(rshsdepot) New Book: Railroads of Monmouth County

[I95BERNIEW_@_aol.com]

Story in the Independent.
 
Bernie Wagenblast
 
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 
When railroads crisscrossed Monmouth County 


A brief history in photographs of riding the rails 
BY LINDA DeNICOLA Correspondent 

You don't have to be a railroad enthusiast to appreciate "Railroads of  
Monmouth County." 
 
With a modicum of imagination and romanticism, readers are ready to ride  the 
rails along with Tom Gallo and William B. Longo, the editors of the train  
lore book that is part of the "Images of Rail" series published by Arcadia  
Publishing, South Carolina.  
The book spotlights many never-beforeseen images of trains like the Blue  
Comet, CentralNew Jersey's (CNJ)most fondly remembered train.  
The 123-page book includes notations from former railroad employees regarding 
 their experiences working for the railroads and contains images from at 
least 10  photographers that have never been assembled before. In addition, it 
provides  important dates for those who wish to indulge in further research. 
Gallo and Longo have spent a lifetime experiencing the railroad world. They  
both grew up near railroad tracks and both work for NJ Transit. They have 
joined  together to write the book and have compiled more than 200 vintage 
photographs  that tell of Monmouth County's past through the life of its railroad 
system,  including people, tracks, services, supplies and journeys.  
The authors dedicate the book to George Lester Whitfield, who for 45 years  
worked for the Central Railroad of New Jersey, retiring in 1885 as trainmaster. 
 
"His collection represented the changes from steam-era industrialized America 
 to today's modern-day world and was offered to us by his family," they 
write.  
There are many black-and-white photographs of the Blue Comet, a steam  
locomotive that ran between Jersey City and Atlantic City.  
According to the authors, the colors of the train were intended to represent  
a restful blue sky and ocean with the crémetinted warmth of sandy  be
aches.According to spectators, the colors gave the train the appearance of a  comet 
streaking though space. In addition to its unusual exterior, the train  featured 
first-class services, like deliciously prepared foods and a lounge, at  
regular fares. Its first run was on Feb. 21, 1921, and because of reduced  
ridership, its last was Sept. 27, 1941.  
There are images of diesel, diesel electric and steam engine trains as well  
as the passenger and freight trains that crisscrossed the Jersey Shorewith  
engine names like Camelback, Sharknose, Baby Trainmaster and a gas/electric car  
named Doodlebug. There are images of many train stations along the route:  
Matawan, Red Bank, Long Branch, Freehold, Jamesburg, Farmingdale, Asbury Park  
and Manasquan.  
Scattered among the images are posters announcing special train service to  
places like Monmouth Park Race Track, Asbury Park Baby Parade and a special  
excursion train to Sandy Hook's Tent City during World War II.  
There is also a menu from the Pennsylvania Railroad's Jersey Shore commuters' 
 bar, which offered ham and cheese sandwiches for 50 cents, as well as 
alcoholic  beverages from 40 cents for beer or ale to 95 cents for rye, bourbon, 
scotch or  Canadian (straight or highball).  
According to the introduction, by the 1880s, there were railroad lines from  
Sandy Hook to Manasquan that connected with trains from New York, Newark and  
Philadelphia. They played a big part in getting people to Monmouth County's  
ocean beaches and summer resorts.  
Monmouth County's first railroad, built in 1853, was the Jamesburg  
Agricultural Railroad (F&J),which connected the county seat at Freehold with  the 
Camden and Amboy (C&A) at Jamesburg. The F&J was gradually expanded  and then came 
under control of the Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR). The F&J  provided through 
service from Philadelphia and Trenton to Long Branch and Red  Bank via Monmouth 
Junction, Freehold and Sea Girt.  
There were few paved highways at the time, which led to the construction of  
the New York and Long Branch Railroad, completed to Long Branch in 1875.  
Rail passenger service in Monmouth County reached its zenith in 1929 when the 
 Blue Comet began service. By the 1950s, the building of better roads and  
superhighways decreased bus and automotive travel time from the New York  
metropolitan area to points in Monmouth County, and resulted in fewer people  riding 
the rails.  
Gallo is a lifelong resident of Keyport, growing up adjacent to a railroad  
branch line. After gaining a construction trade license in private practice and 
 serving in the U.S.Army Corps of Engineers, he was hired by the Central 
Railroad  of New Jersey's maintenance crews, working with the U.S. Navy Railroad 
during  furloughs.  
For 30 years, Gallo worked in various management positions. Today, he is  
superintendent of stations for NJ Transit. A member of several railroad and  
local historical societies, he serves in officer- and board level appointments.  
Longo is a native of Hazlet who, after living in Matawan for 10 years,  
returned to Hazlet. He became interested in trains as a youngster, watching them  
pass through.He later began researching railroad history and collecting 
railroad  memorabilia. He is the author of Arcadia Publishing's "Hazlet Township" 
book and  is currently employed by NJ Transit.  
Both Gallo and Longo said the inspiration for the collaboration was to share  
and preserve the rare photos, timetables, employee interviews and detailed  
history they had collected over many years in an easyto read format. They have  
collected newspaper articles, interviewed former employees, contacted  
photographers willing to share their collections, taken their own photographs  and 
collected books that contain information on the Central Railroad of N.J. and  
the Pennsylvania Railroad.  
"We think readers will like the organization of the subject matter,  
interesting and readable maps, rare timetables, unusual brochures, striking  photos 
and detailed and readable captions,"Gallo said. Longo added: "It is  intended to 
create an interest in further research."  
The authors hope that the book will provide a one-source reference of the  
brief history of Monmouth County railroads. They would like to see younger  
readers and those just getting interested in railroad history be inspired and  
begin research and preservation efforts of their own.  
"We hope it will provide facts associated with fond memories for those old  
enough to remember the railroads of this era," the railroad men said.  
The "Images of Rail" series celebrates the history of rail, trolley,  
streetcar and subway transportation across the country. The soft cover book is  
available at area bookstores and online at www.arcadiapublishing.com. 



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