Fairmount Avenue (NJT station)
Encyclopedia
Fairmount Avenue Station is a former New Jersey Transit
rail station on the Pascack Valley Line
. The station was one of three rail stations in Hackensack
, New Jersey
, United States, and was located at Fairmount Avenue and Temple Avenue. The Essex Street
and Anderson Street
stations are also located in Hackensack. This line runs to Hoboken Terminal
with connections via the Secaucus Junction
transfer station to New Jersey Transit one-stop service to New York Penn Station
and to other NJ Transit rail service. The station house was built in 1870 as part of the extension railroad for the Hackensack and New York Railroad on a track extension from Anderson Street in Hackensack. The line became part of the Erie Railroad
in 1896 and New Jersey Transit in 1983.
. The building was centered in the middle of Fairmount Park and had access from Temple Avenue, where crossing gates were visible. The three tracks and gravel platform split the station from a large parking lot nearby. There was also a small gravel parking lot on the southern side of the station. To the north of the station was a stone interlocking tower at the intersection with Main Street. The Fairmount Avenue Station had a shingled-roof with a large, angled canopy, and a beige wood siding. There was one asphalt platform servicing all three tracks, and the long canopy over the platform was made in similar design to Newark's 4th Street Station. The beige wood was also given green window-frames to benefit the look. The station contained two mainline tracks, the northbound one, and the nearby team track. There was also a third track in the opposite side working as a partial freight yard.
and have future ambitions to build the system northward. Construction on the new 21 miles (33.8 km) long line began in 1866, with trains heading from New York City
to the Passaic Street station in Hackensack. Although Hackensack was not a large hub, there were several rail lines serving the city, including the New Jersey Midland Line (now the New York, Susquehanna and Western Railroad) with stops at Main Street (at the Mercer Street intersection) and at Prospect Avenue. During the 1860s, service was extended to north, terminating at Essex Street
. Although most Hackensack and New York trains ended at Passaic Street, service was extended northward on September 5, 1869, when that stop was abandoned in replacement for Anderson Street. By 1870, the tracks had been extended northward to Hillsdale
, and public service began on the line on March 4 of that year. Trains terminated at Hillsdale with fare of only $0.75 (1870 USD), but just one year later, the extension northward. The service was extended northward to the community of Haverstraw, New York
, and in 1896, the rail line was leased by the private company to the Erie Railroad
.
for private usage as Barbara's General Store and Gifts. The former team track had already been removed from the station, and only the main southbound track and partial yard remained on site with the platform. The station building was already repainted orange along the wood siding and the windows, formerly a dark green, became white. The station continued service through Hackensack as the northernmost of the three stations in Hackensack. In 1976, Conrail took over service of the former line vacated by the Erie Lackawanna (a merge of the Erie and Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroads) and service of the station. By 1980, during partial ownership between Conrail and New Jersey Transit, the Fairmount Avenue station remained as a part of the line, but by the 1982 timetables, was removed from service. The station building, although it does not receive any active service, remains standing in its orange and white paintjob.
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...
rail station on the Pascack Valley Line
Pascack Valley Line
The Pascack Valley Line is a commuter rail line operated by the Hoboken Division of New Jersey Transit. The line runs north from Hoboken, New Jersey through Bergen County and into Rockland County, New York, terminating at Spring Valley. Service within New York is operated under contract with...
. The station was one of three rail stations in Hackensack
Hackensack, New Jersey
Hackensack is a city in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States and the county seat of Bergen County. Although informally called Hackensack, it was officially named New Barbadoes Township until 1921. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 43,010....
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, United States, and was located at Fairmount Avenue and Temple Avenue. The Essex Street
Essex Street (NJT station)
Essex Street, known as Hackensack during the Erie Railroad era, is a New Jersey Transit rail station on the Pascack Valley Line. The station is one of two rail stations in Hackensack, New Jersey and is located at Essex Street, three blocks from Polifly Road. The Anderson Street station is also...
and Anderson Street
Anderson Street (NJT station)
Anderson Street Station is a New Jersey Transit rail station on the Pascack Valley Line. The station is one of two rail stations in Hackensack, New Jersey, United States, and is located at Anderson Street near Linden Street. The Essex Street station is also located in Hackensack...
stations are also located in Hackensack. This line runs to Hoboken Terminal
Hoboken Terminal
Hoboken Terminal is one of the New York Metropolitan area's major transportation hubs. The commuter-oriented intermodal facility, is located on the Hudson River in Hoboken, New Jersey...
with connections via the Secaucus Junction
Secaucus Junction
The Frank R. Lautenberg Secaucus Junction Station is a major commuter rail hub in Secaucus, New Jersey...
transfer station to New Jersey Transit one-stop service to 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...
and to other NJ Transit rail service. The station house was built in 1870 as part of the extension railroad for the Hackensack and New York Railroad on a track extension from Anderson Street in Hackensack. The line became part of the Erie Railroad
Erie Railroad
The Erie Railroad was a railroad that operated in New York State, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, originally connecting New York City with Lake Erie...
in 1896 and New Jersey Transit in 1983.
Station layout and services
The former Fairmount Avenue station was located at the intersection of Fairmount Avenue and Temple Avenue in the city of Hackensack, New JerseyHackensack, New Jersey
Hackensack is a city in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States and the county seat of Bergen County. Although informally called Hackensack, it was officially named New Barbadoes Township until 1921. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 43,010....
. The building was centered in the middle of Fairmount Park and had access from Temple Avenue, where crossing gates were visible. The three tracks and gravel platform split the station from a large parking lot nearby. There was also a small gravel parking lot on the southern side of the station. To the north of the station was a stone interlocking tower at the intersection with Main Street. The Fairmount Avenue Station had a shingled-roof with a large, angled canopy, and a beige wood siding. There was one asphalt platform servicing all three tracks, and the long canopy over the platform was made in similar design to Newark's 4th Street Station. The beige wood was also given green window-frames to benefit the look. The station contained two mainline tracks, the northbound one, and the nearby team track. There was also a third track in the opposite side working as a partial freight yard.
Hackensack and New York Railroad
The original alignment of the Fairmount Avenue station date back to the chartering of the Hackensack and New York Railroad in 1856 by David P. Patterson of Hillsdale and other local investors. Their intent in creating the rail line was to help maintain a steam-powered train line in the Pascack ValleyPascack Valley
The Pascack Valley is the name for a region of New Jersey, United States, contained within Bergen County. It is named for the Pascack Brook, which defines the valley...
and have future ambitions to build the system northward. Construction on the new 21 miles (33.8 km) long line began in 1866, with trains heading from New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
to the Passaic Street station in Hackensack. Although Hackensack was not a large hub, there were several rail lines serving the city, including the New Jersey Midland Line (now the New York, Susquehanna and Western Railroad) with stops at Main Street (at the Mercer Street intersection) and at Prospect Avenue. During the 1860s, service was extended to north, terminating at Essex Street
Essex Street (NJT station)
Essex Street, known as Hackensack during the Erie Railroad era, is a New Jersey Transit rail station on the Pascack Valley Line. The station is one of two rail stations in Hackensack, New Jersey and is located at Essex Street, three blocks from Polifly Road. The Anderson Street station is also...
. Although most Hackensack and New York trains ended at Passaic Street, service was extended northward on September 5, 1869, when that stop was abandoned in replacement for Anderson Street. By 1870, the tracks had been extended northward to Hillsdale
Hillsdale (NJT station)
Hillsdale Station is a New Jersey Transit rail station on the Pascack Valley Line. The station is in Hillsdale, New Jersey and is located at Broadway and Hillsdale Avenue....
, and public service began on the line on March 4 of that year. Trains terminated at Hillsdale with fare of only $0.75 (1870 USD), but just one year later, the extension northward. The service was extended northward to the community of Haverstraw, New York
Haverstraw, New York
Haverstraw is the name of two locations in Rockland County, New York:*Haverstraw, New York, a town*Haverstraw , New York, a village located entirely within the townIt may also refer to:*West Haverstraw, New York*Haverstraw Bay*Haverstraw Indians...
, and in 1896, the rail line was leased by the private company to the Erie Railroad
Erie Railroad
The Erie Railroad was a railroad that operated in New York State, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, originally connecting New York City with Lake Erie...
.
Erie Railroad and station discontinuance
After the leasing of the New Jersey and New York Railroad to the Erie Railroad, the history of Fairmount Avenue station remained rather quiet, with minor changes to the station building and site occurring over the next seventy years. By 1966, the station building had been sold off by the Erie RailroadErie Railroad
The Erie Railroad was a railroad that operated in New York State, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, originally connecting New York City with Lake Erie...
for private usage as Barbara's General Store and Gifts. The former team track had already been removed from the station, and only the main southbound track and partial yard remained on site with the platform. The station building was already repainted orange along the wood siding and the windows, formerly a dark green, became white. The station continued service through Hackensack as the northernmost of the three stations in Hackensack. In 1976, Conrail took over service of the former line vacated by the Erie Lackawanna (a merge of the Erie and Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroads) and service of the station. By 1980, during partial ownership between Conrail and New Jersey Transit, the Fairmount Avenue station remained as a part of the line, but by the 1982 timetables, was removed from service. The station building, although it does not receive any active service, remains standing in its orange and white paintjob.