Harris Station

[njvike]

I see on several maps that there was another station on the Jersey Cental called Harris Station. Is there anything here to see? I also noticed that in Upton there is another ralled called station road, I believe. Anything here to see?

TIA

 

[Ben Ruset]

Check out this thread.

 

[njvike]

Thanks for the link. I will look into it.

Speaking of the JCRR, I found a site that has some pictures of the JCRR on the bridge that crosses RT 72 in Pasadena/Woodmanise.

I would like to post them but I haven't been able to get a hold of the author of the site. There are other shots of the JCRR passing down each of the towns from Lakehurst south.

 

[Teegate]

Speaking of the JCRR, I found a site that has some pictures of the JCRR on the bridge that crosses RT 72 in Pasadena/Woodmanise.

I would like to post them but I haven't been able to get a hold of the author of the site. There are other shots of the JCRR passing down each of the towns from Lakehurst south.

Some of the regulars on this site have viewed these before, but if you are somewhat new to this site you may want to take a look.

I took this photo along the JCRR in 1975 at Pasadena when the JCRR still owned the rails there. My camera was a 110 and it was very poor so the photo did not turn out. But if you look closely just below the horn you can see the Jersey Central emblem which was the Statue of Liberty. Written around the emblem it says Central Railroad of New Jersey.

http://www.njpinebarrens.com/~teegate/post/JCRR_5_75.JPG

Another view from 1975.

http://www.njpinebarrens.com/~teegate/post/JCRR_2_75.jpg

This photo shows me waiting for the Conrail train to arrive at one of the crossings in the pines. It was taken by my friend as all of the below photo's were. The photo was developed in August of 1978 and by then obviously the Jersey Central RR had ceased to exist. The RR signs such as the one in this photo are all gone, but at the intersections along the tracks you can occasionally find the bottom few inches still intact.

http://www.njpinebarrens.com/~teegate/post/JCRR_08_78.jpg

Another view as it passed.

http://www.njpinebarrens.com/~teegate/post/JCRR_8_78.jpg

Again, your truly as the train passed.

http://www.njpinebarrens.com/~teegate/post/JCRR__08_78.jpg

Guy

 

[njvike]

Guy,

Thanks for the pics. I beleive you're correct as Conrail took over in 1976.

When I was searching for the Terra Cotta factory I followed the tracks to where it was blocked off by some quarry so I headed back north and found it.

During my way back, I ran into someone who works for the state and he had informed me that the owner of the quarry had wanted to continue with rail service but when he found out that a union engineer had to get involved, he decided against it citing that it would cost too much money.

I presume that he was referring to Conrail since that, I believe, is the only company that was using the tracks.

I still believe that Harris Station did exist as a normal stop on the JCRR. I have found several maps that depict where the station was located but I can't seem to find much more on this.

There's a JCRR exibit that is going to be held at Liberty State Park - Jersey City, NJ on Sunday, September 21, 2003. 10:00 a.m. to 5 p.m.
http://www.cnjfestival.com/festival_pages/festival.html
Perhaps, someone there may have some information on Harris Station as well as Upton.

Here's a site that has some pictures that show active trains during the 70s in the pines. I believe the last stop was Pasadena.

http://www.thebluecomet.com/cnjsoudiv.html

If you scroll down the site, it shows almost each stop except for Harris, Chatsworth, Atsion? and finally ends in Bridgeton.

BTW, I heard that several NJ transit employees were responsible for the missing tracks in Chatsworth. Apparently, several employees were using the company truack as not to alret any attention and removed the tracks.

They were caught selling them to some scrap yard. Both employees were terminated and fined as well as the scrap yard as it is law that the scrap yards requiring a receipt before they take delivery of any rails. Appareantly, they didn't ask for one.

Ken

 

[Ben Ruset]

Beck wrote about Upton in one of the Forgotten Towns books.

As for what is there now, just some modern houses.

The railway to Upton come up through Buckingham, and you can follow them up to Rt. 70, although I never have. It looks like pretty soft sand.

The rails are gone all the way back to 539. You can clearly see where the roadway was.

Also, I don't think this line was part of the Jersey Central.

 

[njvike]

Also, I don't think this line was part of the Jersey Central.

Ben, I beleive you're correct. I looked at some other maps and the JCRR didn't brach out that way that I'm aware of.

Ken (Chiggerless)

 

[Teegate]

Guy,



I still believe that Harris Station did exist as a normal stop on the JCRR. I have found several maps that depict where the station was located but I can't seem to find much more on this.

The Harris station did exist as the maps show, there is no doubt of that. It just does not exist in any way anymore as far as I have found or heard. The Pine Crest station was the most recent station at that location. I am not sure if any portion of the Harris station was used for the Pine Crest Station or not.

Guy

 

[njvike]

[/quote]

The Harris station did exist as the maps show, there is no doubt of that. It just does not exist in any way anymore as far as I have found or heard. The Pine Crest station was the most recent station at that location. I am not sure if any portion of the Harris station was used for the Pine Crest Station or not.

Guy[/quote]

What's even more interesting to me is who would've used this station? I presume it was for passenger and not freight. Seeing as Chatswoth was pretty close, why was Harris station even constructed.

I don't remember reading of any towns or villages in the area other than Dr. White's place being close.

Ken

 

[njvike]

Guy,



I still believe that Harris Station did exist as a normal stop on the JCRR. I have found several maps that depict where the station was located but I can't seem to find much more on this.

The Harris station did exist as the maps show, there is no doubt of that. It just does not exist in any way anymore as far as I have found or heard. The Pine Crest station was the most recent station at that location. I am not sure if any portion of the Harris station was used for the Pine Crest Station or not.

Guy

What's even more interesting to me is who would've used this station? I presume it was for passenger and not freight. Seeing as Chatswoth was pretty close, why was Harris station even constructed.

I don't remember reading of any towns or villages in the area other than Dr. White's place.

Ken

 

[Teegate]

The sanitarium was called Pine Crest which seems appropriate for that type of institution. So with a train station with the name of Pine Crest, one would assume it might be for the use of that institution. It would be nice to know!

Guy

 

[Ben Ruset]

Ken (Chiggerless)

Just rub it in.

 

[njvike]

Ken (Chiggerless)

Just rub it in.

Ben,

So sorry 8) but I was still scratching up to several days ago and I'm now free of any scratching. All I have left is the marks to remind me.

I think Guy may have something about the Pine Crest sanitarium in connection with Harris station.

Hmm, I smell a new movie in the makings ;-) Horror, of course.

 

[njvike]

The sanitarium was called Pine Crest which seems appropriate for that type of institution. So with a train station with the name of Pine Crest, one would assume it might be for the use of that institution. It would be nice to know!

Guy

Guy,

An update I received from the CRJJ group You were correct, as usual, about the Pine Crest name.

Ken,

At 01:12 AM 9/6/2003 +0000, you wrote:
>Does anyone know where I may obtain information and/or photos of the
>stations of Chatsworth, Harris Station, Pasadena, etc.

There are photos and histories of the stations in the appendix to our book
"The Trail of the Blue Comet." There may still be copies available from
the West Jersey Chapter NRHS or from dealers. For many of the small
stations, the only available photos are from the ICC valuation records at
the National Archives.

>The most curious one is Harris Station which isn't too far from
>Chatsworth.
>
>Was this freight and passenger in this area.

Harris Station served the Harrisville paper mill, which was located in the
Pines to the east. There is no photo of this station because it was
demolished before the valuation in 1916. The location was later named Pine
Crest.

>There's another former station listed as Upton but I don't beleive it
>had anything to to do with CRRNJ. I wonder what Railroad this
>belonged to.

Upton was west of Whitings on the PRR. This line was part of the New
Jersey Southern from its opening in 1870 to 1879.Chris Baer

 

[Teegate]

Ken,

I have met one of the authors of The Trail of the Blue Comet, and have his email address. He actually is a member of Barry's site and posted quite a few times. I have questions of my own to ask him, so I will write him and ask him about Pine Crest also.

Guy

 

[njvike]

Ken,

I have met one of the authors of The Trail of the Blue Comet, and have his email address. He actually is a member of Barry's site and posted quite a few times. I have questions of my own to ask him, so I will write him and ask him about Pine Crest also.

Guy

Guy,

Thanks. I hope he can answer some of these questions. It really would be nice to know.

I wonder if he belongs to the Yahoo groups CRRNJ?

In any event, I will be purchasing this book as I see them starting to disappear quickly.

 

[Teegate]

Guy,

Here's a site that has some pictures that show active trains during the 70s in the pines. I believe the last stop was Pasadena.

http://www.thebluecomet.com/cnjsoudiv.html

Ken

Ken,

If you check out the below link at the Blue Comet site, you will see the 79 mile marker, and there is one of these obviously every mile along the track. If you try to find one of them now you will notice they are all missing. Collectors and vandals have removed them from their cement base and carted them off. If you go to Barry's site in the photo section, and look in the "Various" folder, you will see what one collector did with the 86 mile post. The 86 mile post was located between Pine Crest and Chatsworth almost exactly 1 mile NE of Pine Crest at 39 48 16 / 074 33 48. (D/M/S) and the 79 mile post that is shown on the Blue Comet site was at 39 52 11 / 074 27 48.

http://www.thebluecomet.com/cnjwoodmansie.jpg


Here is the location of the 79 mile marker shown on the Blue Comet site.

http://topozone.com/map.asp?z=18&am...0&s=50&layer=DRG25&size=s&u=2


And here is the 86 mile marker that is in the photo on Barry's site

http://topozone.com/map.asp?z=18&am...6&s=50&size=l&u=2&layer=DRG25


And I also have a photo that I took of the 79 mile marker that is on the Blue comet site. It was taken in April of 2002 from the other side of the telephone pole. Compare my photo and the Blue Comet photo below. Notice the phone connectors and the cement base for the mile marker.

My photo
http://www.njpinebarrens.com/~teegate/4_12_02.jpg

Blue Comet photo.
http://www.thebluecomet.com/cnjwoodmansie.jpg

Guy

 

[njvike]

Guy,

Thanks for posting those photos and providing me with the information.

It's a shame that vandals got to these signs. When the steal, they steal from everyone.

When I get some free time, I will post some of the pictures of the CRNJ as it passed through Pasadena and Woodmansie. I have te authors approval and he was quite eager to share. I just want to make sure he gets credit for it so I have to alter the picture to include his name.

Next week I will be attending the CRNJ fair at Liberty State Park and hope to run into people that may have some additional information on the Southern Branch.

Thanks again.

Ken

 

[Teegate]

Ken,

I was in Woodmansie today and went again to the location that the Blue Comet Photo from the site you posted was taken at. The first link is to the photo from the Blue Comet site, and the other 3 I took today. All are from the same location. It is an interesting comparison!

Blue Comet site

http://www.thebluecomet.com/cnjwoodmansie.jpg

My photo's. Compare the telephone pole, the cement base, the phone boxes, and the trees, and notice the road in the background.

http://www.njpinebarrens.com/~teegate/post/woodmansie.jpg

http://www.njpinebarrens.com/~teegate/post/woodmansie2.jpg

http://www.njpinebarrens.com/~teegate/post/woodmansie3.jpg

Guy

 

[njvike]

Ken,

I was in Woodmansie today and went again to the location that the Blue Comet Photo from the site you posted was taken at. The first link is to the photo from the Blue Comet site, and the other 3 I took today. All are from the same location. It is an interesting comparison!

Blue Comet site

http://www.thebluecomet.com/cnjwoodmansie.jpg

My photo's. Compare the telephone pole, the cement base, the phone boxes, and the trees, and notice the road in the background.

http://www.njpinebarrens.com/~teegate/post/woodmansie.jpg

http://www.njpinebarrens.com/~teegate/post/woodmansie2.jpg

http://www.njpinebarrens.com/~teegate/post/woodmansie3.jpg

Guy

Guy,

Thanks for the pictures. I was there about a month ago and took some pictures but never got the time to add it to my album.

Well, I did purchase the "Trail of the Blue Comet" at the train show last week. I got it for $55 dollars which is less than one it would've cost me at the Pemberton Railroad Museum.

I did exchange e-mails with the owner of the site you referred me to. His name is Robert Staples. He did give me permission to use the pictures from his site. He and I have both joined the Central Railroad Company of NJ group from Yahoo.

Anyway, I starting to read Chapter one which seems to be ALL Pine Barrens when the Harrisville book arrived by Angelo N. Dellomo, Jr. and I haven't been able to put it down since.

The author mentions that Harrisville did use Harris station to transport his paper products. The products were delivered to Harris Station by mules. They would start at 3:00AM and would rarely make it back by 6:00pm. The author says it's a 24 miles round trip. Unfortunately, that's the only reference in the book. I would assume they built this station for his plant but there' nothing I can find to prove that. But what are the odds?

There are some pictures in there about Harrisville and from what the author states, this place was really nice from the mansions to the gas street lights to the school they had for the children whose parents worked at the plant. The Harris family really took care of the workers.

Did you know who the first teacher there was? A clue: She later owned a store in Green Bank and was mentioned in Beck's books.


*Aunt Hattie*

The book tells the entire story from McCartysville to the end when Camp Lyon existed for four years before the fire took even that away.

The book also makes reference to a Bodine Tavern which I don't recall reading about in any of the Beck's books. Do you know anything about this tavern?

Once I'm finished reading this book, I will start again on the Blue Comet.

Oh, there is one more book out there by Dellomo:

Dellomo, Angelo N. Harrisville, a journey down the sugar sand roads of yesteryear. New Jersey: Atlantic City : Angelo Pub. Co., 1977. HQ, CB, EV, MF & R own.

I believe this is in addition to the other book which I read. While both books are about Harrisville, the titles are different.

Unfortunately, both are out of print