Passenger Stations

Richland 

Richland was once served by three famous railroads! The Pennsylvania Railroad (West Jersey and Seashore Railroad) on their high speed electrified line between Camden and Atlantic City (via Newfield), the Reading Company (Atlantic City Railroad) on their steel speedway between Camden and Cape May City, and later, the Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines. All Pennsylvania Railroad, Reading Company and Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines trains operating to the coastal resort communities between Ocean City and Cape May City passed through Richland! In June of 1933, the Pennsylvania Railroad and the Reading Company merged their southern New Jersey operations to form the Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines (PRSL). On April 1, 1976, the PRSL became a part of Conrail. Local passenger service to Richland ended on September 28, 1935, and the last time that a regularly-scheduled passenger train passed through Richland was on October 2, 1981. 

On October 8, 2005, Cape May Seashore Lines inaugurated regularly-scheduled excursion service between Richland Village and Tuckahoe Village, marking the first time that a passenger train stopped in Richland Village in 70 years! 

Tuckahoe 

Tuckahoe was once served by two famous railroads! The Reading Company (Atlantic City Railroad) on their steel speedway between Camden and Cape May City (via Winslow Junction), and later, the Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines. Situated at the junction of the Cape May and Ocean City Branches, Tuckahoe was the most important junction on the Cape May Branch for over 100 years! All Reading Company and Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines trains operating to the coastal resort communities of Ocean City, Strathmere, Sea Isle City, Avalon, Stone Harbor, Wildwood and Cape May City passed through Tuckahoe! 

In June of 1933, the Pennsylvania Railroad and the Reading Company merged their southern New Jersey operations to form the Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines (PRSL). Tuckahoe remained busy even after the merger. PRSL “through” service to Camden continued until January 14, 1966, and to Philadelphia until September 30, 1969, requiring the remaining passengers to change trains at Lindenwold. On April 1, 1976, the PRSL became a part of Conrail. Passenger service between Lindenwold and Ocean City ended on August 13, 1981, and to Cape May City on October 2, 1981.

On October 8, 2005, Cape May Seashore Lines inaugurated regularly-scheduled excursion service between Richland Village and Tuckahoe, marking the first time that a passenger train stopped in Tuckahoe in 24 years!  Three original, restored structures of the former Reading Company complement the historic charm of Tuckahoe. They are: the passenger station (built in 1897), the interlocking tower that controlled the switches and signals (built in 1906), and the steel water tank that was used to supply water for steam locomotives (built in 1922). 

Woodbine

The Borough of Woodbine was originally served by two famous railroads, the Pennsylvania Railroad (through subsidiary West Jersey and Seashore Railroad (WJ&S)); and the Reading Company (through subsidiary Atlantic City Railroad (ACRR)). The WJ&S and ACRR were competing companies for the large numbers of tourists and day trippers travelling by rail to Cape May County's seashore resorts.

The lines intersected in Woodbine at the location of the current railroad undergrade bridge, which crosses Dehirsch Avenue / Route 550 and the Woodbine Bike Trail (former WJ&S rail line). 

During construction of the ACRR's line, a 'crisis at a crossing' ensued on May 17, 1894 when the ACRR attempted to cross the existing WJ&S line by way of installing a 'diamond.' Not willing to allow the competing ACRR to cross their right of way without a fight; the WJ&S posted a night watchman at the proposed diamond location at sunset on May 16, 1894. 

During the early hours of the morning on May 17, 1894, an ACRR train left Tuckahoe with the assembled diamond and 75 track laborers to install it. Upon arrival in Woodbine, they forced the WJ&S night watchman into a boxcar, locked the door and began constructing the diamond. 

Word quickly spread to the WJ&S, who dispatched a train with 200 track workers from Belleplain to remove the diamond and block any further ACRR construction work. Upon arrival, the WJ&S train parked its locomotive on the point of the proposed crossing, putting a swift stop to the ongoing work.  Shortly thereafter, workers from the competing companies engaged in a violent confrontation which began with them hurling shovels of ballast and dirt at their counterparts and throwing track tools and spikes! The police and sheriff were soon summoned, who broke up the altercation, ending the 'Woodbine Diamond War'. The next morning, a trial was held in Woodbine, which resulted in the discharging of all workers and allowing the construction of the diamond to proceed. Eventually, the diamond was replaced by a wooden trestle, and the current steel bridge in 1898.

The WJ&S and ACRR competed for the southern New Jersey passenger traffic until 1933, when they merged to form the Pennsylvania - Reading Seashore Lines.

The former WJ&S line was placed out of service between Woodbine and Belleplain on February 15, 1951, and from Woodbine to South Seaville on November 15, 1956. After the abandonment of the former WJ&S, the former ACRR line became the sole rail access point for Cape May County. A short segment of the former WJ&S remained in service via a connecting track from the former ACRR line until April 15, 1971 to serve the garment and manufacturing industries of Woodbine, as well as the Woodbine Developmental Center. A single telegraph pole remains in close proximity to the current railroad undergrade bridge, which formerly carried power and communication wires for both the ACRR and WJ&S. 

The Pennsylvania - Reading Seashore Lines operated through freight and commuter passenger service on the former ACRR (now the Cape May Branch) until it was absorbed into Conrail on April 1, 1976. Conrail commuter passenger service was suspended on the Cape May Branch on October 2, 1981, followed by the suspension of freight service on September 10, 1983. 

On May 1, 1996, Cape May Seashore Lines began passenger excursion and freight rail service on the Cape May Branch, and continues to do so today!