Pennsylvania–Reading Seashore Lines
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PRSL System Map
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| Reporting mark | PRSL |
|---|---|
| Locale | New Jersey |
| Dates of operation | 1933–1976 |
| Successor | Conrail |
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge |
| Length | 413 miles (665 kilometres) |
| Headquarters | Camden, New Jersey |
The Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines was a railroad that operated in southern New Jersey in the 20th century. It was created in 1933 as a joint consolidation venture between two competing railroads in the region.
In the early 20th century Atlantic City and the South Jersey seashore were major seaside vacation destinations for the Philadelphia area's wealthy and working class populations. The popularity of South Jersey's seashore was made possible by rail transport which provided inexpensive and fast service between the Philadelphia area's population centers and the seashore.
There were two competing railroad companies connecting Camden (and by ferry to Philadelphia), with the resorts of the Southern New Jersey seashore. Competition was fierce and by its height in the 1920s competition between the West Jersey and Seashore Railroad (WJ&S, owned by the Pennsylvania Railroad) and the Atlantic City Railroad (owned by the Reading Railroad) was so intense that at one time both lines boasted some of the fastest trains in the world.Trains often raced one another so as to be the first to arrive at their destination. Racing was encouraged by the fact that in many areas, the two lines were only several hundred feet apart. On the Cape May lines, the trains were in sight of each other for 11 miles between Cape May Court House and Cape May. Over the last 5 miles into Cape May, the tracks were only 50 feet apart.
On July 1, 1926, the Benjamin Franklin Bridge opened. It was originally called Delaware River Bridge, and spanned the Delaware River, connecting Philadelphia and Camden.Car, truck and bus usage increased as the State of New Jersey built roads in the 1920s and 30s next to the railroads going from Camden to the shore, cutting into profits.
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