Long Branch Railroad Images …
The city’s train system … still going today
At its peak — according to a 1907 Asbury Park Press report — the city of Long Branch had 5 train stations along its 3.3-mile stretch of railroad operating year-around: North Long Branch, Branchport, East Long Branch, West End and Elberon.
Third Avenue RR, 1890s
I did some research to learn more about the city’s rail line and its stations — there’s a lot. If others have better info or more photos, I’d be grateful for the sharing — HERE.
The train line that still serves the city today, began as the New York & Long Branch Railroad in 1875. It was built mainly as a tourist line for Jersey Shore beach resorts. The railroad had considerable clout local too. Its superintendent of 25 years, Rufus Blodgett was a Unites States Senator for NJ — in between several terms as Long Branch mayor.
In 1929, the NY & LB railroad fell into control of the Central Railroad of New Jersey. The CRNJ line, incorporated in April 1849, would play a huge role in the development of the Jersey Shore as a resort — with its leaders having the vision to run rail tracks to the beaches. CNJ trains would run until 1976. Today, it’s part of NJ Transit North Jersey Coast Line.
About the Long Branch railroad stations:
• According to Benjamin Bernhart’s 2004 book, Historic Journeys By Rail: Central Railroad of New Jersey Stations, Structures, & Marine Equipment, the first North Long Branch depot was constructed in 1874. A November 1904 fire took that station. In 1907, a new depot opened and would last until August 1980 when it was wrecked to make way for the new Ocean Blvd-state highway project. Station Agent Dan Hennessey worked there from 1907 to the day it closed in 1945.
• The first train station on Third Avenue was opened in July 1875 by the New York & Long Branch Railroad. That structure was replaced in June 1955 with a new two-story brick station; A.B. Schurman Construction Co. was the builder. When the $150,000 depot opened it was agreed that both the West End and Branchport train stations would discontinue service.
The current station on Third Avenue was opened by NJ Transit in 1988 after electrification was completed. Is it me — or does the appearance of this station get dimmer? The Public Utilities Commission had promised the city it would build the “prettiest station in the State of New Jersey,” according to a April 1953 Long Branch Daily Record story.
Also in the area was the massive New York & Long Branch Railroad divisional headquarters. Called the “Brick Building,” it opened in 1891 and was removed in the 1950s.
• Little info is available about the Branchport train station. Other then it was located at Washington and Joline Avenues, it closed in 1954 and was sometimes called “Central Station.” After a July 1956 fire, the city fire chief called the building “worthless.”
• The West End Train Station (also called “Hollywood” station) was badly damaged in an August 1921 fire and abandoned after another blaze in October 1954. The Long Branch Trust Company acquired the property and opened a new drive-in bank branch in July 1955. Today, it is a Chase Bank branch.
• The original Elberon train stop dates back in 1876. The first stone and brick depot was opened in 1903. It was touched with sad history — President James Garfield passed through on his way to his summer home for a hopeful recuperation after being shot in July 1881 (at the railroad station in Washington, DC); he died in Elberon two months later. The station was gutted by a spectacular fire in May 1988 during a major renovation. In June 1996, a new $3 million Elberon depot was opened.
All Aboard! — New York & Long Branch Railroad ad, early 1900s. The line mostly served Jersey Shore beach resorts — operating from 1875 to 1929.
New York & Long Branch Railroad, 1902.
Long Branch’s first train station, 1868 (Brown Brothers Photo). Built by the Raritan and Delaware Bay Railroad, the station was located east of Joline Avenue near Broadway.
NY & LB RR train coming through the city, 1894. Note the old city hall at back left.
Old Long Branch, NJ railroad depot sign.
New York & Long Branch Railroad — MORE INFO.
North Long Branch Railroad Station
Original North Long Branch train station, constructed in 1874.
North Long Branch Train Station, 1905. Built in the 1890s to accommodate the Long Branch & Seashore Railroad.
North End Railroad Station, 1910s. All trains stopped around 1944-45.
North Long Branch train station (l) and Post Office (r), early 1900s.
North Long Branch Train Station, 1950s. The building housed ice cream shops when trains stopped after WW II.
Station Agent Daniel Hennessey (far right) at the North Long Branch Train Station, 1905.
North End Train Station (l) sits abandoned in its last days, late 1970s. By 1983, it would be wiped out by a new state highway connecting LB and MB. The roadway between the MB boundary and Joline Avenue was built by MJ Stavola for about $3 million and opened in 1985.
North End Train Station, 1908.
East Long Branch Railroad Station
East Long Branch railroad station sketch, 1878. Built in 1870, at the present day intersection of Ocean Boulevard and Cooper Avenue.
East Long Branch Railroad Station, 1906. The station closed in 1945. The decaying depot was used by city boy scouts for several years.
East Long Branch railroad station, 1910s.
East Long Branch Railroad Station, 1960s. The structure was torn down in 1969.
CRNJ train at the East Long Branch station, 1937.
East Long Branch railroad station map and history, 2020.
Monmouth Beach RR Images / Sea Bright RR Images
Branchport Railroad Station
Branchport Railroad Station, 1910s. Located south of Joline Avenue.
Branchport Railroad Station, 1955. When Al Matlaw, a Broadway auto dealer, bought the property, (APP Photo).
Branchport Train Station (r), 1945. Dilger’s Market on Joline Avenue (l). In March 1954, the NJ Board of Public Utility Commissioners granted permission to close the Branchport Train Station.
Branchport Railroad Station, 1930s. Known also as “Central Station.”
Branchport Train Station, early 1900s. At right is a switching tower used to connect the two Central NJ Railroad branch lines.
Branchport train station, 1940s. It was a convenient stop for those visiting nearby Pleasure Bay.
Branchport Railroad Station, 1940s.
Branchport Railroad Station on fire, July 1956.
Third Avenue Railroad Station
Third Avenue Railroad Station, 1900.
Third Avenue Railroad Station postcard, 1907. It was torn down and replaced in 1955.
Third Avenue train depot, 1920s.
Third Avenue Railroad Station, July 1937.
Third Avenue train station, 1920s.
“Brick Building” — the New York & Long Branch Railroad divisional headquarters was on the grounds of the Third Avenue train station. Built by Robert Tappin, it opened in 1891.
End of the line — Cars rest at the Third Avenue Train Station, January 2022 (MAC Photography).
Third Avenue Railroad Station, 1910s.
Third Avenue Railroad Station, 1890s.
Third Avenue Railroad Station, mid-1980s. A NJ Transit train is arriving at the depot.
All three Third Avenue railroad concerns, mid-1950s.
Third Avenue railroad station, early 1900s.
Third Avenue train depot, 1906.
Waiting for a train at the Third Avenue depot, 1910s.
Third Avenue train depot, 1904.
Third Avenue railroad station, 1910s.
New Third Avenue railroad station under construction, June 1954. The old 1890s station is to the south.
Third Avenue railroad station, 1940s. In the background is the NY & LB Railroad divisional headquarters.
New Third Avenue railroad station, 1955. Construction cos was $150,000.
Third Avenue railroad stations, 1950s. From left: old RR station, new RR station and the NY & LB Railroad divisional headquarters.
Pennsylvania railroad train passes by Third Avenue station, 1950s.
Third Avenue Railroad Station, 1980s.
Third Avenue railroad station, 1970s. Opened in June 1955, it was torn down in the late 1980s and replaced with a new smaller station when electrification of the North Jersey Coast line was completed.
New Third Avenue railroad station, APP 1955. A.B. Schurman Company was the builder.
Third Avenue railroad station, 1970s.
Third Avenue RR trailer before depot construction, 1980.
Current Third Avenue railroad station, 2010s.
Third Avenue railroad station, 2021.
West End Railroad Station
West End Railroad Station, early 1900s. Also called “Hollywood” depot.
West End Train Station, early 1900s.
Hollywood–West End railroad station, 1890s. FYI: Hollywood, California became a municipality in 1903 and was incorporated into Los Angeles in 1910.
West End Railroad Station, 1900.
A bustling West End train station, 1906. Badly damaged by an August 1921 fire, it was abandoned after another October 1954 blaze.
West End Railroad Station, early 1900s.
West End Railroad Station, 1907. The Long Branch Trust Company acquired the property and opened a new drive-in bank branch in July 1955. Today, it is a Chase Bank branch.
West End Train Station, late 1900s.
West End Railroad Station, 1940s.
Elberon Railroad Station
Elberon Railroad Station, 2023.
Elberon Train Station, 1909.
Elberon Train Station, mid-1980s.
Elberon Train Station on fire, 1988 (Nancy Virginia Photo).
Elberon Train Station on fire, 1988 (Nancy Virginia Photo).
Elberon Train Station — very busy, 1920s.
Elberon Train Station, early 1980s.
Elberon Train Station, 1908.
Elberon Train Station, mid-1980s.
Elberon Train Station, early 1900s.
Elberon Train Station, 2011.
Elberon Train Station, 1970s.
Elberon Train Station, 1980s.
Elberon Train Station and NJ Transit train, 1980s.
Elberon Train Station, early 1900s. (Edward F. Thomas Collection).
Elberon Train Station, 1913.
Elberon Train Station, 1940s.
Elberon Train Station, 1909.
Elberon railroad station, 1974.
Elberon railroad station, 1970s.
Elberon Train Station during a $350,000 renovation project, 1988.
New Elberon Train Station sketch proposal, 1993. It was a $3 million NJ Transit project. Cooper Construction & Management was the builder.
Elberon Train Station is engulfed in flames, May 1988.
Elberon Railroad Station, 1962.
Elberon Train Station in ruins after fire, May 1988.
More LB Railroad Images
Get me to the church … APP, November 1954.
NJ Central Railroad system around LB, 1941.
NJ railroad system around SB, MB and LB, 1887.
J.H. Schenck map of train tracks, 1868.
Cancellation notification by CJ Railroad ending stops in SB, MB, and LB, December 1945.
Back in the day, Summer 1887.
Didn’t the trains run as far as Seaside Height? I remember the tracks in the 50s running where 35 South is now. Trains stopped running years before I think.
Great photo/postcard post. Thank you.
According to period maps, the deteriorating red building on Joline Avenue is on the opposite side of the tracks from where the NY&LB Branchport station was located. I would not have included that building without some proof it was part of the station complex.
The first railroad providing service to Long Branch in 1860 was the Raritan & Delaware Bay Railroad which became the NJ Southern Railroad. The spur reaching Long Branch came in from Eatontown.
I lived at 1 Riverdale Ave in Monmouth Beach. When I was a child in the 1950s my Dad used to come down on the Jersey Central from Newark and he would get off at North Long Branch and walk home. The train did not stop in 1945.
Really interesting photos. I lived at the shore for 35 years and commuted by the NY & LB RR for 10 years. Thanks for posting.
The earliest photo of the North Long Branch station is so different from all the others, so I wondered if it burned and was then rebuilt. My 3rd cousin in PA emailed me the same photo of the original station. It was a tintype and backward. After I posted to facebook, someone fixed it for me.