History

History of the rail line that became the “Woodstown Central”

Excerpt from a detailed history of the line, written by John Burlage
Cover Photo: A West Jersey Railroad passenger train bound for Salem, 1914. Raymond Storey collection.

Construction

History of the rail line that became the “Woodstown Central” Construction Featured Image

In the harsh winter of 1851-1852, Salem Creek experienced a dramatic freeze, prompting a pivotal turning point. The confluence of frozen waterways crippling boat shipments and the lamentable state of local roads culminated in the imperative establishment of a transformative railroad. This game-changing endeavor was initially set in motion through a charter in 1853 by the West Jersey Railroad, aimed at forging a crucial connection from Camden to Cape May via Salem. Despite the visionary intent, this ambitious initiative unfortunately faltered, becoming a mere footnote in history.

Fast forward to the present day, and the once fragmented transportation landscape has evolved into a unified powerhouse. The convergence of the Conrail interchange and SRNJ, stretching from Woodbury to Salem in the south, now forms a seamlessly integrated railroad network. However, this achievement was far from a linear progression, as it materialized through the assembly of disparate sections rather than a single cohesive undertaking…

1. The Salem Railroad
  • Charted March 13, 1856.
  • Wanted to build from Salem to reach any point of the West Jersey Railroad mainline, preferably in Woodbury. However, chose a different location.
  • Last 6.6 miles of railroad is Salem Railroad; original ROW can be seen from maps. Split off North of Mowers Station Road, just South of Tanalorne Farms.
  • Opened in 1863, and had two locomotives. Leased to West Jersey Railroad as of June 1, 1868.
2. The Swedesboro Railroad
  • Charter approved February 21, 1866
  • Connecting off the West Jersey Railroad mainline, the Swedesboro Railroad is the Northern 10.9 miles, currently operated by SRNJ.
  • The railroad opened for traffic on October 2, 1869. The Swedesboro Railroad had no locomotives or rolling stock, and was operated as part of the West Jersey Railroad.
3. The Woodstown & Swedesboro Railroad
  • A charter was approved to connect Woodstown to the Swedesboro railroad on March 21, 1871.
  • WJRR was interest in having a direct connection to Salem, and offered $50,000 in capital stock at $25 a share ($1.35M and $650 today).
  • After a lot of litigation, the 10.5-mile construction from Swedesboro to Ridgeway began November 29, 1882 and was completed on February 1, 1883.

Mergers

History of the rail line that became the “Woodstown Central” Mergers Featured Image

Establishing an unbreakable link between Woodbury and Salem, the West Jersey Railroad officially christened this vital connection as “The Salem Branch,” spanning an impressive 28 miles (originally extending to 37.5 miles). The seamless streamlining of its corporate framework culminated in the incorporation of the West Jersey Railroad II on September 1, 1885. On the pivotal date of December 31, 1887, a momentous convergence unfolded, uniting not only the three railways but also amalgamating the Salem Branch Railroad Company (encompassing the Glassworks Branch spanning 1.25 miles) and two other prominent railroad entities into the illustrious West Jersey Railroad III.

Undergoing a transformative overhaul as part of an expansive restructuring initiative by the Pennsylvania Railroad, the West Jersey Railroad Company seamlessly transitioned into the esteemed “Atlantic Division,” seamlessly nested within the overarching “New Jersey Division,” itself an integral component of the far-reaching “Eastern Region,” all under the aegis of the venerable Pennsylvania Railroad. This sweeping transformation transpired on the pivotal date of June 20, 1920.

Passenger Service

History of the rail line that became the “Woodstown Central” Passenger Featured Image

With the advent of federal funding for highway construction, the competitive landscape shifted from inter-railroad rivalry to a contest between railroads and burgeoning highways. This transformation culminated in the merger of the West Jersey & Seashore line (linking Camden to Cape May) and the Atlantic City RR, which took effect on June 25, 1933, resulting in the formation of the Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines. While this consolidation left the Salem Branch untouched, it wasn’t uncommon for Reading equipment to find its way onto this branch line.

The Salem Branch witnessed its final scheduled passenger service on Saturday, December 30, 1950, with official service cessation taking place the subsequent day.

Penn Central and Beyond

History of the rail line that became the “Woodstown Central” Penn Featured Image

After going through Penn Central from 1968-1976, Conrail now owned the railroad. On November, 1984, Conrail gave official notice of its intention to abandon the Salem Branch south of Swedesboro. Fearing loss of freight service might have a negative impact on several of the county’s major employers, Salem County purchased the railroad south of Swedesboro from Conrail for $267,000 in May. The 18-mile line was named the Salem County Railroad.

After several months of negotiations, the county awarded the West Jersey Short Line on May 23, 1985. On October 1, 1988 West Jersey Short Line sold the railroad to Pioneer Railroad Company of Peoria, Il. The name was changed to the West Jersey Railroad Company IV.

On May 1, 1995, operation of the line south of Swedesboro was awarded to the Southern Railroad of New Jersey (SRNJ). After a several-million dollar project to rehabilitate the railroad, on April 1, 2021, SMS Rail Lines, of Bridgeport, took over operation and maintenance of the Salem County Railroad. SRNJ continues to operate the northern segment of the Salem Branch from Swedesboro to Woodbury.

After realizing the beauty of the Salem Branch, a new division of SMS Rail Lines, the Woodstown Central Railroad, was formed to operate historic passenger train rides. On November 5, 2022, Woodstown Central had its soft opening, featuring SMS engine 304 and newly restored Reading Company caboose 92857.

Over the next year, more equipment including passenger cars, other vintage diesels, and steam locomotive #9, will make its way to the Woodstown Central Railroad, as well as the grand opening of our new South Woodstown passenger station.

History of the rail line that became the “Woodstown Central” Penn Featured Image 2

This is just the beginning for us on a railroad with a long line of history. We are excited to see what history we will make on the Salem Branch.

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