Hike #343 5/10/8
5/10/8 Central Railroad of New Jersey South Branch, Flemington-Somerville with "Amish Paul" and Wyatt Hassler, Tom Petrucci, Fred Hafale, Joe Tag, Amit Bhojwani, Kimberly Pischel, Jason Korski, and Mary Ann Mastrolia
Rail bed near Three Bridges
This hike would lead my group and I between the towns of Flemington and Somerville tracing the route of the former Central Railroad of NJ's South Branch.
Former CNJ South Branch in Flemington NJ
CNJ line in Flemington NJ
Former CNJ line in Flemington
Along former CNJ line in Flemington
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Former CNJ line in Flemington NJ
Former CNJ lin in Flemington
Former CNJ line in Flemington
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Heading east from Flemington
East of Flemingtin
South Branch of the Raritan Trestle on the CNJ line east of Flemington
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Former CNJ tracks east of Flemington
Former CNJ tracks east of Flemington
Former CNJ tracks east of Flemington
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Former CNJ line in Three Bridges NJ
Three Bridges NJ
Three Bridges NJ
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Along Three Bridges Trail
Three Bridges Trail
Crossing logs in the Three Bridges SB Reservation
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I fell in the water, but didn't get hurt and shared my contentment with that, but was soaked and muddied up "Yeah, you really made our on that one didn't you" Commando Tom remarked sarcastically
East of Three Bridges on Hillsborough Road. Fun games.
Higginsville Bridge across the South Branch
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Higginsville Bridge
South Branch from the bridge
South Branch from the bridge
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Former South Branch CNJ line heading east from Higginsville Road
Higginsville Rd former rail crossing
Former CNJ line on Hunterdon Co Park land
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Former CNJ bridge
Rail bed east of Three Bridges
Trees over the rail bed. Keith Monahan, Adam Johnson, and I removed these branches during two late day trips in 2009.
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Along the rail bed just over the Somerset line
Former CNJ line near Woodfern Station site I think
Woodfern area CNJ grade
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We ended up cutting though this yard or something. That rail bed got rather overgrown.
Rail bed along Woodfern Road
Rail bed along Woodfern Road
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The rail bed parallel with Woodfern Road
Rail bed parallel with Woodfern Road
Rail bed parallel with Woodfern Rd
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Old mower in the rail cut near Neshanic Station
Neshanic Station
Taking a break at Neshanic Station
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Old CNJ trestle over the Raritan River at Neshanic Station
Raritan bridge at Neshanic Sta.
Raritan bridge at Neshanic Sta.
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Former CNJ trestle
Former CNJ trestle over the Raritan at Neshanic Sta.
Here, a section of the CNJ bridge was removed to accomodate larger vehicles.
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CNJ underpass near Neshanic Sta.
CNJ right of way
CNJ underpass
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Former Lehigh Valley Railroad at a former bridge site
Former LV railroad
CNJ grade east of Neshanic Sta.
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CNJ grade
CNJ grade
Wet railroad bed east of Neshanic Sta.
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East of Neshanic Sta.
This weird doll head was duct taped to a tree. It almost looked real at first, and it was quite disturbing.
Old CNJ bridge
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This weird doll head was duct taped to a tree.
This weird doll head was duct taped to a tree.
CNJ rail bed near Flagtown
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CNJ rail bed near Flagtown
CNJ rail bed near Flagtown
CNJ rail bed near Flagtown
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CNJ rail bed near Flagtown
CNJ rail bed near Flagtown
CNJ rail bed in Royce Valley
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CNJ rail bed in Royce Valley area
CNJ rail bed in Royce Valley area
CNJ rail bed in Royce Valley area
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Fields near the rail bed
Former CNJ rail bed in Royce Valley vicinity
Former CNJ right of way
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Duke Estate
Duke Estate
Duke Estate
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Duke Estate
Duke Estate
Cestle entrances at the Duke Estate
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Former bridge site where the CNJ crossed the Raritan at the Duke Estate
Duke Estate
Former CNJ right of way on the south side of Somerville
Former Central Railroad of NJ right of way south of Somerville rail yard
Former CNJ right of way in Somerville where this, the South Branch, joined the main line.
Karaoke after the hike near Clinton.
Joining me this time were "Amish Paul" and Wyatt Hassler, Fred Hafale, Tom Petrucci, Amit Bhojwani, Joe Tag, and newcomers Kim Pischel, Jason Korski, and Mary Ann ? (who joined late). We met in Somerville at the train station and shuttle to Flemington Station where the junction used to be with the Pennsylvania Railroad company (formerly Bel Del Flemington Branch) and the Lehigh Valley Railroad, now the location of the outlet mall of Flemington. We began walking down the tracks, passing by the old sign that marked P.R.R. (Pennsylvania Railroad) and CNJ (Central New Jersey), and walked on through Flemington. I particularly like the tracks through Flemington as they are quite scenic. We continued on, crossing a bridge over Rt 31 and heading out of town. The tracks continued on, and Wyatt climbed on some rail cars parked on a siding. It was also rather wet in a cut area. We soon crossed River Road and then immediately crossed the South Branch of the Raritan River on a through style truss bridge. We passed some old whistle signs, then started to parallel the active Lehigh Valley Railroad to the north. We began on a straightaway into the little town of Three Bridges. Once in Three Bridges, we went into the little deli for refreshments before moving on. The former CNJ line had a connection with the LV tracks in Three Bridges, beyond which it was only used as an industrial spur, then became abandoned. We could'nt get through that particular area, so we walked Main Street south to the Three Bridges Section of the South Branch Reservation after crossing the South Branch of the Raritan again. We walked through the picnic area and onto a trail leading along the river out to a dead end at a tributary. There was a large branch over the tributary we would use to try to cross. Almost everyone got across but me, and I was commenting that I should go last because I was the heaviest. While standing on the branch, it broke and I fell beyond knee deep into the water. I immediately commented that at least I landed on my feet and that I did'nt go completely under. Tom thought my optimism in the face of that was funny and he commented "Yeah, you really made out on that one", as if my falling in the water was actually a good thing. I thought it was funny. You had to be there. We made our way up hill, and walked a deer path briefly before coming onto Hillsborough Road. It soon became Three Bridges Road, and we passed a pile of kids toys or something on the right which we goofed off on. It was'nt long after this we turned left on Higginsville Road and crossed two beautiful old truss bridges over the South Branch of the Raritan again, then reached the railroad right of way. We began following it eastbound. We almost immediately crossed over an I-Beam bridge with no ties remaining (as of this writing we are talking at work about decking it as a rail trail bridge.). We continued on the rail bed, passing a blown down tree, then it was clear for quite a while. We soon entered Somerset County and the rail bed took us along fields. We soon crossed Woodfern Road, and the rail bed got quite overgrown at times as we headed east to another part of Woodfern Road, emerging at a 90 degree angle bend of the road. The rail bed paralleled the road for some time, so we ended up walking it for quite a while. After passing residential and farm areas, woodlands started again on the left, and so did the path along the rail bed, so we began walking it again, right beside the road. We followed it all the way to the little town of Neshanic Station. We took a break in the post office lawn area. I was drinking a bottle of champaign I had been given the week before (from Keith Monahan at work) and just finished it, but needed to get rid of the bottle. Amit went with it to a dumpster behind the post office, but noticed cameras so he came back with it. I knew by then we needed to ditch the thing, so I left it under an orange road cone! I felt bad, but did'nt want to get in trouble. We continued to the front of the post office and took more of a break on the lawn there. I drank a couple beers I had gotten from Jack Lowry in a happy beg the week before, and waited for a bit for Jason Korski to show up with his girlfriend Mary Anne. Fred and Joe went ahead a bit not wanting to wait. We soon decided to quite waiting and we walked across a nice old truss bridge over the South Branch of the Raritan between the active Lehigh Valley Railroad trestle (which Skyler Jermyn and I had walked across a few years prior) and the CNJ trestle to the south which I wanted to cross, but looked far too dangerous and impractical. On the opposite side of the river, Korski and Maryanne showed up and parked at a fishing lot. We had a big hug, having not seen each other in about seven years (we graduated high school together), then began walking. We made our way up to the rail bed, and followed it under the active LV tracks, which was rather clear, though muddy at times. We were able to stay very close to being right on the tracks, only having to make our way to the active LV tracks one time to avoid a bad area. We had a good time wandering through, laughing at a weird doll head duct taped to a tree, crossing another I beam bridge, and checking out a weird transparent material building along the rail bed.
The right of way soon led us out to Clawson Ave in Flagtown. We soon made our way to South Branch Road and headed onto a field parallel with the rail bed to the south, following it until we could access the grade itself. We were in some really rough areas for a while, and ended up skirting the rail bed through yards to the north, quickly heading back onto the rail bed through farm lands to Beckman Lane. It actually was easy to follow after this time, where a power line was using the right of way. We could soon see Fred and Joe ahead of us, and they waited. We had an easy time for quite a while, but once we got through the Royce Valley we followed a parallel road where the rail bed became too overgrown. The road, apparently a driveway sorrounded by electric fence, did not look too inviting in the private land, so we made our way over the electric fence and across the fields to the south to emerge back on the rail bed. Fortunitely, Amit insisted on carrying my pack most of this hike since I had pulled a ligiment in my ankle jogging with him the night before. It helped so much... We were able to follow the rail bed easily to Dukes Parkway West, and I was hoping we could hike into the Duke Estate, but unfortunitely we could'nt get in. There was serious deer fencing all around it.
We walked Dukes Parkway eastbound to Rt 206, climbing around on old Duke architecture along the way, including a castle thing, then turned north on 206. We cross the Raritan River on Rt 206 and then turned right across to the next piece of the rail bed heading north into Somerville at the station. Fred and Joe cut out, and the rest of us had some food at a place in Flemington before heading out. Quite a good day.
Along 206 by Duke Estate
Former CNJ line and station in Flemington
Former CNJ line in Flemington
CNJ trestle over the South Branch near Flemington
Former CNJ tracks in Three Bridges NJ
Three Bridges section of the South Branch Reservation trail
Three Bridges SB Reservation
Higginsville Bridge
County owned former crossing of the Central Railroad of NJ's South Branch.
Old CNJ bridge over a South Branch tributary
Rail bed east of Higginsville
Woodfern area on the rail bed
View along Woodfern Rd
Cut near Neshanic Station
Taking a break at Neshanic Station
Former CNJ trestle
CNJ underpass below active Lehigh Valley line
CNJ right of way east of Neshanic Sta.
ATV path around the wet parts of the rail bd
Rail bed east of Neshanic Sta.
Building along the rail bed
CNJ rail bed near Flagtown
CNJ rail bed near Flagtown
CNJ rail bed in Royce Valley area
Fields along the rail bed
Along former CNJ South Branch nearing the Doris Duke Estate
Duke Estate
Duke Estate
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