Nostalgia & History > A CNJ Camelback Working

Growing up in the Midwest, I never saw a Camelback in operation (except in Trains Magazine).  Here is a beaugiful picture by Donald W. Furler of one as she begins her afternoon run with westbound commuter train 3307 passing Communipaw Ave. Station in Jersey City, New Jersey in 1939.

She is Central Railroad of New Jersey 4-6-0C, Class L7s, Number 761.  The photograph is in the collection of the Center for Railroad Photography and Art.  Their collection is on flickr at https://www.flickr.com/photos/railphotoart/

Enjoy,
Marty Bernard



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 10/12/19 19:48 by MartyBernard.

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Great photo! 

The CNJ 4-6-0s were the best-looking of the Camelback locomotives.

Thanks for sharing.

Great photo, Marty. Thanks again for sharing it.

I came across a wonderful YouTube video that has some great footage of CNJ Camelbacks racing down the CNJ main with passenger trains. Plus a whole lot more really interesting late steam era stuff. As Todd has requested no direct links (a rule I have, mea culpa, sometimes violated), do a Google or YouTube search instead for "RDG CNJ B&O Route of the Queen of the Valley" (without the quotation marks). You'll find it and enjoy it.

I don't know the source of this terrific film. If it is from a commercial video producer, it hasn't been pulled down by YouTube yet (and I hope that doesn't happen -- I've enjoyed watching it several times already). If not from a commercial source, and this has not been widely disseminated before, well, it's a real gem -- many thanks to the person who posted it. Maybe fans in the New York City / northeastern Pennsylvania area know the source of this film and its heritage / provenance. A couple of NYC region fans whom I know, and who have seen a lot of programs at various fan group meetings through the years, did not know about it or recall having seen it. Does anyone recognize this footage and know anything about its heritage? It would be interesting to know something about it. In any case, do search for it, and watch and enjoy. Well worth the effort.

MC

Yes, that is a really amazing video.   Marty

ironmtn Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Great photo, Marty. Thanks again for sharing it.
>
> I came across a wonderful YouTube video that has
> some great footage of CNJ Camelbacks racing down
> the CNJ main with passenger trains. Plus a whole
> lot more really interesting late steam era stuff.
> As Todd has requested no direct links (a rule I
> have, mea culpa, sometimes violated), do a Google
> or YouTube search instead for "RDG CNJ B&O Route
> of the Queen of the Valley" (without the quotation
> marks). You'll find it and enjoy it.
>
> I don't know the source of this terrific film. If
> it is from a commercial video producer, it hasn't
> been pulled down by YouTube yet (and I hope that
> doesn't happen -- I've enjoyed watching it several
> times already). If not from a commercial source,
> and this has not been widely disseminated before,
> well, it's a real gem -- many thanks to the person
> who posted it. Maybe fans in the New York City /
> northeastern Pennsylvania area know the source of
> this film and its heritage / provenance. A couple
> of NYC region fans whom I know, and who have seen
> a lot of programs at various fan group meetings
> through the years, did not know about it or recall
> having seen it. Does anyone recognize this footage
> and know anything about its heritage? It would be
> interesting to know something about it. In any
> case, do search for it, and watch and enjoy. Well
> worth the effort.
>
> MC

That same poster has a fantastic video of Baltimore & Ohio Railroad trains.
You will see both steam and diesel performing their daily tasks.
Of special note there is footage of steam trains in Baltimore, Cumberland,
Sand Patch Grade, Martinsburg, etc.

I bookmarked that episode. So it will be easy for me to rewatch it any time I desire!!

PS: Most of that video is in color.

I remember them well, growing up in Cranford, NJ from 1942 thru about 1954. Also note that there is no smoke! The advantage of Anthracite coal mixture in that huge firebox.

CNJ Camelbacks often worked the Passenger locals btw Communipaw and Cranford or Dunellen.

And to Atlantic Highlands from Newark on occasion.

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