CMSL Cape May (NJ) Seashore Lines Non-Passenger Operations

Wouldn't the maintenance have to be consistently performed though? After 1993 the tracks were taken out of service and repairs didn't start until 2009. Maybe once in 2006 they came and cleared the trees away but that's it.

Unsure what happened to the old signs. I also hope they were preserved.

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CR7876 wrote: ↑Mon Jul 15, 2024 5:59 pm THERE IS NO SAND TRAFFIC

What's it gonna take for them to finally realize it's not happening?

It will happen. Possibly sooner than you think. The sand is needed very soon Things are happening.

David wrote: ↑Wed Jul 17, 2024 8:42 am It will happen. Possibly sooner than you think. The sand is needed very soon Things are happening.

Yeah, weeds are growing. But seriously, I've been waiting since 2009, I'm pro sand train just don't see it happening anytime soon.

I've always wondered what the hold up has been. Have gotten many different answers to that question.

Another question I've never gotten a straight answer about is what the sand would be used for. I've been told many times (especially over the past 3-4 months) that it's for Amtraks new NYC tunnels. Sounds about right to me since pinelands sand is exceptional to make concrete with, but if it's really meant to be, shouldn't they have started running by now?

I would love to see these trains run more than anything, especially knowing the huge benefits it could bring to everyone involved with making them happen. But with the way things are right now, and with C&D supposedly showing absolutely zero interest in running past South Lakewood, I think it's best we view this project and any unofficial word of mouth surrounding it with a "believe it when I see it" mentality. That said, I'll still post if I see anything going on like maintenance work and whatnot.

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They ran the weed killer train from Lakehurst down again. Only change I've noticed so far.

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Saw the CMSL at Milmay bringing cars to Winslow today. We were coming around the curve on Rt 557 before the 4 way red blinker light there and saw a long string of tanks with some articulated trash cars going towards Winslow. The lower half of the Milmay siding has a lot of cars stored there too. Coming back later on I saw the LTEX 1449 at Tuckahoe under the lights as seen from Rt 49. Looks like CA51 should have a good train coming back tomorrow.

What type of cars were sitting there? I remember reading in the STB Filing when they first took over that NJT only lets them store there for 5 days. Not sure why, so I'm curious if that's where they are doing all their short term storage. Keep an eye out as their trains have indeed been getting longer and running more frequently. Pity there's no real consistency to when they run.

In other news, I had a chance to check Clayton's track while coming back from a doctors appointment down south. The line has once again been cleared of all fallen trees and sprayed with weed killer. No other changes as far as I could tell. Been a while since they've done it this late in the year.

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On the siding there’s mostly tanks and gondolas with a few boxcars , covered hoppers and some more trash cars. I was surprised to see them working on a Sunday. We were going to the shore and as usual for me it was dumb luck seeing a train.

David wrote: ↑Fri Dec 04, 2015 5:09 pm

CTL10D wrote:"....I would think that based on these observations and that the two year old Rt- 539 crossing is still not bolted to the rest of the tracks that there is no longer any interest in further rehabilitation of this R.O.W. by Clayton...."

And how much of our tax money was wasted installing new crossing signals at 539, 530, and Wranglebrook road; that could have been better used elsewhere....... I don't know, it just irks me. I`m really not trying to rip anyone who is involved with any facet of this operation, but this isn`t fantasy land. Not when our taxpayer dollars are being used/wasted....

Give it some more time---

This post is from December 2015. How much more time do they need, that was 9 years ago.

I cant help but wonder, What do Clayton/NJSL have to gain by paying to keep this line open and reasonably maintained if it's never gonna be used? Remember NJSL still pays the track lease and Clayton I believe still pays around 13k in taxes on it annually. Is there some sort of financial incentive?



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Either
1. This is somehow a tax break, write-off, or source of grant money for NJSL/CMSl and/or Clayton to keep the line alive
2. The involved parties are holding out for a contract/customer where it is more economical to ship by rail than by truck
3. Could be a way for Clayton to sell the line back to the state and make a good chunk of change if the state ever decides to re-activate the whole Southern Division for some reason - or Clayton selling it back to Conrail/a Class I if they ever needed the route for some reason. Or "rent" it to them

I am very surprised that NJSL has not tried to at least pursue rail car storage there, 13 miles of track offers a lot of opportunity for that, but the hesitancy of those responsible for Lakewood-Lakehurst to repair it probably derailed any plans like that

CR7876 wrote: ↑Mon Oct 21, 2024 8:52 pm This post is from December 2015. How much more time do they need, that was 9 years ago.

I remember when people used to speculate about Freehold-Farmingdale coming back, and I also remember people saying it will never happen due to the long amount of inactivity + the crossings being paved over + etc. etc. etc. Well, that ended up happening at some point, and we have probably the nicest section of track the FIT/SOUS has seen in decades on that stretch of line

Lakehurst - Woodmansie is a different situation but, the lesson of the above story is most of everything railroad related in NJ moves at a snails pace for whatever reason

There was trackwork in Tuckahoe recently. The old Wye that used to connect the Cape May Branch to the Ocean City Branch was rebuilt, and it appears they are working to build a passing siding on the branch just beyond the fence where they store track materials.

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The wye being put back in? Interesting. Never thought that would ever happen again.