Morris County Traction Company
Encyclopedia
The Morris County Traction Company began trolley service in downtown Dover, New Jersey
in July 1904. It was expanded over the years until the system was completed in 1914 all the way to Newark, New Jersey
, via Morristown, New Jersey
and Summit, New Jersey
.
, Ledgewood, Succasunna, Kenvil, Mine Hill, Dover, Wharton, Rockaway, Denville, Mountain Lakes, Boonton, Morris Plains, Morristown, Madison, Chatham, Summit, Irvington, downtown Elizabeth, and downtown Newark.
The line ran on both exclusive right-of-ways
and on city streets, some of which, such as Broad Street in Summit, were designed and built to accommodate the trolley line. The power house
for the trolley was located along the Passaic River
in Summit, on the border of Chatham, New Jersey
.
Buses and private automobiles proved to be too much competition for the trolley lines, and the trolley cars were replaced with buses between 1926 and 1928.
's Morris and Essex line in Morris Township, New Jersey
, now serves as a bike and walking trail called the
Traction Line Recreation Trail
, under the supervision of the Morris County Park System.
In Union
, a portion of the line forked off of Morris Avenue. Part of the right of way and partial grading is very noticeable behind Holy Spirit Church. Huguenot Avenue and Euclid Avenues are in line of this portion not on Morris Avenue.
The Summit NJ car barn is still in existence as of November 2008. The building is located on River Road in Summit, just north of the intersection with Chatham Road. A turntable is visible between the river and the building. The building, currently vacant, has been a car dealership, and earlier, a Public Service bus service facility for the number 70 and 72 routes. These routes replaced the MCTC lines when PS assumed the routes in the late 1920s.
The Dover NJ car barn is still in use as a facility for Lakeland Bus lines.
Dover, New Jersey
Dover is a town in Morris County, New Jersey on the Rockaway River. Dover is west of New York City and west of Newark, New Jersey. As of the United States Census, 2000, the town's population was 18,188.-Geography:...
in July 1904. It was expanded over the years until the system was completed in 1914 all the way to Newark, New Jersey
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...
, via Morristown, New Jersey
Morristown, New Jersey
Morristown is a town in Morris County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the town population was 18,411. It is the county seat of Morris County. Morristown became characterized as "the military capital of the American Revolution" because of its strategic role in the...
and Summit, New Jersey
Summit, New Jersey
Summit is a city in Union County, New Jersey, United States. At the 2010 United States Census, the city's population was 21,457. Summit had the 16th-highest per capita income in the state as of the 2000 Census....
.
Routes and Service
Service was provided to: Bertand's Island Amusement Park at Lake HopatcongLake Hopatcong
Lake Hopatcong is the largest freshwater body in the state of New Jersey, USA, approximately 4 square miles in area. The lake is located in the mountains of northern New Jersey, north of Netcong and along the border between Sussex and Morris counties.The lake is within the borders of four...
, Ledgewood, Succasunna, Kenvil, Mine Hill, Dover, Wharton, Rockaway, Denville, Mountain Lakes, Boonton, Morris Plains, Morristown, Madison, Chatham, Summit, Irvington, downtown Elizabeth, and downtown Newark.
The line ran on both exclusive right-of-ways
Easement
An easement is a certain right to use the real property of another without possessing it.Easements are helpful for providing pathways across two or more pieces of property or allowing an individual to fish in a privately owned pond...
and on city streets, some of which, such as Broad Street in Summit, were designed and built to accommodate the trolley line. The power house
Traction powerstation
A traction power station is a power station that produces only traction current, that is, electric current used for railways, trams, trolleybuses or other conveyances. Pure traction power stations are rare and there are many more power stations that generate current for other purposes, such as...
for the trolley was located along the Passaic River
Passaic River
The Passaic River is a mature surface river, approximately 80 mi long, in northern New Jersey in the United States. The river in its upper course flows in a highly circuitous route, meandering through the swamp lowlands between the ridge hills of rural and suburban northern New Jersey,...
in Summit, on the border of Chatham, New Jersey
Chatham, New Jersey
Chatham refers to two neighboring municipalities in Morris County, New Jersey – Chatham Borough and Chatham Township. The two are separate municipalities, the first a municipality that was settled in 1710 as a colonial English village in the Province of New Jersey...
.
Buses and private automobiles proved to be too much competition for the trolley lines, and the trolley cars were replaced with buses between 1926 and 1928.
Modern remnants
A two mile portion of the former Morris County Traction Company trolley line, along New Jersey TransitNew 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...
's Morris and Essex line in Morris Township, New Jersey
Morris Township, New Jersey
Morris Township is a township in Morris County, New Jersey, USA. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 21,796. It is known as the "doughnut" around Morristown since it completely encapsulates it, and has at least five times the area...
, now serves as a bike and walking trail called the
Traction Line Recreation Trail
Traction Line Recreation Trail
The Traction Line Recreation Trail is a multi-use rail trail located in Morristown, New Jersey.This trail uses a rail corridor which was built for the Morris County Traction Company trolley line, which runs alongside New Jersey Transit's Morris & Essex Lines in Morris Township, New Jersey.The...
, under the supervision of the Morris County Park System.
In Union
Union Township, Union County, New Jersey
Union is a Township in Union County, New Jersey, United States. In the 18th century, the area that is now Union was then called Connecticut Farms...
, a portion of the line forked off of Morris Avenue. Part of the right of way and partial grading is very noticeable behind Holy Spirit Church. Huguenot Avenue and Euclid Avenues are in line of this portion not on Morris Avenue.
The Summit NJ car barn is still in existence as of November 2008. The building is located on River Road in Summit, just north of the intersection with Chatham Road. A turntable is visible between the river and the building. The building, currently vacant, has been a car dealership, and earlier, a Public Service bus service facility for the number 70 and 72 routes. These routes replaced the MCTC lines when PS assumed the routes in the late 1920s.
The Dover NJ car barn is still in use as a facility for Lakeland Bus lines.
Further reading
- MORRIS COUNTY TRACTION COMPANY by Larry Lowenthal & William T. Greenberg, Jr.
- Morris County Parks page on the Traction Line accessed Sept 28, 2007