Pennsylvania Railroad Caboose, Ocean Gate NJ

Pennsylvania Railroad Caboose, originally uploaded by scottnj.

Located in the beach community of Ocean Gate New Jersey in Ocean County. This is an interesting place to stop and get a couple of photos, especially if you are are into trains. On display is this restored 1918 Pennsylvania Railroad Caboose.

In 1881, Ocean Gate was known as "Good Luck Point." The Pennsylvania Railroad cut a single track across a 600-acre farm and meadowlands owned by Captain Caleb Grant. Excursion trains passed through Good Luck Point on their way to beach resorts at Seaside Park and Bay Head. As early as 1909 passengers began disembarking here to build their summer cottages. Soon a church and school were built, telephone lines installed, a post office and businesses established, and by 1918 Ocean Gate was born.

The Ocean Gate Historical Society bought the railroad station in 1990 and moved it several blocks to its present location. The two-room 1909 Railroad Station has been restored as closely as possible to its original appearance. The waiting room and ticket office are the focus of the station and featuring a number of exhibits that recall Ocean Gate's early days and some of railroading's history.

Visitors can see the original ticket counter, old station lamps, railroad memorabilia, charts and maps, and a variety of tools used by local tradesman at the turn of the century. Three showcases highlight local memorabilia.

The exhibit includes the Pennsylvania Railroad's two-man fire-fighting hand pumper used by local firemen, as well as trunks used by Philadelphians who brought their entire wardrobes to their country homes.

Directions: Directions: I-76 East to Rt. 70 East to Lakehurst, NJ. West on Rt. 37 to Tom's River. Turn right onto Rt. 9 South. About a mile out of Toms River take a jughandle left turn onto Ocean Gate Dr. Turn right onto Cape May Ave. Museum is by water tower. 60 - 90 minutes from Philadelphia.