Train - Locomotive - The Central New Jersey 581 Locomotive 1905
by Mike Savad
Title
Train - Locomotive - The Central New Jersey 581 Locomotive 1905
Artist
Mike Savad
Medium
Photograph - Hand Colored Photo
Description
Hand colored photo from 1905
Original title: Central New Jersey: Locomotive CNJ 581
Photographer: Unknown
Location: Communipaw, New Jersey (Liberty state park)
Locomotive No. 581 of the Central Railroad of New Jersey (CNJ) was a 4-4-2 "Atlantic" type steam engine, built by Baldwin Locomotive Works in November 1899 (builder's number 17246). Designed for high-speed passenger service, No. 581 exemplified the camelback design, a uniquely American innovation developed to accommodate a wide Wootten firebox used for burning hard, smokeless anthracite coal. In camelbacks, the engineer's cab straddled the boiler rather than sitting behind it, an arrangement that improved fuel efficiency but came with safety drawbacks due to the exposed positioning of the crew.
The CNJ operated several of these camelback locomotives during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, particularly for express routes where speed and reliability were crucial. The 4-4-2 wheel configuration, four leading wheels for stability, four large driving wheels for speed, and two trailing wheels to support the firebox, was ideal for such service. Locomotive No. 581, like its sister engines, was part of a broader fleet that included the well-known No. 592, which ran high-profile routes such as the Philadelphia-Atlantic City express and even hauled the Baltimore & Ohio's prestigious Royal Blue on occasion. Today, No. 592 survives as one of the few remaining camelbacks, preserved at the B&O Railroad Museum in Baltimore.
The photograph of No. 581 was taken at the CNJ's Communipaw Terminal in Jersey City, New Jersey, now the site of Liberty State Park. At the time, this area was a vital hub for the movement of passengers and freight, with extensive infrastructure including ferry connections to Manhattan, sprawling yards, and large coal docks. The structure visible in the background of the photo is believed to be part of the "old coal dock," used to fuel steam locomotives like No. 581 during their daily operations. Though most of the coal-handling and rail facilities have vanished, the grand terminal building still stands as a preserved landmark. It offers visitors a tangible connection to New Jersey's industrial past and the era when camelbacks like CNJ 581 thundered through the Northeast, bridging innovation and adversity in the golden age of steam.
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April 6th, 2025
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