1933: PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD'S RUBBER TIRED LOCOMOTIVE

After spending 40-plus years in the ball and roller bearing business, I was amazed to see this photo of a locomotive with rubber tires being used by the Pennsylvania Railroad as described in the photo-article above. I immediately recalled all those rules of ball and roller bearing engineering in situations where heat builds up as speed and friction builds up. I came to the conclusion that these rubber tired vehicles would run quieter and more smoothly, but the wear and tear on the rubber would cause premature failure of the rubber. Obviously, the rubber wheels were not practical, and we still have those steel wheeled train wheels. How about trying that experiment with silicone rubber tires?

1884: ANDREW QUINTIN TELLS OF OLD RAILROAD YEARS

This fascinating article from the Daily State Gazette is an excellent retrospective look at the local railroad situation back in the early part of the 19th century. FIVE HOURS to Philadelphia! Mr. Quintin and the Quintin family played a very important part in local history. It was Andrew Quintin who established "Washington Retreat" at the foot of
Livingston Street in Mill Hill.

RARE OLD NEWS PHOTO OF THE TRENTON TRAIN DEPOT

The romance of railroading. I have seen that gleam in the eyes of those gentlemen who staff the Jersey Model Railroad down in the basement of the Kuser Mansion. Each of them has a passion for everything railroad. I would hope that one of them or perhaps another knowledgeable area railroad historian can place the exact location of the old depot. The article locates it on the south side of E. State Street. My question: South on the city side, or south on the opposite side? As I recall, the Tremont House would be on the Trenton side of the tracks leading me to believe that the depot was across the street, also on the Trenton side.

1915: TRENTON TRAIN STATION

Here's a rare photo of the South Clinton Avenue train station as it looked in 1925. Across the street are two of the hotels that catered to travelers. Rumor has it that they supposedly situations where they were busted as "houses of ill-repute."

RALPH LUCARELLA said...

HI TOM..., ONE OF THE HOTELS WAS HOTEL PENN WE KNEW VINCENT CAPUTI WHO HAD AN ICE CREAM PARLOR NEARBY AND OF COURSE PETE LORENZO'S RESTAURANT WAS THERE. IT TOOK THEM YEARS TO MAKE CHANGES TO THE STATION.

Thursday, March 08, 2012

1935: THE "FLYING YANKEE" ON A SPEED RUN

From the railroads and trolleys folder, this beautiful photo of the Flying Yankee as it rolled into the Trenton station. Thirty minutes from Philadelphia to Trenton.

1901: THE WRECK OF THE NELLIE BLY

DISIt was one of the most horrible train wrecks in New Jersey History. The page above is has been digitized in "Black and White" instead of grayscale in order to reduce the size of the graphic. To those who find the type too small, temporarily change your screen resolution to 800 x 600. ('START," "CONTROL PANEL," "DISPLAY," "SETTINGS," 800 X 600)

1913: BRINGING RELIGION TO THE BOONDOCKS

What a novel approach! Back in 1913, the country wasn't nearly as developed as it is today. Rural areas were the target of the above "rolling chapel."

2008: FRANCIS "BUD" FOLEY AND THE RFK FUNERAL TRAIN

THIS INTERESTING GRAPHIC FROM THE TRENTON TIMES RECALLS THE PASSAGE OF THE ROBERT F. KENNEDY FUNERAL TRAIN AS IT PASSED THROUGH TRENTON DURING THE TRAGIC MURDER OF SENATOR KENNEDY. LONG TIME FAMILY FRIEND FRANCIS "BUD" FOLEY WAS THE CHIEF CREW DISPATCHER OF ALL PASSENGER TRAINMEN IN NEW YORK'S PENN STATION.

1888: The New Reading Station

Those of us who are Trenton area natives remember that handsome brown brick building which was built for the Reading Railroad. It was located on No. Warren and Tucker Streets in Trenton.