NORTH JERSEY CHAPTER
National Railway Historical Society, Inc.
THE MORRO CASTLE
SS Morro Castle – Ward Lines
The fire started on September 7, 1934 about 3 a.m. off the coast of Manasquan, NJ on route from Havana, Cuba to New York. A recent article said 133 passengers lost their lives. The photographer said 160. Various articles have been written on the mystery of the Captain’s death.
The pictures were taken on September 9, 1934 by Howard T. Johnston, North Jersey Chapter NRHS.
As curator of the negative collection and other memorabilia of the North Jersey Chapter, we discovered these negatives when we were doing an inventory. Although, there are similar pictures around none are quite the same as these. Plus, Howard only took train and trolley pictures. We have also discovered negatives of the miniature steam engines in Asbury Park and Bradley Beach. Bradley Beach!!! – only a very few remember this one. We also discovered a letter written to Howard by Malcolm T. Swan, Editor of the Asbury Park Press. Recently, while scanning copies of the Chapter’s original publication The Marker we discovered that Mr. Swan was also a Chapter member back in the 1940s. Thus, we discovered the reason for Howard’s visit to Asbury Park. The area rescue squads were there including the Bradley Beach First Aid Squad. The Squad still has a wire basket from the Moro Castle.
THE WIRE BASKET
THE MINATURE TRAIN IN BRADLEY BEACH IN 1934
