Trains and Treasure In New Jersey

I love any opportunity to go somewhere I’ve never been, especially while scouting. Too often, we end up scouting the same neighborhoods and streets on every job, and it can get redundant. I had an appointment in western New Jersey farm country last week to check out some vintage train cars, and it turned out to be a great change of pace from the city.

My first stop was in Ringoes, NJ, named after a tavern owner named John Ringo. The tavern was built in the 1700’s and still stands today. Below is the old train station for the town.

According to local legend, John Ringo was an accomplished ship captain whose vessel was once overtaken by pirates. Ringo was captured; however, the pirate crew later mutinied against their captain and, perhaps lacking a better alternative, appointed Ringo as his replacement. Ringo later returned to western New Jersey with a substantial treasure. However, he never spent it, as it was money from slave trafficking, and instead buried it somewhere in the area. For over 300 years, treasure hunters have been unsuccessfully searching for his loot.

A small selection of some amazing trains:

Passenger cars

Old Diesel Engine

Old Baggage Car

Little Red Caboose

After shooting the trains I was looking for, I headed on to my next destination taking the back roads. I passed this honey stand, closed for the season, which is located beside a really neat crumbling stone structure.

I continued on and passed through Pittstown, NJ. If you’ve never heard of Pittstown, this building in the small downtown area can help you out:

Note the “RU LOST” above a state map. In Pittstown’s defense, it’s actually a very pretty, quaint little town, with some really great preserved buildings. Very pleasant to drive through.

I spent some time taking pictures of a train route that run along the Delaware River. Apparently, on rare occasions, the Delaware has risen to some unbelievable heights. My guide pointed out this house to me. You can see the river on the left, which is about 15 feet or so down the bank:

The appropriately-named “All In” house features the high water mark above the front door, reached on August 19, 1955. Pretty fucking incredible.

A great stone farm building up a windy road:

Finally, when you’re in farm country, it’s pretty much required that you take the iconic lone-tree-in-an-empty-field picture:

Sorry about that one.

-SCOUT