Belvidere Delaware Railroad
Encyclopedia
The Belvidere Delaware Railroad, frequently shortened to the "Bel Del", was a railroad running along the eastern shore of the Delaware River
from Trenton, New Jersey
north via Phillipsburg, New Jersey
to Belvidere, New Jersey
. It served as part of the Pennsylvania Railroad
system, carrying mainly anthracite coal
from northeastern Pennsylvania
to population centers along the coast.
through Pennsylvania
. The company was organized August 23 of that year. The Camden and Amboy Rail Road was authorized to buy Bel Del stock on February 29, 1838. On August 3 C&A officials were elected to the Bel Del board, but nothing happened until 1848, when on February 28 the C&A was again authorized to buy stock. The subscription was approved April 28, and the Bel Del's first meeting since 1838 was held July 22.
The first section, from Trenton north to Lambertville, opened February 6, 1851. On April 25 it opened its Warren Street Station in Trenton. Extensions opened to Tumble in April 1852, Milford
February 4, 1853 (passenger service to Milford beginning June 1), Riegelsville December 5, Phillipsburg February 3, 1854, and the rest of the way to Belvidere November 5, 1855.
On June 7, 1854 the Bel Del agreed to operate the Flemington Railroad and Transportation Company, a branch from Lambertville northeast to Flemington; this operation began December 1, 1855 (the branch opened December 4, 1854). For a time the Bel Del was known unofficially as the Belvidere Delaware and Flemington Railroad.
Lehigh Valley Railroad
coal
trains started using the Bel Del on January 17, 1856, joining the Bel Del at the lower level of the Easton Bridge in Phillipsburg. Coalport Basin opened in April to transfer the coal between the railroad and the Delaware and Raritan Canal
in Trenton.
began running between Belvidere and the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad
at Delaware, New Jersey
, allowing passengers to continue west into Pennsylvania
. On May 16, 1864 an extension of the Bel Del to the DL&W at Manunka Chunk opened, but there was no through service until 1876 due to a difference in track gauge.
On May 29, 1865 all Bel Del passenger trains were extended to Kensington in Philadelphia via the Philadelphia and Trenton Railroad
. In March 1871 the track gauge of the Bel Del was decreased from 4 ft 10 in (1473 mm) to 4 ft 8.5 in (1461 mm).
On April 1, 1872 the Pennsylvania Railroad
began operating the Bel Del as the Belvidere Division of the United Railroads of New Jersey Grand Division, soon after leasing the United New Jersey Railroad and Canal Companies. The Mercer and Somerset Railroad was opened as a branch of the Bel Del in 1874, but closed soon after 1879.
The Belvidere Delaware Rail Road and Flemington Railroad and Transportation Company merged February 16, 1885 to form the Belvidere Delaware Railroad.
The Enterprise Railroad was chartered in 1884 and opened in 1885, providing a branch from Coalport
northeast along the west bank of the Delaware and Raritan Canal
. The Martins Creek Railroad was chartered in 1885 and opened later that year as a bridge over the Delaware River
from Martins Creek, New Jersey to Martins Creek, Pennsylvania
, where it connected with several other companies. On April 14, 1896 both of those railroads were merged into the Bel Del.
In 1889 the Lehigh and Hudson River Railway
acquired trackage rights
over the Bel Del from Belvidere south to Phillipsburg, where it crossed into Easton, Pennsylvania
.
On February 8, 1908 the PRR acquired trackage rights
over the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad
from Manunka Chunk northwest to East Stroudsburg
for trains serving the Pocono
resorts.
The Roxburg Branch, including a bridge over the Delaware River
, was completed December 26, 1952, giving access to what is now PPL Corporation
's Martins Creek Plant.
Hurricane Diane
washed out the line north of Belvidere in August 1955, leading to its abandonment. On December 31, 1957 the Bel Del was merged into the United New Jersey Railroad and Canal Company
. The Bel Del was merged into Conrail in April 1976, as its bankrupt parent company became part of the federally funded regional railroad known as Conrail. The northern part of the line was operated by Conrail as a branch line, until part of the line was taken over by a shortline
rail operator in 1995. The line was abandoned south of Milford
to Trenton, New Jersey
by Conrail and became part of the Delaware and Raritan Canal
State Park.
Before Lambertsville railroad tracks were abandoned, the line was owned by Conrail.
, and the rest north to Belvidere is now owned by Norfolk Southern (which acquired a large portion of Conrail in the late 1990s), and serves as the Roxburg Branch. The former Bel Del right-of-way south of Milford to Trenton is part of the Delaware and Raritan Canal
State Park and serves as a canal rail trail, along the east bank of the D&R canal. In 2003 the paper mill in Milford closed and shortly thereafter the train trips ceased. Currently a tourist train runs from Phillipsburg to Carpentersville. There has been talk of bringing the tourist train further south to Riegelsville or Milford. There is also an effort being made to extend the state park, "rails to trails" from Frenchtown north to Milford and beyond.
Delaware River
The Delaware River is a major river on the Atlantic coast of the United States.A Dutch expedition led by Henry Hudson in 1609 first mapped the river. The river was christened the South River in the New Netherland colony that followed, in contrast to the North River, as the Hudson River was then...
from Trenton, New Jersey
Trenton, New Jersey
Trenton is the capital of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the county seat of Mercer County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Trenton had a population of 84,913...
north via Phillipsburg, New Jersey
Phillipsburg, New Jersey
Phillipsburg, known locally as P'burg, is a town in Warren County, New Jersey, in the United States. As of 2010 United States Census, the town's population was 14,950....
to Belvidere, New Jersey
Belvidere, New Jersey
Belvidere is a Town in Warren County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the town population was 2,681. It is the county seat of Warren County....
. It served as part of the Pennsylvania Railroad
Pennsylvania Railroad
The Pennsylvania Railroad was an American Class I railroad, founded in 1846. Commonly referred to as the "Pennsy", the PRR was headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
system, carrying mainly anthracite coal
Anthracite coal
Anthracite is a hard, compact variety of mineral coal that has a high luster...
from northeastern Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
to population centers along the coast.
Trenton to Belvidere: 1836-1856
The Belvidere Delaware Rail Road was chartered March 2, 1836 to build from Trenton north to Belvidere, where it would connect to a proposed line west to the Susquehanna RiverSusquehanna River
The Susquehanna River is a river located in the northeastern United States. At long, it is the longest river on the American east coast that drains into the Atlantic Ocean, and with its watershed it is the 16th largest river in the United States, and the longest river in the continental United...
through Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. The company was organized August 23 of that year. The Camden and Amboy Rail Road was authorized to buy Bel Del stock on February 29, 1838. On August 3 C&A officials were elected to the Bel Del board, but nothing happened until 1848, when on February 28 the C&A was again authorized to buy stock. The subscription was approved April 28, and the Bel Del's first meeting since 1838 was held July 22.
The first section, from Trenton north to Lambertville, opened February 6, 1851. On April 25 it opened its Warren Street Station in Trenton. Extensions opened to Tumble in April 1852, Milford
Milford, New Jersey
Milford is a Borough located in western Hunterdon County, New Jersey. As of the United States 2010 Census, the borough population was 1,233....
February 4, 1853 (passenger service to Milford beginning June 1), Riegelsville December 5, Phillipsburg February 3, 1854, and the rest of the way to Belvidere November 5, 1855.
On June 7, 1854 the Bel Del agreed to operate the Flemington Railroad and Transportation Company, a branch from Lambertville northeast to Flemington; this operation began December 1, 1855 (the branch opened December 4, 1854). For a time the Bel Del was known unofficially as the Belvidere Delaware and Flemington Railroad.
Lehigh Valley Railroad
Lehigh Valley Railroad
The Lehigh Valley Railroad was one of a number of railroads built in the northeastern United States primarily to haul anthracite coal.It was authorized April 21, 1846 in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and incorporated September 20, 1847 as the Delaware, Lehigh, Schuylkill and Susquehanna Railroad...
coal
Coal
Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. The harder forms, such as anthracite coal, can be regarded as metamorphic rock because of later exposure to elevated temperature and pressure...
trains started using the Bel Del on January 17, 1856, joining the Bel Del at the lower level of the Easton Bridge in Phillipsburg. Coalport Basin opened in April to transfer the coal between the railroad and the Delaware and Raritan Canal
Delaware and Raritan Canal
The Delaware and Raritan Canal is a canal in central New Jersey, United States, built in the 1830s that served to connect the Delaware River to the Raritan River. It was intended as an efficient and reliable means of transportation of freight between Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and New York City,...
in Trenton.
Beyond Belvidere: 1856-1995
In July 1856 a stagecoachStagecoach
A stagecoach is a type of covered wagon for passengers and goods, strongly sprung and drawn by four horses, usually four-in-hand. Widely used before the introduction of railway transport, it made regular trips between stages or stations, which were places of rest provided for stagecoach travelers...
began running between Belvidere and the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad
Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad
The Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad Company was a railroad connecting Pennsylvania's Lackawanna Valley, rich in anthracite coal, to Hoboken, New Jersey, , Buffalo and Oswego, New York...
at Delaware, New Jersey
Delaware, New Jersey
Delaware, New Jersey could refer to:*Delaware, Warren County, New Jersey*Delaware Township, Camden County, New Jersey, the name of Cherry Hill Township, New Jersey prior to November 7, 1961*Delaware Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey...
, allowing passengers to continue west into Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. On May 16, 1864 an extension of the Bel Del to the DL&W at Manunka Chunk opened, but there was no through service until 1876 due to a difference in track gauge.
On May 29, 1865 all Bel Del passenger trains were extended to Kensington in Philadelphia via the Philadelphia and Trenton Railroad
Philadelphia and Trenton Railroad
The Philadelphia and Trenton Railroad was a railroad from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Trenton, New Jersey that became part of the Pennsylvania Railroad system. The majority of it is now part of Amtrak's Northeast Corridor.-History:...
. In March 1871 the track gauge of the Bel Del was decreased from 4 ft 10 in (1473 mm) to 4 ft 8.5 in (1461 mm).
On April 1, 1872 the Pennsylvania Railroad
Pennsylvania Railroad
The Pennsylvania Railroad was an American Class I railroad, founded in 1846. Commonly referred to as the "Pennsy", the PRR was headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
began operating the Bel Del as the Belvidere Division of the United Railroads of New Jersey Grand Division, soon after leasing the United New Jersey Railroad and Canal Companies. The Mercer and Somerset Railroad was opened as a branch of the Bel Del in 1874, but closed soon after 1879.
The Belvidere Delaware Rail Road and Flemington Railroad and Transportation Company merged February 16, 1885 to form the Belvidere Delaware Railroad.
The Enterprise Railroad was chartered in 1884 and opened in 1885, providing a branch from Coalport
Coalport
Coalport is a village in Shropshire, now part of the new town of Telford. It is located on the River Severn at , a mile downstream of Ironbridge...
northeast along the west bank of the Delaware and Raritan Canal
Delaware and Raritan Canal
The Delaware and Raritan Canal is a canal in central New Jersey, United States, built in the 1830s that served to connect the Delaware River to the Raritan River. It was intended as an efficient and reliable means of transportation of freight between Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and New York City,...
. The Martins Creek Railroad was chartered in 1885 and opened later that year as a bridge over the Delaware River
Delaware River
The Delaware River is a major river on the Atlantic coast of the United States.A Dutch expedition led by Henry Hudson in 1609 first mapped the river. The river was christened the South River in the New Netherland colony that followed, in contrast to the North River, as the Hudson River was then...
from Martins Creek, New Jersey to Martins Creek, Pennsylvania
Martins Creek, Pennsylvania
Martins Creek is an unincorporated town in Lower Mt. Bethel Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania, located along Martins Creek. The zip code is 18063. Its population was 1,200 as of the 1990 Census.-See also:...
, where it connected with several other companies. On April 14, 1896 both of those railroads were merged into the Bel Del.
In 1889 the Lehigh and Hudson River Railway
Lehigh and Hudson River Railway
The Lehigh and Hudson River Railway was the smallest of the six railroads that were merged into Conrail in 1976. It was a bridge line running northeast-southwest across northwestern New Jersey, connecting the line to the Poughkeepsie Bridge at Maybrook, New York with Easton, Pennsylvania, where it...
acquired trackage rights
Trackage rights
Trackage rights , running rights or running powers is an agreement whereby a railway company has the right to run its trains on tracks owned by another railway company....
over the Bel Del from Belvidere south to Phillipsburg, where it crossed into Easton, Pennsylvania
Easton, Pennsylvania
Easton is a city in Northampton County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 26,800 as of the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Northampton County....
.
On February 8, 1908 the PRR acquired trackage rights
Trackage rights
Trackage rights , running rights or running powers is an agreement whereby a railway company has the right to run its trains on tracks owned by another railway company....
over the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad
Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad
The Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad Company was a railroad connecting Pennsylvania's Lackawanna Valley, rich in anthracite coal, to Hoboken, New Jersey, , Buffalo and Oswego, New York...
from Manunka Chunk northwest to East Stroudsburg
East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania
East Stroudsburg is the most populous municipality in Monroe County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is located in the Poconos region of the state. Originally known as "Dansbury", East Stroudsburg was renamed for geographic reasons when the Delaware, Lackawanna, and Western Railroad opened a...
for trains serving the Pocono
The Poconos
The Pocono Mountains is a region located in northeastern Pennsylvania, United States. The Poconos, located chiefly in Monroe and Pike counties , are an upland of the larger Allegheny Plateau...
resorts.
The Roxburg Branch, including a bridge over the Delaware River
Delaware River
The Delaware River is a major river on the Atlantic coast of the United States.A Dutch expedition led by Henry Hudson in 1609 first mapped the river. The river was christened the South River in the New Netherland colony that followed, in contrast to the North River, as the Hudson River was then...
, was completed December 26, 1952, giving access to what is now PPL Corporation
PPL (utility)
PPL, formerly known as PP&L or Pennsylvania Power and Light, is an energy company headquartered in Allentown, Pennsylvania, USA. It currently controls about 19,000 megawatts of electrical generating capacity in the United States, primarily in Pennsylvania and Montana, and delivers electricity to...
's Martins Creek Plant.
Hurricane Diane
Hurricane Diane
Hurricane Diane was one of three hurricanes to hit North Carolina during the 1955 Atlantic hurricane season, striking an area that had been hit by Hurricane Connie five days earlier...
washed out the line north of Belvidere in August 1955, leading to its abandonment. On December 31, 1957 the Bel Del was merged into the United New Jersey Railroad and Canal Company
United New Jersey Railroad and Canal Company
The United New Jersey Railroad and Canal Company was part of the Pennsylvania Railroad system in New Jersey, including their main line to New York City...
. The Bel Del was merged into Conrail in April 1976, as its bankrupt parent company became part of the federally funded regional railroad known as Conrail. The northern part of the line was operated by Conrail as a branch line, until part of the line was taken over by a shortline
ShortLine
Short Line is a brand name for three different Coach USA companies, Hudson Transit Lines, Hudson Transit Corporation, and Chenango Valley Bus Lines that provide local, commuter and intercity bus service in lower New York State, primarily along the Route 17 and Southern Tier corridor.-Service...
rail operator in 1995. The line was abandoned south of Milford
Milford, New Jersey
Milford is a Borough located in western Hunterdon County, New Jersey. As of the United States 2010 Census, the borough population was 1,233....
to Trenton, New Jersey
Trenton, New Jersey
Trenton is the capital of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the county seat of Mercer County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Trenton had a population of 84,913...
by Conrail and became part of the Delaware and Raritan Canal
Delaware and Raritan Canal
The Delaware and Raritan Canal is a canal in central New Jersey, United States, built in the 1830s that served to connect the Delaware River to the Raritan River. It was intended as an efficient and reliable means of transportation of freight between Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and New York City,...
State Park.
Before Lambertsville railroad tracks were abandoned, the line was owned by Conrail.
Current status: 1995-present
The portion from Milford north to Phillipsburg was taken over in 1995 from Conrail by the newly-formed Belvidere and Delaware River RailwayBelvidere and Delaware River Railway
The Belvidere and Delaware River Railway is class III railroad in the United States. It was formed in 1995 when the Conrail Delaware Secondary was purchased by the Black River Railroad System, which operates several railroad services in western New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania.The main service...
, and the rest north to Belvidere is now owned by Norfolk Southern (which acquired a large portion of Conrail in the late 1990s), and serves as the Roxburg Branch. The former Bel Del right-of-way south of Milford to Trenton is part of the Delaware and Raritan Canal
Delaware and Raritan Canal
The Delaware and Raritan Canal is a canal in central New Jersey, United States, built in the 1830s that served to connect the Delaware River to the Raritan River. It was intended as an efficient and reliable means of transportation of freight between Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and New York City,...
State Park and serves as a canal rail trail, along the east bank of the D&R canal. In 2003 the paper mill in Milford closed and shortly thereafter the train trips ceased. Currently a tourist train runs from Phillipsburg to Carpentersville. There has been talk of bringing the tourist train further south to Riegelsville or Milford. There is also an effort being made to extend the state park, "rails to trails" from Frenchtown north to Milford and beyond.
External links
- Weekend steam excursions on the Bel-Del operated by the NYS&W T&HS
- Belvidere & Delaware Railway Photo Galleries - photos of steam excursions since 2005