James Truex Campaign Train on the M&NJ

September 24, 1960

by John Deserto

photos by Richard Cobb & Bill Grohoski

   

    The election season of 1960 was truly historic. Eisenhower's Vice-President, Richard Nixon was locked in a very tight race with John Kennedy in an election for the Presidency. In a race for Congress' 28th District, Democrat James Truex was running against incumbent Republican Katherine St. George. Truex sponsored a Campaign train on the M&NJ, which was the first passenger train on the line in 20 years in order to drum up support in a traditionally Republican area. Candidate Truex played to the crowds that gathered along the line by calling on the Federal Government to help support the rehabilitation of American Railroads, particularly the commuter lines. He also noted his opponents statement that compared railroads to the Pony Express. The train stopped at Amchir Heights, Slate Hill and Westtown for brief speeches. In Unionville, the end of the line in 1960, the approximately 200 excursionists detrained and a political rally was held with flags, bunting, hotdogs and soda. Passengers not only included the general public but a half dozen leaders and candidates from the Democratic Party and Pat Zawaski the reigning Onion Harvest Festival Queen and her court who appeared at Truex's side on the caboose while making speeches.
   Several contests were held on the train. The first was a contest to see who had the best "Gay 90's" period costume. This was judged by Mrs. Kevin McCarthy who played Tracy Malone on the TV soap opera "Young Dr. Malone". Eleven year old Dee Ann Bogdanski won the $10 prize. Another contest sponsored by Candidate Truex included the dozens of photographers that captured the event on film. It is not currently known who won this contest. What is known is that Truex lost.

    This train was historic as it was the first passenger train on the line in 20 years. The last passenger train was the M&U's Brill car that was annulled in June 1940 when the new High School in Middletown opened and the students from towns along the railroad were bussed.

(Left Photo) In 1960, Rich Cobb enjoyed a unique excursion on the M&NJ. He and a friend captured the event and have allowed us to relive this experience also through the photo's they took that day. We see Rich here on the platform of the M&NJ's 44 tonner #1. It is still in its original black and white paint scheme that it wore as M&U #1. It has been said that the masks for the white stripes came from the O&W's 44 tonners and used upside down. A beautiful day and a great train, Rich seems to appreciate this moment as we all would.

 Rich saved his ticket from the trip. Even though the M&U had been gone as a corporate entity since 1948, the name still appears on the ticket.

    Two 18 year old railfans named Rich Cobb and Bill Grohoski were aboard for the trip from Middletown to Unionville and return. They enjoyed the M&NJ's 44 Tonner #1, two borrowed Erie (soon to be Erie Lackawanna) Stillwell coaches #2175, #2345 and Erie caboose C238. Rich Cobb scanned these pictures and has shared them with us. We thank you Rich.

The special is getting ready for its 11AM departure from the East Main St. station in Middletown bound for Unionville. The only modifications the new owners of the M&NJ made to the #1, after purchasing the line in 1948, what to paint out the Middletown and Unionville name on the cab and substitute the initials M&NJ. Interestingly the M&NJ owners had purchased the 44 tonner new in 1946...before they purchased the railroad. Manning, Simmons and Clark, the M&NJ's first owners, had several feed outlets along the line and purchased the engine and then the whole railroad to insure service to their feed business'. The old 1922 railbus shed is now serving as the diesels home. While cramped (as can be seen with the doors wide open) the building was conveniently located next to the East Main St. station, which served as the offices for the line and was easy to heat in the winter.

    The excursion made stops in towns along the line, allowing candidate Truex to stump for support. Here we see the train stopped for the crowd in Westtown on its way south to Unionville. While the candidate was speaking off the rear of the caboose, the engine crew seemed to be enjoying this outing and the attention of the photographers. The white flags on the front hood, passenger cars and the people milling around all make this an unusual photo of the M&NJ, as it is this companies 1st passenger train. A few years later scenes like this would become much more common when a new set of owners of the M&NJ RAILWAY began operating excursions for the Empire State Railway Museum using the #1 and an old logging locomotive, the 103. The large feed elevator at right was owned by the Ford family. This building was destroyed in a spectacular 2 day fire in July 1964.

    For those who are appalled by the weed growth along the M&NJ today, note that weed killing has never been the focus of the M&NJ's ownership. The same could be said for the M&U and MU&WG in earlier eras.

    While a little fuzzy, this is one of the very few shots of the Unionville station's north elevation which held the freight room. This station and the one in Middletown were the only original Middletown, Unionville and Water Gap stations that survived. It went through several remodelings throughout its lifetime but the scrapping of the NYS&W's Hanford Branch in 1958 doomed the station. It was sold off then taken down.

    This shot from the roof of the Erie caboose shows the train from the rear. The street to the right is Railroad Ave. in Unionville as the train seems to have just pulled in. Another mile down the tracks are the remains of Hanford Jct. where the M&U/M&NJ interchanged with the NYS&W at the NY-NJ boarder. The Hanford Branch was ripped out in 1958 and caused the M&NJ and the GLF feed outlets in Sussex, Westtown and Middletown to suffer. The large building on the left has a various times served as a creamery and a silk mill. This building is still standing in Unionville today.

    The crew seems to be inspecting the front (note the "F" on the frame) truck on the #1 while they stopped off in Unionville. The man in the top hat is candidate Truex, no doubt wondering what might happen if a mechanical malfunction strands all these potential voters in town. Bill Grohoski, in dark shirt and light colored pants standing beside Truex, was Rich Cobb's partner on this trip. The conveyor to the right seems to indicate the former creamery/silk mill is getting some kind of rail service.

    The excursionists are detraining in Unionville to enjoy the Fall weather and a rally for Candidate Truex. Rich Cobb is in the foreground, obviously enjoying the trip. The merger between the Erie and the Lackawanna is still a few weeks in the future, it will be sometime before this Dunmore caboose looses its Erie paint.

(Above) After reloading everyone back onto the train in Unionville, the #1 shoved the consist back to Westtown in order to allow the engine to run around the consist. The runaround in Unionville had been removed at this time. The building at the right was originally the Pounds and Thorn Creamery. In its heyday, Westtown boasted 2 creameries and the Ford feed-lumber concern.

    Additional photo's of this Campaign train can be found in the New Jersey Midlands newsletter The Midlander, Vol.1, #3 and #4, page 12
and 3 respectively. Additional facts are from the Middletown Daily Record, Monday, September 26, 1960; page 1 and 25.

Additional photo's of this excursion would gladly be added as well as any additional information or corrections.

Thanks to Rich Cobb and Peter Brill for providing additional information.