SA2 runs to Silverline and Mauser. SA3 works the old Budweiser plant and the other customer down the line in Spottswood.
Mauser gets cars 2x a week. Silverline is getting them 1/week or less. They run Tues and Thurs. They're the only 2 customers on this side of the South River draw. SA2 also serves the brick company on the east side of the draw - and Hercules on the other side of the Gillespie wye. There's some sort of steel company between the two that had a recent siding put in - but I don't think they take much rail traffic. I haven't been back there in a few years. Maybe soon.
The photograph in the article was taken in 1969 - during Milltown Day. (Not in the mid-late 50s as the author erroneously wrote) Penn Central lent the Raritan River RR 2 Metroliner cars to be put on display at the station for Milltown Day. It was a PR move by the Penn Central - to show people the luxury and comfort of the MetroLiner cars. An attempt to lure people back to travelling/commuting via rail.
I don't believe the Raritan River moved dirt and sand THROUGH Milltown during the creation of the NJ TPK. I know the Raritan River did get a contract and moved over 4000 cars of dirt from Crossman's in Parlin "For the Turnpike Extension" (direct quote from Rails Up the Raritan). I've never seen mention of where that dirt went to be unloaded. It could have been brought down to the CNJ interchanged elsewhere. Isn't the extension exits 14a/b/c?
It was a profitable shortline - in the black - hardly floundering. Business seemed to be falling off - but they weren't in the red. Conrail had a lot of shares via their absorption of CNJ back in 1975 - but not enough to take over. Then in 1980 CR bought outstanding shares from the Filskov family - enough to become the controlling shareholder - and thus purchased the Raritan River Rail Road. Not absorbed.
I could be wrong about the Turnpike dirt - I'd like to know where the author of that article got that information.
There is a great effort to save this station. A NRHS chapter - the Raritan River Chapter - was formed this year - and their primary focus is to save the Milltown Station - and have teamed up with the Milltown Historical Society to save the station.
The Raritan River Chapter of the NRHS will be at Milltown Day - this Sunday - October 2nd - 10am-4pm. Stop by - say hello - drop some cash in a jar - or fill out an application and join.
We'll have lots of photographs - including more of the Metroliners from Milltown Day '69 - on display. There will be memorabilia and photos from the Steam Era to Conrail.
Hope to see you there.
-Rob
Visit
http://www.raritanriver-rr.com for more info on the Raritan River Rail Road.