CMSL Cape May New Jersey Seashore Lines Passenger Operations

[dlagrua]

In all honesty I may have picked up the bike trail as the old R.O.W at the breakwater road grade crossing. I was driving and will double check next month. I could be mistaken as the bike trail and RR tracks are so close together. My wife owns a summer home in Cape May/lower township area so we are there on a regular basis. We do fondly recall taking trips on the Southern end of the line into Cape May City years back and hope that somehow some type of train service will be restored. If you travel through Cape May and Cumberland County there are remnants of rail service all over. At one time Avalon, Sea Isle City, Ocean City, Wildwood, Sea Breeze, Port Norris/Bivalve all had train service. Today nothing remains except for the quiet CMSL tracks on the South End and the active tracks North of Tuckahoe. Maybe we will see the old Blue Comet line in action again. If that happens maybe NJT will take notice and invest in the line as well as the CMSL.

[chuchubob]

CMSL announced St Patrick's Day Express.

[chuchubob]

Saint Patrick's Day Express operated Friday evening, Saturday afternoon and evening, and Sunday afternoon.
ST Patrick's Express crossing Main Avenue southbound.

[glennk419]

Thanks Bob!

[liftedjeep]

Does not sound good for the Wildwood Junction train station. Admittedly, the station is in very rough shape and has been neglected and abused for many years.

Fair use quote:

Demolition ordered for collapsing Middle Township train station

https://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/cur ... 74969.html

-Wildwood Junction Station still standing as of 3/18/19:

Here we see part of Wildwood Junction Station hidden amongst the weeds in this view looking north along the Cape May Branch:

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... id=5108730" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Now looking south, we see the beginning of the north leg of the wye and Wildwood Branch at the switch in the distance:

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... id=5108737" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The heavily overgrown portion of the tracks were the south leg of the wye and Wildwood Branch met (looking towards Cape May):

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... id=5108742" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Finally, with the main line to my back, a view of the Wildwood Branch looking towards Wildwood. The former Route 9 grade crossing and the Garden State Parkway overpass would be off in the distance:

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... id=5108743" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


Ben

[glennk419]

Thanks Ben.

Pretty much as I remember it from my last visit. Very happy that it's still there.

[glennk419]

Per a post on the Volunteer Railroaders Facebook page, speeder trips will be operating between Cape May station and the Canal bridge on the weekend of May 4-5. Trips will depart hourly, on the hour. Additionally, trips will operate on the first weekend of each month through October, weather permitting.

Although the CMSL website appears to be down, additional details can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/VolunteerRailr ... Ic&fref=nf

[WashingtonPark]

Per a post on the Volunteer Railroaders Facebook page, speeder trips will be operating between Cape May station and the Canal bridge on the weekend of May 4-5. Trips will depart hourly, on the hour. Additionally, trips will operate on the first weekend of each month through October, weather permitting.

Although the CMSL website appears to be down, additional details can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/VolunteerRailr ... Ic&fref=nf

The event's been postponed.

[chuchubob]

CMSL's first Santa train of 2019 departed from Richland Saturday morning with GP38C GMTX 2015 on the south end followed by URHS 317 and 329, Budd RDCs PRSL M-407 and M-410, GOOD VIBRATIONS, lounge car NYC 37 and Santa Fe Pullman VISTA VALLEY with GP38-2 GMTX 2661 on the north end in pull-pull configuration.

[liftedjeep]

This afternoon (11/30) saw my wife and I take a ride on Cape May Seashore Lines' second "Santa Express" of the 2019 season.

We arrived at the station in Richland, picked up our tickets and waited to board. Our "coach class" tickets got us a seat in PRSL RDC #M-410, which as far as I was concerned, was the obvious choice to ride the "Santa Express"! M-407 was also in the consist, and both RDC's were sandwiched between a handful of coaches, with two GP38's on either end.

We departed Richland around 1:30 on train #303. The beautifully restored RDC which was all decked out for Christmas, was nice and warm inside, and the Christmas tunes that played over the speakers set everyone in the right mood as we made our way along the "Steel Speedway to the Shore". I saw some familiar faces as the friendly conductors came through to punch our tickets. Greetings and small talk were exchanged, as the train came to a stop just before the Tuckahoe Road overpass. It was time to head back to Richland.

The trip was just over an hour, and we had a wonderful time during our outing with Cape May Seashore Lines! It was a great way to begin the holiday season!

A big thanks to the Seashore Lines for their hospitality, and dedication in keeping the annual tradition alive!

PRSL M-410:

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... id=5226423

M-410's interior:

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... id=5226422

PRSL M-407:

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... id=5226424

"Santa Express" back in Richland after the final run of the day. GMTX #2661 was originally built for the PRSL in 1970:

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... id=5226425

"Santa Express" ticket stub:

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... id=5226428


Ben

[pateljones]

Can the trains operate within CapeMay or is the bridge over the canal remaining broken?

[glennk419]

The bridge is fine. The problem is that they can't get any trains down there due to severe vandalism and damage to tracks and ties in Dennisville. There was additional vandalism in Middle Township but that wasn't quite as severe.

[liftedjeep]

The bridge is fine.

Aside from the vandalism preventing access to Cape May, IS the bridge still in operating order? I know its been close to 10 years since it last moved.

Ben

[glennk419]

AFAIK, the bridge is functional. I'm sure it would need an inspection and maintenance before going into regular service and don't know if the Coast Guard requires anything on a regular basis as long as its in the open position.The more recent speeder trips have only operated TO the bridge but that may very well be for safety reasons.

[WashingtonPark]

The bridge is fine. The problem is that they can't get any trains down there due to severe vandalism and damage to tracks and ties in Dennisville. There was additional vandalism in Middle Township but that wasn't quite as severe.

Tony needs to contact the Stewartstown Railroad and ask them to explain to him how they were able to repair damaged track with very limited resources and help and not take 20 years to do it.