1 9 1 1 . ▁The ▁Nor rist own ▁Branch ▁opened ▁on ▁December ▁ 1 2 , ▁ 1 9 1 2 . ▁ ▁The ▁rail road ▁built ▁a ▁ ▁am usement ▁park ▁called ▁the ▁Be ech wood ▁Am usement ▁Park ▁in ▁the ▁Pow der ▁Mill ▁Valley ▁in ▁ 1 9 0 7 ▁to ▁provide ▁a ▁potential ▁destination ▁for ▁rid ers , ▁but ▁abandoned ▁the ▁park ▁in ▁ 1 9 0 9 ▁due ▁to ▁bad ▁management . ▁The ▁park ▁opened ▁on ▁May ▁ 3 0 , ▁ 1 9 0 7 ▁and ▁received ▁ 5 , 0 0 0 ▁visitors ▁on ▁the ▁opening ▁day . ▁The ▁park ▁could ▁accommod ate ▁ 1 5 , 0 0 0 ▁people ▁and ▁included ▁ ▁of ▁r ides , ▁pic nic ▁grounds , ▁and ▁a ▁lake ▁with ▁row bo ats ▁for ▁rent . ▁The ▁park ▁began ▁losing ▁money ▁almost ▁immediately ▁after ▁opening ▁due ▁to ▁competition ▁from ▁other ▁par ks ▁in ▁Will ow ▁Gro ve , ▁Ch est nut ▁Hill , ▁and ▁Washington ▁Park . ▁ ▁The ▁company ▁experienced ▁financial ▁difficulties ▁throughout ▁much ▁of ▁its ▁existence . ▁As ▁noted ▁above ▁it ▁default ed ▁on ▁its ▁b onds ▁and ▁was ▁re organ ized ▁ 5 ▁years ▁after ▁found ing . ▁In ▁ 1 9 1 6 ▁Mo ody ' s ▁r ated ▁the ▁company ' s ▁ 5 0 ▁year ▁Gold ▁First ▁Mort g age ▁B onds ▁due ▁ 1 9 6 0 ▁as ▁" E ," ▁meaning ▁there ▁was ▁" unc ertain ▁security ▁as ▁to ▁principal ... ▁and