The West Jersey, a forerunner of the Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines, leased the company in 1868 and consolidated it in 1887.

Local interests desired a year-round transport connection, and the Salem Railroad was incorporated on March 14, 1856.

[3] The Salem Railroad began building west from Elmer, on the Bridgeton Branch, on August 31.

Trains began running between Elmer and Yorketown on January 14, 1863, and all the way to Salem on July 1.

[4] The completion of the Woodstown and Swedesboro Railroad's line between in 1883 created a more direct route between Salem and Camden.