Bordentown Camden & Amboy Railroad Historic District Project Update VIII

On Saturday, January 17, 2026, project leader and WJC member Pierre Lacombe held another work session a the Camden & Amboy Railroad Heritage Railroad Park. At this session volunteers assembled the railroad tracks for three more Camden & Amboy track styles for the replica display. Geocloth was laid down, and the replica tracks were installed. These styles of track were erected in 1837 along the C&A Bordentown Branch between Bordentown and Trenton. Two more replica track styles will be installed at a later time. Between work sessions Pierre has ballasted the track display which features the seven track structure styles used on the Camden & Amboy mainline between South Amboy and Camden. The display is just east of the NJ Transit Bordentown River Line station parking lot. Photos by John Burlage.

Northeast Corridor Post-Thanksgiving Rush

The Sunday after Thanksgiving is the heaviest travel day of the year, so several West Jersey Chapter members witnessed the parade of Amtrak and SEPTA Trenton Local trains at the Cornwells Heights, Pa., station on the Northeast Corridor on November 30. Despite the rain, WJC members were able to photograph Amtrak cab car 9635 in its new livery, the new second-generation Acela trainsets, and both classes of SEPTA Silverliners. Photos by Dave Homer.

November Chapter Membership Meeting

West Jersey Chapter held its November membership meeting at the Francis J. Ward Recreation & Community Center in Audubon, N. J., and virtually via Zoom, on Monday, November 24, 2025. The Philadelphia, Marlton & Medford Railroad was a branch line running from Haddonfield to Medford, New Jersey. Initially created by the Camden & Atlantic in 1881, it soon came under control of the Pennsylvania Railroad, eventually becoming PRR’s Medford Branch. WJC members Randy Acorcey and Hank Cutler explore the line’s 50-year history, including its stations, locomotives, and right-of-way. Maps and present-day photography are used to place the line in relation to modern landmarks such as housing developments, businesses, and NJ Route 70. You can play a recording of the presentation by clicking on the image or by clicking here. The length of the program is 59:57.

Operation Toy Train

On Saturday, November 22, the Woodstown Central Railroad sponsored Operation Toy Train, supporting the Marines’ Toys for Tots Foundation. Stops to receive new, unwrapped toys and meet Santa were made in Salem, Woodstown, and Swedesboro. West Jersey Chapter members Randy Acorcey, Hank Cutler, Dave Homer, Alex Rodriguez, Ken Schwarz, and Paula Williamson were on hand to deliver toys. A total of 368 toys were collected. Many thanks to all those who donated to this worthy cause. Photos by or provided by Dave Homer.

Bordentown Camden & Amboy Railroad Historic District Project Update VII

On Saturday, November 22, a wooden border was installed around the display of the seven different types of track construction used by the Camden & Amboy Railroad in the 1830s. At upcoming work sessions the border will be aligned and the track will be ballasted with crushed stone. The display is just east of the NJ Transit Bordentown River Line station parking lot. Photos by John Burlage.

Belcoville Tour

On Saturday, November 8, West Jersey Chapter members toured the remains of the World War I ordnance manufacturing facility at Belcoville, south of Mays Landing. “Belco” is an acronym for Bethlehem Loading Company. The facility was constructed in 1918, and was about 70 percent complete when the war ended in November, 1918. The plant had 24 miles of railroad track. For more information, see the following links: Belcoville, BLC Photo Collection, and Bethlehem Loading Company Sign Tour on Atlantic County’s website.

October Chapter Membership Meeting

West Jersey Chapter held its October membership meeting at the Francis J. Ward Recreation & Community Center in Audubon, N. J., and virtually via Zoom, on Monday, October 27, 2025. The New Jersey shore was seen as a place of healing and relaxation in the 19th century and even earlier. However with primitive roads and few lodging options it was difficult to travel there. The railroads made it possible for people of even modest means to vacation at the shore, thus creating the shore tourism industry we know today. By 1927, of the 120 miles of Jersey coastline, only 8 miles were not directly accessible by railroad. Our presenter is Bill Elwell, a WJC member and Adjunct Professor of History at Monmouth University. You can play a recording of the presentation by clicking on the image or by clicking here. The length of the program is 59:48.

WJC 2025 Annual Meeting

West Jersey Chapter held its annual meeting at the Francis J. Ward Recreation & Community Center in Audubon, N. J., and virtually via Zoom, on Monday, October 27, 2025. At this meeting the results of the annual election were announced. The minutes of the last annual meeting, held on October 28, 2024, were approved, and the following directors were re-elected to serve as the Director Class of 2028: Randy Acorcey, Steve Grous, Pierre Lacombe, Don Lee, Rich Magee, and Kyle Payne. Congratulations! The cost of conducting the annual election using paper ballots was also reviewed.

West Jersey Chapter members can receive a PDF copy of this presentation upon request. Please email us at board@westjersey-nrhs.org and request a copy.

Bordentown Camden & Amboy Railroad Historic District Project Update VI

On Saturday, October 25, the south rail of the Camden & Amboy Railroad track display in Bordentown was leveled, aligned, and gauged to 4 feet 8½ inches (standard gauge) between the rails. Project leader and WJC member Pierre Lacombe and his team of volunteers started today’s work by raising and leveling the stone sleepers, which weigh 400-500 pounds each. Pry bars were used to raise the sleepers enough so that stone or concrete shims could be placed beneath the sleepers. This done, the six other types of C&A track construction were leveled and aligned. The display is just east of the NJ Transit Bordentown River Line station parking lot.

Meanwhile, on the River Line, northbound trains ended their runs at the Bordentown station instead of Trenton because of trackwork being performed this weekend north of Bordentown. NJ Transit shuttle buses were employed to take passengers from Bordentown to Trenton, and vice versa for southbound trips. Photos by John Burlage.

Stratford Knights of Columbus Fall Toy and Train Collectable Show

West Jersey Chapter had a table at the Stratford Knights of Columbus show, held at John Paul II Regional Catholic School on Warwick Road in Stratford on Saturday, October 25. WJC’s table was manned by Ben Makem (left) and Hank Cutler, who sold Chapter publications, distributed information on WJC, and fielded questions about railroads and working train museums in South Jersey. WJC attends many train and railroadiana shows in our area. Please check our Event Calendar for upcoming shows in which we participate, drop by and say hello.

WJC Locker/Archive Work Session

On Monday, October 20, West Jersey Chapter members met at our storage locker in Cherry Hill for a work session. Photographs from our collection were culled, and books and periodicals reserved for the WJC library were sorted, culled and boxed. Books and photographs in WJC’s collection cover a wide range to topics germane to our region. Work sessions are normally scheduled for 9:00 AM on Mondays and last about three hours. If you would like to help out, please email Dave Homer for details. Photos by John Burlage.

Bordentown Camden & Amboy Railroad Historic District Project Update V

On Sunday, October 19, the north rail of the Camden & Amboy Railroad track display in Bordentown was leveled and aligned. This was accomplished by running a plumb line along the inside edge of the rail and either raising or lowering the components of each type of track construction so that the rail was level and resting upon stringers, cross ties, and stone sleepers throughout the display. The most challenging task was to raise or lower the stone sleepers, which weigh 400-500 pounds each. The display is just east of the NJ Transit Bordentown River Line station parking lot. Photos by John Burlage.

10th Annual Wenonah Cemetery Walk & History Festival

On Saturday, October 18, West Jersey Chapter participated in the 10th Annual Wenonah Cemetery Walk, where reenactors portrayed historic men and women from Wenonah’s past. WJC Treasurer Scott Barnes portrayed Dr. Harry A. Stout (1864-1923), who ministered to the townspeople. The Wenonah Historical Society and the Wenonah Cemetery Association sponsored this event. The cemetery is located across the Mantua Creek in Mantua Township on high ground. This was the first year vendors were invited to the event, and several historical societies were represented. Photos by Dave Homer.

Reading Railroad Heritage Museum Trip

On Saturday, October 4, several West Jersey Chapter members traveled to the Reading Railroad Heritage Museum in Hamburg, Pa., which is owned and run by the Reading Company Technical & Historical Society. The museum boasts many railroad-related exhibits, including the Race Street Tower interlocking machine and model board, an extensive archives, and a large collection of rolling stock. Lunch was on board Reading Company business car No. 15, which is in the process of being restored by RCT&HS and WJC member Kevin Painter.

Prior to our visit to the museum, our group photographed the Reading & Northern’s excursion to Jim Thorpe, Pa., at North Reading, the Industrial Drive grade crossing (“MULLER”) in Tilden Twp., and Molino. Photos by James Brazel, John Burlage, Michael Burshtin, Dave Homer, and Kevin Painter. Group photo by Steve Brodecki.

September Chapter Membership Meeting - Part 2

WJC Vice President Fred Ciocciola shows us what it was like to attend the 100th anniversary of the golden spike that completed the first U. S. transcontinental railroad at Promontory Summit, Utah. In addition to photos of the ceremony itself, we get to see Union Pacific and Southern Pacific showing off their best locomotives and rolling stock such as UP’s 4-8-4 #8444. Shots of local railroad action, a huge Kennecott Copper mine, and the peaceful Great Salt Lake scenery round out the presentation. You can play a recording of the presentation by clicking on the image or by clicking here. The length of the program is 32:07.

September Chapter Membership Meeting - Part 1

West Jersey Chapter’s September membership meeting was held in-person at the Audubon Senior Center and virtually via Zoom on Monday, September 22, 2025. Drew Marshall of the Delaware and Susquehanna Model Railroad Club presented a program of his contemporary railroad photos from New England, the Delmarva Peninsula, and the Philadelphia area called Trackside Potpourri. You can play a recording of the presentation by clicking on the image or by clicking here. The length of the program is 22:34.

Special Presentation: 2025 NRHS Service Awards

At our September membership meeting, held at the Audubon Senior Center on Monday, September 22, five West Jersey Chapter members were honored with NRHS Service Awards. Receiving 25-year pins were Michael C. Brotzman, Kelvin L. MacKavanagh, Andrew S. Russell, and Paula R. Williamson, and receiving his 60-year pin was Richard J. Magee. Paula and Rich were on hand to receive their pins and certificates from WJC President Dave Homer. Photos by John Burlage

Bordentown Camden & Amboy Railroad Historic District Project Update IV

On Saturday, September 13, four stone slabs were moved into place (each weighing about 400-500 lbs.) to recreate the type of track construction used near Robbinsville where strap rail was affixed to stone slabs to provide a running surface. These slabs were cut earlier by project leader (and WJC member) Pierre Lacombe from larger stones using the pin-and-feather method. The wooden T-rails were removed and replaced by 30-foot sections of 35 lb. T-rail, the same weight of rail used on the original Camden & Amboy Railroad. The weight of T-rail is measured by the yard, so each section of rail weighs about 350 lbs. Photos by John Burlage.

Perryville Trip

On Friday, September 12, West Jersey Chapter members Scott Barnes, John Burlage, Michael Coventree, Bill Ducommun, Dave Homer, and Brian Yates traveled to the Perryville, Md., station for a day of train watching on the Northeast Corridor. A Friday was chosen for this informal event as MARC trains serve Perryville only on weekdays. We were on hand to view MARC trains 502 and 525 in the morning, and trains 520 and 537 in the afternoon. There was a parade of Amtrak trains throughout the day, including both the old and new Acelas, and a Norfolk Southern train came down the Port Road and headed north along the Northeast Corridor. Members of the Perryville Chapter, NRHS, were on hand to answer questions on local rail history and expected train movements, and they opened up the station for us so we could view their model railroad, historic photographs, and artifact collection. West Jersey Chapter extends its thanks to the Perryville Chapter for a wonderful day trackside. Photos by Dave Homer and John Burlage. Group photo by Richard Hafer, President of the Perryville Chapter, NRHS.

August Chapter Membership Meeting

West Jersey Chapter’s August membership meeting was held virtually via Zoom on Monday, August 25, 2025. WJC member Brian Yates presented photos of the Central Railroad of New Jersey from the Chapter’s Francis Palmer Collection. Stations, yards, and locomotives are featured across the system, moving westward from New York City to Scranton, PA. Chapter members fill in additional caption information throughout. Francis Palmer (1901-1993) initially worked as a PRR clerk, using his railroad travel pass to photograph stations all over the railroad’s territory. After being laid off during the Great Depression he left the railroad industry but turned his attention to documenting locomotives and steamships. WJC purchased his photographic collection after his death. You can play a recording of the presentation by clicking on the image or by clicking here. The length of the program is 1:18:19.