West Jersey Short Line

Company History: WJSL was launched in May of 1985 to be the designated operator of 18 miles of former Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines linking Swedesboro, Salem and Port Salem, New Jersey. The line was owned by Salem County who took possession from Conrail. WJSL ran the line for just three years before the Pioneer RailCorp shortline group was brought in to takeover as designated operator. Pioneer established West Jersey Railroad to run it.

Successor/Parent History: The West Jersey operated 18 miles of former Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines from Swedesboro to Port Salem, New Jersey with a pair of RS-3's. The line had been operated by West Jersey Short Line but in 1988 Pioneer RailCorp was brought in to replace WJSL as the designated operator and the West Jersey Railroad was born. Traffic at startup included chemicals, fertilizer, frozen meat, grain and soda ash. The West Jersey lost their lease on the line in 1995 to the Southern Railway of New Jersey. Pioneer RailCorp picked up their equipment and moved it to Michigan to launch the West Michigan Railroad.

Brief History: The U.S. is a country of 50 states covering a vast swath of North America, with Alaska in the northwest and Hawaii extending the nation’s presence into the Pacific Ocean. Major Atlantic Coast cities are New York, a global finance and culture center, and capital Washington, DC. Midwestern metropolis Chicago is known for influential architecture and on the west coast, Los Angeles' Hollywood is famed for filmmaking.