Mystery Photos
Can you help us? West Jersey Chapter many photographs in its collection with no ancillary information, such as the photographer, date and time taken, location, and occasion the image was captured. If you can provide further information on any image in this section, let us know! Clicking “Mystery Photo #n” will create a new email to us for that photo. If possible, include at least one citation where a similar image was published for comparison. Photographs may not be reproduced or published without written permission from the West Jersey Chapter, NRHS, Inc.
Mystery Photo #3. What we know: This photo was from a group of photos printed in April, 1964. None of the photos are marked. The camera used was capable of taking full frame or half frame shots, and there are four full frame and one half frame exposures of this building from various angles. In one instance of the latter format, where two exposures were printed on the same print, a photo of this structure appears next to a photo of Bellman’s Restaurant and Sportsman’s Bar. A search of Newspapers.com returned an article published in the Courier-Post on May 3, 1968, which notes, “A good sandwich spot in center city [Wildwood] is “Bellman’s Restaurant & Bar,” 3406 Pacific Ave., featuring lox and bagels, and corn beef and pastrami sandwiches.” A check of PRR’s C. T. 1000E of 1923 shows that the Wildwood freight station was located at MP 79.4; also located at this location was the Wildwood Lumber Co., which had a private siding, whose address was 101 West Burke Ave. The PRR Andrews Ave. station was located 0.1 mile east (or south) of here. So is this a photo of the West Jersey & Seashore Wildwood freight station?
Answer for Mystery Photo #3.
Jerry MacDonald (as told to John Burlage): This photo is of the West Jersey & Seashore Railroad’s Wildwood freight station, and was taken by Jesse Godfrey in April, 1964. The station had been moved from its previous location on New Jersey Avenue, between Oak Avenue and Schellenger Avenue, to Montgomery Avenue. We were looking for a site to house our model railroad club, and thought of this station, but in its present condition was found unsuitable. This building was gone by 1970.
Mystery Photo #1. What we know: Obviously a PRR locomotive servicing facility during the time of the steam-to-diesel transition. Both locomotives are Baldwins.
Mystery Photo #2. What we know: This and Mystery Photo #1 were taken at the same place on the same date. PRR 8961 is a Baldwin RT-624 transfer locomotive (c/n 75132, 11/1951), class BS24m, equipped with two 1200 hp 606A engines for a total of 2400 hp. It was also equipped with dynamic brakes and Trainphone, evident from the lengthwise antenna on the unit’s roof.
Answers for Mystery Photos #1 and #2.
Jerry MacDonald (as told to John Burlage): I took these photos on March 3, 1964, at the Camden engine terminal. They are from negatives 21.005.08 and 21.005.10, respectfully, in my collection. The latter photo was featured on the Audio Visual Designs 2001 calendar for March.
Ron Baile: I believe that they are in Camden. The BLH center cab units were used on the Schuylkill Valley Branch. They kept one at the far end of the roundhouse (West end) because I don't believe it would fit in the building (or on the turntable) These were simply awesome to stand next to.
Don Lee: Both photos are Camden Terminal Enginehouse coal tipple and water tank. The coal tipple remained in service until the mid 60s for sanding locomotives and was retired when the facility was relocated to Pavonia. The frame building on the left of the photo is the Camden Terminal yardmaster's office. The brick building beyond was PRRs 24 Federal St. and the multi-story building beyond that was part of Campbell Soup. This photo is probably not long before the end. The concrete is back to white after several years of no soot from steam locomotives. The water tank is showing definite signs of aging, no doubt from several years without being filled with water. I can't remember who owned the building in the background on the right. It was the only building between Federal St. and Clinton St. that was not related to railroad operations.