Pennsylvania - Reading Seashore Lines GP38's nos. 2000, 2011 and 2012 were built by the Electro Motive Division (EMD) of General Motors (GM)  between December, 1967 and July, 1970.

In the 1960's, the Pennsylvania - Reading Seashore Lines (PRSL) was in need of new, powerful and reliable locomotives and turned to industry-leader General Motors - Electro Motive Division (EMD) to supply 15 new, second generation diesel - electric locomotives. 

15 GP38's were delivered to the PRSL between 1967 and 1970. Each unit was rated for 2,000 horsepower and had a maximum speed gearing of 65 MPH. Quickly, the units proved their reliability and efficiency.

Locomotives 2000, 2011 and 2012 served the Pennsylvania - Reading Seashore Lines in a variety of duties (both passenger and freight) in the southern New Jersey region from 1967 to 1976! 

In 1976, the Pennsylvania - Reading Seashore Lines was absorbed into Conrail, along with its motive power and equipment. Locomotives nos. 2000, 2011 and 2012 (renumbered 7660, 7671 and 7672) were incorporated into the general Conrail motive power pool, but remained in southern New Jersey service until the mid - 1980's. 

Locomotives 2000, 2011 and 2012 were purchased by Cape May Seashore Lines in 2022, and were returned to their home rails in southern New Jersey for service in both freight and passenger duties!

Pennsylvania - Reading Seashore Lines Budd Rail Diesel Cars (RDC's) nos. M-407 and M-410 were built in October, 1950 and May, 1951, respectively, by the Budd Company of Philadelphia, PA.

The Budd Company designed the RDC (Rail Diesel Car) as an economical alternative to traditional locomotive-hauled passenger trains in commuter and branch line service at a time when railroads were struggling to make passenger services profitable. Budd Rail Diesel Cars proved much less costly to operate than regular passenger consists and were well received by railroads throughout North America as well as some overseas rail lines!

A total of 398 Budd Rail Diesel Cars were built between 1949 and 1962.The RDC was visually attractive, easy to maintain, lightweight, flexible and powerful, with a top speed of 85 miles per hour. 

Cars M-410 and M-407 were utilized in high-speed commuter passenger service by the Pennsylvania - Reading Seashore Lines between Philadelphia, PA, Camden, NJ and Lindenwold, NJ to Atlantic City, Wildwood, Cape May City, Ocean City and Millville, NJ from October, 1950 to June, 1982. 

Cars M-410 and M-407 were restored by the Seashore Lines in 1996 and have been utilized on Seashore Lines passenger excursion trains in Atlantic and Cape May Counties since that time!

Comet I passenger cars nos. 5119, 1753 and 1786 were originally built by Pullman - Standard for the Erie Lackawanna Railroad / New Jersey Department of Transportation in 1970 and 1971 to be used in push-pull commuter service in northern New Jersey.

Ownership of the cars was transferred to NJ Transit Rail Operations in the early 1980’s. Comet I commuter coaches were retired from NJ Transit service in 2006, and cars 5119, 1753 and 1786 were generously preserved by NJ Transit when they were donated to our friends at the Whippany Railway Museum.

In 2024, all three cars were acquired by the Seashore Lines, and car 1786 underwent a complete interior refurbishment to provide First Class accommodations to our customers!

Prep and painting work was recently completed in April 2025, returning car 1786 to its ‘as built’ appearance with a midnight blue window band, red outer stripe, black undercarriage and platinum mist car ends.

 Additional restoration work was completed by the Seashore Lines with the installation of new windows and new HVAC system components. In all, we estimate over 1,000 man hours were invested by Seashore Lines employees to fully restore car no. 1786!

Stay tuned to our website and Facebook page for additional updates regarding cars 5119, 1753 and 1786!