Post by cobblehillian on Mar 21, 2010 19:21:26 GMT -8
Please bear with me, there is a bit of a story here. I cannot find any prior reference on this forum to what I have found. If it's old news, I apologize.
I grew up in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania area in the 50's and 60's. I have since that time had a serious interest in railways and all things related. This includes railway marine operations. Philadelphia hosted the Reading (RDG), Pennsylvania (PRR), and B&O railroads. The first two lines had their headquarters, as well as marine operations there. Both lines operated ferry services across the Delaware River to Camden, New Jersey where passengers would board the trains of both companies to various seashore points.
A bridge across the Delaware was opened in 1926 and in 1933 the two railroads merged their southern NJ operations into something called the Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines. Despite decreasing ferry traffic the PRR kept their ferry service going until 1952. My father took us on one of the last runs so we could experience a steam river ferry. This was probably my first ferry trip.
The Reading, which was my favourite railway and my transportation to school, eliminated their Delaware River ferry operations in 1933 when the merger took place. I always regretted never being able to see a Reading ferry. Long ago I concluded they were gone, except in my imagination. I should add that railroad ferries became increasingly interesting to me as I became old enough to travel on my own. For instance, by the late 50's I was able to see the 10 or 12 New York harbour railway marine operations which included four different railway company ferry operations!
A few years ago, while doing some web surfing I found that at least one of the Reading RR ferries was moved to Virginia where it was used in two State of Virginia operations until 1983. The ferry I found pictured on the Net was the Ocean City. She was well maintained and kept her original name from her launch in October 1923. The only major change seemed to be a switch from steam to diesel power.
Last night while yet again surfing around the subject of railway ferry operations I found that the Ocean City still existed and had been brought to Anderson Island in the State of Washington. I'm not sure if she came on her own power or was towed on the Panama trip. Evidently two brothers were going to start an Anderson Island (lying between Tacoma and Olympia) service. I'm not sure of details but believe that Pierce County eventually started a service. In the meantime the Ocean City quietly passes her retirement, rising and falling with the tide, in Oro Bay on Anderson Island. She is in remarkable condition for her age, and outwardly little changed from her 'as built' appearance.
The link below leads to the forum which has several links to photos, including a builder's photo, and some as recent as Oct.2009. There are also some more details of the story of this amazing 87 year old ferry.
I hope you enjoyed my short narrative. I never would have believed that a Reading Railraod ferry still lives, and it's in my proverbial backyard not that far from home Vancouver Island.
Railroad Net Forum Site:
www.railroad.net/forums/viewtopic.php?f=97&t=53458#p586906
In service in Virginia:
www.prslhs.com/Rich_Taylor_Photos/Ocean_City_Ferry_1.jpg
In Oro Bay- date unknown:
static.panoramio.com/photos/original/10664586.jpg
Builder's Photo - October 1923:
digital.hagley.org/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=%2Fp268001coll9&CISOPTR=831&DMSCALE=12.5&DMWIDTH=500&DMHEIGHT=500&DMMODE=viewer&DMFULL=0&DMX=7&DMY=0&DMTEXT=&DMTHUMB=1&REC=11&DMROTATE=0&x=87&y=59
Oro Bay - October 2009
www.flickr.com/photos/27897243@N02/
(Must be accessed via link on Railroad.net Forum page shown above)
I grew up in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania area in the 50's and 60's. I have since that time had a serious interest in railways and all things related. This includes railway marine operations. Philadelphia hosted the Reading (RDG), Pennsylvania (PRR), and B&O railroads. The first two lines had their headquarters, as well as marine operations there. Both lines operated ferry services across the Delaware River to Camden, New Jersey where passengers would board the trains of both companies to various seashore points.
A bridge across the Delaware was opened in 1926 and in 1933 the two railroads merged their southern NJ operations into something called the Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines. Despite decreasing ferry traffic the PRR kept their ferry service going until 1952. My father took us on one of the last runs so we could experience a steam river ferry. This was probably my first ferry trip.
The Reading, which was my favourite railway and my transportation to school, eliminated their Delaware River ferry operations in 1933 when the merger took place. I always regretted never being able to see a Reading ferry. Long ago I concluded they were gone, except in my imagination. I should add that railroad ferries became increasingly interesting to me as I became old enough to travel on my own. For instance, by the late 50's I was able to see the 10 or 12 New York harbour railway marine operations which included four different railway company ferry operations!
A few years ago, while doing some web surfing I found that at least one of the Reading RR ferries was moved to Virginia where it was used in two State of Virginia operations until 1983. The ferry I found pictured on the Net was the Ocean City. She was well maintained and kept her original name from her launch in October 1923. The only major change seemed to be a switch from steam to diesel power.
Last night while yet again surfing around the subject of railway ferry operations I found that the Ocean City still existed and had been brought to Anderson Island in the State of Washington. I'm not sure if she came on her own power or was towed on the Panama trip. Evidently two brothers were going to start an Anderson Island (lying between Tacoma and Olympia) service. I'm not sure of details but believe that Pierce County eventually started a service. In the meantime the Ocean City quietly passes her retirement, rising and falling with the tide, in Oro Bay on Anderson Island. She is in remarkable condition for her age, and outwardly little changed from her 'as built' appearance.
The link below leads to the forum which has several links to photos, including a builder's photo, and some as recent as Oct.2009. There are also some more details of the story of this amazing 87 year old ferry.
I hope you enjoyed my short narrative. I never would have believed that a Reading Railraod ferry still lives, and it's in my proverbial backyard not that far from home Vancouver Island.
Railroad Net Forum Site:
www.railroad.net/forums/viewtopic.php?f=97&t=53458#p586906
In service in Virginia:
www.prslhs.com/Rich_Taylor_Photos/Ocean_City_Ferry_1.jpg
In Oro Bay- date unknown:
static.panoramio.com/photos/original/10664586.jpg
Builder's Photo - October 1923:
digital.hagley.org/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=%2Fp268001coll9&CISOPTR=831&DMSCALE=12.5&DMWIDTH=500&DMHEIGHT=500&DMMODE=viewer&DMFULL=0&DMX=7&DMY=0&DMTEXT=&DMTHUMB=1&REC=11&DMROTATE=0&x=87&y=59
Oro Bay - October 2009
www.flickr.com/photos/27897243@N02/
(Must be accessed via link on Railroad.net Forum page shown above)
