Blue Comet Wikipedia. This article is about the early 2. CNJ train. For the episode of the television series The Sopranos that is named after the train, see The Blue Comet. For the mid 1. 98. Blue Comet SPT Layzner. New Jersey Southern RR and connections. The Blue Comet was a named passenger train operated by Central Railroad of New Jersey from 1. New York metropolitan area and Atlantic City. Designed by Central Railroad of New Jersey CNJ president R. Auran Station' title='Auran Station' />B. White in 1. 92. Communipaw Terminal in Jersey City to Atlantic City, making the total trip from Manhattan via ferry to the Jersey City terminal to Atlantic City in three hours. The Blue Comet would take NY LB trackage to Red Bank, then follow the Southern Division Main Line to Winslow Junction, where it would travel over the Atlantic City Railroads tracks to Atlantic City. The colors chosen for the Blue Comets locomotive and passenger cars were ultramarine and Packard Blue, for the sea, cream, for the sandy coastal beaches, and nickel. The tickets for the train were blue, the dining car chairs were upholstered in blue linen, and the porters were dressed in blue as well. The locomotive was capable of 1. Mississippi to be equipped with roller bearings for easy starting and stopping. HistoryeditInaugurated on February 2. Blue Comet was designed to provide coach passengers with deluxe equipment, accommodations, and service at a regular coach fare. The first revenue passengers to board the CNJs new flagship at Communipaw Terminal were Miss Beatrice Winter and Miss Helen Lewis of New York. As the Blue Comet made its way to Atlantic City, it was put on display for patrons, railfans, and local residents to see and inspect. Thousands of spectators along the line came to see the new train. This was due in part to a clever ad campaign via radio and newspaper which spurred public interest. Following its first arrival in Atlantic City, a formal dinner was held for railroad officials at the Hotel Dennis. The Blue Comet was published in several periodicals and trade magazines such as Railway Age March 1. Fortune The first issue in February, 1. The Modelmaker, and several advertisements for ELESCO Superheaters and Feedwater Heaters. Eve Tools Planetary Interaction Colony. Periodic articles about the train would also appear in The New York Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer, and local papers such as the Red Bank Register. It was even featured in a British 1. Gallaher Ltd collection of tobacco cards entitled Trains of the world. Billed as the Seashores Finest Train, it was dubbed a Symphony in Blue. Lionel founder Joshua Lionel Cowen, was among those who frequently rode the Blue Comet. Inspired by the trains elegant beauty, speed, and the sublime power of its towering locomotive, Lionel offered a standard gauge model of the train in 1. This gave the train and Lionel an almost mythical quality. There were three factors behind the creation of the Blue Comet To eliminate passenger service south of Winslow Junction, and replace rail service with bus connections. A narrowgauge steam railway in rural midWales. Built to carry roofing slates, in 1951 it became the worlds first preserved railway. Railway Denver Rio Grande Western Locomotive C41 Class 1015 Author ID Todd Hohlenkamp Prowler901 Identifier kuid4395510150. To better compete with the Pennsylvania Railroad PRR for Atlantic City passengers. To eliminate a costly Pullman parlor car lease, in which the CNJ had a loss ten months of the year. Pocket Calendar Advertisement. The Blue Comet would offer extra accommodations at the regular coach fare and have assigned seats so passengers knew exactly where they would sit. The PRR charged extra for its all parlor car Atlantic City Limited and New York Limited. In addition, the PRR charged extra fees for parlor cars on the Nellie Bly. Trainz is a series of 3D train simulator computer games originating in 2001, now controlled and offered by Australian game developer N3V Games originally developed. The Blue Comet ran on schedule 9. A billboard was installed on the Routes 3. Farmingdale listing the times the train would pass that area. The Blue Comet was initially a success but fell victim to the Great Depression. HTc7EoAUT2E/maxresdefault.jpg' alt='Auran Station' title='Auran Station' />Service was reduced to a single round trip by April 1. Also that year, the PRR and Reading Company RDG consolidated their southern New Jersey routes and formed the Pennsylvania Reading Seashore Lines. After the merger, the PRR owned two thirds of the trackage. Reports from travelers indicate that Blue Comet information was not readily available at the Atlantic City station. This had the Blue Comet service at a disadvantage, as PRR Atlantic City New York information was readily available for passengers heading to points north. Blue Comet debut, Red Bank, NJ February 1. Ocean County stops for the Blue Comet included Lakewood and Lakehurst. The Lakewood stop was to pick up and drop off passengers as well as Jolly Tar Trail bus service. The stop at Lakehurst was for people needing a connection for the Barnegat Branch, later replaced by Jolly Tar Trail service during off peak hours in the early 1. For residents of the more isolated sections of the Pine Barrens, the Blue Comets railroad crews would drop off newspapers. In Chatsworth, the train slowed as it went through the center of town on its return from Atlantic City to disperse a bundle of the daily papers including The New York Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer, among other big city publications which had been provided for passengers to read while on board. This goodwill gesture offered a way for locals who did not have radios or electricity to stay informed on current events. Community lore has it that residents would show their appreciation by bringing baskets of freshly picked berries for the crew. However, this anecdote has been disputed by some who lived in the area at the time and insisted the express train did not stop in a location where such an exchange would have happened. The trains last run was on September 2. Its main competitor, the Nellie Bly, lasted until 1. AccidentseditOn Friday, December 2. Blue Comet experienced a small fire in the roof of the dining car Giaccobini. The fire was discovered while the train was en route to Red Bank by the chef, who promptly alerted the steward Lewis Herring. The two men attempted to put out the fire themselves using fire extinguishers, however the origin of the fire was inaccessible. An overheated flue from the coal stove had cause some of the roof structure to burn between the ceiling and the roof of the dining car. Red Bank firefighters were summoned as the train pulled into the station, and the fire was quickly put out. Damage was estimated at only 5. The passengers were unaware that there was any problem until they were politely asked to leave the dining car at the station. The Blue Comet was delayed for 3. The train arrived in Atlantic City only 2. On August 1. 9, 1. No 4. 21. 8 was traveling east bound with a consist of 1 combine Halley, 1 coach DArrest, one diner Giacobini, 1 coach Winnecki, and 1 observation car Beila. Engine No. 8. 20, a 4 6 2 Pacific was on point. Conductor Walsh and Engineman Thomas were in charge of the train, which was carrying 4. Extraordinarily heavy rains fell in the area throughout the day. It is estimated that roughly  1. The trains crew had reduced speed from the usual 7. Winslow Junction to keep a lookout for sand on the crossings due to the heavy rains. Near milepost 8. 6, about a mile west of Chatsworth6 station, the train hit a washout at 4 3. The surface water had overwhelmed two 2. The engine and tender made it across the damaged track, with the rear tender truck being derailed. The rear truck floating lever was damaged, rendering the tender brakes inoperative. The entire 5 car consist, however, had become uncoupled from the tender and derailed. The cars came to rest in general line with the track, and were leaning at various angles. Sun 12 Suzuka.