Hike #42
The group under the former Lehigh Valley Railroad Bridge. This is ironically the spot where Ron passed away just a few years later. He is sorely missed.
Hike 42
11/25/1
A lot had happened between this hike and the previous one; Cathy and I had moved from
our home in Phillipsburg to the house I grew up in at 8 Port Colden Road in Washington
on October 28th, and were far from settled in.
Group shot at the beginning, Union Square Phillipsburg NJ
Union Square, Phillipsburg
Union Square, Phillipsburg
I once again wanted to see something new, and I had not yet walked the section of the
Central Railroad of NJ between Phillipsburg and Hampton. I then planned on walking the
DL&W right of way back to Washington. The CNJ had been abandoned through most of
this section in 1986. Only short sections were still active.
Former Lehigh and Hudson River Railroad Bridge, Phillipsburg
Bel Del and LHR junction, Union Square Phillipsburg
For this hike, I was joined by Tea Biscuit, Ronald, and Rich and Eric Pace. We spotted
Rich’s car in Bloomsbury, then I believe it was my grandmother who dropped us off in
Union Square along the Bel Del.
Former Bel Del Railroad, Phillipsburg
Former Bel Del Railroad, Phillipsburg
Atop the Morris Canal Arch, Inclined Plane #11 Phillipsburg
Morris Canal Arch top
The five of us headed south on the Bel Del toward the CNJ. The CNJ, the Lehigh Valley
Railroad, and the Lehigh and Hudson River railroad all had their own bridges over the
Delaware next to each other. Rival railroad lines would compete a great deal until the
mass abandonments in the 20th century. When Conrail took over most of the lines, they
used the best of both worlds in regards to the CNJ and LV railroads, abandoning one and
using the other. For example, the CNJ had the better Delaware crossing, so it’s bridge was
used while the LV was abandoned. East of Phillipsburg the LV line was found more
efficient, apparently, as it is still active. This “Best of Both Worlds” process appears to be
true in not only NJ but well into PA where the lines continued.
Climbing down into former Morris Canal at the P Burg Arch
Former LV and CNJ trestles, Phillipsburg from Plane 11
We soon reached the underpasses for the LV and CNJ, as well as the former crossing of
the Morris Canal’s Inclined Plane #11W. The Morris Canal was the predescessor to the
railroad, built about 1830, and carried ore across NJ from Jersey City to Phillipsburg
where it terminated in the Delaware River where we were standing. This was also the first
canal in history to use inclined plane technology, a sort of portage railroad.
Morris Canal Arch, Phillipsburg
Former Central Railroad of NJ Delaware Bridge, Phillipsburg
Climbing down to the Morris Canal, Phillipsburg
We climbed all over a massive stone archway at the canal’s outlet (now most of the canal
is dry, having been drained and abandoned by 1930.) before continueing on.
Looking south along the Bel Del, Phillipsburg
Bel Del Railroad, Phillipsburg
Some historical documentation I have found cites that both the LV and CNJ once crossed
the Delaware on a single double decker wooden bridge, and several sets of unused piers
exist next to the ones holding the current bridges. We checked out the abandoned LV
Railroad bridge (Cathy and I walked across it once while living in P Burg) and then
climbed an old signal bridge tower for some fantastic views of Phillipsburg.
On the former Lehigh Valley Railroad bridge, Phillipsburg
Former LV railroad bridge, Phillipsburg
View of LV bridge from signal tower, Phillipsburg
On LV signal bridge, Phillipsburg
Atop LV signal bridge, Phillipsburg
LV signal bridge, Phillipsburg
LV signal bridge, Phillipsburg
Eric climbing down from LV signal bridge, Phillipsburg
LV signal bridge, Phillipsburg
View from LV signal bridge, Phillipsburg
Atop LV signal bridge, Phillipsburg
Atop LV signal bridge, Phillipsburg
Great shot by Rich of the approaching Conrail engine
Along former CNJ tracks, Phillipsburg
Phillipsburg station
Just as we climbed down, a Conrail engine was crossing the CNJ bridge at a very fast
speed. We continued on along the currently active Norfolk-Southern, former CNJ tracks,
passing the old railroad station and junction with what used to be the Morris and Essex
Railroad. Rich was telling us about Mt Parnassus and the view it was said to have, and we
decided to take a side trip to find it, but we had gone too far, and would’nt visit Parnassus
until a later trip. Instead, we found ourselves wandering through a golden field looking for
views, instead cutting over the the abandoned LV Right of way which took us shortly
back to the CNJ. Soon, the CNJ would break off to the north, now abandoned with rails
still in place, while the Norfold Southern tracks make use of the former LV line.
Me at Phillipsburg Union station
Former CNJ line, Phillipsburg
Phillipsburg station and South Main Street bridge
Caboose, CNJ in Phillipsburg
CNJ in Phillipsburg
Former CNJ line, Phillipsburg
Meadow between the rail lines, Phillipsburg
Meadow between the rail lines, Phillipsburg
Along former LV rail bed, Phillipsburg
Former LV railroad bed, Phillipsburg
Railroad underpasses in Phillipsburg
Former LV railroad, Phillipsburg
Along former CNJ line, Phillipsburg
Former LV right of way, Phillipsburg
Atop Greens Bridge looking at LV bridge, Phillipsburg
Atop Greens Bridge, Phillipsburg
View of South Main Street from Greens Bridge, P Burg
We followed the CNJ tracks over the very overgrown Green’s Bridge, an awesome stone
arch bridge over the Lopatcong Creek and Phillipsburg’s South Main Street, and at one
time, the Morris Canal. There were some abandoned buildings I wanted to visit, but
wanted to make good time.
Former CNJ railroad, Phillipsburg
Along fomrer CNJ grade in Alpha
Bushwhacking former CNJ grade, Alpha NJ
As we moved further from the LV tracks, the CNJ tracks became increasingly overgrown.
We managed to fight through it, having a couple falls in the weeds. We found a frisbee in
this mess which apparently no soul was brave enough to retrieve before us. I played
frisbee with Rich a bit while we were walking, coming out into an area with apartments on
a fill, then crossed Rt 519 in the town of Alpha. There was once a bridge here which had
been removed, the rails cut just before the site. Also in this section, as Tea Biscuit tripped
in the weeds, his new glasses had fallen off into the mess. We all looked around for them,
but it was too late as Tea Biscuit had already crawled over them and messed up the
frames. He was only upset about it for a short time!
Former CNJ tracks in Alpha
Former CNJ railroad in Alpha NJ
We found this demo derby car in Alpha
Making our way to the other side was the worst weeds yet, thick and almost
impenetrable. Tea Biscuit found a beach ball left in the mess. Soon we emerged into an
area with derelict cars, and had to search to find our way back to the right of way. To our
great delight, when we found the tracks again, there was a clear cut ATV path along them.
Along former CNJ line in Alpha
Former CNJ tracks, Alpha
Former CNJ tracks in Alpha
Hanging out along an ATV path near Rt 78 along the CNJ right of way
Crossing a winter wheat field near Rt 78
Crossing a winter wheat field near Rt 78
Crossing a winter wheat field near Rt 78
Crossing a winter wheat field near Rt 78
Crossing a winter wheat field near Rt 78
Crossing a winter wheat field near Rt 78
We continued east until the rails were cut and the path terminated at Rt 78. The
construction of Rt 78 at about the railroad’s grade level completely severed the line. We
made use of a field full of Winter Wheat southbound to the LV Railroad, using it’s bridge
to cross the superhighway. On the other side we cut back to the CNJ using fields owned
by some hunting club.
Crossing a winter wheat field near Rt 78
Crossing a winter wheat field near Rt 78
Former Lehigh Valley Railroad across Rt 78
Fields parallel with Rt 78 near Alpha
Fields parallel with Rt 78 near Alpha
Former CNJ railroad bed east of Alpha
Former CNJ Railroad in Spring Valley
Former CNJ Railroad in Spring Valley area
Former CNJ Railroad near Spring Valley, retrieving insulators
Crossing Warren Glen Road, former CNJ
Crossing Warren Glen Road on former CNJ railroad
Former CNJ marker on Warren Glen Road
Crossing Warren Glen Road, former CNJ
At first, the railroad was a bit overgrown, and we had to do some fighting to get thought,
but it got easier. We took some time out to try to retrieve some insulators; which was
successful. Ronald let us put them in his pack, and I carried it for a while to give him a
break. When we reached Warren Glen-Bloomsbury Road, where there used to be a rickety
old wooden bridge over the tracks, there was now a level crossing, with an historical
marker citing some history of the CNJ. The rails through this area for quite a way had
been removed, some of the right of way used for drainage.
Resting west of Bloomsbury
Former CNJ line west of Bloomsbury
This is where the former CNJ tracks (right) were reroeted to connect with the former Lehigh Valley Railroad west of Bloomsbury
Former CNJ line west of Bloomsbury
Old bridge along the CNJ tracks west of Bloomsbury
West of Bloomsbury
As we continued east, a spur line moved in from the south from the LV onto the CNJ, as
a connection for use by businesses in Bloomsbury. We took a break at a discarded truss
bridge which had been removed and laid on the ground below it’s replacement.
Underpass west of Bloomsbury on the former CNJ tracks
Underpass west of Bloomsbury
Former CNJ tracks west of Bloomsbury
Bloomsbury NJ
Mill in Bloomsbury NJ
When we reached Bloomsbury, we stopped in their littel pizza place for lunch.
Pizza place rest stop in Bloomsbury
Lunch break in Bloomsbury NJ
At the Rt 78 underpass, former CNJ tracks in Bloomsbury
Bloomsbury NJ, caged!
Couch along the railroad bed near Ludlow Station
Rich left us at this point as we continued on east, passing under Rt 78. As we continued, the tracks
became increasingly overgrown. Tea Biscuit and Ronald took a break on a couch near
Asbury, and Eric checked out a porno left on the tracks full of fat women, which Tea
Biscuit and Ronald found very funny, and the topic of conversation on and off for the
remainder of the hike. It was alway fun with Tea Biscuit and Ronald, as Ronald would try
to teach Tea Biscuit life lessons to which Tea Biscuit would respond in mockery.
Couch along the CNJ railroad bed near Ludlow Station
Along the CNJ railroad tracks near Hampton NJ
Using our walkie talkies, I was amazingly able to talk to Rich as he sat in his home in
Washington! Apparently with the lack of foliage on the trees, and the clear shot across the
Musconetcong Valley, reception was possible. As we neared Hampton, one particular
long stretch seemed to go on forever, and the ballast rock was killing our feet. As if things
could not get worse, it started raining. Just as we reached the Hampton rail yard near their
lumber company, it started pouring heavily, and we sought shelter under the main street
bridge. I called for a ride, I can’t remember if it was on walkie talkie or Ronald’s cell
phone, and we went to Family’s Pizza in Washington for dinner.
Dinner after the hike at Family's Pizza
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