By Jennifer Kohlhepp, Managing Editor
HIGHTSTOWN — There are few traces of the trains that once traversed through the borough.
The only visible reminders of the railroad are the sleeper stones behind the greater Goods Thrift Store, a whistle-post in the ground near the elementary school, an abutment next to the firehouse and a portion of the freight station that has been moved downtown.
The remnants themselves tell little about the former borough railroad. Nathaniel Crabtree, 17, of Hightstown, a member of Boy Scout Troop 59, recently completed a project that breathes new life into the almost forgotten history of the Camden and Amboy Railroad’s relationship to Hightstown.
Nathaniel received the Eagle Scout rank for his service project to research, design and build a series of historic signs for the Hightstown Greenway Trail documenting the impact of the Camden and Amboy Railroad on the development of Hightstown and its influence on railroading across the United States in the 19th century.
“My project was putting up four signs that tell the history of the railroad in Hightstown,” Nathaniel said. “They used to teach it in school but then it disappeared from the curriculum.”
Nathaniel said most people don’t know the history of Hightstown, let alone that a railroad existed in the borough at one time. His exploration of the railroad began in third grade, when his teacher took his class on a walking tour through the borough that inspired him to learn more about the trains that once traveled through town. He later attended a program at the local library given by John Kilbride, of the Camden and Amboy Railroad Historical Group, who would ultimately help him with his Eagle Scout project. Additional support and expertise for the project was provided by the Hightstown East Windsor Historical Society and the Hightstown Historic Preservation Commission.
The first sign is located by Dawes Park, slightly down the path by the Walter C. Black Elementary School where there’s a whistle-post sign.
“It’s by the metal whistle-post sign that alerted the conductor to blow the whistle to prevent anyone from getting hit by the train,” Nathaniel said.
The second sign is located behind the Greater Goods Thrift Store at the stone sleeper historic site on Rogers Avenue.
“Sleeper stones were originally used to lay tracks for the trains but only for a short time because the trains would fall off,” Nathaniel said.
In 1832, the first sections of track laid by the Camden and Amboy line were on stone blocks called “sleeper stones.” The stone was cut by inmates at New York’s Sing Sing Penitentiary.
”Sleepers” were discovered in Hightstown when abandoned Conrail tracks were removed, and the elevated right-of-way was leveled. Some of the “sleepers” have been sent to the Smithsonian Institute.
The third sign is located near the firehouse and describes how the railroad affected the borough’s population growth.
The fourth sign, located along Cranbury Station Road, explains more of the history of the railroad.
Rails started arriving in Hightstown in October 1832. Rail service started to address agricultural needs. Farmers could use the rails to start shipping their produce to the outside world. Passenger service cost $2. Even though a day’s wage at that time was $4, 110,000 people rode the railroad during its first year of operation, according to the Camden and Amboy Railroad Historical Group.
Teams of horses were used to pull trains before the John Bull engine arrived from England in crates. A 23-year-old Isaac Dripps assembled the engine for a November 1833 test run. When the engine derailed after a hitting a hog, modifications were made, including the addition of a cow-catcher to push obstructions out of the way. The engine was retired in 1866 and was deeded to the Smithsonian Institute, according to the Camden and Amboy Railroad Historical Group.
The first railroad fatalities happened in Hightstown soon after the John Bull engine started operating on the rails. The accident took place along Brick Yard Road on Nov. 11, 1833, according to the Camden and Amboy Railroad Historical Group.
In 1868, the Pemberton and Hightstown route arrived, linking the towns of Pemberton and Hightstown, a total of 24 miles. Hightstown was the final terminus where the line shared the station with the Camden and Amboy Railroad. Camden and Amboy Railroad purchased most of the stock and owned the line. The line first was leased to the Camden and Amboy in 1868, then the Pennsylvania Railroad through its acquisitions. In 1888, the Union Transportation Company was created to run the line, and the lease was terminated with the Pennsylvania Railroad although it still owned the line. In 1915, the Pennsylvania Railroad merged with the Pemberton and Hightstown Railroad into the Pennsylvania and Atlantic Railroad, a holdings company that included other local lines, according to the Camden and Amboy Railroad Historical Group.
By 1939, the Pemberton and Hightstown service ended except for crews. The last scheduled passenger train traveled through Hightstown in 1938, and the passenger station was razed in 1940. Rails were removed in 1965, with more rails removed in 1984, according to the Camden and Amboy Railroad Historical Group.
“I hope people will be educated about why the railroad was important to Hightstown’s history,” Nathaniel said of his Eagle Scout project.
He built the signs with a team of Boy Scouts who used hand tools and adults who used power tools. Millhurst Mills Ace Hardware donated supplies and advice. The writing and images on the signs are etched in titanium and have a black acrylic frame.
The project was conducted under the direction of Hightstown’s Supervisor of Public Works Ken Lewis and Construction Official George Chin. Nathaniel’s Scoutmaster Sandy Tootleman and Boy Scout Advisors Victor Vergara and Tod Lanphar also oversaw the work.
“I learned a lot about the history of Hightstown and how to lead a group to complete a certain project,” Nathaniel said.
He also learned how to scale down a project to focus on and plan for what’s most important, he said.
Nathaniel just graduated from Hightstown High School and plans to attend Mercer County Community College in the fall. He wants to stay involved in Boy Scouts as much as he possibly can.
