Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines

[choochoochuck]

Did anybody here ever take the train into Wildwood, or do you have any memories of it. I wasn't born when the trains stopped running so i don't know what it was like.

Chuck

[crazyaboutwildwood]

I am 35 years old and dont even remember the lines. all I have is pictures to look atfrom the wildwood books.

[Robert]

The last train to Cape May was in 1981, but it's back! With the same silver Rail Diesel Cars, too! Here is a page about the old train service with a timetable which was operated by Conrail at the time. fp.users.fast.net/jprock/conrail_passenger_trains.htm Note they had a bus shuttle from Rio Grande to Wildwood. That apparently replaced the Wildwood train about 1973. The Wildwood train branched off of the Cape May line north of Rio Grande and went 3 miles to Wildwood on the Wildwood Branch. The train station in Wildwood was on NJ Av. I think. Here is another page about the train service with lots of pics including Wildwood station www.thebluecomet.com/PRSL.html

[crazyaboutwildwood]

good pictures, where was that located in wildwood?

[AnthonyV]

I remember the old train station over on Andrews Avenue that was in front of Mr. Ds near the Apollo Restaurant and Chiarellas...Used to be a lot of car accidents over there in fact.

I also recall the station that used to be located behind what is today a pharmacy. You could still walk behind the store and see the foundation of where the station was. I think both stations were located off of NJ Ave.

[FlyinGN]

I remember the train but never took it.. We drove every vacation. We do take the train to AC from Cherry hill which is a blast!

Frank

[ContessaAnisha]

The train station in Wildwood became the Bus Station til the new one was built over by City Hall...the Rite Aid, across from the bowling ally, is there now.

Remember when the bus station was right by the Boardwalk between Oak and Wildwood Aves?

[Robert]

Here is the official site for the Seashore Lines www.cmslrr.com/ See the silver Rail Diesel Car? Those same cars used to run between Allentown/Bethlehem and Philadelphia until 1981. Allentown service only lasted 1978 and 1979 due to low ridership. I was only four then, lol. (in 78). SEPTA discontinued all non-electric trains by the 1980s and all the Rail Diesel Cars were sold off. Back then I could have taken the train from Allentown to the shore, but it would have involved getting off the train at the old Reading Terminal where the train ended, (in Nov. 1984 SEPTA switched all trains to the new tunnel to Suburban Station, closing Reading Terminal, SEPTA diesel trains were gone by then) then walking to the PATCO High Speed Line a block away taking it to Lindenwold, then transferring to the Cape May line at Lindenwold. There are plans to run the train to Tuckahoe and Lindenwold again to connect with NJ Transit trains. As for my area, there are talks about restoring service to at least north of Quakertown, PA at a proposed new station. The service would go to Lansdale and Norristown to connect with SEPTA electric trains.

[FlyinGN]

good info thanks Robert!!

[Robert]

So, Contessa, Anita, Anthony you're saying the train station is no longer there? The photos that show the building with "DEPOT" on it and the coaches all lined up in a row behind. Those photos must have been taken in the 70's. I thought I remember a train station building in the early 80's in Wildwood with the tracks still in, but I remember it looking more like a one-level building with sheltered platforms at the sides. I could be wrong. I'm a train fanatic so I check out old stations and stuff. In these days of wanton demolition nothing is guaranteed to be there, it's like a gamble as to what will go next. I just don't want the unique character of Wildwood replaced with commonplace corporate businesses, you know like ECKERD drug stores, there's one there already, or chain hotels, or even chain restaurants. I don't mind McD's, though. Why did Mc's on the boardwalk at Mariner's Landing close for Jumbo's?

[ContessaAnisha]

Yes Robert, I'm saying the Train/Bus Depot is no longer there. Was torn down a few years ago, and a Rite-Aid was built in it's place...and yes..it looked just like the pics...as for 'wanton demolition'...the place sat there for years empty and only home to pigons and druggies. Sadly, no one wanted to put any money into it's refurbishing or relocation. So it's history.

Oh..the Morey's wanted more control on which shops/foods joints/games on their pier, so they didn't renew the lease for MickyDs and all the 'Teachers' Games,and such.

Oh...by the way..I really don't like my real name used here, so knock it off.

[Robert]

Are even the tracks gone in Wildwood? And the rest of the line that went three miles out to Wildwood Junction on the Cape May line. Would've been nice for the new Seashore Lines to run into Wildwood, too. If the last train into Wildwood was 1973 which I read somewhere, were the tracks unused after that?

[ContessaAnisha]

Robert said:

Are even the tracks gone in Wildwood? And the rest of the line that went three miles out to Wildwood Junction on the Cape May line. Would've been nice for the new Seashore Lines to run into Wildwood, too. If the last train into Wildwood was 1973 which I read somewhere, were the tracks unused after that?

Yes the tracks are gone..the trestle is still out passed West Wildwood(went 'through' it on a boat a couple of times)...but the tracks were removed..now,there may be some still over on the west side of NJ Ave back where the Nichols had their storage yard a long time ago...and I would guess they are still out there in the salt marsh going to WJ...but no tracks are used any longer.