Black River and Western Railroad


The Black River and Western Railroad is a freight and heritage railroad operating in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, between Flemington, Lambertville and Ringoes. The railroad operates vintage steam and diesel powered locomotives.

History

The Black River & Western Railroad was started by William Whitehead in Oldwick, New Jersey, in the late 1950s. A portion of the defunct
Rockaway Valley Railroad went through his back yard. He and his sons started collecting rolling stock and an engine. They started laying tracks but then the expansion of I-78 halted their dream of building a railroad at that location. They moved their equipment to the Chester Hill Branch of the Central Railroad of New Jersey with the hope of starting a railroad there. The section of railroad they were scouting soon became landlocked by the construction of I-80.
BR&W was officially incorporated in 1961. The railroad's name is derived from the Black River, a river in Chester, and the direction that the river flows. The cars were moved to Flemington, New Jersey and the search for a place to start their tourist train was continued. A leasing arrangement was created the Pennsylvania Railroad that allowed a tourist train to operate from Flemington to Lambertville on the original Belvidere-Delaware Railroad Flemington Branch. BR&W paid $5,000 a year and rehabilitated the railroad. Steam engine #60 pulled the first trip out of Flemington on May 16, 1965. Weekend and holiday schedules were devised.
BR&W assumed ownership and operations of the Flemington Branch from the CNJ connection in Flemington to Flemington Branch Junction in Lambertville on March 16, 1970, purchasing it from PRR successor Penn Central. With the acquisition of the rail line and its freight operations, on top of the existing tourist passenger service, a true shortline railroad was born. Base operations were established in Ringoes, New Jersey, and remain so today. Freight interchange after the 1970 purchase was made with PC at Lambertville and CNJ in Flemington. PC filed for bankruptcy that June.
PC continued to operate freight under bankruptcy protection until April 1, 1976 when Conrail assumed operations BR&W also purchased the Flemington-Three Bridges portion from the bankrupt CNJ. Although coal, iron ore and general freights were rerouted to other lines such as the North Penn Branch, CR continued operating smaller interchange freight trains to Lambertville. In March 1977, a new interchange was built at Three Bridges, New Jersey with the former Lehigh Valley Railroad mainline.
Freight service to ended by 1995 with tourist operations ceasing by 1998, when the Federal Railroad Administration prohibited operations due to poor track conditions. There was talk in 1997 of Trap Rock Industries Quarry using the stub-ended section north of Lambertville, resulting in a frenzy of track repairs taking place on the Ringoes-Lambertville segment to accommodate the anticipated traffic. The quarry ultimately backed out with the final work train operating in June 2002 to retrieve all remaining rolling stock.
In 2001, a separate non-profit entity known as the Black River Railroad Historic Trust, was formed to take over the tourist trains on the line. BRRHT does not own most of the passenger cars and until 2011, fees had to be paid to the BR&W for their use. BRRHT owns one diesel locomotive switcher, an SW9 numbered 438. It currently leases some coaches from the railroad and has use of several locomotives.
In 2014 the BRRHT started to clear the line between Ringos and Lambertville for passenger trains. In 2016 the first passenger train went down the first mile down of the newly restored line in almost 20 years. In 2017 the BRRHT restored the first 2.5 miles of the line which is where Bone Station is and Black River have been doing special events. In 2019 the BRRHT opened a further 1 mile towards Mount Airy Road. The BRRHT is looking to get into Lambertville within the next several years.

Recent history

In 2014, BRRHT announced that it was looking to reinstate service along the dormant Ringoes-Lambertville section. In May 2017, the first two and a half miles was re-introduced to passenger service. The in-service track currently reaches Bowne Station, just over 4 miles north of Lambertville. Bowne Station includes a picnic grove co-constructed with Woodsedge Farm and the railroad. Special picnic and farm trains are scheduled year for this new portion of the line, along with an evening departure from Ringoes every Saturday and Sunday that special events do not operate.

Stations

Roster

The Black River & Western's fleet of locomotives are divided up into two categories: Locomotives used on the Flemington Branch, and locomotives used by the Black River Railroad System.
Equipment in italics are owned by the BRRHT.
Black River & Western Locomotives
NumberHeritageModelLocation
1Crucible SteelMack 15tonOwned by BRRHT, static display at the Ringoes Station parking lot.
60Great Western Railway of Colorado2-8-0In service on the Flemington Branch. Only steam locomotive on the Flemington Branch.
112Lehigh Valley RailroadSW1Owned by LVRX, restored 2010, painted as BR&W #400 in 2015 for 50th anniversary. In service on the Flemington Branch. Used for freight service.
438Erie RailroadEMD SW9Owned by BRRHT, acquired from the United Railroad Historical Society of New Jersey in 2015, in service on the Flemington Branch.
1596PCSW1500Assigned to BR&W Flemington Branch. Used for freight service.
9206PRRSW1Owned by LVRX, in service on Flemington Branch.

Black River Railroad Locomotives
NumberHeritageModelLocation
752Northern Pacific RailwayEMD GP9Leased to Mid-States Packaging, Hillsborough, New Jersey
811Nickel Plate RoadEMD GP9BR&W Belvidere-Delaware division. Lettered for Black River & Western, however used for Delaware River Railroad excursions.
908LVSW900Leased to Kinder-Morgan, Newport News, Virginia, out of service.
909Portland Power PlantSW9Formerly numbered 9009
915Winchester and Western Railroad SW900BR&W Dover & Rockaway River Railroad operation, out of service
1202New York, New Haven & Hartford RailroadSW1200BR&W Belvidere-Delaware Division
1206Canadian National RailwaySW1200RSLeased in West Virginia
1259Canadian Pacific Railway SW1200RSLeased in Pennsylvania
1539Pittsburgh & Lake Erie RailroadSW1500Leased to Kinder-Morgan, Newport News, Virginia
1567Penn Central SW1500Leased to WW, Bridgeton, New Jersey
1823New York Central Railroad GP10Assigned to D&RR operations, leased from WW in the late 1990s. Formerly numbered 732.
1849Northern Pacific RailwayGP9Leased to Kinder-Morgan, Fairless Hills, Pennsylvania.
1850Chesapeake & Ohio RailwayGP9Leased to Kinder-Morgan, Fairless Hills, Pennsylvania
1853Texas Mexican RailwayGP9Shopped in Tennessee, out of service
1854Pennsylvania Railroad GP8Leased to Kinder-Morgan, Fairless Hills, Pennsylvania
1856NYCGP10Leased to Kinder-Morgan, Charleston, South Carolina
1858Grand Trunk Western RailroadGP9uLeased to Kinder-Morgan, Newport News, Virginian
1888CPGP9uBR&W D&RR operation
1889CPGP9uLeased to Kinder-Morgan, Newport News, Virginia
8142CPSW1200RSLeased in Pennsylvania
9581Norfolk Southern RailwaySD9mLeased to Kinder-Morgan, Newport News, Virginia

In Service Passenger Equipment
NumberHeritageStatusNotes
297CNJIn ServiceCombine. Acquired in 1967 from CNJ. First in service 1968.
322CNJIn ServiceBar car built from coach. Used for First Class Service. Acquired in 1967 from CNJ, originally CNJ 1186. First in service 1968. Named John L. Bishop.
605DL&WIn ServiceAcquired from EL in 1972, originally DL&W 605, renumbered to 305 in 1972. First in service 1972. Out of service in 1999. Restored by the BRRHT and returned to service for North Pole Express service in 2018, renumbering back to 605. This car was damaged in the 1917 Kingsland explosion.
1009CNJIn ServiceOwned by BRRHT, acquired in 2005 from Steamtown. Restoration completed in May 2015.

Out of Service Passenger Equipment
NumberHeritageStatusNotes
5GM&OOut Of ServiceBusiness Car, Privately owned.
585DL&WOut Of Service, Under RestorationAcquired from EL in 1972, originally DL&W 585. First in service 1972. Open-Air Car built from Coach. Out of service in 1997-98. Undergoing restoration by the BRRHT.
303DL&WOut Of ServiceAcquired from EL in 1972, originally DL&W 608. First in service 1972. Out of service in 1997.
304DL&WOut Of ServiceAcquired from EL in 1972, originally DL&W 606. First in service 1972. Out of service in 1998-99.
319New Jersey Transit, ex GNMOWFrom NJT. Originally assigned to the Empire Builder as Great Northern 1223.
320New Jersey Transit, ex GNMOWFrom NJT. Originally assigned to the Empire Builder as Great Northern 1229.
491Canadian NationalOut Of ServiceAcquired early 1990s, in service by 1993. Used as aux coach. Originally numbered 4991. Retains black window stripe hinting at its CN heritage, CN Number showing through on east side. Last Passenger Run 2018, Out of Service 2019.
1318CNJRemains in Lambertville, NJ.Round Roof CNJ Coach. Acquired from NJ Transit in 1984.
1362USATOut Of ServiceUsed as storage
1369USATOut Of ServiceUsed as storage

Passenger Equipment on Display
NumberHeritageStatusNotes
420CNJOut Of ServiceUsed as museum car at Ringoes station, owned by the BRRHT.
494Canadian NationalOut Of ServiceAcquired early 1990s, in service by 1993. Originally numbered 4988.Last train was the easter bunny express of 2015. Out of service 2015. Was lettered for BDRV until 2016. On display in Ringoes station and used for Christmas events in the station.
17112USATOut Of ServicePrivately owned, display
8424New York CentralOut Of ServiceOwned by BRRHT, Used as a workshop for restoration projects.
"Chenango"PRROut Of ServicePrivately owned, Residential, Originally named "Herald Square," Painted in NYO&W livery

Freight Equipment
NumberHeritageTypeNotes-
103SouthernBox CarStored, Ringoes Yard-
111CRBox CarStored, Three Bridges Yard
304CRBallast HopperStored, Three Bridges Yard
308CRBallast HopperFlemington Branch-
309CRBallast HopperFlemington Branch-
310CRBallast HopperFlemington Branch-
601LVBox CarStored, Ringoes Yard-
15555CROre CarOwned by LVRX, Painted in PRR, Stored, Ringoes Yard-
16002LIRRCrane CarStored, Ringoes Yard-
16003AmtrakFlat CarUsed with 16002, Stored, Ringoes Yard-
475532?Flat CarOwned by LVRX, Painted PRR, Once used as an open air car, MOW, Flemington Branch. Stored at Copper Hill.-
487052CRHopperSitting at the end of the line in Lambertville-
497310PRRBox CarRounded Roof, Stored, Ringoes Yard-
770506CRFlat CarStored, Ringoes Yard-

In Service Cabooses
NumberHeritageNotes
133C&OAssigned to the Bel Del
385SOUAssigned to Dover & Rockaway River Railroad.
596MMAIn service
645MECPrivately owned, in service
2727ATSFPrivately owned, painted in Wabash livery, in service
477375PRRPrivately owned, in MOW service.
C-140ERIEOwned by BRRHT, in service.

Out of Service Cabooses
NumberHeritageNotes
200RDGOut of service
595N&WOut of service
1417DRGWPrivately owned, out of service

Cabooses on Display
NumberHeritageNotes
24531NYCPrivately owned, display
95106LV''Owned by BRRHT, named the "Who Hack," On display.

Former Equipment

Former Locomotives
NumberHeritageModelCurrent owner
M-55Arizona Eastern RailroadDoodlebugColebrookdale Railroad. Operating.
1Crucible SteelMackBlack River Railroad Historic Trust; still on BR&W Property. On display.
14Brooklyn Eastern District Terminal0-6-0TUlster & Delaware Historical Society
41AT&SFCF7Scrapped
42AT&SFCF7Maryland & Delaware 2632 Scrapped
50Trap RockDavenportWas MOW
56PRRT6Georges Creek Railway 101
57Washington Terminal CompanyRS-1Privately owned; stored on East Penn Railroad, Quakertown, PA
58Minneapolis & St LouisRS-1Also wore #211, Scrapped 1992/1993
148Florida East Coast4-6-2United States Sugar Corporation; currently under restoration for excursion service in Clewiston, FL
204Minneapolis & St LouisRS-1was #59 on paper, Scrapped
400Broward County Port AuthoritySW-1scrapped in 2009
400LIRR44-TonConnecticut Eastern Railroad Museum
565DL&W2-6-0Steamtown N.H.S
820ERIENW-2Miller Mining Co.
780EMDGP-10Scrapped 2019 due to many issues.
782C&EIGP7Vintage Locomotives Inc.; still on BR&W property
1540P&LESW1500JLCX; traded for JLCX 1256
1554CNJRS-3ARHS; Leased to the Delaware-Lackawanna
1848Bangor & AroostookGP9Winchester & Western #576
4666PRRDoodlebugPrivately owned; brought to Allentown & Auburn Railroad on 4/17/16. Currently in operation as of late summer 2016.
7079U.S. Army65-Tonprivately owned, New Castle, DE

Former Leased and Other Locomotives
NumberHeritageModelLeased or on BR&W tracksOwnerNotes
412B&OVO-1000Late 1990s to the early 2000sSMS LinesStored on Flemington Branch
418NJTF3Late 1990s to 2015URHSleft in 2015
436ErieSW92012-2015URHSleft in 2015
475Nickel Plate RoadGP9Late 1990sWinchester and WesternWorked Bel-Del Freight
732NYCGP9Late 1990sWinchester and WesternWorked Bel-Del Freight, Bought in 2018
1523CNJGP9Mid 1990s to early 2000sURHSRestored at Ringoes and operated on the Flemington Branch
1524CNJGP9Late 90'URHSRestored at Ringoes
1712ClinchfieldGP162012Everett RailroadLeased for Bel-Del Santa Train
7000PRRGP9Late 1990sURHSRestored in Ringoes

Former Passenger Equipment
NumberHeritageDispositionNotes
99LIRRSold in 1983, Stored in Minerva, OHJamaica
100Belfast & Moosehead LakeSold to the New Hope & Ivyland railroad, scrapped in 2015 after vandalization of the car and structure collapse.Wooden Car. Baggage R.P.O. Car
101Bangor & AroostookWooden Car. Combine
102Bangor & AroostookWooden Car. Combine
103DL&WDisintegrated along the New Hope & Ivyland at Wycombe, PA, scrapped mid 1990s.Wooden Car. Coach
104Philadelphia & ReadingOut of Service at the Connecticut Eastern Railway Museum.Wooden Car. Coach
105Canadian NorthernWooden Car. Business Car
106DL&WWooden Car. Office Car
301DL&WOut of Service in the early 1990s, Scrapped 2006.Steel "Boonton" Car, In service by 1972. Originally DL&W 600. Open-Air Car built from Coach.
311ErieOut of service mid 1970s, scrapped.Steel "Stillwell" Car, In service by 1966. Open-Air Car built from Coach.
312ErieOut of Service in the mid 1970s, on display in Whitehouse, NJ.Steel "Stillwell" Car, In service by 1968.
313ErieOut of Service in the mid 1970s, on display in Whitehouse, NJ.Steel "Stillwell" Car, In service by 1968.
321CNJOut of Service 1990s, Scrapped 2006.Steel CNJ Coach. Acquired from CNJ in 1967, in service 1968. Original number 1135. Converted to a control car for the 4666 by early 1980s.
492Canadian NationalOut of Service by 2000s, Scrapped 2006.Acquired early 1990s, in service by 1995. Originally numbered 4996. Was supposed to be BR&W 492, unknown if ever renumbered.
4907Canadian NationalTo New Hope & Ivyland by 2001.Acquired early 1990s, in service by 1993. Originally numbered 4907. Was BR&W 493 on paper, never renumbered on car.
700Pennsylvania RailroadTo New York State in 1976, now part of a diner in Somerset, MA.Pullman Parlor Car No. 7002 built for the PRR in 1912, was used on the Broadway Limited.
1324CNJSold to Green Mountain Railroad, remains on the Bel-Del near Holland, NJ.Round Roof CNJ Coach. Acquired from NJ Transit in 1984.
2004LIRRNew Hope, PASyosset

Former Rolling Stock
NumberHeritageTypeDispositionNotes
11?Crane CarScrapped by 2017Original BR&W piece
193LIRRRotary Snow PlowSteamtown N.H.S

Former Cabooses
NumberHeritageDispositionNotes
1DL&WWent to Morristown and ErieCurrently at Whippany Railroad Museum
20??Was MOW
34RDGOn Display in Stroudsburg, PA
35??
474NYCSold around 2014
C-2440B&OSold 2018
01422DRGWSold 2018