Conrail Pavonia Yard

Opened in 1888, Conrail Pavonia Yard was originally a bustling hub for the Pennsylvania Railroad. The yard facilitated interchange with the West Jersey and Seashore Railroad and later with the Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines. Conrail Pavonia Yard sprawls from the Cooper River, near State and Federal Streets, northward to 36th Street. This location places it near the 36th Street River Line station on the Bordentown Secondary. The Pennsylvania Railroad initially operated extensive locomotive and car repair shops at Conrail Pavonia Yard. While engine work eventually ceased, car repairs continued into the late 1930s. A major reconstruction of Conrail Pavonia Yard took place in the 1960s, modernizing its facilities. Today, Conrail Pavonia Yard acts as the primary classification yard for Southern New Jersey, managed by Conrail Shared Assets Operations. It’s a double-ended hump yard with a 32-track classification bowl. A major shift occurred in 2009 when Conrail Shared Assets Operations downgraded the yard. Reflecting its transition from a major hub to a regional classification center, the hump was largely reduced, and the tower demolished. A smaller “switching kiosk” now stands in its place, allowing crews to manually throw switches. Conrail uses the yard to build two CSX and one Norfolk Southern train daily. Conrail Pavonia Yard continues its legacy in Camden.