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Untitled
Title:  Untitled
Description: 
Photo Date:  1/1/1900  Upload Date: 11/22/2009 4:42:45 PM
Location:  Skillman, NJ
Author:  Kim Piersol
Categories: 
Locomotives: 
Views:  1529   Comments: 1
CNJ M2s "Antrhacite Road Mikado" is watered down the track
Title:  CNJ M2s "Antrhacite Road Mikado" is watered down the track
Description:  Central Railroad of New Jersey M2s is watered in Skillman as it pauses with a CNJ/Reading "Joint Freight." Hidden behind the big Mike is a very heavy freight on its way to Elizabethport Yard in Elizabeth, NJ. It was reclassifed a M63 in 1945. Jersey Central had five classes of 2-8-2s built between 1918 and 1925, by Alco, Brooks, Schenedtady, and Baldwin, and numbered between 850 and 935. They were all retired between 1/T‰@OV±qÚi
Photo Date:  1/22/1947  Upload Date: 11/25/2008 11:36:55 PM
Location:  Skillman, NJ
Author:  Charles Knox Freericks
Categories: 
Locomotives: 
Views:  2151   Comments: 1
Reading "Mother Hubbard" or "Camelback"
Title:  Reading "Mother Hubbard" or "Camelback"
Description:  A Reading wreck train or "relief train" as Reading called them sits in a siding in Skillman. Reading No. 1588 was built as a Class I-8b 2-8-0 by the Reading itself in 1912. As built, it was configured pretty much as shown in the photos, with center cab, piston valves and Walschaerts valve gear. It was saturated as built, but was converted to superheat in 1919 and reclassified as an I-8sb. It was off the roster by 1948. To the right are two non-revenue cars. The further one from camera is rebuilt from a gondola while the closer is an old truss-rod coach.
Photo Date:  1/22/1947  Upload Date: 11/24/2008 10:40:47 PM
Location:  Skillman, NJ
Author:  Charles Knox Freericks
Categories: 
Locomotives:  RDG 1588(2-8-0)
Views:  2538   Comments: 0
Reading Depot
Title:  Reading Depot
Description:  The Reading depot in Skillman, New Jersey vas a grand three-story structure. Call letters were SK. Skillman, N.J. was named after Abraham J. Skillman. William Newton Skillman, was station agent there from 1893 to 1938- This building was apparently razed scmetime in the 1960s. As an aside, CKF's mother, who probably drove him over to take this picture, worked for many years at a real-estate ageocy called Skillman & Skillman.
Photo Date:  1/22/1947  Upload Date: 5/8/2008 1:24:56 AM
Location:  Skillman, NJ
Author:  Charles Knox Freericks
Categories: 
Locomotives: 
Views:  2251   Comments: 3
Reading M1sa Antracite Mike #1724
Title:  Reading M1sa Antracite Mike #1724
Description:  Reading M1sa #1724, a 1912 era Mikado, takes on water at the Skillman water spout. The Reading rostered 57 of these units, built by both Baldwin and the Reading itself. CKF referred to them as "typical Reading freight locomotives" in his notes of the time. Sadly, none of these survive. We are on the New York Branch of the Philadelphia Division, a bike ride away from CKF's home at the time in Blawenburg NJ.
Photo Date:  1/22/1947  Upload Date: 1/30/2008 11:03:33 AM
Location:  Skillman, NJ
Author:  Charles Knox Freericks
Categories: 
Locomotives:  RDG 1724(2-8-2)
Views:  3206   Comments: 0
Reading "Motor Train"
Title:  Reading "Motor Train"
Description:  Reading Brill Motor Car #4079 makes a stop at Skillman. This gas-electric doodlebug was utilized in Port Reading to Trenton service. Passengers could make a cross platform transfer in West Trenton to a Reading MU for the ride to Reading Terminal in Center City Philadelphia. This unit could seat 32 and had a 11 foot baggage area and a 10 foot RPO. By this time, the Offial Guide shows this only running Bound Brook to Trenton. The auto is the Freericks family's 1933 Plymouth PC Business Coupe. CKF refered to this doodlebug as a Reading Railway "motor train" in his notes.
Photo Date:  1/22/1947  Upload Date: 11/20/2008 10:20:09 AM
Location:  Skillman, NJ
Author:  Charles Knox Freericks
Categories: 
Locomotives:  RDG 4079(Doodlebug)
Views:  4031   Comments: 0
Reading customer Goulard & Olena
Title:  Reading customer Goulard & Olena
Description:  Goulard & Olena was one of three Reading Railroad Customers in Skillman NJ (along with the New Jersey State Village for Epileptics and machinery manufacturer Van Zandt, J. P.). Goulard & Olena was famous for their manufacture of rabbit repellent. The car in the shot is a 1933 Chevrolet 2-door Sedan, possibly belonging to the Skillman station master. To see these buildings today, check out this link... http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1034210.
Photo Date:  1/22/1947  Upload Date: 1/31/2008 12:05:57 AM
Location:  Skillman, NJ
Author:  Charles Knox Freericks
Categories: 
Locomotives: 
Views:  2675   Comments: 0
Reading Depot
Title:  Reading Depot
Description:  The Reading depot in Skillman was the closest railroad location for CKF growing up and was where he developed a lifelong love of the Reading. He was 12-years-old when he took this photograph. Note the 1933 Chevrolet, the four track main, the Camp Meeting Avenue overpass, and the gentleman at the door, who may have been the agent. Skillman merited this large station building as it was the home to the New Jersey State Village for Epileptics.
Photo Date:  1/29/1947  Upload Date: 5/9/2008 2:52:09 PM
Location:  Skillman, NJ
Author:  Charles Knox Freericks
Categories: 
Locomotives: 
Views:  1650   Comments: 0
Hand Car House
Title:  Hand Car House
Description:  Looking north east (railroad east) from the Skillman depot, to the left is the hand car house (or motor car shed,) with a section gang car sitting in front of it. This car would be pulled by a small motor car (probably in the shed) to take the section gang to their work, which must have been intense. I have been told that all four tracks had a 75 MPH speed limit. This, and the other shots in this series, were taken with a 620 Brownie.
Photo Date:  1/29/1947  Upload Date: 5/11/2008 12:03:45 AM
Location:  Skillman, NJ
Author:  Charles Knox Freericks
Categories: 
Locomotives: 
Views:  2383   Comments: 0
"Big Dutch Mike" under Camp Meeting
Title:  "Big Dutch Mike" under Camp Meeting
Description:  When one of the Reading Railroads "Big Dutch Mikes" or "Anthracite Mikados" (probably #1705) comes to rest on the westbound platform track, under Camp Meeting Road. To the left is the hand car house (later, the motor car shed). Closer to the camera, on the left, is the base of the flag stop semaphore. Passengers could pull the lever down to alert a train that they wanted to be picked up. The sign above it explained how to use it.
Photo Date:  1/29/1947  Upload Date: 5/11/2008 12:03:58 AM
Location:  Skillman, NJ
Author:  Charles Knox Freericks
Categories: 
Locomotives: 
Views:  2396   Comments: 1
Reading "Doodlebug"
Title:  Reading "Doodlebug"
Description:  Reading Brill Motor Car #4077 is seen in front of the grand three-story Victorian depot at Skillman, NJ. Just behind the "doodlebug" is the station's semaphore passenger controlled flag stop signal, used by passengers to request a train stop. Reading had a small fleet of doodlebugs working the New York Branch. #4077 was delivered by J.G. Brill in February of 1927. It was powered by a Cummins 250 H.P. diesel with a tractive effort of 10,100 lbs. It sat 32 in the passenger compartment and also had sections for parcel service and R.P.O.
Photo Date:  1/29/1947  Upload Date: 11/20/2008 10:18:47 AM
Location:  Skillman, NJ
Author:  Charles Knox Freericks
Categories: 
Locomotives:  RDG 4077(Doodlebug)
Views:  3792   Comments: 0
Reading M1sa Antracite Mike #1705
Title:  Reading M1sa Antracite Mike #1705
Description:  The Reading had a fleet of 57 Mikes, numbered from 1700 to 1756. #1700 was built by the Reading Shops. The rest were built by Baldwin. Here, CKF has caught #1705 stopped at the water spout in Skillman. "Mikado" meant "Emperor of Japan," and the name came from the first such locomotives being built for Japan by Baldwin. Note the Wooten Firebox. Apperently these were all off the roster very soon after, by 1948.
Photo Date:  1/29/1947  Upload Date: 1/31/2008 12:28:20 AM
Location:  Skillman, NJ
Author:  Charles Knox Freericks
Categories: 
Locomotives:  RDG 1705(2-8-2)
Views:  2549   Comments: 0
Reading Track Gang
Title:  Reading Track Gang
Description:  Track gang motorcar and trailer being put away at Skillman station. The overpass is Camp Meeting Road. CKF was standing on the eastbound platform (towards New York City). The Hand Car House itself is actually out of frame, across all the tracks to the left, on the westbound platform. It appears as if the men are preparing to move the gang car and trailer over all four tracks to reach the Hand Car House.
Photo Date:  1/29/1947  Upload Date: 11/27/2008 1:00:59 AM
Location:  Skillman, NJ
Author:  Charles Knox Freericks
Categories: 
Locomotives: 
Views:  2011   Comments: 0
Reading Railway "Crusader"
Title:  Reading Railway "Crusader"
Description:  The Crusader tears through Skillman at high speed behind one of the railraod's two stunning GS1sas Pacific's. This was train #614, which ran from Reading's Market Street Terminal in Philadelphia to Jersey Central's Communipaw Terminal in Jersey City, NJ. Unfortunately, while CKF had access to his parents 620 Kodak Hawkeye Brownie, he'd acquired his own 1/2 frame 127 camera, and many of his pictures of this period were taken on this camera which made today's disposables look like Leicas.
Photo Date:  6/1/1947  Upload Date: 11/25/2008 11:36:33 PM
Location:  Skillman, NJ
Author:  Charles Knox Freericks
Categories: 
Locomotives: 
Views:  2344   Comments: 0
Reading freight
Title:  Reading freight
Description:  What appears to be an I8 Camelback (what CKF refered to as "Bunkhouse" Consolidation) heads through the four track territory in Skillman. If not for the fact that this were a road freight Camelback in the very last few months of service, I would never have posted such a poor quality image, but this one seems worth seeing, even in this terrible condition. Image was taken on a 1/2 frame 127 film Leecrest plastic camera, built by Lee Industries of Chicago, ILL, U.S.A. On the back of the camera it instructed "Use any Standard Vest Pocket Film 1 5/8 X 2 1/2 4 X 6.5 cm."
Photo Date:  6/1/1947  Upload Date: 11/25/2008 11:36:09 PM
Location:  Skillman, NJ
Author:  Charles Knox Freericks
Categories: 
Locomotives: 
Views:  1698   Comments: 0
Baltimore & Ohio #1 "The National Limited"
Title:  Baltimore & Ohio #1 "The National Limited"
Description:  CKF's notes only identify this train as a Baltimore & Ohio passenger train. I am assuming it is The National Limited based on the shadows and head end cars (but am still working on solving the puzzle as the lack of streamlined cars impugns this idea greatly). If so, this was a Jersey City to St. Louis train. The westbound is about to pass under the telltales for Camp Meeting Road. Power is EA #51 (delivered May 1937) and an unidentified E6(B). It looks as if the E units are blowig smoke, although the angle of the smoke may mean it's actually just a flaw in the image (like the streaks clearly are).
Photo Date:  9/1/1947  Upload Date: 11/27/2008 1:00:39 AM
Location:  Skillman, NJ
Author:  Charles Knox Freericks
Categories: 
Locomotives:  BO 51(EA)
Views:  4883   Comments: 3
Reading "Relief Train"
Title:  Reading "Relief Train"
Description:  A Reading relief train lead by an I-8 class 2-8-0 probably #1588; one of 177 class I-8a through I-8d built by Baldwin and Reading (the last road freight camelbacks built). The class (1501 through 1617) was built between 1905 and 1914. , all of which were off the roster by 1948. It is followed by a flat car, an idler car, a wrecker (maybe one of Reading's 150 ton Bucyrus wreckers), another idler car, a tool car (made from a milk car), and a dining and bunk car (made from an old coach). The wrecker was based at Reading's Erie Avenue Freight Engine Terminal near 4th Street & Erie Avenues in North Philadelphia.
Photo Date:  9/1/1947  Upload Date: 11/24/2008 10:41:05 PM
Location:  Skillman, NJ
Author:  Charles Knox Freericks
Categories: 
Locomotives: 
Views:  2287   Comments: 0
RDG 614 "The Crusader"
Title:  RDG 614 "The Crusader"
Description:  A streamlined Pacific GS1sas leads The Crusader, train #614 (the afternoon eastbound) past the Skillman depot. I'm told by a fellow who enhanced the pic that this is the #117. In 1947, the Crusader ran twice a day between Philadelphia and Jersey City. The trainset has an observation car on either end. The eastbound side is now tucked into an extention off the tender. In JC, the engine will be turned and placed on the other end, but the rest of the trainset is not turned.
Photo Date:  9/1/1947  Upload Date: 11/20/2008 10:21:01 AM
Location:  Skillman, NJ
Author:  Charles Knox Freericks
Categories: 
Locomotives:  RDG 117(4-6-2)
Views:  3338   Comments: 7
Reading "Big Dutch Mike"
Title:  Reading "Big Dutch Mike"
Description:  A Reading M1sa "Big Dutch Mike" leads an Autumn afternoon westbound on the "platform track" as seen from Camp Meeting Avenue overpass. It's a good bet that this freight stopped to do work at pesticide maker Goulard & Olena. Reading's Big Dutch Mikes were Baldwin products (except for the class engine, #1700, from the Reading shops). CKF lived in nearby Blawenburg at the time and would ride his bike to the Skillman depot or get a ride from his mom, who worked at Skillman & Skillman Realty.
Photo Date:  9/1/1947  Upload Date: 11/20/2008 10:21:29 AM
Location:  Skillman, NJ
Author:  Charles Knox Freericks
Categories:  Steam
Locomotives:  RDG 170X(2-8-2)
Views:  2014   Comments: 0
CR 5817 XM-6
Title:  CR 5817 XM-6
Description:  GP-7 5817 and GP38 7844 power eastbound XM-6 at Skillman, NJ. XM-6 and MX-13 were the old Reading Symbols to forward freight between Abrams, Pa and Manxille, NJ.
Photo Date:  9/13/1978  Upload Date: 10/7/2006 2:25:10 AM
Location:  Skillman, NJ
Author:  John C Durant
Categories: 
Locomotives:  CR 5817(GP7) CR 7844(GP38)
Views:  1486   Comments: 1
Untitled
Title:  Untitled
Description: 
Photo Date:  12/31/1989  Upload Date: 2/17/2019 8:11:47 PM
Location:  Skillman, NJ
Author:  Kim Piersol
Categories: 
Locomotives: 
Views:  354   Comments: 1
Untitled
Title:  Untitled
Description: 
Photo Date:  12/31/1989  Upload Date: 2/17/2019 8:11:59 PM
Location:  Skillman, NJ
Author:  Kim Piersol
Categories: 
Locomotives: 
Views:  315   Comments: 1
Untitled
Title:  Untitled
Description: 
Photo Date:  12/31/1989  Upload Date: 2/17/2019 8:12:03 PM
Location:  Skillman, NJ
Author:  Kim Piersol
Categories: 
Locomotives: 
Views:  284   Comments: 1
Untitled
Title:  Untitled
Description: 
Photo Date:  12/31/1989  Upload Date: 2/17/2019 8:12:17 PM
Location:  Skillman, NJ
Author:  Kim Piersol
Categories: 
Locomotives: 
Views:  339   Comments: 2
Untitled
Title:  Untitled
Description: 
Photo Date:  12/31/1989  Upload Date: 2/17/2019 8:18:36 PM
Location:  Skillman, NJ
Author:  Kim Piersol
Categories: 
Locomotives: 
Views:  328   Comments: 1
Untitled
Title:  Untitled
Description: 
Photo Date:  12/31/1989  Upload Date: 2/17/2019 8:18:44 PM
Location:  Skillman, NJ
Author:  Kim Piersol
Categories: 
Locomotives: 
Views:  365   Comments: 1
Untitled
Title:  Untitled
Description: 
Photo Date:  12/31/1989  Upload Date: 2/17/2019 8:12:40 PM
Location:  Skillman, NJ
Author:  Kim Piersol
Categories: 
Locomotives: 
Views:  305   Comments: 1
Untitled
Title:  Untitled
Description: 
Photo Date:  12/31/1989  Upload Date: 10/25/2017 7:02:24 PM
Location:  Skillman, NJ
Author:  Kim Piersol
Categories: 
Locomotives: 
Views:  419   Comments: 0
Untitled
Title:  Untitled
Description: 
Photo Date:  12/31/1989  Upload Date: 2/17/2019 8:12:45 PM
Location:  Skillman, NJ
Author:  Kim Piersol
Categories: 
Locomotives: 
Views:  361   Comments: 1
Untitled
Title:  Untitled
Description: 
Photo Date:  12/31/1989  Upload Date: 2/17/2019 8:19:04 PM
Location:  Skillman, NJ
Author:  Kim Piersol
Categories: 
Locomotives: 
Views:  410   Comments: 1
Untitled
Title:  Untitled
Description: 
Photo Date:  12/31/1989  Upload Date: 2/17/2019 8:19:08 PM
Location:  Skillman, NJ
Author:  Kim Piersol
Categories: 
Locomotives: 
Views:  388   Comments: 2
Untitled
Title:  Untitled
Description: 
Photo Date:  12/31/1989  Upload Date: 2/17/2019 8:13:03 PM
Location:  Skillman, NJ
Author:  Kim Piersol
Categories: 
Locomotives: 
Views:  413   Comments: 1
Untitled
Title:  Untitled
Description: 
Photo Date:  12/31/1989  Upload Date: 2/17/2019 8:13:14 PM
Location:  Skillman, NJ
Author:  Kim Piersol
Categories: 
Locomotives: 
Views:  392   Comments: 1
Untitled
Title:  Untitled
Description: 
Photo Date:  12/31/1989  Upload Date: 2/17/2019 8:13:18 PM
Location:  Skillman, NJ
Author:  Kim Piersol
Categories: 
Locomotives: 
Views:  344   Comments: 0
Untitled
Title:  Untitled
Description: 
Photo Date:  12/31/1989  Upload Date: 2/17/2019 8:13:23 PM
Location:  Skillman, NJ
Author:  Kim Piersol
Categories: 
Locomotives: 
Views:  423   Comments: 2
Q174
Title:  Q174
Description:  CSX eastbound intermodal train Q174 passes Hollow Road, MP QA 45.5, CSX Trenton Line
Photo Date:  1/5/2000  Upload Date: 8/27/2004 10:50:15 PM
Location:  Skillman, NJ
Author:  Stephen Sozio
Categories: 
Locomotives:  CSX 8740(SD60I) CSX 7758(C40-8W)
Views:  2286   Comments: 0
CSX 4739/CSX 579 Cross Hollow Rd
Title:  CSX 4739/CSX 579 Cross Hollow Rd
Description: 
Photo Date:  1/5/2000  Upload Date: 8/27/2004 10:50:15 PM
Location:  Skillman, NJ
Author:  Stephen Sozio
Categories:  Signal
Locomotives:  CSX 579(AC44CW)
Views:  1640   Comments: 0
CSX,Conrail, And CSX Cross Hollow Rd
Title:  CSX,Conrail, And CSX Cross Hollow Rd
Description: 
Photo Date:  1/5/2000  Upload Date: 8/27/2004 10:50:15 PM
Location:  Skillman, NJ
Author:  Stephen Sozio
Categories: 
Locomotives:  CSX 8740(SD60I) CSX 7758(C40-8W)
Views:  1887   Comments: 0
CSX 7637 Crossing Hollow Rd
Title:  CSX 7637 Crossing Hollow Rd
Description: 
Photo Date:  1/5/2000  Upload Date: 8/27/2004 10:50:15 PM
Location:  Skillman, NJ
Author:  Stephen Sozio
Categories: 
Locomotives:  CSX 7637(C40-8)
Views:  1479   Comments: 0
Q301
Title:  Q301
Description:  CSX westbound manifest train Q301 (?) passes Hollow Road
Photo Date:  1/5/2000  Upload Date: 8/27/2004 10:50:15 PM
Location:  Skillman, NJ
Author:  Stephen Sozio
Categories: 
Locomotives:  CSX 8826(SD40-2) CSX 7757(C40-8W)
Views:  1867   Comments: 0
Q191
Title:  Q191
Description:  CSX westbound intermodal train Q191 passes Hollow Road
Photo Date:  1/5/2000  Upload Date: 8/27/2004 10:50:15 PM
Location:  Skillman, NJ
Author:  Stephen Sozio
Categories: 
Locomotives:  CSX 4739(SD70MAC) CSX 579(AC44CW)
Views:  1757   Comments: 0
Q172
Title:  Q172
Description:  CSX eastbound intermodal train Q172 passes Hollow Road
Photo Date:  1/5/2000  Upload Date: 8/27/2004 10:50:15 PM
Location:  Skillman, NJ
Author:  Stephen Sozio
Categories: 
Locomotives:  CSX 694(AC60CW) CSX 7749(C40-8W)
Views:  1786   Comments: 0
CSX 694 And CSX 7749 Crossing Hollow Road
Title:  CSX 694 And CSX 7749 Crossing Hollow Road
Description: 
Photo Date:  1/5/2000  Upload Date: 8/27/2004 10:50:15 PM
Location:  Skillman, NJ
Author:  Stephen Sozio
Categories: 
Locomotives:  CSX 694(AC60CW) CSX 7749(C40-8W)
Views:  1825   Comments: 0
CSX 6408 On The Skillman Siding
Title:  CSX 6408 On The Skillman Siding
Description: 
Photo Date:  1/5/2000  Upload Date: 8/27/2004 10:50:15 PM
Location:  Skillman, NJ
Author:  Stephen Sozio
Categories: 
Locomotives:  CSX 6408(GP40-2)
Views:  1265   Comments: 0
The Half Empty, Half Loaded Ballast Train On The Skillman Siding
Title:  The Half Empty, Half Loaded Ballast Train On The Skillman Siding
Description: 
Photo Date:  1/5/2000  Upload Date: 8/27/2004 10:50:15 PM
Location:  Skillman, NJ
Author:  Stephen Sozio
Categories:  Bridge
Locomotives: 
Views:  806   Comments: 0
Q191
Title:  Q191
Description:  CSX Southbound Intermodal/StackTrain Q191 Passes Hollow Road
Photo Date:  1/5/2000  Upload Date: 8/27/2004 10:50:15 PM
Location:  Skillman, NJ
Author:  Stephen Sozio
Categories: 
Locomotives:  CSX 7340(C40-8W)
Views:  1513   Comments: 0
CSX 7340/CSX 8732 At Signal 45/Hollow Road
Title:  CSX 7340/CSX 8732 At Signal 45/Hollow Road
Description: 
Photo Date:  1/5/2000  Upload Date: 8/27/2004 10:50:15 PM
Location:  Skillman, NJ
Author:  Stephen Sozio
Categories: 
Locomotives:  CSX 7340(C40-8W) CSX 8732(SD60I)
Views:  2039   Comments: 0
CSX 7899 Passes MP 46.0 (Skillman Siding)
Title:  CSX 7899 Passes MP 46.0 (Skillman Siding)
Description: 
Photo Date:  1/5/2000  Upload Date: 8/27/2004 10:50:15 PM
Location:  Skillman, NJ
Author:  Stephen Sozio
Categories: 
Locomotives:  CSX 7899(C40-8W) CSX 7629(C40-8)
Views:  1772   Comments: 0
Abitibi Consolidated Wood
Title:  Abitibi Consolidated Wood
Description: 
Photo Date:  3/21/2002  Upload Date: 8/29/2004 7:58:40 PM
Location:  Skillman, NJ
Author:  Stephen Sozio
Categories: 
Locomotives: 
Views:  668   Comments: 0
CSX 7504
Title:  CSX 7504
Description: 
Photo Date:  3/21/2002  Upload Date: 8/24/2004 9:12:25 PM
Location:  Skillman, NJ
Author:  Stephen Sozio
Categories: 
Locomotives:  CSX 7504(C40-8)
Views:  1609   Comments: 0


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