I left Flemington after a fantastic ride on the Black River & Western and drove north on Pennsylvania 31 to Interstate 78, taking that into Phillipsburg. I soon found a sign that led me to the Delaware River Railroad ticket office where I picked up my ticket.
The Lehigh Valley/Delaware, Lackawanna and Western/Central Railroad of New Jersey Phillipsburg station built in 1911. I walked along the path down to the boarding area and across the track to view the Delaware River.
The Norfolk Southern Railroad bridge across the Delaware River.
The Delaware River at Phillipsburg.
Soon I heard a whistle and here came the train reversing under the Norfolk Southern line.
Delaware River Railroad 2-8-2 142 "Walter G. Rich" built by TangShan Locomotive Works in China in 1989. Until 2000, TangShan was the last place in the world that made production steam engines. The locomotive resembles trains from an era long ago. The engine, with tender, weighs approximately 154 tons, including 13 tons of coal and 6,600 gallons of water. The engine is hand-fired, which means someone has to shovel coal into the firebox to keep the fire hot enough to make steam.
Originally, the New York Susquehanna & Western Technical & Historical Society was to receive a different engine from China, namely 141. But, while being shipped on the Norwegian freighter S.S. Braut, the vessel capsized in the Bay of Bengal in the Indian Ocean. All of the vessel's cargo, including the steam engine, sank in 6,000 feet of water where it remains to this day. After sinking, 142 was purchased from the Valley Railroad in Essex, Connecticut.
Getting ready to pull our train south along the Delaware River.
Another view of our steam engine.
The front of Delaware River Railroad 2-8-2 142, which had a consist of coach 530, nee Long Island Railroad coach 2636, refreshment car 500, nee Long Island Railroad coach 2910, coach 531, nee Long Island Railroad coach 2640, coach 532, nee Long Island Railroad coach 2973 and caboose 595, nee Norfolk and Western 555095.
A Brief HistoryThe Delaware River Railroad Steam Train operates over Belvidere & Delaware Railroad. This railroad was formed in 1995 over this former Pennsylvania Railroad branch to serve industrial customers in the Phillipsburg area of Northwestern New Jersey. The New York Susquehanna & Western Technical & Historical Society Inc. was formed in the fall of 1988 by several long-time observers of the railroad who felt that there was a need for an organization to preserve the history of the Susquehanna, its ancestor corporations and the rich railroading history of New Jersey. Since that time, the Society grew to over 500 members from 25 states and has at times had members in Canada, England, Germany and New Zealand.
Our Trip
Our train was ready to leave Phillipsburg.
Off we go!
Lehigh Junction.
The train went under the Norfolk Southern mainline.
Approaching the first curve.
Curving to the right.
The Delaware River.
Taking another curve.
Maintenance equipment.
Crossing a small bridge.
The Delaware River.
Rounding a third curve.
Our train along the Delaware River.
The Delaware River with the Interstate 78 bridge.
The Delaware River.
Curving towards the Interstate 78 bridge.
Passing underneath the bridge
The train and the Delaware River.
The Interstate 78 bridge.
The Delaware River.
Milepost 47.
The track to the engine house.
A fourth curve.
During the layover here, passengers can take Susquehanna Mining Company Mine Train Gemstone Panning tour. While that was occurring, the crew invited me up and our fireman knew me from Trainweb.com.
View of the cab of Delaware River Railroad 2-8-2 142.
A trio of additional pictures of this rare steam engine.
A farm at the point where we stopped. Soon all the passengers returned and we headed back towards Phillipsburg.
Two views of the Delaware River on the return trip. All too soon, we returned to Phillipsburg and I detrained then thanked the crew for the excellent trip aboard the Delaware River Steam Train.
One last view of Delaware River Railroad 2-8-2 142 before I walked back up the hill to the car then drove north on US 22 and crossed the Delaware River back into Pennsylvania. I took US 22 until it merged into Interstate 78, which I took to Exit 16 at Bethel, checking into the Comfort Inn for my two-night stay. It had been a great day of riding these new tourist trains.
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