US Navy Earle Railroad

@BattleshipNJ:

Most of my observations of the old R&DB ROW from Red Bank to Rt 36 were from Google Maps. It is very easy to trace that old route. My interest in tracing it came from a Eureka moment while a passenger in my friend's car and I noticed the open ROW from Rt 36. (Normally when I'm driving in that area, I'm under attack from other motorists and have little time to sightsee.) That straight obvious ROW screamed railroad so it was time to research it a little more than I had in the past. I always presumed it was long gone, until I traced it on Google Maps. They can't take all the history from us. My family's been in Monmouth County since the 1670s so I tend to dwell in the past.

Bracdude181 wrote: ↑Thu Nov 16, 2023 6:11 pm Speaking of all the tracks on the property, has anyone noticed three old passenger cars sitting on the yard that’s adjacent to the Southern? They are visible on Google Earth.

Just spoke with few of my guys there. They'd had 6 passenger cars there that were used by a cub scout group. 1 was trucked out somewhere. 1 was from some atomic air force train. The other 4 were supposed to go to a tourist operation but that fell through. The cars were all to be scrapped on site. Only 2 were cut up before the scrapper stopped due to asbestos contamination. Contract was terminated.

Interesting…

Just yesterday (20-Dec) it was reported on the Delaware & Raritan thread that two boxcars and a genset were interchanged to NWS Earle from the Southern at Collingwood. A report was given about boxcars being hauled to the pier and then back again. It's been a very long time since something was interchanged to Earle. Anyone have any info on what might have been delivered? Maybe Earle will be a rail customer once again?

Only one box car was interchanged but another one seemed to be sitting there from a previous trip.

MTH is doing a rendition of Earle's now retired SW1200 locomotive #65-00631 #6 along with an optional matching calf unit. I have only the main unit.
https://mthtrains.com/30-21016-1
https://mthtrains.com/30-21016-3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8xlOoMCeAI

Hey everyone....

Why not get this forum going again. The Chesapeake and Delaware just ended operations again between Red Bank and Farmingdale this past week and would like to know more on the activity of this USN line.

mjp456 wrote: ↑Fri Mar 01, 2024 5:11 pm Hey everyone....

Why not get this forum going again. The Chesapeake and Delaware just ended operations again between Red Bank and Farmingdale this past week and would like to know more on the activity of this USN line.

This railroad's activity is pretty sporadic. I don't think there is a regularly scheduled train that runs in the base, and from what I have heard, they aren't too keen on railfans keeping tabs on it

Very rarely, there is the occasional interchange between the Navy Railroad and the outside railroads there. The most recent interchange that made a big hub-bub around here, I heard a rumor that the boxcars they were taking out of Earle were full of M9 handguns being retired. Not sure how true that is, but I can't really think of anything else they would ship out of there by rail in a boxcar.

Before that, the last time there was an interchange with the outside railroad, was to drop off some new engines and boxcars. I don't think Earle has gotten regular deliveries since shortly after the end of the Cold War.

Yeah I heard that the Navy is very strict against photography especially with the police escorts there chasing the train and barricading the crossings. You aren't even allowed to go on the parallel Normandy Road. I just started a new job not far from the pier and I have been coming home from work every day after 3 on Sleepy Hollow Rd trying to find the train without any success. It just sucks that Conrail and Chesapeake and Delaware aren't gonna be around for a while in the Red Bank area. I'm glad MTH made a custom run NWS Earle SW1200 #65-00631 #6. Hoping to get another one of those engines to renumber into Earle's other SW1200 #65-00630 #4 which is still in active service.

There were ships out on the pier on Friday. Did the train run yesterday or earlier in the week?