Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States New Jersey Cape May Sometimes Train Tracks of Sunset Beach

Sometimes Train Tracks of Sunset Beach

Several times a year, during low tide, two pairs of historic train tracks are revealed on this New Jersey beach.

Cape May, New Jersey

Added By
Tim
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
100-year-old tracks on Sunset Beach   timmccglynn / Atlas Obscura User
Railroad tracks up close   William Crowther / CC BY-SA 2.0
Tracks during the daytime   Chasing News / CC BY-SA 2.0
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

In early November of 2014, a colossal storm wreaked havoc on the New Jersey Atlantic Coast, taking layers of sand with it. This event revealed a forgotten artifact on the beach that had been hidden for years, a piece of history encapsulated in the sand: two pairs of train tracks dating back to the early 1900s.

Several times a year, during low tide, visitors to New Jersey’s Sunset Beach can see two out-of-place sets of 100-year-old railroad tracks, a remnant of the time when the beach was used for industry and not tourism.

The first track, located near the Cape May Canal, is believed to have been built during World War One, leading to a munitions proving ground where Sunset Beach’s sand and water were used to test the concussion and power of a shell. The facility was used by Russia, France, and England and is the reason that duds (unexploded munitions) often can be found on the beach.

The second set of tracks are believed to date back further, to 1908, when they were used by the Cape May Sand Company to haul sand from the beach to the glass factories in the town. Some suspect that the tracks were also used to transport some of the sand used in the locks of the Panama Canal.

The two pairs of tracks on Sunset Beach are located about half a mile north of the main beach area, and during low tide, they provide visitors with the ultimate century-old scavenger hunt.

Related Tags

Beaches Trains Railroads Glass Hidden Infrastructure

Community Contributors

Added By

timmccglynn

Edited By

lewblank

  • lewblank

Published

June 27, 2017

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/communities/lower_capemay/new-attraction-at-sunset-beach-railroad-tracks-to-nowhere/article_1a49e324-6e04-11e4-95eb-7f0eed8f88b0.html
  • http://www.newsworks.org/index.php/local/down-the-shore/75358-gallery-shifting-sands-reveal-nearly-century-old-railroad-tracks-in-cape-may-county
Sometimes Train Tracks of Sunset Beach
502 New England Rd
Cape May, New Jersey
United States
38.954817, -74.959445
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Wreck of the S.S. Atlantus

Cape May, New Jersey

miles away

Bunker At Cape May Point

Cape May, New Jersey

miles away

Menz Restaurant & Bar

Rio Grande, New Jersey

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Cape May

Cape May

New Jersey

Places 3

Nearby Places

Wreck of the S.S. Atlantus

Cape May, New Jersey

miles away

Bunker At Cape May Point

Cape May, New Jersey

miles away

Menz Restaurant & Bar

Rio Grande, New Jersey

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Cape May

Cape May

New Jersey

Places 3

Related Stories and Lists

Beachfront Curiosities for When You're Tired of Sunbathing

List

By Atlas Obscura

Related Places

  • Tehachapi, California

    Tehachapi Loop

    Where a railroad loops under or over itself to rise or drop more than 70 feet in a short distance.

  • Intercity train with observation car at the rear.

    Nanuoya, Sri Lanka

    The Main Line

    Known as the most scenic route in Sri Lanka, this train line is steeped in history and offers an unparalleled view of the country.

  • Preserved section of old viaduct.

    Llanelli, Wales

    Loughor Viaduct

    A section of a historic wooden trestle viaduct is preserved next to the railway line it once carried.

  • The Durango-Silverton Train billows with steam along its 26-mile winter trek to Cascade Canyon.

    Durango, Colorado

    Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad

    This spectacular track has run continuously since 1882.

  • Llucmajor, Spain

    Puente de las Siete Bocas

    This spectacular bridge is part of an abandoned train line that once connected Mallorcan capital to the southeastern coast.

  • Telgárt, Slovakia

    Chmarošský Viaduct

    A gorgeous stone viaduct crosses over a bucolic valley.

  • Smardale Gill Viaduct.

    Smardale, England

    Smardale Gill Viaduct

    A spectacular disused railway viaduct in a beautiful countryside nature reserve.

  • Bridge to Nowhere

    Irlavas pagasts, Latvia

    Bridge to Nowhere

    A railway bridge leading nowhere stands lonely in the middle of a meadow.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.