A general chronology of the pennsylvania railroad company


Apr. 1, 1925 Atlantic City Railroad installs automatic train control (ATC) between Camden and Atlantic City



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Apr. 1, 1925 Atlantic City Railroad installs automatic train control (ATC) between Camden and Atlantic City.
July 5, 1925 WJ&S Wildwood Branch extended from Wildwood Crest to Cold Spring Harbor. (Guide)
July 27, 1925 12-car PRR express derails entering Atlantic City; 20 injured. (NYT)
Sep. 13, 1925 Atlantic City Railroad discontinues passenger service between Ocean City Jct. and Sea Isle City, N.J. and abandons track east of Seaville. (Guide, Coxey - last trip would have been 9/12)
Sep. 17, 1925 Burlington-Mount Holly (N.J.) Branch abandoned.
Apr. 8, 1926 Second section of southbound Nellie Bly derails on split rail while taking curve at Delair, N.J. at excessive speed; engineer, fireman and one passenger killed; 40 injured. (NYT)
May 1, 1926 PRR operates special trains from Camden to opening of new auto speedway on site of World War I munitions plant at Amatol, N.J.; includes spur tracks and platforms at Amatol.
May 1, 1926 Automobile racetrack opens on former Amatol site east of Hammonton; PRR establishes a station on grounds called "Speedway." (NYT)
July 1, 1926 Delaware River (Benjamin Franklin) Bridge opens between Philadelphia and Camden; permits aggressive bus competition for PRR's South Jersey commuter and resort traffic; formal ceremony held July 4.
Sep. 6, 1926 Last run of Atlantic City Railroad's The Baltic from Baltic Avenue Branch in Atlantic City; end of passenger service on that branch. (RDG)
Sep. 15, 1926 Last run of ferry service between Coopers Point, Camden, and Shackamaxon Street, Philadelphia. (Mutual)
Sep. 25, 1926 Last run of summer-only commuter service between Camden and Chelsea Station in Atlantic City; last passenger service on Chelsea Branch. (tt.)
Oct. 31, 1926 Last run of Coopers Point-Vine Street ferry at Philadelphia.
Nov. 27, 1926 Last run of passenger train between Mount Holly and Medford, N.J. (tt)
Nov. 28, 1926 Heavy Thanksgiving weekend travel to Atlantic City; New York Limited leaves in five sections with total of 49 Pullmans; regular New York train operates in two sections and one extra train run. (NYT)
1926 Pavonia Yard near Camden revised and enlarged. (AR)

Jan. 6, 1927 Atlantic City Railroad inaugurates world's first continuous automatic train control between Camden and Atlantic City. (see 4/1/25!!!!)
Mar. 20, 1927 Automatic train control and cab signals placed in service between Camden and Atlantic City via Winslow Jct.; first U.S. installation of coder-continuous type ATC. (US&S)
Mar. 27, 1927 Philadelphia & Camden Ferry Company cuts fare for vehicles with occupants to 25 cents to match Delaware River Bridge. (AR)
Apr. 18, 1927 Philadelphia & Bridgeton RPO cut back to Glassboro & Bridgeton RPO. (Kay)
May 7, 1927? Automatic train control and cab signals placed in service between Delair and West Haddonfield on Atlantic City line.
July 1, 1927 The Sea Gull inaugurated as summer-only through train between Pittsburgh and Atlantic City with sleeping cars from Cincinnati, Cleveland, Akron and Wheeling; runs through Sep. 11.
Sep. 6, 1927 Miss America contestants arrive at PRR station in Atlantic City aboard "Beauty Special." (NYT)
Sep. 24, 1927 Last run of passenger service between Haddonfield and Medford, N.J. and between Ewansville and Vincentown, N.J.; Vincentown Branch abandoned south of Mount Holly-Pemberton Road;
Sep. 25, 1927 PRR reduces local passenger service reduced on Salem and Penns Grove Branches in N.J.

Jan. 6, 1928 Four-party conference meeting in Pres. Atterbury's office considers questions of merging PRR and Reading lines in South Jersey and rising New Jersey taxes

Jan. 16, 1928 PRR opposes Public Service Transportation Company franchise for local bus line between Camden and Atlantic City in PSC hearing. (NYT)
Jan. 22, 1928 PRR and Reading slash fare between Philadelphia and Atlantic City, Ocean City, Stone Harbor, Wildwood and Cape May to meet bus competition; two-day excursion round trip to Atlantic City is $2.25 vs. $4.12 regular fare, good through Oct. 31; PRR operates first Atlantic City excursion train ever via Delair Bridge. (NYT)
Feb. 10, 1928 CNJ-Reading cut New York-Atlantic City fares. (NYT)
Mar. 1, 1928 PRR cuts New York-Atlantic City fare to match CNJ-Reading cut.

(NYT)
Apr. 28, 1928 PRR discontinues passenger service between Alloway Jct. and Quinton and between Elmer and Riddleton, N.J. (tt)
July 6, 1928 PRR inaugurates new summer Friday-only train of coaches and parlor cars from New York to Atlantic City, leaving at 5:20 PM. (NYT)
Sep. 5, 1928 PRR announces Labor Day weekend travel between New York, Philadelphia and Jersey shore points is up 18% from last year; total of 207,421 passengers. (NYT)
Sep. 19, 1928 Hurricane strikes southern New Jersey and New York metropolitan area; both PRR and Reading tracks washed out at Ocean City. (NYT)
Oct. 1, 1928 Philadelphia Terminal General Division created consisting of Philadelphia Terminal Division and Camden Terminal Division; 49th Street, Philadelphia-West Chester ceded from Maryland Division to Philadelphia Terminal Division (?)
Oct. 16, 1928 Philadelphia & Bridgeton RPO discontinued; revived in 1931. (Kay)
Oct. 20, 1928 Woodbury & Salem RPO discontinued. (Kay)
1928 West Jersey & Seashore Railroad gros revenue down over $1 million from 1927 and $2 million from 1926 because of competition from buses on Delaware River Bridge; Atlantic City Railroad down $900,000 from 1927 and $1.5 million from 1927. (NYT)
1928 Atlantic City Railroad opens branch from Cape May Jct. to Cape May Point. (C&C)
Feb. 13, 1929 PRR begins co-ordinated rail-bus service on People's Rapid Transit routes between New York and Washington and Philadelphia and Atlantic City Station; PRR ticket agents begin selling bus tickets. (RyAge)
Feb. 21, 1929 CNJ inaugurates Blue Comet between Jersey City and Atlantic City in competition with PRR; first U.S. deluxe, no-extra fare coach train in special blue-and-cream livery; operates over Atlantic City Railroad between Winslow Jct. and Atlantic City. (Baer)
Feb. 28, 1929 Reading Transportation Company begins operating buses between Philadelphia and Atlantic City. (RyAge)
Mar. 4, 1929 PRR adds one New York-Atlantic City express and places all __ trains on 3:00 schedule to meet CNJ competition. (Guide)
Apr. 27, 1929 Atlantic City Railroad discontinues passenger service between South Glassboro and Mullica Hill, N.J.
July 1929 New Jersey PUC approves Philadelphia-Camden-Atlantic City bus franchises for General Transit Company and Reading Transportation Company. (RyAge)
July 30, 1929 Pennsylvania General Transit Company and Philadelphia Rapid Transit Company file for local bus routes to Millville, Bridgeton, Salem, Penns Grove and Ocean City. (NYT)
Aug. 3? 1929 N.J. PUC gives Public Service Corporation exclusive intrastate bus rights in south Jersey; PRR and Reading file for injunction on Aug. 5. (NYT)

Sep. 25, 1929 PRR Board authorizes authorizes abandonment of 7th Street line in Camden. (MB)
Oct. 2, 1929 South Jersey Transit Commission organized to improve mass transit in Philadelphia suburbs. (1931 rept.)
Nov. 15, 1929 Demolition of train shed of Camden Terminal begins; completed Feb. 5, 1930, and replaced with umbrella platforms.
Nov. 30, 1929 Philadelphia & Millville RPO and Millville & Wildwood RPO consolidated as Philadelphia & Wildwood RPO. (Kay)
1929 West Jersey & Seashore Railroad abandons outermost 1.12 miles of branch at Stone Harbor. (C&C)
1929 Atlantic City & Suburban Rail__ abandons all service between Atlantic City and Somers Point via Absecon. (ElctRyJrnl - prob. in spring)
Mar. 10, 1930 Army blimp C-41 succeeds in picking up four mail sacks from roof

of PRR train operating at 55 MPH near Lakehurst, N.J., probably

on Camden-Toms River "Back Road"; concludes series of

experiments testing a pickup device for newsreel companies, who

hope to expedite delivery of films. (NYT)
Apr. 16, 1930 Trenton Division abolished; South Amboy-Camden, Bel-Del, and

F&JA ceded to New York Division and Camden-Bay Head Jct. and

branches to Camden Terminal Division
May 30, 1930 Atlantic City Railroad begins operating Wildwood & Delaware

Bay Short Line Railroad as its Wildwood Branch.
June 10, 1930 ALCO-Timken "Four Aces" 4-8-4 roller bearing demonstrator

steam locomotive first tested on PRR on a Buffalo-Harrisburg

freight; used as pusher to Machias and up Keating summit, then

returns to Buffalo; later exhibited at ARA convention in Atlantic

City; had previously tested on NYC. (CMP, NYT)
June 18, 1930 American Railway Association convention opens at Atlantic City;

PRR exhibits new flat car capable of carrying eight DD1 doubledoor

containers. (built at Altoona - get date from photo)
July 1, 1930 PRR leases West Jersey & Seashore Railroad under agreement of

June 30, 1930 at fixed charges plus 6% dividend; Camden

Terminal Division abolished and merged into Atlantic Division;

Atlantic Division becomes part of Philadelphia Terminal General

Division.
July 9, 1930 Crowd of 5,000 briefly overpowers prohibition agents who were in

the process of destroying a contraband shipment of real beer

discovered at Pavonia Yard in Camden, making off with about a

dozen kegs before police restore order. (NYT)
July 1930 PRR begins carrying passengers' automobiles as baggage on The

Sea Gull between Pittsburgh and Atlantic City to compete with

highways.
July 1930 Atlantic City Railroad buys control of Wildwood & Delaware Bay

Short Line Railroad.
Aug. 1930 Cab signals placed in service between Frankford Jct. and West

Haddonfield, N.J. on Delair Bridge line.
Sep. 21, 1930 John T. Dorrance ( -1930), head of Campbell Soup Company and

PRR director, dies. (NYT)
Nov. 12, 1930 Pres. Atterbury proposes a rail tunnel between Philadelphia and

Camden as an extension of the Suburban Station line, to be built by

the Delaware River Joint Commission; notes PRR has no cars

capable of negotiating the grades of the Delaware River Bridge.

(NYT)
Dec. 17, 1930 PRR and Reading announce willingness to confer on merging

South Jersey lines. (NYT)
Dec. 18, 1930 Representatives of all commercial and transportation interests in

South Jersey meet with Gov. Larson in Camden; endorse rapid

transit line on Delaware River Bridge over other options; Pres.

Clement supports a rail tunnel to Camden; Reading objects as

bridge line will not serve its new Kaighns Point Terminal. (1931

rept.)
Dec. 26, 1930 Police raid a still hidden in building at abandoned Pavonia Shops

in Camden; work had been moved to Wilmington. (NYT)
1930 Atlantic City Railroad purchases control of Stone Harbor

Railroad.
Jan. 19, 1931 Joint resolution introduced in New Jersey Assembly calling for

PUC to arrange for consolidation of Reading and PRR lines in

southern New Jersey.
Jan. 21, 1931 South Jersey Transit Commission reports to Gov. Larson;

recommends rapid transit line over Delaware River Bridge with

transfer station for rail passengers at Broadway and a new bus

station near City Hall; also consider but reject a rail tunnel from

Suburban Station to PRR Camden Station under Arch and Filbert

Streets and an extension of bridge line to Kaighns Point; PRR had

originally surveyed the tunnel, estimated at $45 million and offered

to operate it if the states paid for construction. (rept.)
Mar. 3, 1931 New Jersey Legislature orders Public Utility Commission to study

railroad unification in South Jersey.
Mar. 25, 1931 PRR Board authorizes construction of extensions Quinton-Bayside

and Penns Grove-Salem, N.J. (MB)
May 1, 1931 South Jersey buses of Public Service Company of New Jersey begin

loading at Broad Street Station, improving connections with

Pennsylvania Greyhound Lines.
May 27, 1931 Coopers Point & Philadelphia Ferry Company dissolved.
June 6, 1931 Glassboro & Bridgeton RPO reestablished. (Kay)
June 14, 1931 Last run of summer weekend excursion trains on Georgia Avenue

Boardwalk spur at Atlantic City; all Philadelphia-Atlantic City

excursion trains hereafter use main station at South Carolina

Avenue. (Rdg)
Aug. 20, 1931 NJ PUC authorizes abandonment of line between Haddonfield and

Medford.
Sep. 7, 1931 Atlantic City Limited, all first class weekend train between New

York and Atlantic City makes last (northbound) run. (tt)
Sep. 26, 1931 PRR discontinues electric passenger service between Camden and

Atlantic City and removes electrification between Newfield and

Pleasantville. (probably also discontinues Pleasantville-Ocean City

electric shuttle, which is operating as late as Nov. 9, 1930)
Sep. 27, 1931 The Sea Gull makes last run as separate all-first class train between

Atlantic City and Pittsburgh; hereafter Atlantic City sleepers are

handled on the Philadelphia Night Express and the Pittsburgh Night

Express. (tt, A-sheet)
Oct. 28, 1931 Pennsylvania General Transit Company renamed Pennsylvania

Greyhound Transit Company.
Nov. 2, 1931 Philadelphia, Marlton & Medford Branch abandoned except for

0.21 mile stub in Haddonfield. (PRRTHS)
Dec. 11, 1931 New Jersey PUC issues report recommending consolidation of PRR

and Reading lines in South Jersey. (Rept)

January 26, 1932 New Jersey Gov. A. Harry Moore calls meeting for Feb. 3 to consider consolidation of PRR and Reading lines in South Jersey.


In June 1933, ACRR was authorized by the [[Interstate Commerce Commission]] to abandon its main line east of [[Winslow Junction, New Jersey|Winslow Junction]] in favor of the parallel [[West Jersey & Seashore Railroad]] line. Some trackage was retained for freight service to local industries in Hammonton, Egg Harbor and Pleasantville.
June 10, 1933 P–RSL abandons former West Jersey & Seashore line from point 2.5 miles east of Woodbine Jct. to Cape May, also 9.81 miles of WJ&S Ocean City Branch, WJ&S Stone Harbor Branch, and portion of WJ&S Wildwood Branch from Wildwood Jct. to

Shellinger Avenue.


June 24, 1933 Last runs of passenger service over former West Jersey & Seashore lines between Harbor Branch Jct. and Cape May and between 55th and 8th (?) Streets, Ocean City, preparatory to consolidation.
June 25, 1933 PRR and Reading Company lines in southern New Jersey consolidated; West Jersey & Seashore Railroad leased to Atlantic City Railroad; connections built to ACRR north of Harbor Branch Jct. and 51st Street, Ocean City; WJ&S Cape May terminals and WJ&S Ocean City track abandoned; most other duplicate lines continue to operate through the summer season; buses replace rail service between 51st Street, Ocean City and Sea Isle City for summer.
July 11, 1933 P–RML establishes bus service between Cape May Court House and Stone Harbor.
July 14, 1933 Last run of Atlantic City Railroad passenger service between Williamstown Jct. and Glassboro, N.J.
July 15, 1933 Atlantic City Railroad Co. (Reading subsidiary) renamed Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines (P–RSL); PRR receives 66% percent interest and lease of WJ&S transferred to P–RSL.

P–RSL becomes a separate operating unit with its own general manager; is subtracted from Atlantic Division which is reduced to Camden-Bay Head Jct. and branches, but Atlantic Division and P–RSL retain common staff at divisional level; Pres. and VP are alternately from Reading or PRR each year.


Aug. 1, 1933 P–RSL discontinues weekday service between Townsends Inlet and Stone Harbor, N.J. and establishes bus service between Cape May Court House, Stone Harbor and Avalon; Sunday and Labor Day train service to Avalon and Stone Harbor continues.
Aug. 21, 1933 Pennsylvania-Reading Motor Lines, Inc (P-RML)., incorporated to combine bus operations of Pennsylvania Greyhound Transit and Reading Transportation Company in

P–RSL territory.


Sep. 23, 1933 P–RSL closes former ACRR terminal at Kaighns Point, Camden, although only 10 years old; property sold back to Reading Company for freight use; passenger service discontinued on former Camden, Gloucester & Mt. Ephraim Railway west of West Jersey connection in Gloucester; also last runs of passenger service over ex-PRR lines between Stone Harbor and Townsends Inlet and between Sea Isle City Jct. and Sea Isle City.
Sep. 24, 1933 P–RSL restores rail passenger service between 51st Street, Ocean Cty, and Sea Isle City.
Nov. 4, 1933 Last runs of P-RSL passenger service over ex-WJ&S lines between Woodbine Jct. and Harbor Branch Jct. (Cape May) and between Wildwood Jct. and Wildwood.
Nov. 23, 1933 Philadelphia, Cedar Brook & Atlantic City RPO and Winslow & Cape May RPO combined to Philadelphia & Ocean City RPO.
Dec. 2, 1933 P-RSL closes ex-ACRR station in Atlantic City in favor of ex-WJ&S station; last run of passenger trains over ex-ACRR line between Winslow Jct. and Atlantic City.
Dec. 3, 1933 P-RSL abandons ex-ACRR line between Winslow Jct. and Atlantic City; begins operating all Ocean City/Cape May trains over ex-ACRR line between Camden and Winslow Jct. and all Townsend Inlet/Sea Isle City trains into ex-ACRR station at 51st Street, Ocean City; through trains from Philadelphia to Ocean City and Sea Isle City discontinued.
1933 PRSL abandons 1.23 miles of Gloucester Branch.
January 30, 1934 the ICC authorized P-RSL to abandon [[Glassboro Railroad]].
March 28, 1934 Pennsylvania-Reading Motor Lines, Inc., leases all bus operations to Public Service Coordinated Transport, which becomes the dominant bus carrier in southern New Jersey.
May 13, 1934 New "BROWN" Interlocking placed in service at South Camden.
June 1, 1934 Last run of P-RSL passenger service on former Stone Harbor Railroad between Cape May Court House and Stone Harbor, N.J.
June 3, 1934 "WINSLOW" Tower placed in service replacing former WJ&S and ACRR interlockings at Winslow Jct.
June 7, 1934 New "ALAN" Tower opens controlling throat of Camden Terminal.
June 24, 1934 Train service to new Atlantic City terminal begins; tracks and platforms completed but head house unfinished.
June 30, 1934 Last run of P-RSL passenger service between Gloucester and Grenloch, N.J.
July 9, 1934 P-RSL acquires property of Wildwood & Delaware Bay Short Line Railroad at foreclosure.
July 18, 1934 Electric trains transferred from 7th Street track to Van Hook Street Cutoff in Camden, N.J.
July 25, 1934 "ATLANTIC" Tower placed in service controlling entrance to Atlantic City station.
July 26, 1934 New "CENTER" Tower placed in service controlling 3rd Street Jct. at Camden Terminal.
Sep. 29, 1934 P-RSL grade level line on 7th Street, Camden, abandoned.
Sep. 30, 1934 Old WJ&S (ex-Camden & Atlantic) Atlantic City terminal on South Carolina Ave. closes at 12:30 AM; all trains begin using new terminal on Oct. 1.
Oct. 24, 1934 New Atlantic City Terminal dedicated; set to coincide with birthday of Mayor Bachrach, who initiated city redevelopment efforts and for whom boulevard on former WJ&S right-of-way is named.
Nov. 11, 1934 Last PRSL passenger train runs between Sea Isle City and Townsends Inlet.
1934 Reading Transportation Company (Reading's bus subsidiary) assigns its Philadelphia-Atlantic City, Atlantic City-Ocean City-Wildwood, Wildwood-Cape may, and Wildwood-Avalon routes to Pennsylvania-Reading Motor Lines.
1934 P-RSL abandons Williamstown-Williamstown Jct. and 0.2 miles of Mississippi Avenue Branch in Atlantic City.
Feb. 12, 1935 Atlantic City terminal project completed.
Apr. 1935 Pennsylvania-Reading Motor Lines, PRSL bus subsidiary, sold to Public Service Interstate Transport.
July 14, 1935 Atlantic City & Shore ( [[Shore Fast Line]] ) electric trains rerouted between the Thorofare and Atlantic and Virginia Avenues using P-RSL tracks on Georgia, Mississippi and Atlantic Avenues.
Sep. 1935 P-RSL single-tracked between Glassboro and Newfield.
Sep. 19, 1935 Philadelphia & Ocean City RPO cut to Philadelphia & Winslow Jct. RPO.
Nov. 21, 1935 Pres. Clement orders VP in Charge of Operations John F. Deasy to conduct feasibility study for Budd lightweight diesel streamliner in Broad Street-Atlantic City service.
1935 P-RSL single-tracks Newfield Branch between Newfield and Pleasantville.
Mar. 1936 P-RSL establishes Fishing Bureau in Philadelphia to provide information and arrange boat charters.
Apr. 8, 1936 VP in Charge of Operation John F. Deasy informs Budd that. on the basis of his Philadelphia-Atlantic City cost studies, the PRR is "not interested" in offer of diesel streamliners; figures that are more expensive than conventional steam train through need for back-up equipment.
June 7, 1936 Rapid transit (subway) line over the Benjamin Franklin Bridge begins operating between 8th & Market Streets, Philadelphia, and Broadway, Camden, drawing additional passengers off PRR ferries.
July 15, 1936 For first time since Benjamin Franklin Bridge opened, Philadelphia & Camden Ferry travel returning from shore requires operating all five boats on a four-minute headway.
July 1936 PRSL absorbs Stone Harbor Railroad Company.
Sep. 26, 1937 Philadelphia & Winslow Jct. RPO extended to Philadelphia & Cape May RPO via Cedar Brook.
Sep. 26, 1937 PRSL applies names to all Philadelphia/Camden-Atlantic City trains carrying parlor or lounge cars, not just Boardwalk Flyer.
Apr. 30, 1938 Former ACRR ferries make last runs between Chestnut Street and South Street, Philadelphia, and Kaighns Point, Camden.
May 1, 1938 Charter of Delaware River Ferry Company of New Jersey (Reading subsidiary) expires; Kaighns Point Terminal is

demolished later in year.


1939 PRSL modernizes passenger cars with metal sash, new seats and ventilating fans.
1939 PRSL abandons bulk of Chelsea Branch in Atlantic City.
1940 PRSL completes track elevation and new station at Absecon.
Sep. 27, 1941 Last run of CNJ Blue Comet after years of operating losses; CNJ exits New York-Atlantic City passenger market, leaving only PRR service.
Oct. 22, 1941 PRSL abandons Alloway & Quinton Branch.
Sep. 13, 1942 Last run of summer-only through train No. 1046-1049 with coaches and parlor cars between Washington and Atlantic City.
Sep. 19, 1942 Last run of PRSL summer-only, Sunday-only passenger service between Ocean City and Sea Isle City, N.J.
Sep. 27, 1942 Last run of summer-only passenger service on Harbor Springs Branch;not resumed in 1943 because of war.
Sep. 27, 1942 PRSL drops all train names and parlor cars withdrawn because of war.
1942 PRSL abandoned between Williamstown Jct. and Atco.
1942 PRSL removes second track on Baltic Avenue Branch in Atlantic City.
Jan. 20, 1943 PRSL abandons 4.7 miles of Salem Branch between Daretown and Riddleton.
June 9, 1943 PRSL abandons remaining 6.42 miles of ex-WJ&S Ocean City Branch.
June 27, 1943 PRSL ceases operating direct summer service to and from Philadelphia via Delair Bridge on Sundays as part of war effort; some weekday trains continue to run via Delair.
Dec. 20, 1943 Bennett station renamed Erma, N.J.
1943 PRSL abandons 0.33 mile connecting track to former WJ&S line between 51st and 55th Streets, Ocean City; also 6.42 miles of ex-WJ&S line between 55th Street and Sea Isle City.
Feb. 1944 Harry Babcock named General Manager & Traffic Manager of PRSL, replacing J.O. Hackenberg, given leave for health.
June 17, 1944 PRSL discontinues all Bridge trains to and from Atlantic City on weekends and holidays and shifts all equipment to Camden route.
Jan. 31, 1945 Pennsylvania-Reading Motor Lines, Inc., dissolved.

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