Aldene Connection
Encyclopedia
The Aldene Connection is a connection between two railroad lines in Roselle Park, New Jersey
, United States, one formerly belonging to the Central Railroad of New Jersey
(CNJ), the other formerly of the Lehigh Valley Railroad
, allowing trains on the New Jersey Transit
Raritan Valley Line
to travel from Cranford
through stations in Roselle Park
and Union
to the Hunter Connection
in Newark
, which in turn allows access to the Northeast Corridor
and Newark Penn Station.
early in 1967. Desperate to cut costs, the CNJ turned to the state who created a "railroad transportation division" within the highway commission headed up by Dwight R. G. Palmer, who was placed in charge of preserving rail commuter services as a cheaper alternative to a new highway building program. Palmer's office produced a report called "The Rail Transportation Problem" stating that the state should partiality subsidize service until more fundamental changes could be made. One of these "fundamental changes" became known as the "Aldene Plan". It would involve the building of a ramp to connect the CNJ and the Lehigh Valley Railroad at the site of the recently abandoned Aldene Station to reroute trains bound for Jersey City to follow the LV to the Pennsylvania Railroad
mainline (now the Northeast Corridor) and on to Newark Penn Station where passengers could transfer to PRR trains into New York Penn Station
. This would allow the CNJ to abandon its labor-intensive ferry service and much of its Communipaw Terminal
in Jersey City, and all local trains operating east of Cranford, all totaling up to about $1.5 million in annual savings. As a concession to a few hundred factory workers that worked in various areas along the line, a set of Budd Rail Diesel Car
s would continue to operate between Cranford and Bayonne
until the end of that service on August 6, 1978.
Opening day for the Aldene Plan was officially announced for Monday, May 1, 1967 but a full-service rehearsal occurred the day prior (a Sunday to avoid the commuter rush). The CNJ operated push-pull
consists with a cab car leading eastbound. Today, operations are nearly identical. Passengers bound for New York must disembark at Newark and change either to a Northeast Corridor or North Jersey Coast Line
train operated by New Jersey Transit to New York Penn Station or PATH
trains to the World Trade Center
. The change of train is necessary as the Raritan Valley Line has never been electrified
, and only electric trains can operate into New York Penn Station.
Also affected by the change was the Reading Company
's Crusader service from Philadelphia, which operated over the CNJ via trackage rights
. After the Aldene Plan went into effect, it began to operate into Newark Penn Station, continuing until 1981 as a through service, and then as a connecting train from West Trenton
through 1982. New Jersey Transit has explored reactivating this service as the West Trenton Line.
The Aldene Connection is single track, although it is graded to allow a second track to be added.
Roselle Park, New Jersey
Roselle Park is a borough in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the borough population was 13,297....
, United States, one formerly belonging to the Central Railroad of New Jersey
Central Railroad of New Jersey
The Central Railroad of New Jersey , commonly known as the Jersey Central Lines or CNJ, was a Class I railroad with origins in the 1830s, lasting until 1976 when it was absorbed into Conrail with the other bankrupt railroads of the Northeastern United States...
(CNJ), the other formerly of the Lehigh Valley Railroad
Lehigh Valley Railroad
The Lehigh Valley Railroad was one of a number of railroads built in the northeastern United States primarily to haul anthracite coal.It was authorized April 21, 1846 in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and incorporated September 20, 1847 as the Delaware, Lehigh, Schuylkill and Susquehanna Railroad...
, allowing trains on the New Jersey Transit
New Jersey Transit
The New Jersey Transit Corporation is a statewide public transportation system serving the United States state of New Jersey, and New York, Orange, and Rockland counties in New York State...
Raritan Valley Line
Raritan Valley Line
The Raritan Valley Line is a diesel-engine-powered commuter rail service operated by New Jersey Transit , originating out of Pennsylvania Station, located in Newark, New Jersey, with most trains terminating at the Raritan station, located in Raritan, New Jersey.Some weekday trains continue further...
to travel from Cranford
Cranford (NJT station)
Cranford is a New Jersey Transit railroad station on the Raritan Valley Line, in Cranford, New Jersey. The current Cranford station was built in the mid 1930s by the Central Railroad of New Jersey on an embankment as part of a grade crossing elimination project. Three stations preceded the current...
through stations in Roselle Park
Roselle Park (NJT station)
Roselle Park is a New Jersey Transit railroad station on the Conrail Lehigh Line, served by Raritan Valley Line trains direct to Hoboken, New Jersey, Newark, New Jersey, Westfield, New Jersey, Plainfield, New Jersey, Raritan, New Jersey, and High Bridge, New Jersey...
and Union
Union (NJT station)
Union Station is a New Jersey Transit railroad station on the Raritan Valley Line, in Union Township, Union County, New Jersey. Completed in 2003 at a cost of $24.8 million, it is Union's first passenger train station since the 1920s on the Rahway Valley Railroad short line. It filled the eight...
to the Hunter Connection
Hunter Connection
The Lehigh Line Connection is the connection between Amtrak's Northeast Corridor and the Conrail Lehigh Line south of downtown Newark, New Jersey. The point at which it leaves the NEC is known as Hunter Interlocking; because of this, the line is sometimes called the Hunter Connection...
in Newark
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
, which in turn allows access to the Northeast Corridor
Northeast Corridor
The Northeast Corridor is a fully electrified railway line owned primarily by Amtrak serving the Northeast megalopolis of the United States from Boston in the north, via New York to Washington, D.C. in the south, with branches serving other cities...
and Newark Penn Station.
History
The CNJ in the mid-1960s was losing money, in a permanent downward spiral that would lead to the railroad's filing for bankruptcyBankruptcy
Bankruptcy is a legal status of an insolvent person or an organisation, that is, one that cannot repay the debts owed to creditors. In most jurisdictions bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debtor....
early in 1967. Desperate to cut costs, the CNJ turned to the state who created a "railroad transportation division" within the highway commission headed up by Dwight R. G. Palmer, who was placed in charge of preserving rail commuter services as a cheaper alternative to a new highway building program. Palmer's office produced a report called "The Rail Transportation Problem" stating that the state should partiality subsidize service until more fundamental changes could be made. One of these "fundamental changes" became known as the "Aldene Plan". It would involve the building of a ramp to connect the CNJ and the Lehigh Valley Railroad at the site of the recently abandoned Aldene Station to reroute trains bound for Jersey City to follow the LV to the Pennsylvania Railroad
Pennsylvania Railroad
The Pennsylvania Railroad was an American Class I railroad, founded in 1846. Commonly referred to as the "Pennsy", the PRR was headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
mainline (now the Northeast Corridor) and on to Newark Penn Station where passengers could transfer to PRR trains into New York Penn Station
Pennsylvania Station (New York City)
Pennsylvania Station—commonly known as Penn Station—is the major intercity train station and a major commuter rail hub in New York City. It is one of the busiest rail stations in the world, and a hub for inbound and outbound railroad traffic in New York City. The New York City Subway system also...
. This would allow the CNJ to abandon its labor-intensive ferry service and much of its Communipaw Terminal
Communipaw Terminal
Central Railroad of New Jersey Terminal, sometimes known as Communipaw Terminal was the Central Railroad of New Jersey's waterfront passenger terminal at the mouth of the Hudson River at the Upper New York Bay in Jersey City, New Jersey.-Designation:...
in Jersey City, and all local trains operating east of Cranford, all totaling up to about $1.5 million in annual savings. As a concession to a few hundred factory workers that worked in various areas along the line, a set of Budd Rail Diesel Car
Budd Rail Diesel Car
The Budd Rail Diesel Car, RDC or Buddliner is a self-propelled diesel multiple unit railcar. In the period 1949–62, 398 RDCs were built by the Budd Company of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States...
s would continue to operate between Cranford and Bayonne
Bayonne, New Jersey
Bayonne is a city in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. Located in the Gateway Region, Bayonne is a peninsula that is situated between Newark Bay to the west, the Kill van Kull to the south, and New York Bay to the east...
until the end of that service on August 6, 1978.
Opening day for the Aldene Plan was officially announced for Monday, May 1, 1967 but a full-service rehearsal occurred the day prior (a Sunday to avoid the commuter rush). The CNJ operated push-pull
Push-pull train
Push–pull is a mode of operation for locomotive-hauled trains allowing them to be driven from either end.A push–pull train has a locomotive at one end of the train, connected via some form of remote control, such as multiple-unit train control, to a vehicle equipped with a control cab at the other...
consists with a cab car leading eastbound. Today, operations are nearly identical. Passengers bound for New York must disembark at Newark and change either to a Northeast Corridor or North Jersey Coast Line
North Jersey Coast Line
The North Jersey Coast Line is a New Jersey Transit commuter rail service operating between New York Penn Station or Hoboken Terminal and Bay Head, New Jersey...
train operated by New Jersey Transit to New York Penn Station or PATH
Port Authority Trans-Hudson
PATH, derived from Port Authority Trans-Hudson, is a rapid transit railroad linking Manhattan, New York City with Newark, Harrison, Hoboken and Jersey City in metropolitan northern New Jersey...
trains to the World Trade Center
World Trade Center (PATH station)
The World Trade Center PATH station originally opened on July 19, 1909 as the Hudson Terminal. When the Hudson Terminal was torn down to make way for the World Trade Center, a new station was built, which opened in 1971...
. The change of train is necessary as the Raritan Valley Line has never been electrified
Railway electrification system
A railway electrification system supplies electrical energy to railway locomotives and multiple units as well as trams so that they can operate without having an on-board prime mover. There are several different electrification systems in use throughout the world...
, and only electric trains can operate into New York Penn Station.
Also affected by the change was the Reading Company
Reading Company
The Reading Company , usually called the Reading Railroad, officially the Philadelphia and Reading Rail Road and then the Philadelphia and Reading Railway until 1924, operated in southeast Pennsylvania and neighboring states...
's Crusader service from Philadelphia, which operated over the CNJ via trackage rights
Trackage rights
Trackage rights , running rights or running powers is an agreement whereby a railway company has the right to run its trains on tracks owned by another railway company....
. After the Aldene Plan went into effect, it began to operate into Newark Penn Station, continuing until 1981 as a through service, and then as a connecting train from West Trenton
West Trenton (SEPTA station)
West Trenton is the northern terminus of the SEPTA West Trenton Line. It is officially located at Grand & Railroad Avenues in Ewing, New Jersey, however this address only applies to the southbound station house on the west side of the tracks...
through 1982. New Jersey Transit has explored reactivating this service as the West Trenton Line.
The Aldene Connection is single track, although it is graded to allow a second track to be added.