine Creek RR move from Route 9 in Marlboro to Allaire State Park, completed in 1965.

The very last item moved was the former Freneau NJ railroad station, acquired in 1955 from the CNJ Freehold Branch.

Ely-Thomas Shay #6 was used to push locos and rolling stock up the ramp to the trucks. (A gas-mechanical loco was used on the receiving end) When it was the Shay's turn to be moved, she loaded herself onto the trailer and, still under steam, was driven down the highway.

Naturally, whistle blowing and bell ringing was required , as a TV news crew followed the offbeat parade down the road.