CNJ’s Queen of the Valley
Jersey City–Harrisburg, Pa., Queen of the Valley departing Elizabeth, N.J., in June 1936.
Bob Lewis
Jersey City–Harrisburg, Pa., Queen of the Valley departing Elizabeth, N.J., in June 1936.
Bob Lewis
CNJ Main Line commuter trains
RDC’s eastbound, GP9 and cars westbound at Cranford, N.J., in September 1958.
Gene Collora
RDC’s eastbound, GP9 and cars westbound at Cranford, N.J., in September 1958.
Gene Collora
CNJ’s Harrisburg Special
Jersey City–Harrisburg Harrisburg Special at Reading Company’s Harrisburg station in April 1948.
Linn H. Westcott
Jersey City–Harrisburg Harrisburg Special at Reading Company’s Harrisburg station in April 1948.
Linn H. Westcott
CNJ’s Jersey City Terminal
Ferry slips at Jersey City Terminal as seen from Hudson River in April 1967.
John A. Yohannon
Ferry slips at Jersey City Terminal as seen from Hudson River in April 1967.
John A. Yohannon
CNJ Main Line commuter train
Baldwin double-ended diesel with westbound commuter train at Elizabeth, late 1950s.
Bob Krone
Baldwin double-ended diesel with westbound commuter train at Elizabeth, late 1950s.
Bob Krone
CNJ shuttle train
RDC on Newark–Elizabethport “shuttle service” at Elizabethport in March 1958.
John Dziobko
RDC on Newark–Elizabethport “shuttle service” at Elizabethport in March 1958.
John Dziobko
CNJ’s Blue Comet
Jersey City–Atlantic City Blue Comet departing Jersey City, 1936.
Wayne Brumbaugh
Jersey City–Atlantic City Blue Comet departing Jersey City, 1936.
Wayne Brumbaugh
CNJ Main Line commuter train
Westbound at Roselle/Roselle Park in April 1967.
John A. Yohannon
Westbound at Roselle/Roselle Park in April 1967.
John A. Yohannon
CNJ Main Line commuter train
Eastbound push-pull equipment at Bound Brook, 1973.
George W. Hamlin
Eastbound push-pull equipment at Bound Brook, 1973.
George W. Hamlin
CNJ Main Line express
Eastbound at track pans near Dunellen, N.J., in 1931.
R. P. Morris
Eastbound at track pans near Dunellen, N.J., in 1931.
R. P. Morris
CNJ Main Line commuter train
Westbound at Roselle/Roselle Park, with eastbound Lehigh Valley train above, around 1953.
I. W. King
Westbound at Roselle/Roselle Park, with eastbound Lehigh Valley train above, around 1953.
I. W. King
CNJ’s Jersey City Terminal
Gate and sign for Jersey City–Allentown Queen of the Valley before its last run, April 29, 1967.
D. C. Wornom
Gate and sign for Jersey City–Allentown Queen of the Valley before its last run, April 29, 1967.
D. C. Wornom
CNJ commuter train
Camelback with westbound commuter train passing Communipaw station as Fairbanks-Morse H16-44 switches cars, July 1951.
John F. Endler Jr.
Camelback with westbound commuter train passing Communipaw station as Fairbanks-Morse H16-44 switches cars, July 1951.
John F. Endler Jr.
CNJ’s Cortlandt Street ferry terminal
Ferry slips at Cortlandt Street ferry terminal in Lower Manhattan as seen from Hudson River in April 1967.
John A. Yohannon
Ferry slips at Cortlandt Street ferry terminal in Lower Manhattan as seen from Hudson River in April 1967.
John A. Yohannon
CNJ commuter tank engine
Class H1s 4-6-4T No. 229, built by Baldwin in 1923.
Classic Trains coll.
Class H1s 4-6-4T No. 229, built by Baldwin in 1923.
Classic Trains coll.
CNJ's Blue Comet
Jersey City–Atlantic City Blue Comet, approaching Red Bank on New York & Long Branch, 1933.
Don Wood coll.
Jersey City–Atlantic City Blue Comet, approaching Red Bank on New York & Long Branch, 1933.
Don Wood coll.
CNJ North Jersey Coast commuter train
Bay Head–Jersey City train near Red Bank on New York & Long Branch, mid-1950s.
Bert Pennypacker
Bay Head–Jersey City train near Red Bank on New York & Long Branch, mid-1950s.
Bert Pennypacker
CNJ Newark Branch commuter train
2-6-2T No. 200 and combine on Jersey City–Newark run at Newark, mid-1930s.
Robert G. Lewis
2-6-2T No. 200 and combine on Jersey City–Newark run at Newark, mid-1930s.
Robert G. Lewis
CNJ Main Line trains
Two trains westbound at Greenville (Jersey City) in May 1941.
Herbert Weisberger
Two trains westbound at Greenville (Jersey City) in May 1941.
Herbert Weisberger
CNJ North Jersey Coast commuter train
GP40P with Jersey City–Bay Head train at Matawan, N.J., in January 1969.
Don Wood
GP40P with Jersey City–Bay Head train at Matawan, N.J., in January 1969.
Don Wood
All through June 2021, Classic Trains editors are celebrating the history and heritage of the Central Railroad of New Jersey. Please enjoy this photo gallery of Jersey Central passenger trains, first published online in February 2019.
Only from Classic Trains.
The Jersey Central was a Reading Railroad subsidiary throughout much of its history, and this also followed to equipment practices(though the Reading never had Baldwin “Baby Face” diesels). They might have also shared electrification practices, since the Reading had considered electrifying its primary intercity routes out of Philadelphia, to Jersey City, Bethlehem, and Reading. It’s likely CNJ may have electrified both its main line to connect with the Reading at Bound Brook, and perhaps electrify its inner New York and Long Branch trains. Since Reading already copied the PRR in its suburban Philadelphia electrification, it stands to reason that CNJ may have followed similar plans. However, the Great Depression put paid to any such plans on either CNJ or Reading…a shame, since an electrified Reading line from West Trenton to Bound Brook and an electrified CNJ(and Aldene Connection) could have provided Amtrak and NJ Transit with an alternative to its NEC line from Newark to Philadelphia. Alas, that remains an untried possibility.
The Blue Comet between Jersey City and Atlantic City was an excellent feature train on a budget, using new standard cars and modernized old cars. The train was pre-streamlining.
The Central* shared a policy with the connecting Reading Company of operating combines with the baggage end either way. Note the vestibule, steps and traps on the baggage end. CNJ also hosted B&O’s Royal Blue Line from Bound Brook NJ into Jersey City.
*Nickname in CNJ/RDG territory. I understand there was a railroad in New York with the same nickname.
Not sure you should use “great passenger trains” and Jersey Central Lines in the same sentence.