South Amboy, NJ: Essay (SA) Tower: Pennsy vs. New York & Long Branch

(3D Satellite)

This is where the Pennsy joined the New York & Long Branch to go over the Raritan River Bridge. Also the Pennsy crossed the NY&LB to get to its coal docks.

William Billson posted 22 photos with the comment: "Essay Tower or SA Tower          The tower closed on a warm July 2, 1986. The tower will be torn down for the new Raritan River Draw Bridge."

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Since it is going to be torn down, I saved a satellite image of it since that will be disappearing.

3D Satellite

William Billson posted two photos with this comment: "Today [Aug 29 2023] Essay Tower met its fate."

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River Rail Photo posted four photos with the comment:

An Essay On SA. A piece of New Jersey Railroad history was removed on Tuesday, August 29, 2023 when the former SA Tower was demolished. While called the interlocking is called "Essay" under NJ TRANSIT, the origin of the name is from South Amboy, the location of the tower. Built in 1927, this tower controlled where the PRR/Pennsylvania Railroad's Amboy Branch (today's Conrail Shared Assets Amboy Secondary) joined the New York & Long Branch (then jointly owned with CNJ/Central Railroad Of New Jersey) to go over the Raritan River Bridge, closed on July 2, 1986. The area has seen a lot of change since the NY&LB years, as the last engine change here was in 1988, and the South Amboy engine house and facilities are now long gone. The SA Tower structure was removed as part of the construction of the new Raritan River Draw Bridge, which is planned to open in 2026.

Marc Clucksman shared

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