History
The Black River & Western Railroad (BR&W) 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 (Lackawanna #565). 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 Branch of the Central Railroad of New Jersey (CNJ) with the hope of starting a railroad there.
BR&W was officially incorporated in 1961. The railroad's name is derived from the Black River, a river near Chester and the original name of the borough. The "and Western" is standard railroad nomenclature. Following a brief stint of test operations on CNJ's Chester Branch, equipment was moved to Flemington, New Jersey in 1963 and the search for a place to start their tourist train was continued. A leasing arrangement was created with the Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR) that allowed a tourist train to operate from Flemington to Lambertville on the original Belvidere-Delaware Railroad (PRR Belvidere Division) Flemington Branch (originally the Flemington Railroad & Transportation Company) in 1964. BR&W paid $5,000 a year and rehabilitated the railroad (PRR operated freight service on the line during this period). 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 (PC). 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 (CR) assumed operations (the last PC freight train to operate on the Belvidere Division was on March 31, 1976). BR&W then purchased three miles of trackage in the Lambertville area that was part of the Belvidere Division mainline on March 31, 1976 before Conrail took over. 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 (LV) mainline.
Freight service to Lambertville ended by 1995 with tourist operations ceasing by the end of 1998, when the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) prohibited operations south of Ringoes due to poor track conditions. There was talk in 1999 of Trap Rock Industries quarry using the stub-ended section north of Lambertville for unit stone trains, 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.
Recent history
In 2014, BRRHT announced that it was looking to reinstate service along the dormant Ringoes-Lambertville section now called the Alexauken Division.[5] In May 2017, the first two and a half miles was re-introduced to passenger service. The in-service track reached Bowne Station, just over 4 miles north of Lambertville. Bowne Station included a picnic grove co-constructed with Woodsedge Farm and the railroad. Special picnic and farm trains were scheduled year for this new portion of the line, along with an evening departure from Ringoes every Saturday and Sunday that special events did not operate.[6] Sadly, in 2021, the remains of Hurricane Ida caused disastrous flooding that washed out portions of the restored trackage. In addition, an entre section of embankment was destroyed near Lambertville.
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 (a primarily freight but also leasing company).
Equipment in italics is owned by the BRRHT.
Black River & Western Locomotives — engines that are on the Flemington branch almost all the time
Black River Railroad Locomotives — engines that come and go on the Flemington Branch
Number
|
Heritage
|
Model
|
Status
|
Image
|
Location
|
752
|
Northern Pacific Railway
|
EMD GP9
|
Operational
|
|
In service on flemington branch. Ringoes.
|
811
|
Nickel Plate Road
|
EMD GP9
|
Operational
|
|
Assigned to Belvidere & Delaware River Rwy. Lettered for Black River & Western, however used for Delaware River Railroad excursions.
|
908
|
LV
|
SW900
|
Out of service
|
|
Leased to Kinder-Morgan, Newport News, Virginia, stored out of service.
|
909
|
Portland Power Plant
|
SW9
|
Operational
|
|
Formerly numbered #9009.
|
915
|
Winchester and Western Railroad (WW)
|
SW900
|
Out of service
|
|
Stored out of service in Ringoes. Ex-Wilmington & Western Railroad
|
1202
|
New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad
|
SW1200
|
Operational
|
|
Assigned to Maryland & Delaware Railroad.
|
1206
|
Canadian National Railway
|
SW1200RS
|
Operational
|
|
Leased in West Virginia.
|
1259
|
Canadian Pacific Railway (CP)
|
SW1200RS
|
Operational
|
|
Leased in Morrisville, Pennsylvania.
|
1539
|
Pittsburgh & Lake Erie Railroad
|
SW1500
|
Operational
|
|
Leased to Kinder-Morgan, Newport News, Virginia.
|
1567
|
Penn Central (PC)
|
SW1500
|
Out of service
|
|
Stored out of service in Ringoes.
|
1823
|
New York Central Railroad (NYC)
|
GP10
|
Operational
|
|
Assigned to Maryland & Delaware Railroad, briefly leased from Winchester & Western Railroad in the late 1990s. Formerly numbered #732.
|
1849
|
Northern Pacific Railway
|
GP9
|
Operational
|
|
Leased to Kinder-Morgan, Fairless Hills, Pennsylvania.
|
1850
|
Chesapeake & Ohio Railway
|
GP9
|
Operational
|
|
Leased to Kinder-Morgan, Fairless Hills, Pennsylvania.
|
1853
|
Texas Mexican Railway
|
GP9
|
Out of service
|
|
Shopped in Tennessee, stored out of service.
|
1854
|
Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR)
|
GP8
|
Operational
|
|
Leased to Kinder-Morgan, Fairless Hills, Pennsylvania.
|
1856
|
NYC
|
GP10
|
Stored
|
|
Stored in Ringoes.
|
1858
|
Grand Trunk Western Railroad
|
GP9u
|
Operational
|
|
Leased to Kinder-Morgan, Newport News, Virginia.
|
1888
|
CP
|
GP9u
|
Operational
|
|
Assigned to BR&W freight operations.
|
1889
|
CP
|
GP9u
|
Operational
|
|
Leased to Kinder-Morgan, Newport News, Virginia.
|
8142
|
CP
|
SW1200RS
|
Operational
|
|
Leased in Pennsylvania.
|
9581
|
Norfolk Southern Railway
|
SD9m
|
Operational
|
|
Leased to Kinder-Morgan, Newport News, Virginia.
|
In Service Passenger Equipment
Number
|
Heritage
|
Status
|
Image
|
Notes
|
297
|
CNJ
|
In Service
|
|
Combine. Acquired in 1967 from CNJ. First in service 1968 (just restored).[7][8]
|
322
|
CNJ
|
In Service
|
|
Bar 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 (just restored).[8]
|
605
|
DL&W
|
In Service
|
|
Acquired from EL in 1972, originally DL&W 605, renumbered to 305 in 1972. First in service 1972.[8] Out of service in 1999. Restored by the BRRHT and returned to service for North Pole Express service in 2018[9], renumbering back to 605. This car was damaged in the 1917 Kingsland explosion.[10]
|
1009
|
CNJ
|
In Service
|
|
Owned by BRRHT, acquired in 2005 from Steamtown. Restoration completed in May 2015.[11]
|
Out of Service Passenger Equipment
Number
|
Heritage
|
Status
|
Image
|
Notes
|
5
|
GM&O
|
Out Of Service
|
|
Business Car, Privately owned.
|
585
|
DL&W
|
Out Of Service, Under Restoration
|
|
Acquired from EL in 1972, originally DL&W 585. First in service 1972.[8] Open-Air Car built from Coach. Out of service in 1997–98. Undergoing restoration by the BRRHT.
|
302
|
DL&W
|
Out Of Service
|
|
Acquired from EL in 1972. Converted to open air car, out of service by 1999.
|
303
|
DL&W
|
Out Of Service
|
|
Acquired from EL in 1972, originally DL&W 608. First in service 1972.[8] Out of service by 1999.
|
304
|
DL&W
|
Out Of Service
|
|
Acquired from EL in 1972, originally DL&W 606. First in service 1972.[8] Out of service by 1999.
|
319
|
New Jersey Transit, ex GN
|
MOW
|
|
From NJT. Originally assigned to the Empire Builder as Great Northern 1223.[12][13]
|
320
|
New Jersey Transit, ex GN
|
MOW
|
|
From NJT. Originally assigned to the Empire Builder as Great Northern 1229.[12][13]
|
491
|
Canadian National
|
Out Of Service
|
|
Acquired early 1990s, in service by 1993. Used as aux coach.[14] Originally numbered 4991. Retains black window stripe hinting at its CN heritage, CN Number (4991) showing through on east side. Last passenger run 2019, currently out of service.
|
1318
|
CNJ
|
Out Of Service
|
|
Remains in Lambertville, NJ. Round Roof CNJ Coach. Acquired from NJ Transit in 1984.
|
1362
|
USAT
|
Out Of Service
|
|
Used as storage
|
1369
|
USAT
|
Out Of Service
|
|
Used as storage
|
Engines on Display
Number
|
Heritage
|
Image
|
Status
|
Image
|
Notes
|
′′1′′
|
Crucible Steel 15 ton Mack
|
|
On display in Ringoes Parking lot
|
|
[15]
|
Passenger Equipment on Display
Number
|
Heritage
|
Status
|
Image
|
Notes
|
420
|
CNJ
|
Out Of Service
|
|
Used as museum car at Ringoes station, owned by the BRRHT.
|
494
|
Canadian National
|
Out Of Service
|
|
Acquired early 1990s, in service by 1993.[14] 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.
|
17112
|
USAT
|
Out Of Service
|
|
Privately owned, display
|
8424
|
New York Central
|
Out Of Service
|
|
Owned by BRRHT, Used as a workshop for restoration projects.
|
"Chenango"
|
PRR
|
Out Of Service
|
|
Privately owned, Residential, Originally named "Herald Square," painted in NYO&W livery.
|
Freight Equipment
Number
|
Heritage
|
Type
|
Image
|
Notes
|
103
|
Southern
|
Box Car
|
|
Stored, Ringoes Yard
|
111
|
CR
|
Box Car
|
|
Stored, Three Bridges Yard
|
304
|
CR
|
Ballast Hopper
|
|
Stored, Three Bridges Yard
|
308
|
CR
|
Ballast Hopper
|
|
Flemington Branch
|
309
|
CR
|
Ballast Hopper
|
|
Flemington Branch
|
310
|
CR
|
Ballast Hopper
|
|
Flemington Branch
|
601
|
LV
|
Box Car
|
|
Stored, Ringoes Yard
|
15555
|
CR
|
Ore Car
|
|
Owned by LVRX, Painted in PRR, Stored, Ringoes Yard
|
16002
|
LIRR
|
Crane Car
|
|
Stored, Ringoes Yard
|
16003
|
Amtrak
|
Flat Car
|
|
Used with 16002, Stored, Ringoes Yard
|
475532
|
?
|
Flat Car
|
|
Owned by LVRX, Painted PRR, Once used as an open air car, MOW, Flemington Branch. Stored at Copper Hill.
|
487052
|
CR
|
Hopper
|
|
Scrapped 2022
|
497310
|
PRR
|
Box Car
|
|
Rounded Roof, Stored, Ringoes Yard
|
770506
|
CR
|
Flat Car
|
|
Stored, Ringoes Yard
|
In Service Cabooses
Number
|
Heritage
|
Image
|
Notes
|
133
|
C&O
|
|
Assigned to the Bel Del
|
385
|
SOU
|
|
Assigned to Dover & Rockaway River Railroad
|
596
|
MMA
|
|
In service, was involved in the Lac-Mégantic rail disaster.
|
645
|
MEC
|
|
Privately owned, in service
|
2727
|
ATSF
|
|
Privately owned, painted in Wabash livery, in service
|
477375
|
PRR
|
|
Privately owned, out of service.
|
C-140
|
ERIE
|
|
Owned by BRRHT, in service
|
Out of Service Cabooses
Number
|
Heritage
|
Image
|
Notes
|
200
|
RDG
|
|
Out of service
|
595
|
N&W
|
|
Out of service
|
1417
|
DRGW
|
|
Privately owned, out of service
|
Cabooses on Display
Number
|
Heritage
|
Image
|
Notes
|
24531
|
NYC
|
|
Privately owned, display
|
95106
|
LV
|
|
Owned by BRRHT, named the "Who Hack," on display.
|