Locomotives
Steam locomotive No. 60 was built in 1937 by the American Locomotive Company (ALCo) in Schenectady, NY. No. 60 is a “2-8-0” or “Consolidation” type locomotive, originally constructed for the Great Western Railroad (GW) in Loveland, Colorado, primarily to haul sugar beets. Although it was the newest and final steam locomotive acquired by the GW, it saw only limited use during its tenure.
In the late 1950s, No. 60 was retired from the Great Western Railroad and subsequently purchased by the Black River & Western Railroad. It entered tourist passenger service in 1965 and quickly became the railroad’s iconic locomotive. Over the years, it has operated on the line between Lambertville and Three Bridges, as well as on several special trips beyond the railroad’s regular routes.
In late 2000, No. 60 was removed from service for a federally mandated inspection. The restoration work involved removing all appliances, jacketing, and piping from the boiler, extracting the tubes and flues, and conducting a thorough inspection of the boiler, including ultrasonic thickness testing to confirm its structural integrity under pressure. Following the inspection, new tubes and flues were installed, and the exterior components were reassembled. The locomotive returned to service in 2012.
In late 2023, No. 60 was again taken out of service for the same Federal Railroad Administration-mandated inspection. Restoration and inspection work are currently underway, with crews working diligently to ensure its timely return to operation.
Diesel-electric locomotive No. 438, an SW9 model built by Electro-Motive Diesel (EMD) in 1952, was originally constructed for the Erie Railroad. Designed for yard switching operations, this locomotive delivers 900 horsepower. Over the years, No. 438 served multiple railroads, including Erie-Lackawanna, Conrail, and NJ TRANSIT. In 2014, it was donated to the Black River Railroad Historical Trust, where it now serves as a vital part of daily operations and educational outreach.
Today, No. 438 is actively used for a variety of tasks, including switching duties, moving equipment within the yard, and pulling excursion trains on the Black River Railroad Historical Trust’s passenger services. It plays a key role in the railroad’s tourist operations, offering visitors an authentic experience of mid-20th-century railroading. Additionally, the locomotive is used to train volunteers and staff in the maintenance and operation of diesel-electric engines, helping to pass on knowledge and skills to the next generation of rail enthusiasts and preservationists.
Thanks to a generous grant from the Emery Rail Heritage Trust in 2018, number 438 received a layover heater, which allows it to operate year-round. Read more about the improvement here.
Rolling Stock
Combination car, or “Combine,” number 297 was built in 1923 by the American Car & Foundry Company for the Central Railroad Company of New Jersey (Jersey Central). This car featured two compartments: approximately two-thirds of the space was configured as a standard coach with seating for 51 passengers, while the remaining third served as a baggage compartment. For its first four decades, the car played a key role in the Jersey Central’s commuter and intercity rail operations throughout New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania.
In 1967, the car was retired from Jersey Central service and acquired by the Black River & Western Railroad. Over the years, it was renumbered both 297 and 320. Since then, it has remained in active service on the line between Lambertville and Three Bridges. Preserving its original combination of passenger seating and baggage storage, the car continues to operate today and is a regular feature on trains run by the Black River Railroad Historical Trust.
Coach number 1009 was built in 1923 by the American Car & Foundry Company for the Central Railroad Company of New Jersey (Jersey Central). Designed as a standard coach with a seating capacity of 78, the car was a mainstay on Jersey Central’s commuter and intercity routes across New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania.
Retired in 1976, the car was acquired by the Steamtown Foundation in Bellows Falls, Vermont. It saw minimal use following its purchase and later moved to Scranton, Pennsylvania, when Steamtown relocated in the 1980s. In the 2000s, the Black River Railroad Historical Trust negotiated its purchase, and the car arrived in Ringoes in 2010. Following an extensive restoration effort, it entered service in 2015 as part of the Black River Railroad Historical Trust’s operations.
In 2022, the Trust secured a grant from the Emery Rail Heritage Trust to perform major “life extension” work on the car’s mechanical components. This project included the installation of new wheels and springs, as well as a comprehensive rebuild of the running gear to ensure its continued operation for years to come. Learn more about the improvement here.
Coach number 605 was built in 1914 by the Pullman Company for the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad (Lackawanna). Configured as a coach with seating for 78 passengers, it served extensively on the Lackawanna’s non-electrified commuter routes in New Jersey.
Following its retirement by the Erie-Lackawanna Railroad in 1972, the car was acquired by the Black River & Western Railroad. It saw regular service on the line between Lambertville and Three Bridges until the late 1990s, when it was sidelined due to the need for significant restoration work.
In 2015, the Black River Railroad Historical Trust began a comprehensive restoration of the car. This project included a complete interior restoration, exterior refurbishment, and mechanical upgrades to ensure it was operational. Coach 605 returned to service in late 2018 and is now a regular feature on most trains operated by the Black River Railroad Historical Trust.
Club Car number 322 was built in 1927 by the Bethlehem Shipbuilding Company for the Central Railroad Company of New Jersey (Jersey Central). Originally configured as a coach with seating for 78 passengers, it served extensively on Jersey Central’s commuter and intercity routes throughout New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania.
Retired in 1967, the car was acquired by the Black River & Western Railroad. Before its retirement, it was used in the filming of the movie Funny Girl. For the production, half of its seats were removed to accommodate the camera crew and equipment. After its purchase, the Black River & Western transformed the car into a Club Car, replacing the seats with tables and installing a central bar. It was named the John L. Bishop in honor of the railroad’s president at the time.
Today, the car remains in active service on the Black River & Western Railroad. It is prominently featured during the Christmas and Easter seasons, as well as special events. The car, configured with a seating capacity of 36 passengers, is also available for private rental, making it a popular choice for birthdays, weddings, and other celebrations. For more details on renting this exclusive Parlor Car, click here.
Caboose number C-140 was built in 1941 by the Erie Railroad at its Dunmore, PA, car shops. Part of an initial series of 70 cabooses, it featured all-steel riveted construction and a distinctive off-center cupola, a hallmark of the “Dunmore” cabooses. These cabooses were immediately assigned to fast freight service across the Erie Railroad system, serving as the “home away from home” for freight crews. On October 17, 1960, Erie C-140 became Erie-Lackawanna C-140 following the merger of the Erie and Lackawanna railroads. On April 1, 1976, it was absorbed into Conrail’s operations.
By the 1980s, cabooses were being phased out due to advances in railroad technology. Renumbered Conrail 46106 and relegated to work train service in Mingo Junction, Ohio, C-140 was eventually withdrawn from duty and sent to Conrail’s car shop in Reading, PA, for disposition. There, in 1987, a Black River & Western railroader discovered and purchased it, transporting it to Ringoes, NJ. The caboose was carefully restored by BRW staff to its original Erie Railroad colors and became the unofficial “crew car” for BRW volunteers, serving on passenger excursions, regular trains, and occasional freight runs.
In 2014, the caboose was donated to the Black River Railroad Historical Trust (BRRHT) and underwent another meticulous restoration by BRRHT volunteers. Today, it is available for charter trips, allowing passengers to experience the golden era of railroading when a little red caboose marked the end of every freight train. For more information about renting this classic piece of railroad history, click here.
