U.S. 206
(1865) (1873) (1890)
(1920-2013) Princeton
Penn’s Neck
0
1000 FEET
2000
Illustration by Otto M. Vondrak. Not all stations shown. Not an official map. ©2013 Carstens Publications, Inc.
OPPOSITE: An NJ Transit “Dinky” shuttle train prepares to depart Princeton station on August 22, 2013. The famous “PJ&B” (Princeton Junction and Back) shuttle is the shortest regularly scheduled passenger run in the United States, and recently got about 500 feet shorter. TOP: The shuttle operation has served commuters and college students alike in various forms for nearly 150 years. The stately stone station was built during a renovation of the branch in 1920. ABOVE: Ticket vending machines (TVM’s) have nearly replaced the role of the ticket agent across the NJ Transit system.
about a half-mile south, but no action was taken. The current branch is single track with no intermediate stations or freight customers.
The branch passed to Penn Central ownership in 1968, and then to Conrail in 1976. On August 13, 1981, legisla- tion was signed mandating that Con- rail exit the commuter rail business by the end of 1982. On January 1, 1983, the Princeton branch along with com-
muter service between New York City and Trenton became a part of NJ Tran- sit’s operations. On September 29, 1984, the station was added to the Na- tional Register of Historic Places and was then sold by NJ Transit to the uni- versity a month later.
Through the Years
With Princeton being one of the prominent institutions of higher learn-
Princeton Jct.
ing, the branch has had its fair share of celebrities as regular passengers over the years. In 1903 the Liberty Bell made a brief visit on its trip from Philadelphia to Boston. In 1913 Presi- dent Woodrow Wilson walked from his home to the train station to begin his journey to Washington, D.C., to be in- augurated as the 28th President of the United States. Until that time, Wilson was the governor of New Jersey and a
27
NJT/AMTK (PRR)
WASHINGTON RD.
ALEXANDER RD.
U.S. 206
WASHINGTON RD.
NASSAU ST. - RT. 27
BRUNSWICK PIKE - U.S. 1
NJT (PRR)
MERCER ST.
to Washington, D.C.
ALEXANDER RD.
to New York
Raritan Canal
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