Hudson Connecting Railway
Encyclopedia
The Hudson Connecting Railway was a railroad in Hudson County, New Jersey
. It was originally built as part of the New Jersey Midland Railway, and is now part of the New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway
.
near Englewood
and run south along the Hudson River
to Weehawken
, but the company lacked the money to do so, and instead they made arrangements to run through the Pennsylvania Railroad
's cut through Bergen Hill
in Jersey City
to their Exchange Place Terminal.
However, the charter for the NJ Midland prevented it from crossing any other railroad to reach the Hudson River. But the route along the west side of the Palisades to reach the PRR took it across the Erie Railroad
. So a new company with the same management, the Hudson Connecting Railway, was formed to build the final leg. The line was built in 1873 from New Durham, North Bergen
(near the point now known as CP 2) south to the PRR at Marion Junction, with the southernmost part leased from the Erie Railroad
's as their original terminus, built as the Paterson and Hudson River Railroad
. The Susquehanna Transfer
was later built near this point.
The NJ Midland also served as a terminus for the Montclair Railway, which later became the New York and Greenwood Lake Railway.
The NJ Midland went bankrupt and was sold to receivers in March 1875. By December 1878, a dispute broke out between various bondholders, some of whom disputed that the Hudson Connecting Railway should be included in the proceedings.
On February 21, 1880, the NJ Midland, along with the Hudson Connecting Railway, was sold to Charles Parsons
, who represented the bondholders of the first and second mortgages; the two railroads were combined into one. In June 1881 the NJ Midland was consolidated with five other railroads to form the New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway
, a name which it still holds.
Hudson County, New Jersey
Hudson County is the smallest county in New Jersey and one of the most densely populated in United States. It takes its name from the Hudson River, which creates part of its eastern border. Part of the New York metropolitan area, its county seat and largest city is Jersey City.- Municipalities...
. It was originally built as part of the New Jersey Midland Railway, and is now part of the New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway
New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway
The 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...
.
History
The New Jersey Midland Railway was formed in 1870 as a consolidation of several smaller railroads. The original plan was to cut through the New Jersey PalisadesNew Jersey Palisades
The Palisades, also called the New Jersey Palisades or the Hudson Palisades are a line of steep cliffs along the west side of the lower Hudson River in northeastern New Jersey and southern New York in the United States. The cliffs stretch north from Jersey City approximately 20 mi to near...
near Englewood
Englewood, New Jersey
Englewood is a city located in Bergen County, New Jersey. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 27,147.Englewood was incorporated as a city by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 17, 1899, from portions of Ridgefield Township and the remaining portions of...
and run south 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...
to Weehawken
Weehawken, New Jersey
Weehawken is a township in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 12,554.-Geography:Weehawken is part of the New York metropolitan area...
, but the company lacked the money to do so, and instead they made arrangements to run through 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....
's cut through Bergen Hill
Bergen Hill
Bergen 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:...
in Jersey City
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...
to their Exchange Place Terminal.
However, the charter for the NJ Midland prevented it from crossing any other railroad to reach the Hudson River. But the route along the west side of the Palisades to reach the PRR took it across 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...
. So a new company with the same management, the Hudson Connecting Railway, was formed to build the final leg. The line was built in 1873 from New Durham, North Bergen
New Durham, North Bergen
New Durham is an area of North Bergen, New Jersey near the foot of Union Turnpike and Bergen Turnpike, and south of the Tonnelle Avenue Station of the Hudson Bergen Light Rail...
(near the point now known as CP 2) south to the PRR at Marion Junction, with the southernmost part leased from 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...
's as their original terminus, built as the Paterson and Hudson River Railroad
Paterson and Hudson River Railroad
The 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...
. The Susquehanna Transfer
Susquehanna Transfer (NYS&W station)
Susquehanna Transfer was a passenger station on the New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway, located in North Bergen, New Jersey at the Route 495 overpass...
was later built near this point.
The NJ Midland also served as a terminus for the Montclair Railway, which later became the New York and Greenwood Lake Railway.
The NJ Midland went bankrupt and was sold to receivers in March 1875. By December 1878, a dispute broke out between various bondholders, some of whom disputed that the Hudson Connecting Railway should be included in the proceedings.
On February 21, 1880, the NJ Midland, along with the Hudson Connecting Railway, was sold to Charles Parsons
Charles Parsons
Charles Parsons may refer to:* Charles Algernon Parsons , British engineer known for his invention of the steam turbine* Charles Parsons , professor in the philosophy of mathematics at Harvard University...
, who represented the bondholders of the first and second mortgages; the two railroads were combined into one. In June 1881 the NJ Midland was consolidated with five other railroads to form the New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway
New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway
The 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...
, a name which it still holds.