07-09-01 PHOTOS: Abandoned South Jersey

Last Labour Day I spent some quality time roving around South Jersey checking out a number of interesting "Forgotten" locations interspersed with more standard Railfan locations. So the photos here will include something for everyone.

First off is the old Dydee Service building in Westmont. For years cloth diapers were cleaned there and delivered back to peoples houses. Shuttered by the advent of disposable diapers the building stood vacant for decades before being razed for a new development. I sort of regret not getting in there for a look around before it was demolished.

Next is SOUTH RACE interlocking at Utica Ave in Westmont. Despite being the closest interlocking to my house I had never bothered to go out and take a complete photo set.

After SOUTH RACE I popped over to the adjacent abandoned Westmont sewage treatment plant. This was actually the first of two Sweage treatment plants in this area before things were centralized with the CCMUA. The old plant only had primary treatment, while the second plant had secondary treatment. Today it sits decaying in the woods.

After the jaunt around Westmont I took a jump to the the legendary Haddonfield Waterfall. This is located on the Cooper River deep in the bowls of the Crows Woods recreation area. The river drops over about an 18" clay pan creating a little waterfall. Over the years the fall has retreated some 150 feet.

Next I ventured a little farther afield to the Winslow Junction area. After a bit of railfanning I took off down the RoW to a tip I had on something called Ancora Village. This was a community of assisted living houses for low-risk patients of the Ancora Psychiatric Hospital. Closed probably due to cost reasons the houses stood for several years before all being demolished. Now the site is left to be reclaimed by nature.

Finally, I walked back to Winslow Jct in time to catch an unannounced employee special labour day train as well as the new Alco C420 in its NYO&W Paint.

That was a little whirlwind summary and you can find the full set of pics at:

http://acm.jhu.edu/~sthurmovik/Railpics/07-09-01_FORGOTTEN_SOUTH_JERSEY/-Thumbnails.html

And more of a guided tour below in the same order as described above.

Here is the landmark Dydee Service building with the demolition fence already erected. This building has literally stood vacant here for 20 years or more.

In the forest next to SOUTH RACE interlocking the original Westmont sewage plant. Probably in service until the 1950's. Here is the primary settling tank.

Here's the input channel. Hard to believe this setup managed to "treat" anything at all.

Moving on to the Haddonfield Waterfall. Cute ain't it.

Here's where it used to be 10 years ago.

Also saw this on my way out. Nasty surprise for any lineman.

Finally some railfan stuff. WINSLOW Tower 2008. The bay windows have finally been boarded up from the inside.

The northbound approach lit home signal at SOUTH WINS displaying Clear tipped me off that a train was approaching and here it is with NJT Comet IV cab car #5018 bringing up the rear passing WINSLOW tower.  GP40PH-2B #4219 was providing the power in front.

The famous Ancora Curve. Note the jointed rail on the siding and the PRR railing on the bridge.

Overgrown street in the old Ancora Village.

Foundation slab for one of the demolished houses.  There was a strange pipe and hose system set up.  Possibly for fire training or to aid in the demolition process.

Returning via the old Reading main line I encountered some wildlife!

Here's the new SJRR interchange siding.

Here is the SJRR Labour Day special headed up by Alco C420 #578.

In the middle there's an old DL&W coach with a caboose.

Trailed by C420 #803.

Here we have a C420 getting decked out in NYO&W colours.

SJRR #105...an old GE 44-tonner. Again, NYO&W colours. Can you guess that the SJRR owner likes the NYO&W? This unit was recently rebuilt and it looks great.

 On my way back to Baltimore I caught NJT Comet IV cab car #5020 pulling into Cherry Hill.

I think that's enough for one day. Hope you enjoyed it!