The BelDel in a nutshell

Helen Kull

We’re back along the Delaware on the “West Coast” of Ewing, this time to consider the railroad which once paralleled the river.

I enjoy biking along the Delaware & Raritan Rail Trail. But I admit that I find it hard to imagine that lovely and idyllic path along the river as a busy, vital, dirty, noisy commercial rail line which lasted for over a century.

I moved to Ewing in 1978, and recall seeing the tracks along the canal, although sadly I never witnessed a train along them. The connection between Trenton and Lambertville was abandoned in March of 1977, and removal of the tracks occurred from the summer of 1979 to the spring of 1982.

But let me start from the beginning….

As mentioned in prior columns, the goal of all this construction across the “waist” of NJ was to connect Philadelphia and New York City - the two largest US cities in the early 1800s - in order to provide for shorter and more efficient transport of materials and later people.

It became a goal in the late 1600s, and remained so until a method could be proposed, approved, funded and constructed in the 1830s. The D&R Canal successfully provided this connection first, connecting the Delaware at Bordentown to the Raritan Bay at New Brunswick, fed with water flowing through the D&R Feeder Canal, which passes through Ewing.

But not far behind was the possibility of steam engines replacing mules as the source of power for this transport. In fact, the Camden and Amboy Railroad Company was chartered on the very same day that the Delaware and Raritan Canal Company was chartered in 1830. The CamAm was built in the early 1830s, somewhat paralleling the main D&R Canal, constructed a bit to its east. Its president, Robert L. Stevens, was the son of “Colonel” John Stevens III, and both designed and built steam engines. Completed in 1834, the CamAm - and railroads - were gaining steam.

Others were interested in providing such rail transportation routes as well, and an early one which followed the CamAm was the Belvidere Delaware Railroad, or BelDel. The BelDel was chartered in 1836, and was constructed during the years 1850 - 1855, following the path and contours of the feeder canal.

The first stretch from Trenton to Lambertville was completed in 1851, and the stretch to Belvidere was completed in 1855. The track was laid on the towpath used by mules to pull the barges through the canal, and the towpath was moved to the other side of the canal, as barges were still using the canal.

The rail line connected Trenton to places to the north along the Delaware, up through Phillipsburg (opposite Easton), and up to Belvidere, and ultimately connected lines serving the coal-rich areas of central and northeastern Pennsylvania to those serving north Jersey and on into New York and New England.

This proved to be significant to industrialization during the second half of the 19th century, as Trenton became an ironworking center - including the Roebling Steelworks.

Coal and iron ore were transported to smelters in Phillipsburg, and then pig iron and coal were transported down the BelDel to Trenton. Additionally, brownstone and other rock quarried along the canal was carried to markets in Philadelphia and New York. With the purchase of the BelDel by the Pennsylvania RR Co in 1871, additional rail lines would help to transport such materials throughout the Northeast, but the BelDel was one of the first, first supplementing, and then replacing similar transport of goods using the canals.

While continuing to carry coal, produce, lumber and other materials to markets through the mid-20th c, the BelDel also provided passenger service, with eight stations alone between Trenton and Lambertville, including Greensburg (renamed Wilburtha in 1883). In its heyday, the Bel-Del was a busy railroad, with a schedule “you could set your watch to.”

But commercial rail traffic waned after WW2, and this railroad network fell into decline. Portions were abandoned, tracks removed and either paved over, or became hiking/biking trails.

However, you can still experience the thrill of a steam train riding the Black River and Western in Lambertville.

You done well, BelDel!

Ewing Recreation

February 2022

It’s time to register for Ewing Girls’ Softball spring season! Girls ages 4.5 – 18 can participate. Register online at www.ewinggirlssoftball. com.

Ewing Little League Baseball is also accepting registration for the spring for ages 4 – 12, at www.ewingbaseball.com. Ewing Hopewell

Babe Ruth Baseball, ages 13 – 15, is taking online registration at hvbsa.org.

Ewing Recreation Department is taking applications for picnic area permits at the following parks, John Watson on Upper Ferry Rd., Banchoff on Mt. View Rd., Higgs Park on Summerset St., ESCC Camp Picnic area. Email Nancy at npappano@ewingnj.org or contact the office for more information or to reserve a date.

Adult Co-Ed Volleyball is held on Wednesday nights at Antheil School from 7:00pm – 9:30pm. This program is informal and are for all levels of players. Participants can register at www. communitypass.net.

The Hollowbrook Community Center, 320 Hollowbrook Drive, 609-883-1199, has rooms available for rent for small groups to large parties. Kitchen facilities are available.

For more information on these or any other programs you can contact the Recreation Office at (609) 883-1199 or online at www. ewingnj.org/communityaffairs.

ESCC will remain closed due to the fire.

The Ewing Recreation column is paid content provided by Ewing Township.

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179 Scotch Road, Ewing (Directly across from Glen Roc Shopping Center) 609-403-6147 • 3 chairs with quality barbers 9-6 weekdays. 9-4 Saturday.

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