Roebling Museum and Camden & Amboy Railroad Heritage Park Visit

On Saturday, August 1, 2026, West Jersey Chapter members visited the Roebling Museum in Roebling (Florence Township), where we viewed a video on the Roebling family, their wire works, the bridges built using their cables, the town that grew up outside the plant in Roebling, and its people. This was followed by a guided tour of the museum. After exploring the museum grounds, our group took NJ Transit’s River Line to Bordentown, where we had lunch and afterward toured the Camden & Amboy Railroad Heritage Park, adjacent to the River Line parking lot. Heritage Park project leader Pierre Lacombe explained how the railroad was built in Bordentown and the types of track construction employed. Photos by Hank Cutler, Dave Homer, and John Burlage.

Bordentown Camden & Amboy Railroad Historic District Project Update X

On Saturday, July 25, 2026, project leader and WJC member Pierre Lacombe held another work session at the Camden & Amboy Railroad Heritage Park. Since the last session in April, the stone obelisk marking the endpoint of the first run of the John Bull was installed, and an information kiosk was erected at the entrance to the park. There is a small desktop at one end of the kiosk where visitors can write their comments about the railroad heritage park. At this session volunteers assembled two additional styles of track construction. The first type used stone sleepers, but the holes drilled into the stones were nominally seven inches apart, and the stringers were attached to the sleepers using angle irons. These sleepers were recently recovered from Stewart’s Wharf, and these were the sleepers on which the John Bull was assembled. The second type was used as a temporary tramway to transport excavated material to build the causeway. In addition, another display cabinet was installed on the information kiosk. The display is located just east of the NJ Transit Bordentown River Line station parking lot. Photos by John Burlage and Madelyn J. C. Tannous.

Benjamin Franklin Bridge 100th Anniversary Celebration

On Saturday, July 11, West Jersey Chapter had a sales table at the Benjamin Franklin Bridge 100th Anniversary Celebration on the Camden side of the bridge. The bridge was closed to vehicular traffic from 8:30 a. m. to 4:00 p. m., and visitors could cross the bridge on foot in the vehicular lanes. Originally named the Delaware River Bridge, the bridge was opened to traffic on July 1, 1926. It was designed to carry vehicular, trolley, and rapid transit trains over the Delaware River between Camden and Philadelphia, but was initially used only by the former. The Delaware River Joint Commission began operating rapid transit trains over the bridge between 8th & Market in Philadelphia and Broadway in Camden on June 7, 1936. The Delaware River Port Authority extended the line to Lindenwold, which opened as PATCO between Lindenwold and Camden on January 4, 1969, and to Philadelphia on February 15, 1969. WJC’s book The Lindenwold Hi-Speed Line was a best seller at this event. If you wish to learn more about PATCO’s construction and its first twenty years of operation, this book is also available through WJC’s online Store. Photos by John Burlage and Michael Burshtin.

May Chapter Membership Meeting

West Jersey Chapter held its May membership meeting at the Audubon Senior Center in Audubon, N. J., and virtually via Zoom, on Monday, May 18, 2026. WJC Vice President Fred Ciocciola shows the best shots from his decades of watching trains and trolleys in the Philly area. This video starts in the mid-1950s, when trolleys were still ubiquitous, SEPTA didn’t exist, cars had tail fins, and the Pennsylvania Railroad was standing tall. By the end of the video, SEPTA operated those trolleys that still existed, and the Pennsylvania had morphed into a bankrupt and struggling Penn Central. You can play a recording of the presentation by clicking on the image or by clicking here. The length of the program is 1:12:12.

April Chapter Membership Meeting

West Jersey Chapter held its April membership meeting at the Audubon Senior Center in Audubon, N. J., and virtually via Zoom, on Monday, April 27, 2026. In 1829 the first steam locomotive for American use, The Stourbridge Lion, arrived in the U. S. from Britain. Even though it was primitive, it was built on 25 years of locomotive development and knowledge. This program describes the first 25 years of British steam locomotive development, when there was no industry knowledge to draw on.

Our presenter is Fred Willis, a longtime member of the National Model Railroad Association. You can play a recording of the presentation by clicking on the image or by clicking here. The length of the program is 51:16.

Bordentown Camden & Amboy Railroad Historic District Project Update IX

On Saturday, April 25, 2026, project leader and WJC member Pierre Lacombe held another work session a the Camden & Amboy Railroad Heritage Park. At this session volunteers assembled a frame around the display depicting the three styles of track construction used on the Bordentown Branch between Bordentown and Trenton, and the mainline between Trenton and New Brunswick, which ran for much of its distance along the Delaware & Raritan Canal. Following the frame construction, Geocloth was laid down as a barrier against weeds, and ¾-inch crushed stone was placed in the display. Also, previously, a short section of track depicting track construction from the early 20th century has aligned and spiked down into cross ties. This section of track is next to the retaining wall on the north side of the display area. The display is located just east of the NJ Transit Bordentown River Line station parking lot. Photos by John Burlage.

Princeton Junction Railfanning

On Saturday, April 11, four West Jersey Chapter members congregated at Princeton Junction to photograph Amtrak and NJ Transit action on the Northeast Corridor, plus a side trip on the Princeton Branch riding the Dinky. The trains were plentiful. On Amtrak, both types of Acela train sets roared through, along with Northeast Regional, Keystone, and long-distance trains. Some Amtrak trains had an ACS-64 locomotive on each end. NJ Transit used multi-level coaches exclusively, usually powered by an ALP-46 or ALP-46A, but an ALP-45DP was also seen. Two Jersey Arrow III single units made up the Dinky. (The former PRR Princeton passenger station is now a restaurant named “The Dinky.”) Perhaps the strangest sight was seeing an Amtrak hi-rail truck heading west on Track 2. While this track was occupied, eastward trains, including an Acela, were sent down Track 1. WJC member Ralph Zabielski made a video of the happenings at Princeton Junction and Princeton. Its length is 27:59. Photos by John Burlage.

Delaware & Raritan Canal/Camden & Amboy Railroad Geology Hike

On Saturday, March 28, WJC Member Pierre Lacombe led a walk and talk on the transition between the Delaware & Raritan Canal and the Camden & Amboy Railroad at Bordentown. Pierre discussed the geology of New Jersey, the track construction methods used on the Camden & Amboy, and the construction techniques used on the Delaware & Raritan Canal. Also on display were facsimiles of interpretive signs that will be placed at fourteen locations in Bordentown on the Camden & Amboy.

The Camden & Amboy Railroad was up and running in 1832 between Bordentown and South Amboy. The Delaware & Raritan Canal was in operation in 1834, as was the full length of the C&A. In 1837 the C&A built the Bordentown Branch to Trenton along the east side of the D&R Canal. The D&R and the C&A built a bridge over Crosswicks Creek so workers and others could walk between the two transportation methods.

Our tour included visiting replicas of the railroad tracks of the C&A in a small park at the light rail station in Bordentown. Pierre discussed the railroad, the canal, the walking bridge over Crosswicks Creek, and the sand and gravel quarry work at what is today Riverview Studios. The quarried sand and gravel was used to build the elevated causeway across Hamilton Marsh on the east side of the canal.

C&A-related photos by Dave Homer. D&R-related photos by John Burlage. WJC group photo by Mitch Dakelman. Facsimiles of C&A interpretive signs provided by Pierre Lacombe.

March Chapter Membership Meeting

West Jersey Chapter held its March membership meeting at the Audubon Senior Center in Audubon, N. J., and virtually via Zoom, on Monday, March 23, 2026. Longtime WJC member Russ Sharp shows us a variety of 1960s railroad action starting in his native South Jersey and extending to other parts of the Pennsylvania Railroad empire. You can play a recording of the presentation by clicking on the image or by clicking here. The length of the program is 1:00:49.

Informal Event: Railfanning at Levittown

On Tuesday, March 10, WJC members Fred Ciocciola, Will Dicke, Dave Homer, and Ralph Zabielski spent the morning at the SEPTA Levittown-Tullytown station on the Northeast Corridor photographing Amtrak, SEPTA, and CSX action, and Ralph made a video of the trains passing through or stopping at the station. Amtrak trains included Northeast Regional, Keystone, Acela, and Acela Next Generation, while SEPTA ran Silverliner IV, Silverliner V, and push-pull sets. CSX made two light engine moves through the station. Photos by Dave Homer.

February Chapter Membership Meeting

Due to inclement weather, West Jersey Chapter held its February membership meeting virtually via Zoom, on Monday, February 23, 2026. WJC member Rich Taylor shows us a diverse selection of the PRSL scenes he captured all across South Jersey during family vacations, mostly during 1967-1975 when Budd RDCs and GP-38s ruled the rails. You can play a recording of the presentation by clicking on the image or by clicking here. The length of the program is 58:09.

January Chapter Membership Meeting

Due to inclement weather, West Jersey Chapter held its January membership meeting virtually via Zoom, on Monday, January 26, 2026. WJC member Will Dicke takes us along for a photographic railroad tour of Alaska, the largest US state. Starting at the tiny village of Carcross in Canada’s Yukon, he rides the narrow-gauge White Pass and Yukon Route back to Skagway. Later, he shows us the entirety of the Alaska Railroad’s passenger territory from Seward to Fairbanks with a stopover in Talkeetna. Throughout we are treated to glimpses of beautiful wilderness scenery, historic rail equipment, and the railroad employees who make these trips possible. You can play a recording of the presentation by clicking on the image or by clicking here. The length of the program is 1:14:35.

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 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.

December Chapter Membership Meeting

West Jersey Chapter held its December membership meeting virtually via Zoom, on Monday, December 29, 2025. WJC member and prolific railroad photographer Bob Vogel shows us a rapid-fire selection of electric railroad operations from Vancouver to San Diego, from Chicago to New Orleans, and as far east as Pittsburgh. Trolley/streetcar, subway, elevated, monorail, and traditional standard-gauge trains are all represented. You can play a recording of the presentation by clicking on the image or by clicking here. The length of the program is 44:19.

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.