Jersey Central Lines in Color Volume 2 By William Brennan Morning Sun Books

$47.00

RailroadTreasures offers the following item:

Hard Cover with dust jacket

128 pages

JERSEY CENTRAL LINES In Color Volume 2

This book covers the Central Railroad of New Jersey from the end of World War II to the 1960's with a look at the road's steam power as well as the early diesels that began the replacement of the road's traditional motive power. It also covers regions of the line not illustrated in our first volume. The Big Little Railroad operated a variety of distinctive and impressive steam power that was as fascinating to the observers of that time as the road's later diesel roster would prove to be to succeeding rail aficionados. While the CNJ was known in its last fifteen years of existence for an eclectic assortment of Baldwin and Fairbanks-Morse diesels, it had also been the last operator of a fleet of Camelback steam locomotives. The first road diesels were delivered in the tangerine and blue colors that combined an esthetic change in image with concern for safety. We invite you to a 'look back' at some of the fascinating early postwar years as well as later views.

The Central Railroad of New Jersey was, by virtue of its access to the anthracite coal fields under the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton area of Pennsylvania, like many carriers of the region, assured of the prosperity that massive traffic in this premium heating fuel would bring for decades until the ascent of oil and natural gas drastically changed the economic picture. This volume represents a closer look at the Pennsylvania operations of the railroad, the final years of steam and the early ones of postwar road diesels along with views of some areas of the CNJ that were covered in Volume I as well as a few others that were not. It also contains views of the first road units that appeared in a colorful tangerine and blue scheme that would soon disappear because the pigments available at the time proved to be chemically unstable in the harsh railroad environment and prone to serious fading.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

For many years, the railroad was under the control of the Reading Company and the design of much of its rolling stock and stations reflected this influence. Many of the CNJ stations reflected the Victorian, silo tower or stark modem brick architecture used for a variety of stations on the Reading. When steel cabooses became necessary, particularly for pusher operations, the Reading "Northeastern" design was adopted, although with minor external differences that characterized them as CNJ. For most of the steam years, the locomotive rosters of both roads were dominated by Camelbacks with wide Wootten fireboxes. This type of firebox was necessary for the efficient generation of steam using slow-burning anthracite and required their cabs to be located forward, astride the boiler. Later end-cab designs of both roads still included the wide firebox. While the Jersey Central's steam locomotive classifications were originally patterned after those of the Reading, considerable design latitude was allowed.

All pictures are of the actual item. If this is a railroad item, this material is obsolete and no longer in use by the railroad. Please email with questions. Publishers of Train Shed Cyclopedias and Stephans Railroad Directories. Large inventory of railroad books and magazines. Thank you for buying from us.

Shipping charges

Postage rates quoted are for shipments to the US only. Ebay Global shipping charges are shown. These items are shipped to Kentucky and then ebay ships them to you. Ebay collects the shipping and customs / import fees. For direct postage rates to these countries, send me an email. Shipping to Canada and other countries varies by weight.

Payment options

Payment must be received within 10 days. Paypal is accepted.

Terms and conditions

All sales are final. Returns accepted if item is not as described. Contact us first. No warranty is stated or implied. Please e-mail us with any questions before bidding.

Thanks for looking at our items.