Date: 10/15/1950 Road #: CNJ 1512
Location: Jersey City, NJ more... Builder/Model:  H15-44 more...  

Gotham City looms over Communipaw Terminal...

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By: John on 4/23/2014
"Baby" FM #1512 patiently awaits her departure from the CNJ's sprawling ferry terminal at Jersey City. At the time of this classic photo, #1512 was "the new kid on the block"; it would be a few more years before modern diesels replaced the very last steamers hauling CNJ trains.

Note the coach letterboards displaying their original "Central Railroad of New Jersey" lettering; in the not-too-distant future the majority of CNJ's rolling stock would sport "Jersey Central Lines" on the letterboards. However, well into the 60's, a few cars could still be seen carrying the older lettering.

The "baby" FM's were yet another added attraction for CNJ enthusiasts; unique in so many ways, the "big little railroad" offered tremendous variety and diversity to railfans right up to the Aldene plan of 1967. Though B&O service to Jersey City ended in 1958, RDG trains continued to terminate here until 1967.

Scenes such as this were familiar ones to me while i was growing up in the early and mid-1960's; at rush hours, especially, there was still so much activity and excitement to savor.

Today, a Liberty State Park parking lot now occupies this space, the massive bush sheds are crumbling and decaying, and the main terminal building itself is but a shell of what it was while it was still in use. Even the Manhattan skyline itself has changed so dramatically since the 1960's, that it truly seems to be another city altogether.

The tip of the old Singer building can just be seen over the roof of the first coach; this magnificent early skyscraper was sadly torn down in 1968, and, to date, is the tallest structure in the world to be demolished. Nothing is forever.


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