Jersey city was the last station on the underground railroad route through new jersey. This book focuses on the railroad operations in jersey city, new jersey. The lehigh valley railroad settles a long legal battle with the central railroad of new jersey, opening the way to build a jersey city terminal on land originally purchased in 1872 for the new jersey west line railroad. Celebrating new jersey s history and heroes every step of the way, which took place september 29 through october, 2002, highlighted a unique part of the states history and celebrated the freedom network that operated from cumberland to hudson county. Central railroad of new jersey terminal jersey city, new jersey. The new company was created by railroad financier jay gould.
The period covered is from the early steam to early diesel l. Map of the rail roads of new jersey, and parts of adjoining states. The main terminal in jersey city, nj, was used until 1967 as the transfer point between cnj central railroad of new jersey commuter trains and the passenger ferries to manhattan. Railroads of hoboken and jersey city images of rail series. Ephraim railway, and the kaighns point terminal railroad in southern new jersey into the atlantic city railroad.
In addition, in the vintage photo, there is a fireplug located on the rightside sidewalk. Containing sketches of the past and present of atlantic city and county by john f. Railroads of hoboken and jersey city tells the history of the railroads between the mid1800s and the 1970s. The royal route to the sea covers one railroads history from the year 1877 to 1933, when it ran from camden to atlantic city with various branchlines running to. Starting in the 1630s, fur trappers, farmers and agents of dutch investors left their home base in new amsterdam for new frontiers on the west bank of the deep. The route crosses the passaic river on the newark, over centre street bridge to the hackensack river and onto jersey city, on the west side of the palisades. In 1852, it began to make inroads into new jersey through consolidation and mergers including expansion to the terminal in jersey city belonging to the new jersey railroad and transportation company incorporated in 1832. But i had no clue as to where whether it taken downtown or in the heights. The jersey central chapter of the national railway historical society, nrhs, was formed in 1980 as a nonprofit group dedicated to the preservation and restoration of railroad and railroad related equipment, structures, photographs and literature to this extent, the groups members have restored, or donated funds for others to restore, several pieces of. Be sure to check out our main website for more information about the history of jersey city jersey city past and present. The railroad commissary bookshelf we specialize in outofprint and hardtofind used rr books. Railroads of hoboken and jersey city by kenneth french arcadia. Timeline of jersey city, new jerseyarea railroads wikipedia. It is based on a reading railroad design first built in the mid1930s that became popular among the railroads in americas anthracite coal region.
The jersey central chapter of the national railway historical society, nrhs, was formed in 1980 as a nonprofit group dedicated to the preservation and restoration of railroad and railroad related equipment, structures, photographs and literature. Many others traveled by rail to enjoy the cool breezes of the jersey shore and other attractions such as horse racing. A history of the middletown and new jersey railroad, llc, and predecessors by peter brill. It also explores how the once vibrant waterfronts of hoboken and jersey city went through tremendous decline and how, over time, the waterfront has been restored and redeveloped. The urhs is comprised of 15 groups all put together with a common cause. Jersey city abandoned, bleak central railroad yards and morris canal pier ruins. Programme for celebrating the centennial anniversary of american independence on the third and fourth of july, 1876, new york, w.
Erie railroad terminal jersey city past and present. For the purposes of this article, the jersey city area extends north to edgewater south to. I grew up in monmouth county and have been interesting in its railroad history ever since. See more ideas about jersey city, city and vintage jerseys. An illustrated history of southern new jersey s jointlyowned railroad. Railroads of new jersey and surrounding states 1869.
The pennsylvania railroad, 19411964 jersey city waterfront, 1 charles p caldes on. Until the decline in anthracite loadings in the coal region after world war ii, it was one of the most. Discover central railroad of new jersey terminal in jersey city, new jersey. Welcome to the railroad commissary online railroad book catalog. Local history collection books categorized by subject. This book includes steam, diesel and electric locomotive photographs from the 1920s thru the 1950s. The new jersey historical society 52 park placenewark, nj 07102 973 5968500fax. This book is a fully illustrated history of the jointlyowned railroad between camden, new jersey and the seashore from its beginning in 1933 to its transfer to conrail in 1976. It was a successor to the philadelphia and reading railway company founded in 1833. Pennsylvania, poughkeepsie and boston railroad lne1 en. But lo and behold, that triangular roofline does in fact line up in the vintage image as being the northfacing facade of jersey citys city hall, located a few blocks beyond railroad ave.
Feb 19, 2002 railroads of hoboken and jersey city tells the history of the railroads between the mid1800s and the 1970s. New jersey remembers the seashores finest train railway age. Tens of thousands of fugitive slaves arrived here from several states, such as maryland, virginia, and north and south carolina. This road will ultimately ex tend amd unite with the eric railroad, in which event this city will be vastly benefited. The blue comet has been the subject of several other books. The venue was the historic cnj jersey city terminal, also known as. He had first taken over the long branch and sea shore railroad, when it was of no further interest to the camden and amboy, and improved it by extending it farther north on sandy hook to horse shoe cove. New jersey electric railway company new jersey 1894. The railroad expanded by the early 1890s into the thriving pennsylvania coalfields and eventually grew to over 200 miles of trackage in the northern portion of new jersey. Central railroad of new jersey archives the trackside.
The jersey city, or communipaw terminal was the jersey centrals most impressive station located directly. History of the city of altoona and blair county, including sketches of the shops of the pennsylvania railroad company, edited by james h. Coal via railroad 1868 library of congress original files. The central railroad of new jersey historical journal 2002. United railroad historical society of nj new jerseys. The 1950s and 1960s was a period in the history of jersey city when its. United railroad historical society of nj, boonton, new jersey. The northern pacific railroad, the sioux, and the panic of 1873 by m. Commuters rode into new york city, newark, and jersey city to their. Celebrating new jerseys history and heroes every step of the way, which took place september 29 through october, 2002, highlighted a unique part of the states history and celebrated the freedom network that operated from cumberland to hudson county. Jersey city, new jersey this book covers the railroad activity in and around jersey city, new jersey using the blackandwhite photographs from the bobs photo collection. The daily union history of atlantic city, new jersey. Its goal is to inform viewers, in words and images, about jersey city, bringing together the community and the universitys internet. Commonly called the reading railroad and logotyped as reading lines, the reading company was a railroad holding company for the majority of its existence and was a single railroad during its later years.
Timeline of jersey city, new jerseyarea railroads news newspapers books scholar jstor. In 1967, all remaining cnj commuter trains were rerouted to the pennsylvania railroad station in newark, nj. Many railroad related problems familiar to the 19 th century public persist today. Many railroadrelated problems familiar to the 19 th century public persist today. Railroads, the pioneers building americas transportation backbone, and more. Harrison, 1920, by daniel van winkle page images at hathitrust 17761876. Central railroad of new jersey whippany railway museum. Hidden in plain sight on the hudson river is an abandoned train station where. The royal route to the sea covers one railroads history from the year 1877 to 1933, when it ran from camden to atlantic city with various branchlines running to other towns.
Since the 1630s the hudson river waterfront has been the focal point for the areas development. Cards, historical photos, vintage postcards, the book, new books, history. Winslow junction is located at the edge of the new jersey pine barrens almost exactly half way between philadelphia and the resorts in atlantic city. Jersey city, hoboken and rutherford electric railway wikipedia. With over two hundred historical photographs, railroads of hoboken and jersey city explores the cultural and commercial effects of railway. Journal 2002, the central railroad of new jersey historical journal 2002. The official web site for the state of new jersey the. Historical new jersey railroad maps rutgers university. By the mid 1830s, the morris canal had reached the jersey city basin just as tracks were being laid through bergen hill by the new jersey railroad and transportation company in unison with the paterson and hudson railroad. Map of the rail roads of new jersey, and parts of adjoining. The map shows drainage, roads, houses, cities and towns, singletrack, doubletrack, and proposed railroads. Library archives the new jersey historical society.
Dont forget to bookmark this page so you can return easily and often. Cnj books, jersey central railroad books, central railroad of new. Remembering the pennsylvania railroad classic trains. Additional history of jersey city more history of jersey city jersey city, the secon d largest city in new jersey, is the site of the first permanent european community in the state. Summary outline map showing drainage, counties, stations, and the railroad network in red. The united railroad historical society of new jersey, inc. The paterson and hudson railroad also commences at this place, diverging from the new jersey railroad at bergen hill. It is significant that one of the first feature films, the great train robbery 1903, was actually shot in new jersey. Visit our ebay store to view other books of interest. The new york and erie railroad was incorporated in 1832 to operate a railway line exclusively in new york state. Jersey city past and present new jersey city university. Railroads of hoboken and jersey city by kenneth french.
It foreshadowed the rest of new jerseys railroads, but not by much. Past and present website is a digital project of new jersey city university njcu. Great for all, who are interested in history, or those who want information, that hasnt been. But aside from their many problems, railroads were a key. Henderson st at railroad ave aka marin blvd at columbus ave when i bought the old photo, all i knew was that it was taken in jersey city. Topographic map of part of new jersey and new york, covering the area north of the hudson river and between jersey city and nyack, n. Nj celebrates the underground railroad the harriet tubman and william still underground railroad walk across new jersey. Ephraim railway, which connected its namesake cities in new jersey. The list is now split into books focusing on the cnj and books with some cnj content. The new jersey southern railroad was a railroad that started in 1854. The company gained sound financial footing during the civil warbefore it became the subject of tremendous financial battle. It would continue under this name until the 1870s as a separate company and the lines that it had constructed or run continued to be run in the new jersey southern name until the early 2000s. Local history book collection hoboken public library.
Commuters rode into new york city, newark, and jersey city to their employment. Railroads of hoboken and jersey city images of rail. The jersey city, hoboken and rutherford electric railway was incorporated in 1893, and. I found reading the book very rewarding although i needed a map to find all. Camden and atlantic railroad camden, south of haddon ave. The new jersey junction railroad nyc opens for passengers. Anthracite coal fields of pennsylvania to new york via perth amboy. River rail freight transportation in new york city and long island timeline of jersey city, new jersey history. The new jersey railroad, which 38 years later would become the pennsylvania railroad prr, begins regular trips from newark to jersey city s first terminal.
A few years later the railroad was extended to jersey city, n. Remembering the pennsylvania railroad classic trains magazine. Cnj books steam diesel freight cnj links practice cnj books. United railroad historical society of nj home facebook. The central railroad of new jersey, also known as the jersey central or jersey central lines reporting mark cnj, was a class i railroad with origins in the 1830s. Many residents worked for the railroad companies or indirectly provided supplies, equipment, and services needed by the railroads to serve customers.
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