Save the Raritan River Railroad Milltown Freight Station!

Update! First Official Fund Raiser to be held November 13th and November 14th in Milltown!

http://www.mycentraljersey.com/article/ ... 003/NEWS01

"holiday train display that will take place at the Milltown Senior Citizen Center on Nov. 13-14.

The show will feature numerous operating toy-train layouts and more than 100 static displays of trains and accessories, as well as artifacts from the Raritan River Railroad. There will be several presentations, including "The Evolution of Toy Trains," "The History of the Raritan River Railroad" and "A Day in the Life of the Raritan River Railroad," as told by former engineer and fourth-generation railroader Kenneth Stockton.

The event is a fundraiser during which the Milltown Historical Society and the future Raritan River chapter of the National Railway Historical Society hope to raise money to move the Raritan River Railroad Freight Station, located near the tracks on Washington Avenue, to county-owned land across the street."

WHAT: Holiday train display
WHEN: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 13; noon to 4 p.m. Nov. 14
WHERE: Milltown Senior Citizen Center, 60 Violet Terrace, Milltown
ADMISSION: $5 per person, children under 10 free, $12 for family of three or more
INFORMATION: 732-828-0249

If you are around the area, please stop by. We are showing off all our RRRR artifacts and memorabilia. We will be selling engraved bricks and t-shirts and maps to help raise money. I may even sell a few timetables.

If you are cheap and don't want to pay the $5 to get in, then just tell them I sent you!

-Tom

Would these t-shirts be RRRR tshirts? I'd be quite interested in one of those

We are in the Sentinel paper!

http://ebs.gmnews.com/news/2010-11-11/F ... ation.html

Everyone is getting a hard-on over a fundraiser and t-shirts. Look, if CR doesn't start promoting that line and getting customers (new ones or old ones back that they've lost to trucks), there isn't going to be a RRRR much longer. Your newly refurbed freight house, that was let to rot by the current owner, is going to be sitting next to rusty rails.

This is very true. I really feel like CSAO could do a much better job of promoting local freight service throughout the central NJ area.

carajul wrote:Everyone is getting a hard-on over a fundraiser and t-shirts. Look, if CR doesn't start promoting that line and getting customers (new ones or old ones back that they've lost to trucks), there isn't going to be a RRRR much longer. Your newly refurbed freight house, that was let to rot by the current owner, is going to be sitting next to rusty rails.

Whether or not Conrail still exists - and whether that section of track remains in service is not our concern. Our concern is to move the Milltown station and to refurb/repair it - and then it will serve as a museum and testament to The Raritan River RR and its' service to central NJ - particularly - Milltown.

TAMR213 wrote:This is very true. I really feel like CSAO could do a much better job of promoting local freight service throughout the central NJ area.

Indeed! There used to be a dozen active customers in East Brunswick on the Serviss and Highview branches - now there is one customer in Highview - Mauser. The only other customer west of the South River is Silverline Windows in Milltown. Also - if you've seen the swing bridge @ South River lately - it is looking very poorly kept. I bet they're hoping the bridge fails and inspection or stops working so they have an excuse to abandon customers west of the river.

When I was a kid in the late 70s - the line used to be busy all damn day with cars being shuffled back and forth down the line. Now it's desolate. It'd be nice to have SA02 run more than once or twice a week.

RARITAN RIVER RAIL ROAD RETURNS TO SOUTH AMBOY! APRIL 30 - MAY 1

Make your mark on history by help preserving the last remaining Raritan River Railroad station or joining South Amboy’s newly formed historical society. The RRRR event will take place on Saturday, April 30 from 10 am – 5 pm and Sunday, May 1 from 12 noon to 4 pm. Suggested donation is $5 per person or $12 for a family of three or more (children under 10 have free admission).

The City of South Amboy and the Dowdell Library have joined forces with the Milltown Historical Society and the Raritan River Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society to preserve the last remaining station on the Raritan River Railroad. The station is located on Washington Avenue in Milltown, New Jersey.
The event will provide a forum for sharing the story of the Raritan River Railroad’s origin in South Amboy; showcasing the preservation efforts of the last remaining station on the line, and providing six toy train displays in various scales and from many time periods. The two day event at the Senior Citizen Center at 108 South Stevens Avenue in South Amboy will include ongoing slide presentations and films depicting the history of the Raritan River Railroad and life on the railroad.

These local history organizations are seeking donations towards the cost of moving the Milltown station and building a foundation at the new site. It is hoped that moving and building contractors will step forward and volunteer time, equipment, and materials. Questions regarding the fundraising or donations of time, construction skills, equipment, or materials may be directed to the following members of the Milltown Historical Society: Kathy Heilman, President 732-227-1480 [email protected] or Bruce Schwendeman, Curator 732-828-0249. Questions regarding membership in the Raritan River Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society should be sent to [email protected]. Visit www.RaritanRiver-RR.com for more information on the Raritan River Railroad or contact Tom at [email protected].

The City of South Amboy and the Dowdell Library will also be establishing a South Amboy Historical Society. The first meeting will take place on Monday, June 6 at 6:30 pm at the Library. Persons interested in participating could contact Mayor Fred Henry or Elaine R. Gaber, Library Director at 732-721.6060 or [email protected].

Don’t miss “Raritan River Railroad Returns to South Amboy.” Door prizes!