Train graveyard in South Jersey

If you really like trains and you find yourself passing through Philly, consider a little side trip into South Jersey to see all the trains at Winslow Junction. There are a hell of a lot of them! Just pull up Winslow Junction NJ on google maps(satellite image) and you'll see what I mean. Some are beyond repair while others are in various states of being refurbished. It's cool to walk around there and look at the trains, everybody does it. It's a nice place to spend the afternoon and get some pics.


Winslow Railroad Junction
Home of the Southern Railroad Company


Winslow Junction, the home of the Southern Railroad Company of New Jersey, is tucked into the agricultural center of the Pine Barrens, just west of Hammonton, "The Blueberry Capital of the World". Just a few blocks off Route 30, a.k.a. The White Horse Pike, are many old trains in various states of renovation. Here are photos of some of them. I hope to return for more in-depth photos in the near future. While driving by and taking these photos, I saw 3 or 4 gentlemen who looked like they were a part of SRCNJ, but unfortunately, I didn't have time to stop and chat. Next time....

Winslow Junction was once a busy place, as the number of tracks leading here will attest. Even the famed "BLUE COMET" stopped here! Currently, New Jersey Transit trains pass through (over the trestle, I believe) on its Atlantic City Line, which runs from Philadelphia to Atlantic City.

Regarding the sign's statement of the train wreck, "Wikipedia" reports: Winslow Junction Train Derailment, Winslow, New Jersey: on the West Jersey and Seashore's Line near the Winslow Tower, at 12:30am, a derailment of Train 33, the Owl, when the shore bound train going 90 miles per hour, sped through an open switch at Winslow Junction. Four passengers, the engineer, fireman and conductor were killed, 65 were injured. Blame was fixed on the switchman in the tower and the Owl's engineer. This crash is memorialized with a sign at Winslow Junction, which reports the date incorrectly as July 21, 1922, and refers to the train as the 'Midnight Flyer'. It appears from reports in the New York Times dated from July 3 - July 8 1922, that 'Midnight Flier' was a nickname for this particular route/time.









Interesting Winslow Tower Information
Are you a railroad fanatic? Visit North Pemberton Railroad StationMuseum!

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The quickest and easiest way there from Philly is to take the PATCO train over to NJ, get off at the last stop which is Lindenwold, from there you have to get on the Atlantic City-Philly Line and take that to your second stop which is Hammonton, get off at Hammonton. As you leave the station platform turn right into the parking lot till you hit Line St. Almost directly in front of you is Front street, continue on Front St. until you hit 12th St. 54, turn right and in a few yards make a left onto 12th St. continue following this it will eventually merge with North Egg Harbor Rd. 561, which suddenly becomes South Egg Harbor Rd. 561. It sounds confusing but just keep walking as straight as possible in this direction along this road and eventually you'll come to it's intersection with Spring Rd. Make a right on to Spring, your here! Its about a 4 - 5 mile walk.

Winslow is a strange place, it's also known for Ancora Psychiatric hospital and the Blue Hole.
The Blue Hole is a big round water hole just yards from the creek. Despite it being so close to the creek it lacks the reddish brown cedar water of the creek, instead it's water is reputed to be a crystal blue color and it remains cold all year round. Legend has it that it was formed by a meteor strike and is bottomless. But most likely its just an abandoned gravel pit which was dug deep enough that water from the aquifer seeped in, almost the entire Pine Barrens is sitting on a fresh water aquifer. I've never been to the Blue Hole, but have heard plenty of stories about it and even seen it written about in local books. However, I hear that it is difficult to get to and is getting trashed from idiots tossing stuff into it... like entire cars and shit!

There's not as many trains there now and the railroad workers don't seem to be so chill anymore. The place is full of "No Trespassing" signs
and they mean it! Best to just see them from the pavement now. The worker I spoke with was very tight lipped and mumbled something about people climbing all over the trains and getting injured. I don't think they want people coming around there anymore.