georgehyland wrote:Hello all - this is my first post to this forum. I was out at the point this past weekend, and I saw where the tracks end at the beach. I took some video. What I notice is the track extends about 100 feet past the gate to the old magnesite branch, but it looks like they have been removed from the premises inside the fence. My sons and I actually found another gate that was open and walked around the former plant grounds. No sign of tracks in there. My question is this - was the line ever used for passenger service, or did it always just exist for the magnesite plant? Does anyone have pictures of this line in operation?From the late 1980's until about the mid-1990's, my family and I used to spend a week at Cape May Point, and I was always fascinated with the Cape May Point Branch of the CMSL. From what I have seen and heard told about the branch, it was built solely to serve the magnesite plant. I can remember when the abandoned plant was still standing shortly before it was removed.
Thanks,
George
I believe that it is a long-term goal of the CMSL to eventually get the line back in operation to allow limited passenger service out to the point, particularly on evenings where traffic on the road out to Sunset Beach is gridlocked on evenings when the sun sinks into Delaware Bay. They might need to extend the tracks an additional few hundred feet to make patron access from Sunset Beach to the rail line a bit easier, funds permitting. Of course, the priority right now is to get the swing bridge on the canal back into operating condition to allow rail service itself into Cape May.
Wade Rice
Member, B&O RR Historical Society
http://www.borhs.org
Daniel Willard (1860-1942) and Jervis Langdon, Jr. (1905-2004) - Two of B&O's best presidents and managers!
President Leonor Loree (1858-1940) brought the B&O into the 20th century!
Member, B&O RR Historical Society
http://www.borhs.org
Daniel Willard (1860-1942) and Jervis Langdon, Jr. (1905-2004) - Two of B&O's best presidents and managers!
President Leonor Loree (1858-1940) brought the B&O into the 20th century!