Magnolia in Camden County, New Jersey — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

The Atlantic City Railroad

1883 to 1917

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), March 14, 2020

1. The Atlantic City Railroad Marker

Inscription.

The Atlantic City Railroad. 1883 to 1917. , The Philadelphia Reading Railroad took over the Philadelphia Atlantic City line in 1883. The first concern of the P and R was to standardize the narrow gauge line, this work was completed on October 5, 1884. Soon, passenger service and freight service also continued to grow making the P and AC a very profitable line. The Philadelphia and Reading incorporated and merged with five other railroad lines, they became known as the Atlantic City Railroad., In the spring of 1890 a second track was laid and completed with a small siding for trains to "back off" the main track to allow expresses to run through. We believe that a closed station with a ticket office were on the northwest side of the tracks at the time. Crossing gates were installed at that time as well as the typical "X" crossing signs., Sometime in January and March of 1896 a telegraph block system, sometimes called Manuel Block Lines was installed in Magnolia making it much faster for the station master to send and receive messages to and from other stations so he could manually switch slower trains onto a siding to protect the movement of express trains. This system was upgraded with the installation of the automated Hall Block System at the Magnolia station and the large round wooden signals of Hall Block System, nicknamed "Banjo Lights" were installed on both the northwest and southwest sides of Evesham Ave. During the day a reversible white and red center in the lower sign served as the warning when turned to red. When a warning came down the line at night a red lantern was hung in the top signal and the train was switched to a siding. Trolley tracks were laid in 1907 and trolleys began making some of the local passenger business from P and AC. Magnolia Station at this time had four sets of tracks running parallel with each other, two trolley and two railroad. East Atlantic Avenue was not yet paved but Evesham Road was. Rail freight and passenger business continued to steadily increase for the next several years. All rail companies were taken over and operated by the Federal Government as essential to the world war one war effort, and operated under U.S. Railroad Administration from December 28, 1917 to February 29, 1920.

The Philadelphia Reading Railroad took over the Philadelphia Atlantic City line in 1883. The first concern of the P & R was to standardize the narrow gauge line, this work was completed on October 5, 1884. Soon, passenger service and freight service also continued to grow making the P & AC a very profitable line. The Philadelphia and Reading incorporated and merged with five other railroad lines, they became known as the Atlantic City Railroad.

In the spring of 1890 a second track was laid and completed with a small siding for trains to "back off" the main track to allow expresses to run through. We believe that a closed station with a ticket office were on the northwest side of the tracks at the time. Crossing gates were installed at that time as well as the typical "X" crossing signs.

Sometime in January and March of 1896 a telegraph block system, sometimes called Manuel Block Lines was installed in Magnolia making it much faster for the station master to send and receive messages to and from other stations so he could manually switch slower trains onto a siding to protect the movement of express trains. This system was upgraded with the installation of the automated Hall Block System at the Magnolia station and the large round wooden signals of Hall Block System, nicknamed "Banjo Lights" were installed on

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both the northwest and southwest sides of Evesham Ave. During the day a reversible white and red center in the lower sign served as the warning when turned to red. When a warning came down the line at night a red lantern was hung in the top signal and the train was switched to a siding. Trolley tracks were laid in 1907 and trolleys began making some of the local passenger business from P & AC. Magnolia Station at this time had four sets of tracks running parallel with each other, two trolley and two railroad. East Atlantic Avenue was not yet paved but Evesham Road was. Rail freight and passenger business continued to steadily increase for the next several years. All rail companies were taken over and operated by the Federal Government as essential to the WW I war effort, and operated under U.S. Railroad Administration from December 28, 1917 to February 29, 1920.

Erected by Magnolia Historical Society.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Communications • Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical date for this entry is February 29, 1920.

Location. 39° 51.257′ N, 75° 2.171′ W. Marker is in Magnolia, New Jersey, in Camden County. It can be reached from the intersection of Evesham Avenue West and East Atlantic Avenue, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 438 Evesham Ave W, Magnolia NJ 08049, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), March 14, 2020

2. The Atlantic City Railroad Marker

Regionally, this marker is in South Jersey

and in Greater Philadelphia.

It is also in the American Northeast

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Netherland

and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Railroad Stations of Magnolia (here, next to this marker); Magnolia Station (a few steps from this marker); Churches (within shouting distance of this marker); Early Education in Magnolia (within shouting distance of this marker); Families in Magnolia (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Borough of Magnolia Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.4 miles away); Vietnam War Memorial (approx. 0.4 miles away); The Story of the Peter Mott House (approx. 0.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Magnolia.

Credits. This page was last revised on August 1, 2024. It was originally submitted on March 16, 2020, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 1,092 times since then and 46 times this year. Last updated on August 1, 2024, by Carl Gordon Moore Jr. of North East, Maryland. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 16, 2020, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.