Delaware and Raritan River Railroad-General Discussion

This morning train passing over the Manasquan River, Howell.

NICE shot!


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Bridge at Marsh Bog Creek on the old Pennsy Line. Farmingdale

Forest3670 wrote: ↑Fri Jan 27, 2023 3:15 pm Bridge at Marsh Bog Creek on the old Pennsy Line. Farmingdale

Where exactly is this?

I think that’s the bridge near Gold Lumber?

Guess my pal was wrong about it shifting? Looks alright.

Blue flag shows location of Marsh Bog Bridge

Is it sturdy enough to support current train loads?

Actually I’m not sure. Did the 2019 NJTPA study take place on this section of track?


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I believe it mentioned it as a route that had no height restrictions on it directly, and had no weight limits on it indirectly (the Southern has a direct height restriction due to a bridge somewhere in Tinton Falls, and an indirect weight restriction due to some NJT restrictions on the Coastline). This line has been abandoned for the better part of 30-40 years, so I seriously doubt that NJTPA was able to do extensive studies on this section of track, especially with the overgrowth.

There are some bridges on the Southern and FIT that are about as old as that bridge by Gold's Lumber, and they can support current trains + more, so that bridge should be fine?

Plate "F", yes. The only restriction would be the Raritan bridge, and the new one is supposed to handle plate "F". The FRIO went out of it's way to point this out.

The current bridge can handle Plate F, yes. The new bridge I believe will also be good for Plate F. However, the track north of the RR Bridge has several spots that are not tall enough to except Plate F. Mainly the roads over Perth Amboy Station and a few spots north of there.

Even if the new bridge is Plate F, it’s not gonna matter if the rest of the route is only good for Plate E or whatever it actually is.

You can bring Plate F in through Monmouth Junction on the NEC no problem, but I’m not sure if the route past Metuchen is good for 286k. NJTPA says it’s not…


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I think what it really comes down to, is as long as customers on the FIT and SOUS can get 286K cars, it's a win. I believe weight is a far worse restriction to deal with than height.

Yes it is. Especially in Woodhavens case. Getting rid of the restrictions means they can put 23,000 pounds more lumber in each centerbeam, meaning more products delivered on a shorter train which saves them money. In addition, only paying for the cars to go from WOOD to ESSAY on the Coast Line instead of WOOD to ESSAY then from RARE (I think that’s the name? Starts with R) to BANK.


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The current raritan bridge has catenarys too low for plate "f" and they cannot be raised enough to support it. Between the bridge and Jamesburg there are no obstructions to the height, ditto Jamesburg to Lakewood. It is my understanding the new bridge will not have the same height restrictions. Also supposedly will support 286k car weight.

Yes, but before the bridge there are areas were it’s too low for Plate F. Even with the new bridge they can’t bring Plate F in on the current transfer route.


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