Earle Naval Weapons Station - Military Railroads of the New York Metropolitan Area

EARLE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT
NAVAL WEAPONS STATION EARLE
Colts Neck & Leonardo, NJ

On 24 April 1943, the SS El Estero had taken on 2,730,000 pounds (1,365 tons) of mixed munitions at the Caven Point (Bayonne), NJ dock and was preparing to sail at 17:30. A boiler flashback started a fire on oily water in her bilges, which quickly grew out of control. The initial response to the fire brought five fire apparatus of the Jersey City Fire Department, including two 30-foot fireboats as well as approximately 60 Coast Guardsmen.

Moored directly opposite the El Estero were two other fully laden ammunition ships and two ammunition-laden consists of railroad boxcars. If a simultaneous detonation were to occur, and with over 5,000 tons of ammunition involved; this would have been equivalent of the yield of a 5 kiloton tactical nuclear weapon (about 1/3 the yield of the Hiroshima - Little Boy fission bomb).

From the August 2nd, 1945 NY Herald - PM Daily edition
sourced via fultonhistory.com
added 06 May 2019

That newspaper diagram is a little bland in detail, so here is 5 mile diameter circle (in red) superimposed on a Google Map Satellite View photo of Caven Point Pier (albeit with present day development) and the surrounding vicinity. Everything would have been flattened in that circle.

The black circle represents the area of structures flattened in the Black Tom (Lehigh Valley Railroad) Explosion of 1916. (Please note that debris from the explosion had been projected much further and as far as Journal Square.)

The Black Tom explosion (munitions, TNT) that took place on July 30, 1916 in Jersey City, NJ had an explosive force of about 1 kiloton. To witness an explosion of this magnitude; the fourth, final and largest explosion at the PEPCON Plant located in Henderson, Nevada on May 4, 1988 was also approximately 1 kiloton of explosive force.

Also of similar explosive force was the Beirut Explosion of 2020 in which 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate detonated with a 1.1 kiloton yield of explosive force. Videos of both of these explosions can be viewed on YouTube. However, it should be noted the desert surroundings of the PEPCON Plant make a poor comparison to the center of a industrial area like Black Tom or Caven Point, however the Beirut explosion taking place in the center of a port surrounded by commercial and residential structures is much more accurate to the effects of the Black Tom explosion.

The Halifax Harbor, Nova Scotia explosion (explosives and munitions) of December 1917 was almost three times the force of Black Tom and PEPCON. That explosion was approximately 2.9 kilotons in explosive force and devastated Halifax. The Texas City / SS Grandcamp explosion of 1947 (and had not yet taken place), was slightly larger at approximately 3.2 kilotons. The Grandcamp explosion (ammonium nitrate) would become the worst industrial accident and largest non-nuclear explosion in US history. All of these pale in comparison to the potential explosion of the El Estero at 5 kilotons.

Without exaggeration, a blast of this magnitude would have destroyed the surrounding docks and freight yards and terminal facilities the Pennsylvania RR at Greenville along with other railroad yards & terminals in the vicinity, Bayonne, the Statue of Liberty, numerous oil refineries and other critical industries in the area.

Outside of the 5 mile zone, the blast would have severely damaged most of Jersey City and Newark, NJ; St. George Staten Island; Governors Island; the Sunset Park and Red Hook neighborhoods in Brooklyn, as well as Lower Manhattan.

So, with the Black Tom and Halifax explosions still in the collective memories of many; firefighting efforts began in earnest. It was quickly discovered that the severity of the blaze prevented access to the El Esteros' seacocks, making any attempt at flooding the ship not feasible.

A call went out to the New York City Fire Department, which in turn dispatched its two most powerful fireboats; the "Fire Fighter" and the "John J. Harvey", to the scene (both of which are retired but still around as floating museums!)

This assistance arrived at 18:30 and immediately began running hoses up to Coast Guardsmen on the burning ship, with the fireboats taking positions directly alongside El Estero, while three commercial tugboats made up a towline to the bow of the El Estero and began pulling her towards the open water of Lower New York Bay, via The Narrows located between Brooklyn and Staten Island. For the record, one of these tugboats was none other than the Beatrice Bush, of the Bush Terminal Railroad! What a coincidence and what a great tie in between this page and Bush Terminal!

Despite an imminent explosion, the Coast Guardsmen, firefighters and tug crews continued their efforts to contain and extinguish the blaze (and to save as much of the ship and cargo as possible - both of which vitally necessary to the war effort), but the Port Admiral of New York Harbor ordered the ship sunk. So the tugs shifted to a shallow area of Upper New York Harbor off Robbins Reef Light, where the fireboats began a deluge of 38,000 gallons of water per minute (the fireboats combined maximum capacity) into the El Esteros' cargo hold. This succeeded in swamping the ship shortly after 21:00. With all hotspots declared extinguished by 23:30, the all-clear for residents and businesses surrounding New York Harbor was transmitted over the radio.

This incident was considered to be the single greatest threat to New York City during World War II (but of which passed without major incident or loss of life), and an impetus to move the munitions handling out of Upper New York Harbor and away from the population centers.

Sam Berliner, III (now deceased) spent a great deal of time and effort in assembling the corresponding quadrangle maps that cover the entirety of Naval Weapons Station Earle; and these are dated 2014. I further edited them to better highlight the NWS Earle property boundaries.

United States Geological Survey - 2014
original compilation courtesy of Sam Berliner, III website
Naval Weapons Station Earle and R.O.W. highlighted by author annotated image: © 2019 by author
added 06 May 2019

As for the Leonardo Piers themselves, and their being of historical importance, a Historic American Engineering Record - (HAER NJ-142-B) was completed by the U.S. Department of the Interior in 2003. Here we will defer to actual maps drawn for the construction in 1944-1945.

Addition of US Army Pier - Leonardo, NJ - 1944
Earle Naval Weapons Station - Historic American Engineering Record - HAER NJ-142-B
U.S. Department of the Interior, 2003
(cleaned by author)
added 06 May 2019

The trackage at Naval Weapons Station Earle has many loops, wyes, sidings, encircling different sections of the facility and spurs and stubs leading to various bunkers within the complex and spread out among the property. The total amount of "bunkers" is approximately 250, but not all are serviced by the railway and not all those served by the railway appear to be used.

The actual name for a bunkers is "magazine" and the Department of Defense denotes two types: Earth Covered Magazines, and Above Ground Magazines. The construction differences are specifically explained in detail in the open source document:

The following map is a fairly decent representation of the layout, using aerial mapping, but as to which tracks that are currently active, inactive, out of service or that have been removed cannot be confirmed do to the off limits nature and the size of the facility.

It is assumed each area has a specific purpose: small arms, artillery shells, missiles, obsolete weapons awaiting disposal, etc, and of course the special weapons area. One thing is almost certain: the wider the spacing between stubs, the more explosive power the weapon being stored has.

Naval Weapons Station Earle - Mainside - Colts Neck, NJ (north is up)
Google Maps
annotated image: © 2019 by author
added 06 May 2019

Special Weapons Compound or "Limited Area"

Neither the US Navy, Department of Defense, Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), nor any other US Government Agency has ever confirmed or denied the storage of nuclear weapons at Earle Naval Weapons Station. Nuclear weapons are more commonly called "special weapons" or "devices" in defense circles of discussion.

There are a few misnomers and assumptions that need to be clarified in discussing nuclear weapons.

While one commonly thinks and visualizes a nuclear weapon being a large sea launched ballistic missile "SLBM" from a ballistic missile submarine: ("SSBN" or "boomer") of which these would have been administered to in the dedicated fleet ballistic missile submarine bases at Kings Bay, GA; or Kitsap - combined Bremerton and Bangor, WA as well as Norfolk, VA; or an ICBM from a Air Force missile base in the Midwest, or a large bomb dropped from an Air Force bomber like a B-52. These weapons fall into the category of strategic nuclear weapons.

But in fact, there were many other nuclear weapons intended for use as necessary in a tactical warfare environment; and are so named tactical nuclear weapons. However, it should be noted some weapons can be dual purpose: strategic as well as tactical. It should also be recognized that explosive yield does not determine strategic or tactical usage; the fighting environment & range does. Have a submarine threatening your battle group from a few miles away? Tactical. A small shipborne or aircraft launched missile detonated over a city becomes strategic and an ICBM or SLBM with a single warhead that used to destroy a ship or several ships is now tactical in nature. Enemy forces on the ground about to occupy a city in friendly territory? Tactical. Destroy an enemy city in their country for either retaliation to the loss of a city of yours or to eliminate military production? Strategic.

In most cases, tactical nuclear weapons are usually simple gravity dropped bombs or small missiles that can be mounted under the wings of aircraft, put in a torpedoes or depth charges.

It is also pertinent to realize how compact modern nuclear weapons are. While the intercontinental ballistic missiles themselves, as large as they are; they are only the delivery vehicle. The nuclear devices themselves are contained within reentry vehicles, and dimensions are generally accepted as cone shaped, around 6 feet tall and 38 inches in diameter at the base. Several of these fit under the nose cone of either the Minuteman III ICBM or Trident II SLBM (the actual number can vary based on the arms limiting agreement in effect).

The actual nuclear device, the fission "primary"; is actually quite small - about the size of a soccer ball or even smaller. The "secondary" or the fusion part of the two stage or "thermonuclear" weapons also fit inside the cone shaped reentry vehicle along with the necessary electronics and devices for safety, accurate deployment, detonation at the correct parameters.

Think of them as a Matryoshka doll - the Slavic dolls that get progressively smaller to fit inside of one another. The smallest doll is the one that that is the key. To make a long story short, the actual nuclear device or bomb portion is quite small, and rather portable.

It is this portability that concerns defense agencies and results in the security measures that surround nuclear weapons storage. Which is why agencies will not confirm or deny their presence at a specific location.

Never the less, despite this lack of confirmation or denial, and considering the mission of the U.S. Navy during the Cold War through Desert Storm; it is entirely feasible and with almost certainty, that nuclear weapons were stored in the Earle Depot. (You got an L or Q clearance? Then you will know for yourself.)

On the issue of safety, nuclear weapons, after the two initial designs of 1945; are actually safe when inferring to an accidental detonation. While the weapons components can rupture or catch fire in an accident (such as an airplane crash) and spread radioactive material; to make a nuclear device actually detonate by accident is quite difficult under random circumstances. Considering all the accidents known to the public at present involving nuclear weapons; none have ever accidentally detonated. When this fact is held in comparison to the accidental explosions in handling and storage of everyday chemicals (TNT, ammonium nitrate, etc) or even regular military munitions; nuclear weapons are quite inert.

Without making a long story longer, that is what some scientists have been tasked to, and spent decades of research on: making them safer. Disregarding the politics and morality of their existence and use; an accidental nuclear explosion is, under almost all consideration, not going to happen unless every single aspect of its design is followed to a precise and preplanned set of protocols. This includes both security precautions and interlocks as well as natural physics. Its very complicated to explain to the layman, but the research is out there and in open source if you care to research further. Therefore, having them at Earle Naval Weapons Station and in close proximity to the New York Metropolitan Area was not careless or reckless.

Therefore, Earle N.A.D. / N.W.S. throughout the decades, would have stored an assortment of shipborne nuclear weapons used by the US Navy, of which could include but are not limited to:

model	warhead	yield	manufacturing dates	quantity produced	retirement dates	notes
Artillery Shells (battleships)
W19 "Katie"	W23	15-20 Kt	October 1956	50	October 1962	11 inch shell. Components adapted to 16 inch shell body
. .
Torpedoes (destroyers, submarines)
ASTOR Mk 44 & Mk 45	W34	11 Kt	August 1958 - December 1962	600	7 July 1964 - 1976
ASW Mk 34 Lulu depth bomb	W34	11 Kt	August 1958 - December 1962	2000	7 July 1964 - 1971
. .
Depth Charges (destroyers, frigates)
RUR-5 ASROC	W44	10 Kt	May 1961 - March 1968	575	June 1974 - September 1989
UUM-44 SUBROC	W55	variable, 1-5 Kt	January 1964 - April 1974	285	June 1983 - September 1990	thermonuclear (yield may only refer to primary)
. .
Gravity Bombs (aircraft carriers & naval aviation)
Mk 27		?	November 1958 - June 1959	700	November 1962 - July 1965	thermonuclear
Mk 43 / B43		70 Kt, 500 Kt, 1 Mt *	April 1961 - October 1965	1000 (all models)	December 1972 - April 1991	thermonuclear (can be used as a depth charge)
Mk 105 "Hotpoint"		11 Kt	June 1958 - September 1962	600	1965
B57		5, 10, 15, 20 Kt *	January 1963 - May 1967	3,100 produced	early versions June 1975, last June 1993	(can be used as a depth charge)
Mk 61 / B61		.3 to 340 Kt *	October 1966 - early 1990's	3150	early versions retired from 1970s-80's 1350 active	thermonuclear; longest run, oldest design in service; "Enduring Stockpile"
B83		variable, low Kt to 1.2 Mt	June 1983 - 1991	650	active	thermonuclear
. .
Surface to Air Missiles - Anti-aircraft (missile cruisers)
RIM 2 "Terrier"	W45	1 Kt	April 1962 - June 1966	750	July 1967 - September 1988
RIM 8 "Talos"	W30	300 T; 500 T; 4.7 Kt; 19 Kt	February 1959 - January 1965	300	January 1962 - March 1979
. .
Sea Launched Cruise Missiles (submarines, missile cruisers, frigates)
Regulus I	W5	6, 16, 55, 60, 100, 120 Kt	May 1952	140	January 1963
Regulus I	W27	2 Mt	September 1958 - June 1959	20	August 1962 - July 1965	thermonuclear
Tomahawk TLAM-N	W80-0	variable, 5-150 Kt	December 1983 - September 1990	367	2010 -2013	thermonuclear
* = various models of bomb produced thermonuclear = two stage: fission primary (atomic bomb) ignites fusion secondary (hydrogen bomb). If cell is blank, weapon is fission (atomic bomb) only. variable yield = disables the fusion secondary part of the device to reduce yield. Makes fewer weapons more versatile. For comparison: the "Little Boy" gun type Uranium fission bomb used on Hiroshima had a yield estimated at 15 kilotons. "Fat Man" implosion type Plutonium fission bomb used on Nagasaki had an estimated yield of 20 kilotons. If you are really into this type of weaponry, I highly recommend the website: Nuclear Weapons Archive

Please note, the above list is almost certainly not a complete listing.

While attempting to ascertain the track layout using Google Maps Satellite View, I happened across this area in the middle of the entire depot, pretty far removed from the other more trafficked areas of the base. This section of the base is surrounded by double chain link fences and has some unique features which will be discussed below. This compound is dilapidated and obviously no longer in use. But why would such an already secure weapons facility such as Earle Depot need a further cordoned and fenced off area? (And if I wasn't before, I'm now pretty impressed with the resolution of Google Maps Satellite View.)

So, I'm willing to bet you J. Robert Oppenheimer's slide rule that this is the now de-commissioned special weapons storage "limited area". And for the record, if this area were not decommissioned, I wouldn't be talking about it publicly and in such detail.

The compound, which measures approximately 3000 feet north to south and 2000 feet east to west (at its widest point) and comprises approximately 5,500,000 square feet; is surrounded by double chain link fences to the length of 1.8 miles in circumference, both topped with helical "concertina" razor wire, and in all probability; electrified. The space between the fences may have been patrolled by K-9 teams.

Referencing the topographical maps, the area is nestled in a natural "hollow" or a valley surrounded by several low hills. I believe this to be intentional, as these hills would provided a safety measure in case of a partial or full accidental detonation; and would at least minimally shield the surrounding area.

Pedestrian / vehicle access to the compound (at bottom left - northwest corner of the image below) is via a road with chicane to prevent any vehicle from gaining momentum to attempt to ram through the next set of barriers, as well as place for escorts to meet those needing to access the compound.

After navigating the chicane, you then approach a 90 foot vehicle entrapment area with two sliding steel barriers on steel rail recessed in the pavement. Not your typical wheeled chain link fence gate. After you have stopped at the outer barrier, it was slid out of the way. Your vehicle pulled up to the inner closed barrier, and the outer one was slid back into position behind the vehicle. Your vehicle was now essentially trapped.

Now, a US Marine or possibly a member of the Federal Protective Forces a/k/a "ProFor", (but this is questionable as ProFor are predominately stationed at Department of Energy facilities, and not military bases. This leads me to understand this compound was guarded by military personnel).

In either case, a heavily armed person approached you and your party for credentials and your security clearances are checked. While this took place, at least one other Marine or member of ProFor inspected your vehicle, the trunk or back of truck, under the hood, as well as under the vehicle and wheel wells with mirrors. Your tool bag(s) and diagnostic equipment are inspected. Your documentation is brought into the guard post (marked "gp" in orange in the image below); where a telephone call is made to the compound supervisor in the support building to confirm your arrival and the veracity of your visit.

If you are transporting a device or devices to or from either a ship or an assembly / refurbishment facility; their serial numbers are checked against the manifest list at this time as well. You and whatever personnel that made up the escort for the weapons in transit; have been under armed guard by at least a squad of US Marines and members of the Federal Protective Force "ProFor" from the start of your journey to the end of your journey. But, if you are a technician or scientist, you might be alone or with a partner.

All the while that this is occurring, several extremely serious and dedicated US Marines from a special detachment for protecting nuclear installations have their weapons trained on you. We're not talking the type of solider that are leaning on something, puffing on a Lucky Strike, with just his holster flap unbuttoned, all casual like. These are at full alert posture, wearing body armor and have you, and the people with you; under very close observation, as well as the perimeter in case you are the distraction and not the actual threat.

Upon receiving confirmation of your authorization to enter the compound; which usually took at least 5 to 10 minutes, and often more; the barrier in front of you was slid open and you proceeded inside. Then you were escorted to the support building, where you were issued a dosimeter, and your travel orders and other documents are reviewed and confirmed through several phone calls and a thorough inspection of your person, including a walk through metal and radiological detector.

From this point on, you will never leave the company of another person, that was permanently cleared for access to the compound. This is the essence of the two man rule regarding security around nuclear weapons or their components. No one, and I mean no one single person; is ever to be left alone in the vicinity of a nuclear weapon. This way a single person could not attempt to steal it or sabotage it. While a single person in thought could be corrupted to do so by a sudden case of overzealous morality, or by treason by a foreign power; to steal or sabotage the weapon, two (or more) separate individuals not normally associated with one another made it difficult and highly unlikely to conspire such an act together. If you had to take a leak, someone accompanied you. If something suspicious took place, the compound locked down until the matter could be assessed and rectified.

Oh, and by the way, every single person that is authorized to be in the vicinity of a nuclear weapon has had to pass both initial and periodic investigations of the Personnel Reliability Program, where every aspect of your life has been investigated, picked apart and scrutinized. Everyone from your kindergarten teacher, ex-romantic interests, employers & ex-employers, ex-spouses, siblings, friends, former friends, your members of clergy; etc., have been interviewed. Your credit history checked. Your lifestyle investigated. Are you living within your means? Partying habits. Political activism. Everything is analyzed to ensure you are not a potential threat to security of the nuclear program.

Even the smallest question about your past can invalidate you from approval or suspend your clearance after your approval. Going through contentious divorce or child custody proceeding? Chances are you will be temporarily suspended or reassigned to a less critical assignment until that aspect in your life is resolved. You either have the best interests of your military position and full concentration on the nuclear weapons you work on, or you don't. And if you don't, you aren't going to be working on one.

It is one of, if not the toughest background check to pass. Rumor has it that candidates for the Presidential Security Detachment of the Secret Service have an easier time passing their applications and background checks and getting approved for that duty. Reason? If you fail as an agent protecting the president? One, maybe two lives lost. A nuclear weapon gets stolen and used? Thousands (and potentially even millions) lose their lives.

Returning to the image below, at the top left corner (northeast) is a small parking area with what looks to be the empty site pad for a support building, a helipad, and a tall watchtower (like those used for fire towers). There are white poles with what appear to be floodlights and white boxes on them. Video cameras? Motion detectors? Infrared Sensors? Scintillation detectors? Radiological survey meters? Or all of the above?

These floodlight towers (marked "fl" in white in the image below) surround the building sitepad, the helipad and in front of three recessed entrances to the three pairs of siamesed bunkers at upper left. Also, there is another security gate affixed to the wingwall of the bunker accessway of the siamesed magazines before you even get to the individual magazine doors on the left and right. This gate in almost all certainty was secured with two padlocks or combination locks, each with a different key or combination that were changed on an irregular basis to prevent memorizing. Once you were through that gate, now you had to unlock the heavy steel bunker door, with at least one or two more locks.

These siamesed magazines held the most important components, such as the slugs of Highly Enriched Uranium 235 for the gun type devices, and the cores of Plutonium 239 for the implosion type fission devices (these components are the actual part of the bomb that is compressed by explosives reaching supercriticality and resulting in the nuclear explosion); as well as any (classified) safety devices (Permissive Action Links) to prevent unauthorized detonation, and other highly specialized and classified items in nuclear weapons design that make the weapons lighter, more efficient, and safer. Those design details are better covered by other websites.

One of the less secure magazines in the compound could house the activation plugs for the firing circuit or the computer that holds the pre-programming for flight / launch characteristics.

After your work, inspection, and / or accounting was complete, you and your escort return to the support building where you had your dosimeters analyzed for potential radiation exposure. If you were clean; your tool bag inspected again. A phone call to a supervisor of the base that your leaving the compound as well as a call to the guard contingent at the vehicle entrapment area to advise them of your departure. Then you were escorted to your vehicle, and then back to the vehicle entrapment where your vehicle was throughly searched in, on, and under again. This way someone else could not place something in your vehicle without your knowing and your inadvertently becoming someone else's courier or patsy.

Ironically, the interior of this special weapons compound was only serviced by a single railroad spur. There was another just outside of it.

And yet again, perhaps I spent a little too much time on this chapter; but as this is the only military facility on my website that was privy to handling nuclear weapons, and personally I do not think enough people understand the scope of what lengths and extremes the military goes through to protect these weapons. It deservedly required a little more attention. If you wish to check it out without getting yourself arrested and thrown in a Federal SuperMax prison for 20 years, here is the link to the coordinates on Google Maps Satellite View.

...

Google Maps Satellite Imagery - Special Weapons Compound (de-commissioned), Earle N. A. D. - Colts Neck, NJ
(north is left)
annotated image by author: © 2019 - www.freightrrofnyc.info
added 07 May 2019

. While researching this chapter, this author located the following question dated June 2, 2008; as posted on the Federation of American Scientists website:

Returning to conventional weapons, and when loaded with those munitions, the boxcars are stored in three sided revetments within the Earle Base. The design of these revetments as so, that in the even of a accidental detonation, the force of the blast will be focused up, instead of along the surface of the ground, and in doing so, protecting other neighboring revetments.

Above Ground Magazine - boxcar revetment (empty)
Naval Weapons Station Earle - Mainside; Colts Neck, NJ
Google Maps
annotated image: © 2019 by author

Above Ground Magazine - boxcar revetment (loaded)
Naval Weapons Station Earle - Mainside; Colts Neck, NJ
Flat car with palletized load to left, three box cars to right.
Google Maps aerial
annotated image: © 2019 by author
added 06 May 2019

Another type of activity for the railroad is to spot a boxcar or two in front of the platform at the an enclosed bunkers or Earth Covered Magazines.

Sections of the Earle Ammunition Depot have earth covered munitions magazines, either individual or "communal" with steel doors securing the entrances. The magazines are above ground, constructed of reinforced concrete, with earth pushed up on three sides, and of which also thinly covers a roof. In the event of an explosion, the forces are directed to go through the thin roof instead of sideways and affecting other magazines. In the following image you can see a communal magazine flanked by two sets of three individual magazines. Note the rightmost magazine set has an additional security perimeter in the form of a chain link fence around it.

A short (200 foot or so) stub track turns out from the running track and dead ends in front of each magazine or a set of magazines. This way, the train crew can spot several different boxcars at different individual magazines for loading or unloading by ordnance personnel. Loop or balloon tracks surround each group of magazines so the locomotive may access the boxcars from either direction.

earth covered magazines & stub tracks
Naval Weapons Station Earle - Mainside; Colts Neck, NJ
Google Maps aerial
annotated image: © 2019 by author
added 06 May 2019

Yet another subsection of the Earle Base, has what appears to be modular or double wide prefabricated storage units with unloading platforms in front. These appear to be the lightest duty storage structures for munitions on the site. Perhaps small arms ammunition, flares and other incidental items?

storage units & stub tracks
Naval Weapons Station Earle - Mainside; Colts Neck, NJ
Google Maps aerial
annotated image: © 2019 by author
added 06 May 2019

As this event last took place in June 2000, the next one (which not scheduled or even announced) is estimated to be 2025, but scuttlebutt is it will not take place as a result of heightened security atmosphere due to actions of acrimony towards the United States.

Coming out of the southern border of Mainland is a single track that extends another 20 miles or so south to Lakehurst Naval Air Engineering Station, Fort Dix and MacGuire Air Force Base. Yes, that Lakehurst, where the zeppelin Hindenburg caught fire and crashed in 1937. It is now the Naval Air Warfare Engineering Center Lakehurst, and is a test facility. Part of their experiments utilize weighted sleds powered by jet engines set on railroads tracks, but as this is not a true railroad, it is out of the purview of this website.

As the creation of Earle Naval Ammunition Depot took place during the middle of second generation of diesel designs in production, we are fortunate enough to witness a very nice assortment of motive power at this location through the years: operations started with total of ten Baldwin VO660 and VO1000. Four Whitcomb 80 tonners came to the facility shortly after. Eleven GE / ALCo RSX4 (MRS1) and three GE 80 tonners came in the 1950's, (one of which is still seen in recent aerial imagery) two EMD SW1200 and one SW900 to round off the lot. The Baldwins operated right through the 90's, and were the most famous (and photographed!) of the locomotive fleet to have operated at Earle.

Not all locomotives operated at this location at the same time, and would be reassigned to another base throughout the years.

The roster doesn't end there: the newest locomotives to arrive: a pair of National Railway Equipment 3GS21B "Gen Sets" (truck engines powering generator packs in an individually replaceable set). Each "Gen Set" is turned on (automatically) as more power is needed or turned off as it is not, as opposed to one big engine running all the time. This arrangement helps new switching locomotives meet current environmental standards:

The photo section below begins with oldest locomotive at top (the Baldwins) and progresses to the newest at the bottom (the NRE Gen Sets).

All locomotives known to have operated at Earle Naval Ammunition Depot / Naval Weapons Station Earle were standard gauge and diesel electric.
(The GE RSX4 / MRS1 were adjustable gauge: 56½" to 66" as per military specifications, but only operated standard gauge at Earle NAD.)

There are three locomotives that carried Earle NAD #8: Baldwin c/n 71968, Baldwin c/n 71940 and GE/Alco c/n 31664.

Also, there seems to be some differing methods regarding the numbering of the units. Images of the Baldwin units as seen on the website "The Baldwin Diesel Zone"; some are marked "first" and "second". This is possible, but this author in comparing images of those locomotives, noticed that the locomotives marked "second" appear to have been rebuilt and repowered with EMD equipment and cosmetics, i.e: single exhaust stack to dual stacks, EMD dual sealed beam headlights, and EMD style radiator shutters and housings on the nose. This author has always reserved the use of the "second" tag to denote a completely different locomotive carrying the same road number as a predecessor locomotive.

Further information is required, and images not included here are most certainly welcome. Please contact me at bedt14@aol.com

Another interesting aspect of the operation at Earle, are the Navy boxcars. They provide an efficient means of directly transloading munitions to and from the ships by bringing the boxcars directly shipside on the Leonardo Pier and loading or unloading directly. This eliminates one step of handling as would be the case if the ammunition were to be handled again at a permanent bunker site. And any reduction in the handling of munitions decreases the chances of an accident. This method is also beneficial when the munitions only need to be stored for a short period of time.

These cars were built to haul ammunition and were purchased new in the 1950's. They were part of a group of 100 units, of which that had been recently reconditioned and repainted by a private contractor located in Star, NC. Most of the cars had a light weight of 68,000 pounds with a 105,000 pound load limit. Dimension are 19½' feet wide, 14' wide in side length of 50½'.

The car numbers are as follows: 61-06516, 65-04790, 61-04793, 61-05169, 61-61-05178, 61-04789, 61-04933, 61-05174, 61-05240, 61-06909, 61-06906, 61-06520, 61-05191, 61-04871, 61-06516 and 61-05171.

The cars are painted all white with red and yellow reflectors affixed to the sides in a staggered pattern.

There are two manufacturers of cars represented: most of the cars with riveted side panels were built by the Pressed Steel Corporation of New Jersey. This company was better known for their manufacture of the early Fox style of freight car trucks.

Cars 61-04726, 61-05240, 61-06520 have welded side panels and are similar to Pullman Standard PS-1 boxcars. Pullman Standard built two lots for the US Navy; USNX 8000 through 8879 in 1952 (DF loaders) later renumbered 28,000-28879. Then renumbered once again in the 61-xxxx series.

The second lot comprises of 61-04221 through 61-04260 built in 1954. All cars have CRECO doors, either five or seven panels with the exception of 61-04790, 61-4793, 61-05171, 61-05174, and 61-05191 which have Youngstown corrugated doors.

This material originally was compiled by the Railroad Prototype Modelers and the Philadelphia Chapter of the NRHS.

An interesting publication issued by the US Navy explains the refit of the boxcars:

I am very greatly indebted to Sam Berliner, III for allowing me to piggyback and use his information and images from his Naval Weapons Station Earle page. It was not my intent to create another page of Earle, but despite our similar interests, there were enough differences is subject matter that inspired me to author my own. I highly recommend you visit and read his website on Earle as well, as not all topics were covered on both pages.

Secondly, I would like to thank Baldwin Diesel Zone and Railroad Picture Archives and the respective photographers for use of their locomotive images.

And, sincere thanks to Richie King for providing the roster of passenger equipment used in the URHS 2000 excursion.

History	The El Estero Accident	Trackage	Special Weapons Storage Compound - "Limited Area"
URHS Excursions	Locomotive Roster	Locomotive Photos	Rolling Stock	Special Thanks

URHS #	car name	present location	car condition	history	original car configuration
317	"New York Central"	Tuckahoe, NJ	stored serviceable	ex-New Jersey Transit 5317, exx-110, exxx-Central RR of New Jersey, exxxx-Burlington Northern 4817, nee-Great Northern 1216	108-seat coach rebuilt from Pullman Standard lightweight 48-seat leg-rest coach
326	"Erie"	Batesville, MS	stored serviceable	ex-New Jersey Transit 5326, exx-129, exxx-Central RR of New Jersey, nee-Great Northern 1139	106-seat coach rebuilt from American Car Foundry lightweight 60-seat coach
327	"Lackawanna"	Batesville, MS	stored serviceable	ex-New Jersey Transit 5327, exx-119, exxx-Central RR of New Jersey, nee-Great Northern 1127
329	"Pennsylvania"	Tuckahoe, NJ	stored serviceable	ex-New Jersey Transit 5329, exx-100, exxx-Central RR of New Jersey, exxxx-Great Northern 1007, nee-Union Pacific 5487	108-seat coach rebuilt from Pullman Standard lightweight 48-seat leg-rest coach
331	"Reading"	Boonton, NJ	stored serviceable	ex-New Jersey Transit 5331, exx-115, exxx-Central RR of New Jersey, exxxx-Great Northern 1000, nee-Union Pacific 5469	108-seat coach rebuilt from American Car Foundry lightweight 44-seat leg-rest coach
332	"Lehigh Valley"	Boonton, NJ	caught fire, status?	ex-New Jersey Transit 5332, exx-121, exxx-Central RR of New Jersey, exxxx-Great Northern 1001, nee-Union Pacific 5470	info needed
333	"Baltimore & Ohio"	Batesville, MS	stored serviceable	ex-New Jersey Transit 5333, exx-123, exxx-Central RR of New Jersey, exxxx-Great Northern 1002, nee-Union Pacific 5471	108-seat coach rebuilt from American Car Foundry lightweight 44-seat leg-rest coach
334	"Jersey Central"	Boonton, NJ	stored serviceable	ex-New Jersey Transit 5334, exx-112, exxx-Central RR of New Jersey, exxxx-Great Northern 1005, nee-Union Pacific 5477	info needed

builder	c/n	build date	model	wheel arrangement	number / name	US Navy number	acquired	disposition	notes	ref
NRE	5516-61	8/2013	3GS21B-R	B-B		65-00647	new	in service	NREX 647 (3GS21B) 123 tons 2100 horsepower
NRE		8/2013	3GS21B-R	B-B		65-00648	new	in service	NREX 648 (3GS21B)
EMD	20064	11/1954	SW1200	B-B	Earle NAD #4	65-00630	used	acquired 1987 ex-Chicago Milwaukee St Paul & Pacific #634 exx-Chicago Milwaukee St Paul & Pacific #2029 (first)
EMD	20075	11/1954	SW1200	B-B	Earle NAD #6	65-00631	used	September 1987: sold to USN 65-00631 July 1984: sold to Chrome Locomotive ex-Chicago Milwaukee St Paul & Pacific #645, exx-Chicago Milwaukee St Paul & Pacific #2040 (first) Class 12E-S. Re # 645 (1959)
EMD	26020	4/1960	SW900m	B-B	Earle NAD #7	65-00636	used	rebuilt to 1200 hp ex-Chicago Northwestern #145 exx-Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha #59 (second)
GE		(9/1943- 9/1946)	45 ton	B-B	Earle NAD #3			unknown 45 ton - not attributed in builders records, but seen marked as such at Iona Island, NY - research pending	red & yellow 45 ton centercab (Reed IIA-5 - 9/1943-9/1946)
GE	31180	2/13/1952	80 ton	B-B		65-00310	used	from US Army, New Cumberland Transp Corps Depot, Marietta, PA to Naval Weapons Center, Goose Creek, SC Denton Farm Park's Handy Dandy Railroad	80 ton Cummins NHBIS-600 (2) 470hp B-B-160/160-4GE747
GE / ALCo	31653	6/16/1953	RSX4 (MRS1)	C-C	Earle NAD # ?	65-00584	used	from US Army #2098, New Cumberland Transp Corps Depot, Marietta, PA to Morristown & Erie #2098, Morristown, NJ; Everready Supply (dealer), CT Winchester & Western #2098, Winchester, Va - (refused) Eveready Supply (dealer), Bridgeport, CT Panama RR #2098 > # ?	120 ton Alco 12-244D 1600hp C-C-240/240-4GE731 (A-80331)
GE / ALCo	31654	6/16/1953	RSX4 (MRS1)	C-C	Earle NAD #6	65-00585	used	from US Army #2099, New Cumberland Transp Corps Depot, Marietta, PA to Eveready Supply (dealer), Bridgeport, CT Uruguay State Railway (AFE) #1612	120 ton Alco 12-244D 1600hp C-C-240/240-4GE731 (A-80332)
GE / ALCo	31655	4/15/1953	RSX4 (MRS1)	C-C	Earle NAD #5	65-00586	used	from US Army #2100, New Cumberland Transp Corps Depot, Marietta, PA to Alaska RR Parts	120ton Alco 12-244D 1600hp C-C-240/240-4GE731 (A-80333)
GE / ALCo	31656	4/17/1953	RSX4 (MRS1)	C-C	Earle NAD #14	65-00560	used	from US Army #2101, New Cumberland Transp Corps Depot, Marietta, PA to Texas State RR Museum #8, Rusk, TX	120 ton Alco 12-244D 1600hp C-C-240/240-4GE731 (A-80334)
GE / ALCo	31660	4/29/1953	RSX4 (MRS1)	C-C		65-00587	used	from US Army #2105, New Cumberland Transp Corps Depot, Marietta, PA to South Branch Valley #26, Mooresfield, WV Cass Scenic #26, Cass, WV Uruguay State Railway (AFE) #1611	120 ton Alco 12-244D 1600hp C-C-240/240-4GE731 (A-80338)
GE / ALCo	31662	5/6/1953	RSX4 (MRS1)	C-C	Earle NAD #13	65-00588	used	from US Army #2107, New Cumberland Transp Corps Depot, Marietta, PA to South Branch Valley #17, Mooresfield, W Va Cass Scenic #8, Cass, W Va	120 ton Alco 12-244D 1600hp C-C-240/240-4GE731 (A-80340)
GE / ALCo	31664	5/12/1953	RSX4 (MRS1)	C-C	Earle NAD #8 (third?)	65-00589	used	from US Army #2109, New Cumberland Transp Corps Depot, Marietta, PA to Uruguay State Ry (AFE) #1613	120 ton Alco 12-244D 1600hp C-C-240/240-4GE731 (A-80342)
GE / ALCo	31665	5/13/1953	RSX4 (MRS1)	C-C	Earle NAD #9	65-00590	used	from US Army #2110, New Cumberland Transp Corps Depot, Marietta, PA to US Department of Energy; Sandia Laboratory; Albuquerque, NM wrecked in collision tests, scrapped	120 ton Alco 12-244D 1600hp C-C-240/240-4GE731 (A-80343)
GE / ALCo	31666	5/15/1953	RSX4 (MRS1)	C-C	Earle NAD #12	65-00563	used	from US Army #2111, New Cumberland Transp Corps Depot, Marietta, PA to Aaron Ferrer, Omaha, NE	120 ton Alco 12-244D 1600hp C-C-240/240-4GE731 (A-80344)
GE / ALCo	31667	5/18/1953	RSX4 (MRS1)	C-C	Earle NAD #10 (second)	65-00591	used	from US Army #2112, New Cumberland Transp Corps Depot, Marietta, PA to Morristown & Erie #2112, Morristown, NJ Eveready Supply (dealer), Bridgeport, CT Winchester & Western #2112, Winchester, VA (refused-Not delivered) Robert Brothers Coal #1, Mortons Gap, KY	120 ton Alco 12-244D 1600hp C-C-240/240-4GE731 (A-80345)
GE / ALCo	31670	5/22/1953	RSX4 (MRS1)	C-C		65-00593	used	from US Army #2115, New Cumberland Transp Corps Depot, Marietta, PA to US Dept of Energy, Sandia Labs, Albuquerque, NM	120 ton Alco 12-244D 1600hp C-C-240/240-4GE731 (A-80348)
GE	31824	3/20/1953	80 tonner	B-B		65-00347 (third)	new	from US Army, New Cumberland Transp Corps Depot, Marietta, PA for: US Navy #65-00347, Naval Construction Battalion #10, Port Hueneme, CA to US Navy #65-00347, Seal Beach Ammunition Depot #1, Seal Beach, CA Rebuilt – Johnson Railway Services - 8/1987 US Navy #65-00347, Naval Weapons Station, Goose Creek, SC	Cummins LI-600 (x2) 500hp B-B-160/160-4HM833
GE	31849	4/24/1953	80 tonner	B-B		65-00383	new	from US Army, New Cumberland Transp Corps Depot, Marietta, PA for US Navy Naval Ammunition Depot, Earle, NJ	Cummins LI-600 (x2) 500hp B-B-160/160-4HM833
Baldwin	75706	12/1952	S12	B-B		65-00366	new	Central Procurement Agency, for: US Navy	repowered
Whitcomb	60511	6/1944	80DE7B	B-B		65-00264	new	to Beaufort & Morehead RR #85; Beaufort, NC (on property 9/16/1980) to Chesapeake RR #85; Clayton, DE (through 1999) present whereabouts unknown	Buda 6-DCS-169 (x2) (supercharged), 325 hp each at 1200 rpm
Whitcomb	60512	6/1944	80DE7B	B-B		65-00265	new		Buda 6-DCS-169 (x2) (supercharged), 325 hp each at 1200 rpm
Whitcomb	60513	6/1944	80DE7B	B-B		65-00266	new		Buda 6-DCS-169 (x2) (supercharged), 325 hp each at 1200 rpm
Whitcomb	60514	6/1944	80DE7B	B-B		65-00434	new	to Pantex; Amarillo, TX? to Peavey Grain, to Cattle Town Feeders, Inc (no #); Summerville, TX (present 7/14/2018)	Buda 6-DCS-169 (x2) (supercharged), 325 hp each at 1200 rpm
Baldwin	70324	12/30/1944	VO 660	B-B	Earle NAD #15	65-00454	new		660hp
Baldwin	70325	12/29/1944	VO 660	B-B	Earle NAD #16	65-00127	new		660hp
Baldwin	70326	12/28/1944	VO 660	B-B	Earle NAD #17 > 18	65-00130	new		660hp
Baldwin	71430	2/7/1945	VO 1000	B-B	Earle NAD #19	65-00128	new	to the URHS of NJ; painted as the fictitious B&O 412, leased to SMS as display locomotive	1000hp
Baldwin	71940	8/07/1944	VO 1000	B-B	Earle NAD #8 (first)	65-00125	new		1000hp
Baldwin	71968	10/07/1944	VO 1000	B-B	Earle NAD #8 (second) > #10	65-00131	new rb	EMD repowered to LTEX	1000hp
Baldwin	71969	10/07/1944	VO 1000	B-B	Earle NAD #9	65-00132	new rb	rebuilt by NRE Waycross; EMD repowered to NWS Charleston, reported 2012	1000hp
Baldwin	71970	10/27/1944	VO 1000	B-B	Earle NAD #10 (second)	65-00133	new		1000hp
Baldwin	70102	4/25/1943	VO 1000	B-B	Earle NAD #4		new		1000hp
Baldwin	69659*	10/04/1943	VO 1000	B-B	Earle NAD #3	65-00027 65-00622	new rb	rebuilt October 1985 to VO-1000m (repowered with EMD) became 65-00622	1000hp *(c/n erroneously reported in contemporary accountings as 69559)
Baldwin	64260	11/1941	S12	B-B		65-00347 (second)	used	nee- St Louis San Francisco 202
Baldwin	64259	11/1941	S12	B-B		65-00368 (second)	used	nee- St Louis San Francisco 201

Military Railroads of the New York Metropolitan AreA Main Page
New York NavAL SHIPYard a/k/a BROOKLYN NAVY YARD	Fleet Supply Base SOUTH BROOKLYN	Brooklyn Army Terminal	EARLE N.A.D. N.W.S. EARLE	IONA ISLAND N.A.d.
Governors Island / Fort Jay	Fort Wood / Bedloes Island	Fort Tilden	Fort Hamilton	Fort Schuyler
FORT TOTTEN	Fort Wadsworth	MILITARY OCEAN TERMINAL - BAYONNE	Fort Terry	Fort Hancock / SANDY HOOK PROVING GROUNDS
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