# This Is The Shortest Train in the United States Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VlnvsZ6kJE Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/3VlnvsZ6kJE Generated: 2026-09-11T15:03:28.997+00:00 --- ## The Gist The shortest passenger train route in the United States is the Dinky, a 2.7-mile shuttle connecting Princeton University to Princeton Junction in New Jersey. Despite urban planning pressure and proposals for replacement, it survives as a historical compromise between the university and the Northeast Corridor. ## Quick Overview The Dinky is the shortest passenger train route in the United States, operating over a 2.7-mile stretch between Princeton and Princeton Junction, New Jersey, for over 160 years. While realignments of the main Northeast Corridor railroad in the 1860s bypassed Princeton entirely, the town secured a dedicated branch line to maintain its connection to major urban hubs like New York and Philadelphia. Despite recurring proposals to replace the rail line with bus rapid transit or light rail due to its short length and campus-edge terminal, it endures as a celebrated historical transit link. **Key Points:** - The Dinky operates over a distance of 2.7 miles between Princeton and Princeton Junction in New Jersey, taking roughly five minutes to complete the trip. - The rail line opened on May 29, 1865, originally utilizing a wood-burning steam train that frequently struggled with hills and schedules. - The route was established because the main Northeast Corridor railroad was relocated in 1863 to a straighter path that bypassed Princeton by over three miles. - NJ Transit has repeatedly considered alternatives to the Dinky, including light rail, bus rapid transit, and protected pedestrian paths, costing up to 101 million dollars. - The Princeton terminal was moved multiple times over the decades, shifting from Princeton Basin to Blair Hall in 1896, and finally to its current location in 2013 to make room for an arts complex. - The Dinky currently operates 47 trips each way on weekdays and 31 trips each way on weekends, perfectly timed to connect passengers with Northeast Corridor trains. ![Screenshot at 06:45: The Dinky train sits at Princeton Junction station, representing over 160 years of continuous service as the shortest passenger rail route in the United States.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/3VlnvsZ6kJE/00-06-45.jpg) **Context:** The Northeast Corridor is the busiest passenger rail line in the United States, stretching between Washington, D.C. and Boston. Along this heavily trafficked route lies Princeton, New Jersey, home to the world-famous Princeton University, which required a specialized connection to the main railway to prevent isolation. ## Detailed Analysis The video details the history and ongoing debate surrounding the Princeton Branch, universally known as the Dinky. Originally born out of necessity when the Camden and Amboy Railroad straightened its main line in 1863 and bypassed Princeton, local leaders demanded a connection to the newly established Northeast Corridor. Opened in 1865, the 2.7-mile branch line bridged the gap between Princeton's campus and the main rail artery. Over the decades, the terminal was progressively shortened to accommodate university expansion, moving from Princeton Basin to Blair Hall in 1896, and later trimming further in 1918 and 2013 for an arts complex. Although NJ Transit has periodically floated alternatives such as bus rapid transit or light rail, these proposals stall due to high costs, public preference, and the critical importance of timed connections to New York and Philadelphia trains. ### Origins of the Dinky The creation of the Dinky stems directly from the development of major rail lines in New Jersey during the 19th century. - The Northeast Corridor evolved from early rail segments established in the 1830s, including lines connecting Philadelphia, Trenton, New Brunswick, and Jersey City. - When the Camden and Amboy Railroad was straightened in 1863 to speed up travel times between New York and Philadelphia, it left Princeton over three miles off the main map. - Fearing economic and social isolation, Princeton built a connecting branch line that officially opened on May 29, 1865. - The original equipment consisted of a wood-burning steam locomotive that struggled with inclines and passenger loads, often requiring the train to run backward to maintain schedules. ![Screenshot at 03:41: A historical steam train recreation representing the wood-burning locomotives that originally launched the Dinky service in 1865.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/3VlnvsZ6kJE/00-03-41.jpg) ### Evolution and Campus Relocations As Princeton University grew, the terminal of the Dinky was pushed further away from the center of campus. - In 1896, the university built Blair Hall near the original terminal, prompting the railroad to move the station back by 100 feet. - Complaints from students regarding train noise, smoke, and soot led the university to push the station a quarter-mile further southeast in 1918. - The 1918 station location survived for 95 years until 2013, when it was shortened once more to make space for a new campus arts complex. - The current station sits further south on campus, requiring a short walk or drive for commuters heading into downtown Princeton. ![Screenshot at 05:15: The former 1918 Dinky station building, which now operates as a restaurant named the Dinky Bar and Kitchen.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/3VlnvsZ6kJE/00-05-15.jpg) ### Modern Debates and Alternatives NJ Transit has repeatedly evaluated replacing the train with alternative transit systems, though none have moved forward. - Studies conducted by NJ Transit explored converting the 2.7-mile corridor into light rail, bus rapid transit, or protected pedestrian and bike paths. - Advonents of replacement argue that a bus system could penetrate deeper into downtown Princeton rather than terminating on the campus edge. - Counterarguments highlight that building a replacement transitway would cost approximately 101 million dollars, compared to minimal ongoing rail maintenance. - Ultimately, the Dinky survives because commuters prioritize seamless timed transfers to Northeast Corridor express trains heading to New York and Philadelphia. ![Screenshot at 05:43: The transitway concept proposals considered by NJ Transit for replacing the Dinky with light rail or bus rapid transit.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/3VlnvsZ6kJE/00-05-43.jpg)