TRAIL OF THE BLUE COMET, WEST JERSEY CHAPTER NRHS, 1994, 488 PAGES CRRofNJ, NJC

Description

The Trail of the Blue Comet, A History of the Jersey Central's New Jersey Southern Division,
by Baer, Coxey & Schopp, West Jersey Chapter NRHS, 1994, 488 pages.  Hardbound w. dust jacket.
This book won the coveted Railway & Locomotive Historical Society "Book of the Year" award.
"The Trail of the Blue Comet was the Central Railroad of New Jersey's advertising slogan from 1929 to 1941 when that luxury coach train operated between New York and Atlantic City. This volume examines the entire history of the Southern Division of the CNJ from its earliest antecedents in the activities of the William Torrey family and the opposition to the Camden & Amboy monopoly to its survival as a part of Conrail and local short lines. The narrative traces the continuing interplay between resort and industrial development and the trains and Sandy Hook Route steamers that served it, with particular emphasis on many interesting but heretofore poorly documented communities in the Pine Barrens as well as the better known resorts of Lakewood and the Monmouth County shore. Extensively researched from official documents and other primary sources, this book will be of interest to anyone interested in either railroads or steamboats and their place in the industrial, political and community history of New Jersey."
The award winning history of the CNJ's Southern Division, which ran from Atlantic Highlands area, through the pinelands, and down to the Delaware Bay.  The leased lines in Delaware are covered as well.
It covers the region from the earliest days of the bog iron industry, up to the operation by Conrail.
The famous "Blue Comet", the "Seashore's Finest Train" is, of course, covered in detail.
Also the Sandy Hook Route steamboat line, with photos of the boats, roster, etc.
Also includes a station list, a chapter on the Lakehurst Shops, and locomotive rosters.
Loaded with 100's of photos, maps, timetables, some people actually complained that this book had "too much information" !!
TABLE OF CONTENTS INCLUDE:
Acknowledgements
Introduction
1  -  CAVEAT EMPTOR
William Torrey and the Manchester Tract, 1789-1852
2  -  THE CAMDEN AND AMBOY STATE
Railroad Politics in Southern New Jersey, 1827-1853
3  -  THE AIR LINE TO NOWHERE
The Genesis of the Raritan & Delaware Bay Railroad Company, 1853-1861
4  -  THE VALLEY OF HUMILIATION
The Raritan & Delaware Bay Versus the Joint Companies, 1861-1869
5  -  "ONE MORE RIVER FOR TO CROSS"
A New Name, New Faces, and a New Destination, 1869-1873
6  -  "CHAOS IS COME AGAIN"
The Slow Death of the New Jersey Southern Railroad Company, 1874-1879
7  -  WINNING (AND LOSING) COMBINATIONS
The New Jersey Southern as a Jersey Central Subsidiary, 1879-1893
8  -  THE RAILROAD THAT RAN BELOW TIDE
The Cumberland & Maurice River Railroad Company, 1866-1890
9   -   OF GRAND PLANS AND SMALL POTATOES
The Freehold & Atlantic Highlands Railroad Company, 1848-1893
10  -  LE PLAISIR DE VIVRE
The New Jersey Southern Division at Center Stage, 1894-1919
11  -  GOING OUT IN STYLE
Saving Face in a Changing World, 1920-1941
12  -  ON BORROWED TIME
E.T. Moore and Diesels to the Rescue, 1942-1957
13  -  TILL THE SANDS RUN OUT
Collapse, Conrail, and an Uncertain Future, 1958-1993
14  -  "THE SWIFT WAY ACROSS THE BAY"
The Vessels of the Sandy Hook Route, 1860-1941
Appendix I  -  STATION LIST
LAKEHURST SHOPS
Appendix II  - LOCOMOTIVE ROSTERS
Bibliography
Index
Long out-of-print. Only 2000 copies were printed, and it will never be reprinted because the publisher accidentally destroyed the printing plates (!!)  A search of internet book sellers turns up a few copies, but prices START at 6  and go up to 0. (!!)
Very good+  in mint dust jacket which has been placed in a mylar protector.
Photos are of the actual book, not "stock" photos.
Postage is .50 (in the USA) for this heavy book, and that includes insurance.  It will be well packed and shipped in a sturdy cardboard box.
JCL, CNJ, CRRofNJ, NJC, Jersey Central Lines, Atlantic City,
Payment:  Paypal accepted.  Personal cks and M.O.'s preferred.