For a Great Vacation, Go by Train!

Nestled halfway between two of America's most important cities, the Jersey Shore seems perfectly positioned to be a vacation destination. What was once desolate beachfront did not become a vacationing mecca overnight. Railroads were the defining factor in creating and shaping the development of the Shore as a center for everything from day trips to whole summer vacations. As the winds of technology changed, the passenger-centric Jersey Shore railroads were able to turn into the breeze and refocus to commuters, redefining themselves and the Jersey Shore as a whole. This work explores railroads and their effects on Jersey Shore, especially vacationing and commuting, focusing through the lens of railroad-publications like timetables and advertisements. This work is delivered in expanded form to historical societies along the Jersey Shore.