In Memory, James Wright

James S. Wright, one of the three original founders of the Pine Creek Railroad, and co-partner in the Middletown & New Jersey Railway in Upstate NY, passed on October 17. Jim, Jay L. Wulfson and Pierre "Pete" Rasmussen established the Pine Creek RR in 1952. His family owned and operated the Marcus Wright Sand Company, the last sand pit operating a narrow gauge railroad the South River NJ area. He and Pete Rasmussen went on later to purchase and operate the Middletown & NJ Rwy. He did attend Pine Creek's Railroaders Weekend in September.

So long, Jim, It was surely a pleasure knowing you for all these years.

His Star-Ledger obituary follows.


James S. Wright
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James S. Wright, 80, of Monroe Township, N.J., died on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2013, at his home in Rossmoor, N.J. A family graveside service will be held on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2013, at Washington Monumental Cemetery, South River, N.J. Arrangements are under the direction of the Barlow & Zimmer Funeral Home, Hightstown, N.J. Born in New Brunswick, N.J., Mr. Wright was a resident of Middletown, N.Y., for 10 years, but was an area resident most of his life. He was a graduate of Proctor Academy in Andover, N.H., and a graduate of Rider University. Mr. Wright was a U.S. Army veteran, having served in Japan during the Korean War. He was a partner of the South River Sand Company of East Brunswick, N.J.; he also was a partner in a short line railroad in Middletown, N.Y. He and local colleagues were instrumental in establishing the Pinecreek Railroad, now located in Allaire State Park. Son of the late Marcus Stults and Alice Olden Wright, James is survived by two brothers, Marcus S. III and his wife, Nancy, and Walter O. Wright and his wife, Barbara; three nieces and one nephew. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Monroe Township First Aid Squad, P.O. Box 7374, Monroe Township, N.J. 08831-7374.


Published in Star-Ledger on Oct. 22, 2013

Very sad news Gary . I had the pleasure of meeting him quite a few times @ the Creek . Was Jim the last of the guys that started the Pine Creek on Rt 9 ?
Jim H

WOW, he was young when he started the Pine Creek! Sad news indeed.

Blackseal Jim wrote:Very sad news Gary . I had the pleasure of meeting him quite a few times @ the Creek . Was Jim the last of the guys that started the Pine Creek on Rt 9 ?
Jim H

Jay Wulfson died in 1980. Pete Rasmussen about ten (?) years ago (ask Jim Lu), and now we lost Jim Wright, the last of the "original three".

As youngsters, these three tended to fire up old water heaters and build roller coaster-style rail rides, OSHA nightmares by any stretch. But they survived and went on to play with real steam engines.

They bought Raritan River Sand Co. 0-4-0 #10 and brought it to a small parcel of land on Route 9 in Marlboro in August1952. The rest is museum/tourist railroad history. Pine Creek was the first, or at least one of the first steam preservation railroads.