Question regarding Coast Line

I traveled NY Penn to Red Bank yesterday for a Superbowl Party. Great game and great trip too. Trains clean and on time both ways. I have a question. Heading south right before the South Amboy station a spur heads off to the right. The tracks look used and they appeared to have catenary overhead. Does any one know where the lines go and what it is/was used for? Thanks.

There are TWO connection to the CONRAIL Shared Assets Amboy Secondary (former PRR) at South Amboy, one, just EAST (that's rr EAST, compass North) of the South Amboy Station on the (compass)EAST side of the line used by freight headed down (rr direction WEST) to the Southern Secondary at Red Bank (see thread CR on the Southern Secondary on the New Jersey Railfan forum), there is also a connection to that line right after the RIVER swing bridge (south side of the river, on the west side of the line) for WEST bound freight coming down to Brown's Yard from the Chemical Coast Line (Former CNJ) (connection just EAST of Perth Amboy). Line (WEST from South Amboy) was electrified and eventually winds it's way back to the NEC (former PRR) at Monmouth Junction (Midway tower), wires have been down for a long time but cat poles are still up.

....this the same track or row that comprised the Camden and Amboy?

And, by the way, is there an "original C&A" track piece with memorial sign near Jamesburg? Remember one back in the 50s but don't know if it still exists or not today, and, if so,k where? Got an old b&w of it.

AnthonyB wrote:...Heading south right before the South Amboy station a spur heads off to the right. The tracks look used and they appeared to have catenary overhead. Does any one know where the lines go and what it is/was used for? Thanks.

OCtrainguy wrote:Based on your description, that track you saw would be the Amboy Secondary, where it meets the NJCL. The trackage is used by Conrail Shared Assets to/from Browns Yard in Sayerville.

henry6 wrote:....this the same track or row that comprised the Camden and Amboy?

Yes, that is the ConRail Shared Assets’ Amboy Secondary, former PRR, former Camden and Amboy Railroad.

OCtrainguy wrote:This trackage was former PRR, thus the catenary poles that you saw.

PRR later electrified that route from Monmouth Jct. (Midway) on what is now the Northeast Corridor so that electric-powered coal drags could reach the coal dumpers at South Amboy without an engine change.

henry6 wrote:....And, by the way, is there an "original C&A" track piece with memorial sign near Jamesburg? Remember one back in the 50s but don't know if it still exists or not today, and, if so,k where? Got an old b&w of it.

There is a sign about the C&A adjacent to the CSAO Amboy Secondary on County route 527 just south of Spotswood and the Rte. 18 overpass. There is another sign on Rte. 133 where it crosses the C&A ROW north of Hightstown.

More on the Camden and Amboy at:
1. Gerald's Railroads of New Jersey: http://www.geocities.com/transit383/ashist.html ,
2. http://jcrhs.org/camden&amboy.html , and
3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camden_and_Amboy_Railroad

...also what was supposed to have been original "T" rail. Is that around?

henry6 wrote:...also what was supposed to have been original "T" rail. Is that around?

The original "T" rail was a rail that had a T shape (with an underline, of course) in its cross-section. It was a vast improvement over the rectangular- shaped strap of iron attached to wood that was first in use. Stevens was the inventor of the "T" rail.

Much heavier and larger in cross-section, all rails are "T" rails today.

Thanks to all for all the information. I never thought my putting the paper down at the right time would lead to this. Particularly fascinating the info about the T rail. Thanks again