Excited families formed a line this weekend to ride the newly reopened Pine Creek Railroad at the New Jersey Museum of Transportation in Allaire State Park.

In the pre-pandemic days, would be riders lined up for their tickets and crowded together as they waited to board the train. The railroad reopened on September 7th with new safety precautions in place. Tickets must be purchased in advance. Staff and riders must be masked, and only 26 people are permitted per train ride. Volunteers take temperatures instead of tickets, and hand sanitizer is available before passengers board the train.

The Pine Creek Railroad Museum was founded in 1952 by Central Jersey Railroad agent Pete Ramussan and two dedicated rail enthusiasts, James Wright and Jay Wulfson. Their first railroad was located on a route 9 site in Marlboro, where it was run as an amusement ride.

In 1962, the decision was made to relocate to Allaire State Park and incorporate as the non-profit Pine Creek Railroad Division of the New Jersey Transportation museum. Today, visitors can enjoy a visit to the Historic Allaire Village and then ride on the train pulled by the original Riverton Sand Company locomotive manufactured by Baldwin Locomotive Works in Eddystone, Pennsylvania.

The train leaves the station every 30 minutes on weekends only, 11:30 am to 4 pm. Tickets are $5 for riders age 3 and up, and $1 for children 2 and under.

Dates and times of special events such as the Haunted Express Night Time Ride planned for October, and the Santa Express ride planned for November and December are shown on the website.