Here is more follow-up to our post on Brushcutting at Lakehurst. See the post below from Saturday and the one from last Tuesday. The following article is from NJBIZ.com, dated 10-22-09.
Railroad line gets new Hammonton-based operator
By João-Pierre Ruth
10/22/2009
New Jersey Seashore Lines Inc. has executed an agreement with Clayton Cos. Inc. to operate an out-of-service private railroad line for 10 years, according to documents filed with the Surface Transportation Board of the U.S. Department of Transportation.
“We started trimming some trees. It’s been more than 20 years since there’s been a train on [the rail line],” Anthony Macrie, president of New Jersey Seashore Shore Lines, said in an interview with NJBIZ. New Jersey Seashore Lines will maintain the 13-mile rail line, which extends from Lakehurst to Woodmansie.
He said rehabilitation of the line began in mid-October. After the tree trimming is complete, Macrie said his company will inspect the rail line for any necessary upgrades. One possible use will be to serve Clayton’s sand mine in Woodmansie, he said.
Lakewood-based Clayton acquired the line from Consolidated Rail Corp., which abandoned the stretch of short rail in 1985.
New Jersey Seashore Lines, in Hammonton, is an affiliate of Cape May Seashore Lines Inc., a short-line rail carrier for freight and excursion passenger service. Cape May Seashore Lines operates excursion passenger service between Richland and Tuckahoe, as well as a roundtrip line from Cape May Court House to Cape May City.
Clayton tapped New Jersey Seashore Lines to replace Ashland Railway Inc., in Mansfield, Ohio, the previous contract operator of the line.