CMSL Cape May New Jersey Seashore Lines Passenger Operations

Sadly we’ll never see trains in Cape May ever again. A real shame but way too much has happened over time for it to ever take place. Enjoy the memories/history books. At least most of the line above there will still be around.

@Railcar1 What has changed that wouldn't let them go that far? Yes the bridge is an obstacle and I know the politicians are screeching wE wAnT m0rE pArKiNg AnD rAiL tRaIls, but is there more to it than that?

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Just my opinion but the CMSL has dropped the ball in getting the bridge back in operation. No public comments, no appearances at NJT Board meetings, not organizing a letter writing campaign, no outreach to local newspapers, just silence.

I'm told Tony doesn't want to run it. The people in Cape May have said they don't want it, they want parking and a rail trail. NJT doesn't have the millions to fix the bridge, let alone all the upgrades needed after years of abandonment. The towns along the line fight resumption of service, but outside of those little obstacles there is really no reason why that and the line to Cape May Point can't open back up again.

How did they run the line into Cape May briefly for the 2009 Columbus Day winery excursion and the summer
2010 RDC trips? Was the line quickly patched up to operating condition, only to deteriorate since?

That I'm not sure but the whole line was usable and at least up to Class 1 standards when they were still running on it AFAIK. Some parts have deteriorated yes, but much of the line is in good shape. That said, the section from Cape May to the swing bridge and much of track between Tuckahoe and Woodbine would need some hefty work to see trains again. They put some ties in between Tuckahoe and Woodbine early this year but idk how far they went or the exact scope of the work.

I've repeatedly been told the only thing keeping them from running down there again is the appalling track conditions in Woodbine where the vandalism occurred, and a lack of funds to repair the damaged mile or so of track. Pity there's no real freight business down there besides car storage and whatever Atlantic Sweetner still gets.

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Speaking of which here's what may have been some of the last trains on this branch.



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There are a lot of things going on. The line is all cleared The bridge was repaired by NJDOT several years ago The repairs that are needed are the wooden guides that protect the bridge that were destroyed several years ago by boats. Tony has not given up on this line. The mile and a quarter of track that was destroyed will be repaired. I am not sure where this negative information that appears on here from time to time comes from . Please be not so negative. Thank you. David.

Some of the information comes from the rail bike people who have been told not to worry about their business as there will be no trains running to Cape May again. Never is a long time and things may change but it is not in anybody's future plans. According to those working in the Cape May station the bridge needs massive work, not just a few wooden guides as a quick fix, now in the millions, and there are no plans by anybody to do it. The people running the train shows at Tuckahoe have said the track improvements are for storage which is very lucrative. Weed clearing around Cold Springs is for the rail speeders. You might consider this negative information but that doesn't change whether it's right or not. If you have any real information by somebody who would know that there's any plans whatsoever to undertake this massive project to run tourist trains to Cape May please post it and who you got it from. We would all like some positive news on this.

Washington Park, thanks for the information. I meant no criticism of Tony who is working his butt off. It is what it is, re: opposition to trains returning to Cape May and the city wanting railroad land for more parking. Best to focus on what is do-able, storage business is a good profit center for the CMSL.

Weird how things change isn't it? Back in the mid 2000s there were several articles written about the branch and how the area politicians at the time wanted to use the line to increase tourism, and in 2010 they actually did pretty good on the Rio Grande to Cape May RDC runs.

I am hoping they can get it going eventually, but money talks.

While we are here, what's up with the Braddock Inn and that one other NYC car leaving Tuckahoe a few weeks ago? Hopefully they come back at some point. Loved the swivel seats in the Braddock Inn. Super Comfy.

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Dcell wrote: ↑Thu Jul 25, 2024 2:40 pm Washington Park, thanks for the information. I meant no criticism of Tony who is working his butt off. It is what it is, re: opposition to trains returning to Cape May and the city wanting railroad land for more parking. Best to focus on what is do-able, storage business is a good profit center for the CMSL.

Thanks Dcell. David had asked where I got my information so I posted it. We'd all like to see trains run to Cape May, Cape May Point, Ocean City, etc. but it won't happen anytime in the near or distant future. I was on the last trains to Cape May 15 years ago and Tony himself told me that Cold Springs didn't want him stopping at "their" station. He's got a good car storage business, he runs tourist trains out of a town that welcomes him with open arms, he makes money on the rail bike business. Why would he want the headaches of fighting to get millions of dollars to run the Cape May branch? It's not being negative, it's just common sense. If someone has a realistic reason to put in all that work, other than it would be cool to see trains run to Cape May again, I'd honestly like to hear it. CMSL is not a charity, it's a for profit business.

Why wouldn't Cold Spring want him stopping there? You have to pay to go in there, so wouldn't an ENTIRE TRAIN stopping and dropping off paying customers be a good thing for them? Same thing with Cape May. In 2010 his trains were bringing people in who would walk down the road from the station and shop in all the local stores before going home. I don't see why these towns wouldn't want to benefit from something like that. Is it because railroad customers don't put money in the municipal parking meters?

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Bracdude181 wrote: ↑Thu Jul 25, 2024 3:36 pm Why wouldn't Cold Spring want him stopping there? You have to pay to go in there, so wouldn't an ENTIRE TRAIN stopping and dropping off paying customers be a good thing for them? Same thing with Cape May. In 2010 his trains were bringing people in who would walk down the road from the station and shop in all the local stores before going home. I don't see why these towns wouldn't want to benefit from something like that. Is it because railroad customers don't put money in the municipal parking meters?

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Can't answer that. Just stating what I was told by Tony the last time trains ran to Cape May.

Bracdude - not everyone likes trains. Good example- Ocean City cried when the trains stopped running in 1981 but today they want nothing to do with trains coming there. It’s no secret.