Nostalgia & History > Ex-CNJ Open End Obs. # 1178 In Commuter Service

Living near the former Central of New Jersey mainline in the late 1970s' and early 1980s' gave me the opportunity to ride and photograph the last open end observation car in North America operating in regular revenue service. The car was Ex-CNJ # 1178 and it brought up the markers of Conrail/NJDOT Newark Penn Station-Phillipsburg NJ train # 5703 each evening Monday through Friday.This lasted until about 1981. NJ Transit would than convert it into an inspection car and the 1178, renumbered NJT 1, eventually ended up in the collection of the United Railroad Historical Society. Here is the history of the car from the URHS website:

:Originally owned by the Central Railroad of New Jersey This car was rebuilt by the CNJ for service on the Blue Comet passenger trains which operated from 1929 through most of 1941. The Blue Comet was a deluxe blue and cream all coach train that ran from Jersey City to Atlantic City. The 1178 was originally named the DeVico after one of the astrological comets. It was one of three identical observation cars rebuilt for Blue Comet service. After the train’s discontinuance, the coaches were repainted green and used in commuter service. The 1178 was renamed the Monmouth II in 1968 and was the last open platform car in regular service in the United States. In 1982, it was converted to an inspection car (NJT 1) by NJ Transit and was removed from service in 1993 as the result of an accident. It was donated to URHS for the NJ Transportation Museum collection in 2003. It will be restored either as the “Monmouth II” or as the “DeVico” when funds become available.


Photo 1. Train # 5703 speeds through Middlesex NJ westbound near the Mountain Avenue crossing. Homeward bound businessmen enjoy a pleasant spring evening from the rear platform of the last regularly scheduled open observation car. Could you image a commuter railroad allowing this today? Photographed on May 14, 1980.

Photo 2. The view from the observation platform. On September 1, 1978 I took my first ride on the 1178 from Dunellen to Somerville. This shot was taken near Bound Brook.

Photo 3. Ex-Blue Comet observation car # 1178 on train 5703 at Dunellen station on June 19, 1979. I don't know why no one is out on the platform, maybe those businessman became camera shy.

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Photo 4. There is no question why no one is out on the platform tonight, it was damn cold! I tried my hand at taking a night shot of 1178 on the winter night of January 16, 1981  This was a hand held attempt using ASA 400 film. Dunellen NJ.

Enjoy,
Ken Gear

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That is amazing!  That car had nice big windows too!

Took a shower on board the only time I rode the car. As we were near Lebanon, NJ there was a bush fire trackside and the local fire dept was hosing it down. One Firefighter decided to wash the train as it passed and I was standing on the rear platform. Boy that water was COLD.

Anything special about the interior? Standard commuter coach decor, lounge area, bar? Amazing it survived so long. Thanks for posting.

I didn't photograph the interior and I really don't remember anything different than regular coach seating.
Ken Gear