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Surviving structures along the Reading (CSX) Pennington, NJ
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Author:  Mgoldman [ Thu Jan 07, 2021 8:11 pm ]
Post subject:  Surviving structures along the Reading (CSX) Pennington, NJ
Back in 2019, I ventured over to Pennington, NJ along the former Reading /now CSX line.
I got what I was after - namely a photo of the old restored 1876 built Reading station which now serves as a residence. See below.

I understand the building was for sale - deeded as "two" residences, but sold as a whole. The "residence" was for sale some time ago, seems the asking price dropped from $475,000 to $425.000 and it appears to have sold at $199,999 unless it was a type. It sits right along the track (go figure), but if I recall correctly, there was a line of trees between it and the track on the back side, but it may have been cleared. The platform is long gone.

Along with the depot - to the south (to the left) is an open field with 3 structures - anyone have any details about them? No doubt a surviving old trestle for local coal deliveries (what is that structure actually called?) And then there's the two buildings next to it - not sure the build dates, history, and ownership of either.

Google Maps:
Historic Pennington Station (RDG)
16 Railroad Pl, Pennington, NJ 08534
https://maps.app.goo.gl/8cL8u6UbZ3zr3dcS7

Enjoy - and thanks for any details!

/Mitch

PS - there was a tower near by - "Genmoore". Is it still there?

Attachments:
File comment: Pennington Station
Pennington Station LR.jpg
Pennington Station LR.jpg [ 303.9 KiB | Viewed 6091 times ]
File comment: Pennington Structures
Pennington Stuctures LR.jpg
Pennington Stuctures LR.jpg [ 337.58 KiB | Viewed 6091 times ]
File comment: Coal Ramp
Pennington Coal Feed LR.jpg
Pennington Coal Feed LR.jpg [ 298.16 KiB | Viewed 6091 times ]
Author:  Les Beckman [ Thu Jan 07, 2021 9:32 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Surviving structures along the Reading (CSX) Pennington,
Mitch -

Beautiful old Reading Company station. Nice photo! Really impressed though with the old surviving coal yard trestle. That is a great preservation story! What it needs is a two bay open top hopper car sitting up there. Are there still rails left on the structure? For a similar piece of preservation, see the "Weirdest rail preservation thread?" of a hopper car on an old preserved coal trestle in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Thanks for posting the three photos.

Les
Author:  Mgoldman [ Thu Jan 07, 2021 10:52 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Surviving structures along the Reading (CSX) Pennington,
Rails are still there - at least, on the trestle.

I agree, it was wild to see it still standing, no doubt aided by its secluded and residential location. I can think of a few other coal trestles - or, at least concrete ramps. There's still one at George School buried in the woods on Reading's abandoned line into Newtown, PA, along with 2 that I know of on the Northeast Corridor - one at Coatesville, another at Whitford.

/Mitch

Attachments:
Coal Ramp LN LR.jpg
Coal Ramp LN LR.jpg [ 281.82 KiB | Viewed 5988 times ]
Coal Ramp Top LR.jpg
Coal Ramp Top LR.jpg [ 300.92 KiB | Viewed 5988 times ]
Author:  Les Beckman [ Thu Jan 07, 2021 11:05 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Surviving structures along the Reading (CSX) Pennington,
Thanks for the additional photos Mitch. And for the info on some other surviving coal trestles.


Les
Author:  Mgoldman [ Sun Jan 10, 2021 1:55 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Surviving structures along the Reading (CSX) Pennington,
Well - this may blow your mind...

With special thanks to "LV95032", aka RWJ over on Trainorders.com, it was
suggested I search through some railroad VAL maps. Val maps was a new
term to me, but thanks to "Google" and their snooping, a map of Pennington
from 1887 showed up rather quickly.

And low and behold, there is the complex - plain as day!

Looks like the complex was at least originally part of a privately owned
business - namely: the "Daniel A Clarkson Coal & Lumber Yard"

https://hopewellhistoryproject.org/maps ... gton-boro/

https://i0.wp.com/data.hopewell-history ... .jpg?ssl=1

The arrow points to the complex.
The red dot is the surviving station at Pennington.

/Mitch

Attachments:
File comment: Pennington Map; 1887 Birds Eye View
Pennington 1887 BEV LR Map.jpg
Pennington 1887 BEV LR Map.jpg [ 269.68 KiB | Viewed 5766 times ]
Author:  Les Beckman [ Sun Jan 10, 2021 2:55 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Surviving structures along the Reading (CSX) Pennington,
Mitch -

NEAT! From the map, it appears that at least a portion of the trestle dates back to 1887! The stone supports look as if they could be that old. Not sure if the concrete end might date back that far.

Obviously Daniel A. Clarkson Coal & Lumber no longer exists as a company but it appears that their buildings are still used for something. That "barn" looks as it could date back to 1887 too.

Les
Author:  ArtS [ Sun Jan 17, 2021 8:52 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Surviving structures along the Reading (CSX) Pennington,
This link may be relevant to the conversation:
https://hopewellhistoryproject.org/2019 ... -research/

The area is surprisingly rich in early railroad history.

If you have the time, poke around the area some more and you may be surprised at what you will find. The 'other' Pennington station (from the M&S) still exists and is less than a mile away.

The 'frog war' occurred nearby.

https://hopewellhistoryproject.org/2019 ... -research/
More info:
https://www.hopewellvalleyhistory.org/u ... lroads.pdf

https://digging-history.com/2014/10/31/ ... -frog-war/

Regards,

Art S.
Author:  sandiapaul [ Mon Jan 18, 2021 9:13 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Surviving structures along the Reading (CSX) Pennington,
Art,

Can you pinpoint the "other" station?
Author:  PaulWWoodring [ Mon Jan 18, 2021 11:18 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Surviving structures along the Reading (CSX) Pennington,
As far as I can remember from having run up there occasionally before 2009, there is no tower at Glenmoore, but there is or was a defect detector. One of the former Conrail type that sounded like the voice was coming from under water.
Author:  ArtS [ Tue Jan 19, 2021 9:18 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Surviving structures along the Reading (CSX) Pennington,
sadiapaul,

Yes, on the 1887 map it is one of the three last buildings on the road with the bridge over the tracks. Alternately, its on Delaware Ave. about 100 yards west of Rt.31 on your left (if heading west, away from town).

If you go through the links in my previous post you'll see pictures of it.

Regards,

Art S.
Author:  sandiapaul [ Tue Jan 19, 2021 9:42 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Surviving structures along the Reading (CSX) Pennington,
Thanks I got it now. Will have to take a look over there. It's about 200' from my wife's doctor's office. Our library(Rocky Hill) had a tape I borrowed years ago about the Frog Wars. I can't find it in their collection now but it was worth watching if you can turn it up.
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