Timeline of Jersey City area railroads
Encyclopedia
Jersey City, New Jersey
Jersey City is the seat of Hudson County, New Jersey, United States.Part of the New York metropolitan area, Jersey City lies between the Hudson River and Upper New York Bay across from Lower Manhattan and the Hackensack River and Newark Bay...
area goes north to Edgewater
Edgewater, New Jersey
Edgewater is a borough located along the Hudson River in Bergen County, New Jersey. As of the 2010 census, the borough had a population of 11,513...
(the northern end of the line along the Hudson River
Hudson River
The Hudson is a river that flows from north to south through eastern New York. The highest official source is at Lake Tear of the Clouds, on the slopes of Mount Marcy in the Adirondack Mountains. The river itself officially begins in Henderson Lake in Newcomb, New York...
), south to 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...
, and includes Kearny Junction
Kearny Junction
Kearny Junction is a railroad junction in Kearny, New Jersey, where the Kearny Connection splits from the former Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad main line. The Kearny Connection was built in the 1990s to connect the DL&W to the former Pennsylvania Railroad line to New York Penn Station...
and Harrison
Harrison, New Jersey
Harrison is a town in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the town's population was 13,620. The town is a suburb of the nearby city of Newark, New Jersey.-Geography:Harrison is located at ....
but not 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...
. Thus all events relating to travel east from Newark is covered but not in any other direction.
These abbreviations are used, mainly to identify which system a line ended up with:
- B&O=Baltimore and Ohio RailroadBaltimore and Ohio RailroadThe Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was one of the oldest railroads in the United States and the first common carrier railroad. It came into being mostly because the city of Baltimore wanted to compete with the newly constructed Erie Canal and another canal being proposed by Pennsylvania, which...
- CNJ=Central Railroad of New JerseyCentral Railroad of New JerseyThe 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...
- DL&W=Delaware, Lackawanna and Western RailroadDelaware, Lackawanna and Western RailroadThe Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad Company was a railroad connecting Pennsylvania's Lackawanna Valley, rich in anthracite coal, to Hoboken, New Jersey, , Buffalo and Oswego, New York...
- Erie=Erie RailroadErie RailroadThe 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...
- LV=Lehigh Valley RailroadLehigh Valley RailroadThe 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...
- NYC=New York Central RailroadNew York Central RailroadThe New York Central Railroad , known simply as the New York Central in its publicity, was a railroad operating in the Northeastern United States...
- NYO&W=New York, Ontario and Western RailwayNew York, Ontario and Western RailwayThe New York, Ontario and Western Railway, more commonly known as the O&W or NYO&W, was a regional railroad with origins in 1868, lasting until March 29, 1957 when it was ordered liquidated by a US bankruptcy judge. The O&W holds the distinction of being the first major U.S...
- NYS&W=New York, Susquehanna and Western RailwayNew York, Susquehanna and Western RailwayThe New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway , also known as the Susie-Q, or simply the Susquehanna, is a Class II American freight railway operating over 500 miles of track in the northeastern states of New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. It was formed in 1881 from the merger of several...
- PATH=Port Authority Trans-HudsonPort Authority Trans-HudsonPATH, 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...
- PRR=Pennsylvania RailroadPennsylvania RailroadThe Pennsylvania Railroad was an American Class I railroad, founded in 1846. Commonly referred to as the "Pennsy", the PRR was headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
- RDG=Reading Railroad
1833
- November 28: The Paterson and Hudson River RailroadPaterson and Hudson River RailroadThe Paterson and Hudson River Railroad was a railroad that operated in New Jersey and connected the cities of Jersey City and Paterson. The railroad was started in 1833 and connected with the Paterson and Ramapo Railroad in Paterson. The two lines provided a shorter route from Suffern to New York...
(Erie) opens to Marion Junction, where it ends at the New Jersey Railroad (PRR).http://www.rootsweb.com/~njpchsgc/dir/pat_city_dir_1853_fwd.htm
1834
- September 15: The New Jersey Railroad (PRR) begins regular trips from Newark to Jersey City, on the west side of the Palisades.http://www.getnj.com/jchist/101.shtml
1836
- The Morris CanalMorris CanalThe Morris Canal was an anthracite-carrying canal that incorporated a series of water-driven inclined planes in its course across northern New Jersey in the United States. It was in use for about a century — from the late 1820s to the 1920s....
is extended from Newark through Jersey City.http://www.getnj.com/jchist/101.shtml
1837
- The New Jersey Railroad (PRR) cut through the Palisades opens; the Paterson and Hudson River RailroadPaterson and Hudson River RailroadThe Paterson and Hudson River Railroad was a railroad that operated in New Jersey and connected the cities of Jersey City and Paterson. The railroad was started in 1833 and connected with the Paterson and Ramapo Railroad in Paterson. The two lines provided a shorter route from Suffern to New York...
(Erie) also uses it.http://www.getnj.com/jchist/101.shtml
1838
- December 2: The New Jersey Railroad (PRR) switches from horse to steam power.http://www.getnj.com/jchist/101.shtml
1858
- The Pennsylvania RailroadPennsylvania RailroadThe Pennsylvania Railroad was an American Class I railroad, founded in 1846. Commonly referred to as the "Pennsy", the PRR was headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
builds a 5-track passenger station and ferry at Hudson Street. http://www.njcu.edu/programs/jchistory/Pages/E_Pages/Exchange_Place.htm
1861
- January 28: The Long Dock Company (Erie) finishes its tunnelLong Dock TunnelThe Long Dock Tunnel is a tunnel in New Jersey that runs diagonally through Bergen Hill, a section of the New Jersey Palisades in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States...
through the Palisades, bypassing the PRR cut.http://www.getnj.com/jchist/101.shtml - March 14: The New York and Bull's Ferry Railroad (NYC) is chartered and buys the Hoboken and Hudson River Turnpike. Its name is changed to the New York and Fort Lee Railroad on March 8, 1862.http://www.scripophily.net/newyorcenand.html
1869
- July 23:The full length of the New York and Newark Railroad Bridge (CNJ) opens, extending the line CNJ's Hudson River terminal.
1870
- February 22: The New Jersey Railroad (PRR) builds a new bridge over the Passaic River, cutting the distance through Newark and Harrison. Some passenger trains continue to use the old alignment, the Centre Street Branch.
- December 2: A frog warFrog warIn American railroading, a frog war occurs when a private railroad company attempts to cross the tracks of another, and this results in hostilities, with the courts usually getting involved, but often long after companies have taken the matter in their own hands and settled, with hordes of workers...
begins between the Erie and DL&W at the west end of the Erie's tunnel. - December 14: The DL&W begins running passenger trains on its Boonton Branch.
- The New York and Fort Lee Railroad (NYC) opens.http://www.scripophily.net/newyorcenand.html
- The PRR leases the United New Jersey Railroad and Canal CompanyUnited New Jersey Railroad and Canal CompanyThe United New Jersey Railroad and Canal Company was part of the Pennsylvania Railroad system in New Jersey, including their main line to New York City...
.http://www.getnj.com/jchist/101.shtml
1871
- January 9: The frog warFrog warIn American railroading, a frog war occurs when a private railroad company attempts to cross the tracks of another, and this results in hostilities, with the courts usually getting involved, but often long after companies have taken the matter in their own hands and settled, with hordes of workers...
between the Erie and DL&W ends, with the frog being placed to allow DL&W Boonton Branch trains to run through the Erie's tunnel.
1872
- August 23: Trains are first run along the Erie's Newark and Hudson Railroad from Newark through their tunnel to Jersey City.
1873
- The Pennsylvania RailroadPennsylvania RailroadThe Pennsylvania Railroad was an American Class I railroad, founded in 1846. Commonly referred to as the "Pennsy", the PRR was headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
constructs a new passenger ferry terminal with 12 tracks and 6 platforms. The wooden terminal is built on piers over the water.
1877
- May 12: The DL&W opens its new tunnel through the Palisades, ending its trackage rightsTrackage rightsTrackage 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....
through the Erie's tunnel. Included with the tunnel are western approaches to the DL&W main line and Boonton Branch; the former includes a new bridge over the Hackensack River, south of the old one (which is then used only for the Erie's Newark and Greenwood Lake Branches). The new alignment at first crosses the New Jersey Midland Railroad (NYS&W) at grade.
1883
- The National Docks Railway is constructed to connect the National Storage Company docks at Black Tom with the Pennsylvania RailroadPennsylvania RailroadThe Pennsylvania Railroad was an American Class I railroad, founded in 1846. Commonly referred to as the "Pennsy", the PRR was headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
in Jersey City. The PRR controls and operates the railroad until 1889, when control passes to the New York Central RailroadNew York Central RailroadThe New York Central Railroad , known simply as the New York Central in its publicity, was a railroad operating in the Northeastern United States...
after completion of the New Jersey Junction RailroadNew Jersey Junction RailroadThe New Jersey Junction Railroad was part of the New York Central Railroad and ran along the Hudson River in Hudson County, New Jersey, from the West Shore Railroad yards at Weehawken Terminal south to Jersey City...
. In 1894 the Lehigh Valley RailroadLehigh Valley RailroadThe 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...
acquires half interest, and obtains full control in 1900.
1884
- The West Shore RailroadWest Shore RailroadThe West Shore Railroad was the final name of a railroad from Weehawken, New Jersey, across the Hudson River from New York City, north along the west shore of the river to Albany, New York and then west to Buffalo...
's (NYC) tunnel through the Palisades opens. - August 4: The Pennsylvania RailroadPennsylvania RailroadThe Pennsylvania Railroad was an American Class I railroad, founded in 1846. Commonly referred to as the "Pennsy", the PRR was headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
passenger and ferry terminal at Exchange Place burns as a result of an explosion in a gas reservoir underneath the station.
1885
- December 5: NYC leases the West Shore RailroadWest Shore RailroadThe West Shore Railroad was the final name of a railroad from Weehawken, New Jersey, across the Hudson River from New York City, north along the west shore of the river to Albany, New York and then west to Buffalo...
for 475 years from January 1, 1886, with the privilege of an additional 500-year term.http://www.scripophily.net/newyorcenand.html
1886
- June 30: The New Jersey Junction RailroadNew Jersey Junction RailroadThe New Jersey Junction Railroad was part of the New York Central Railroad and ran along the Hudson River in Hudson County, New Jersey, from the West Shore Railroad yards at Weehawken Terminal south to Jersey City...
(NYC) leases .24 mi of the New York and Fort Lee Railroad. The rest later disappears in the West Shore RailroadWest Shore RailroadThe West Shore Railroad was the final name of a railroad from Weehawken, New Jersey, across the Hudson River from New York City, north along the west shore of the river to Albany, New York and then west to Buffalo...
's (NYC) Weehawken yard.http://www.scripophily.net/newyorcenand.html - July 1: NYC leases the New Jersey Junction RailroadNew Jersey Junction RailroadThe New Jersey Junction Railroad was part of the New York Central Railroad and ran along the Hudson River in Hudson County, New Jersey, from the West Shore Railroad yards at Weehawken Terminal south to Jersey City...
for 100 years, with the option of another 100 year term.http://www.scripophily.net/newyorcenand.html
1887
- May: The New Jersey Junction RailroadNew Jersey Junction RailroadThe New Jersey Junction Railroad was part of the New York Central Railroad and ran along the Hudson River in Hudson County, New Jersey, from the West Shore Railroad yards at Weehawken Terminal south to Jersey City...
(NYC) opens for freight.http://www.scripophily.net/newyorcenand.html - June: The New Jersey Junction RailroadNew Jersey Junction RailroadThe New Jersey Junction Railroad was part of the New York Central Railroad and ran along the Hudson River in Hudson County, New Jersey, from the West Shore Railroad yards at Weehawken Terminal south to Jersey City...
(NYC) opens for passengers.http://www.scripophily.net/newyorcenand.html - October: The Lehigh Valley RailroadLehigh Valley RailroadThe 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...
settles a long legal battle with the Central Railroad of New JerseyCentral Railroad of New JerseyThe 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...
, opening the way to build a Jersey City terminal on land originally purchased in 1872 for the New Jersey West Line RailroadNew Jersey West Line RailroadThe New Jersey West Line Railroad was a proposed railroad running east and west across northern New Jersey, of which the only part constructed was what is now the Gladstone Branch of New Jersey Transit between Summit and Bernardsville...
.
1889
- The Lehigh Valley RailroadLehigh Valley RailroadThe 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...
constructs its freight terminal on the south side of the Morris canal basin at South Cove, adjacent to the Central Railroad of New JerseyCentral Railroad of New JerseyThe 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...
terminal. The LVRR reaches its new terminal over CNJ tracks on a 5-year lease.
1890
- The Lehigh Valley RailroadLehigh Valley RailroadThe 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...
constructs the Edgewater Railway on the north side of the Morris Canal basin.
1891
- The Pennsylvania RailroadPennsylvania RailroadThe Pennsylvania Railroad was an American Class I railroad, founded in 1846. Commonly referred to as the "Pennsy", the PRR was headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
(PRR) rebuilds the passenger ferry terminal to replace the old terminal which was partially destroyed by fire. The new terminal is raised 15 to 20 feet above the old level to accommodate new elevated rails that eliminate grade crossings in the city.
1892
- The Lehigh Valley RailroadLehigh Valley RailroadThe 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...
opens its bridge across Newark Bay. The LVRR connects with the National Docks Railway east of the bridge in order to reach the LVRR terminal.
1894
- May 15 The New York, Susquehanna and Western RailwayNew York, Susquehanna and Western RailwayThe New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway , also known as the Susie-Q, or simply the Susquehanna, is a Class II American freight railway operating over 500 miles of track in the northeastern states of New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. It was formed in 1881 from the merger of several...
tunnel through the Palisades is opened for traffic. The mile-long tunnel took 18 months to construct and provides the NYS&W access to its own terminal in Edgewater. The NYS&W had previously used the DL&W terminal in Hoboken.
1897
- The Hoboken Manufacturers Railroad opens.
- The National Docks and New Jersey Junction Connecting Railway (LV + NYC) is completed. This line was mainly a short tunnel under the Pennsylvania Railroad to connect the New Jersey Junction RailroadNew Jersey Junction RailroadThe New Jersey Junction Railroad was part of the New York Central Railroad and ran along the Hudson River in Hudson County, New Jersey, from the West Shore Railroad yards at Weehawken Terminal south to Jersey City...
(NYC) with the National Docks Railway (LV + NYC). For 9 years the PRR fought the construction of the line both in the courts and on the ground, at one point dumping stone into the tunnel and turning fire hoses onto the construction crews.
1900
- The Greenville and Hudson Railway (LVRR) completes construction of a line roughly parallel to the National Docks Railway from the Newark Bay bridge to the Jersey City terminal. Upon completion, the Lehigh Valley RailroadLehigh Valley RailroadThe 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...
has a wholly owned route from the coal fields of Pennsylvania to its terminal in Jersey City.
1908
- February 26: The Hudson and Manhattan Railroad (PATH) opens from 19th Street Manhattan to Hoboken Terminal.
1909
- July 19: The Hudson and Manhattan Railroad (PATH) opens from Hudson Terminal (World Trade Center) to Exchange Place.
- August 2: The Hudson and Manhattan Railroad (PATH) opens its connection from Exchange Place north towards Hoboken Terminal.
1910
- November 27: The Pennsylvania Tunnel and Terminal RailroadPennsylvania Tunnel and Terminal RailroadThe New York Tunnel Extension , was a major project of the Pennsylvania Railroad at the beginning of the 20th century, to improve railroad access throughout the greater New York City area...
(PRR) opens from Kearny Junction into New York Penn Station. Manhattan Transfer opens. - The Penhorn Creek Railroad's (Erie) four-track cut through the Palisades (Bergen ArchesBergen ArchesBergen Arches is an abandoned railroad right of way through Bergen Hill in Jersey City, New Jersey.-History:...
) opens, just south of the Erie's two-track tunnel, including a western approach through Secaucus.
1911
- March 14: The New Jersey Shore Line RailroadNew Jersey Shore Line RailroadThe New Jersey Shore Line Railroad was part of the New York Central Railroad and ran along the Hudson River in New Jersey, from the West Shore Railroad yards at Guttenberg north to the Erie Terminals Railroad at the Hudson/Bergen County line....
(NYC) opens from the West Shore RailroadWest Shore RailroadThe West Shore Railroad was the final name of a railroad from Weehawken, New Jersey, across the Hudson River from New York City, north along the west shore of the river to Albany, New York and then west to Buffalo...
's (NYC) Weehawken yard to the NYS&W at Shadyside, about .85 mi.http://www.scripophily.net/newyorcenand.html - May 16: Cars first move on the New Jersey Shore Line RailroadNew Jersey Shore Line RailroadThe New Jersey Shore Line Railroad was part of the New York Central Railroad and ran along the Hudson River in New Jersey, from the West Shore Railroad yards at Guttenberg north to the Erie Terminals Railroad at the Hudson/Bergen County line....
(NYC).http://www.scripophily.net/newyorcenand.html - October 1: The Hudson and Manhattan Railroad (PATH) is extended through Jersey City to Manhattan Transfer.
- November 26: The Hudson and Manhattan Railroad (PATH) is extended from Manhattan Transfer to Newark Park Place.
1937
- June 20: Manhattan Transfer closes and the Hudson and Manhattan Railroad (PATH) is realigned to Newark Penn Station.
1939
- August 1: The NYS&W begins bus service from Susquehanna Transfer to Times SquareTimes SquareTimes Square is a major commercial intersection in the borough of Manhattan in New York City, at the junction of Broadway and Seventh Avenue and stretching from West 42nd to West 47th Streets...
via the Lincoln TunnelLincoln TunnelThe Lincoln Tunnel is a long tunnel under the Hudson River, connecting Weehawken, New Jersey and the borough of Manhattan in New York City.-History:...
.
See also
- List of Hudson County railroad terminals
- North River (Hudson River)
- Communipaw TerminalCommunipaw TerminalCentral 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:...
- Weehawken TerminalWeehawken TerminalWeehawken Terminal was the waterfront intermodal terminal on the North River in Weehawken, New Jersey for the New York Central Railroad's West Shore Railroad division. It opened in 1884 and closed in 1959. The complex contained five ferry slips, sixteen passenger train tracks, car float...
- Pavonia TerminalPavonia TerminalPavonia Terminal was the Erie Railroad terminal on the Hudson River situated on the landfilled Harsimus Cove in Jersey City, New Jersey.-History:The Erie began developing the waterfront site in 1856.The intermodal complex was built between 1886 and 1889...
- Exchange Place (Jersey City)
- Hoboken TerminalHoboken TerminalHoboken 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...
- Bergen HillBergen HillBergen Hill refers to the lower Hudson Palisades in New Jersey, USA, where they emerge on Bergen Neck, which in turn is the peninsula between the Hackensack and Hudson River, and their bays. In Hudson County, it reaches a height of 260 feet.-Rail:...
- List of crossings of the Hackensack River
- List of bridges, tunnels, and cuts in Hudson County, New Jersey
Sources
- Poor's and Moody's railroad manuals
- New-Jersey Railroad Improvements, New York Times February 23, 1870 page 5
- Local News in Brief, New York Times November 28, 1870 page 8
- Almost a Riot, New York Times December 3, 1870 page 1
- Local News in Brief, New York Times December 15, 1870 page 8
- Local News in Brief, New York Times January 10, 1871 page 8
- New-Jersey, New York Times August 24, 1872 page 8
- The New Bergen Tunnel, New York Times May 12, 1877 page 10