by CJPat
It was my understanding that the PRR was pushing for abandoning the line during the War Years leading up to 1946 but was not permitted (Government mandated that they keep the line operational). In the winter of 1946 (beginning or end of the year?), in the dark hours of the night, the bridge "caught fire" and was completely destroyed/unsalvageable giving the PRR the justification that would allow abandonment.
Was the fire coincidental, accidental, or otherwise? Many felt it was awfully convenient considering how hard the PRR was trying to get rid of it.
If it wasn't for the fire in '46, I sincerely doubt that line would have lasted much longer regardless. In my perspective, I sincerely doubt NJT would ever had the chance to even consider that line of road.
With the emergence of the automobile as an affordable convenience to the masses, rail services to resorts that did business for only 3-4 months a year began drying up very fast. It is amazing that Ocean City service lasted as long as it did. Atlantic City is rough go. As a City, it has business all year round, but it isn't a significant source of employment.
Part time use thru the year doesn't pay the bills once the tax issues started getting applied and cars took away the passenger traffic.
For the most part, Cities used to be the huge economic hub of the area (Newark, Detroit, Buffalo, Cleveland, etc). They required the transportation services to move product. The cities got decimated as it became too expensive to continue operating factories and the companies did not feel they could compete anymore there and Employers left. NYC survived because it replaced Manufacturing by becoming a World Finance Center.
Was the fire coincidental, accidental, or otherwise? Many felt it was awfully convenient considering how hard the PRR was trying to get rid of it.
If it wasn't for the fire in '46, I sincerely doubt that line would have lasted much longer regardless. In my perspective, I sincerely doubt NJT would ever had the chance to even consider that line of road.
With the emergence of the automobile as an affordable convenience to the masses, rail services to resorts that did business for only 3-4 months a year began drying up very fast. It is amazing that Ocean City service lasted as long as it did. Atlantic City is rough go. As a City, it has business all year round, but it isn't a significant source of employment.
Part time use thru the year doesn't pay the bills once the tax issues started getting applied and cars took away the passenger traffic.
For the most part, Cities used to be the huge economic hub of the area (Newark, Detroit, Buffalo, Cleveland, etc). They required the transportation services to move product. The cities got decimated as it became too expensive to continue operating factories and the companies did not feel they could compete anymore there and Employers left. NYC survived because it replaced Manufacturing by becoming a World Finance Center.