Ramsey Fill

Located near the midway point of Ramey Fill was Johnsonburg Station (right) and creamery, shown here in 1911. Armstrong Cut, from where much of the fill material for Ramsey Fill was obtained, can be seen in the distance.

Ramsey Fill is one of a number of fills (embankments) on the Lackawanna Cut-Off railroad line in northwest New Jersey. Located between approximately mileposts 60.4 and 60.9 in Frelinghuysen Township, the fill was constructed between 1908 and 1911 by contractor Hyde, McFarlan & Burke. The fill, which was created by placing fill material obtained by blasting with dynamite or other methods, is 0.53 miles (0.85 km) long, has an average height of 21 feet (6.5 m), and a maximum height of 80 feet (24.6 m). The fill was created as a result of the placement of 805,481 cubic yards of fill material within this embankment.

Ramsey Fill at Johnsonburg Station in July 1990. Note tree growth creates the appearance that Armstrong Cut (in distance) has not changed dramatically since 1911 photo, but in fact the north side of the cut (on right) was significantly trimmed back after a collapse of the hill closed the line temporarily in 1941.

The Ramsey Fill is located on a tangent (straight) section of track, permitting 80 mph (129 km/hr). Johnsonburg Station was located approximately midway between the two ends of the fill, and is just east of Armstrong Cut.^[1]

Ramsey Fill is named for Stewart W. Ramsey, who was the principal owner of the land that was acquired for building this fill.^[2]

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