North Hudson County Railway
Encyclopedia
The North Hudson Railway Company built and operated a streetcar system in Hudson County
and southeast Bergen County, New Jersey
before and after the turn of twentieth century
. It was founded by John Bonn, and eventually taken over by the Public Service Railway
. In its endeavors to overcome the formidable obstacle of ascending the lower Hudson Palisades, or Bergen Hill
, it devised numerous innovative engineering solutions including funicular wagen lifts
, an inclined elevated railway
, an elevator
and viaducts.
North Hudson County Railway opened 1861, and in 1891 acquired Pavonia Horse Railroad Company, in 1893 opened Hudson & Bergen Traction Company, and in 1894 opened Palisades Railroad.
North Hudson County Railway included 12.75 miles (20.5 km) of at-grade and 1.25 miles (2 km) of elevated trackage.
Bonn was always involved in other road and real estate projects in the county. He resided in Weehawken
, where a street is named in his honor.
wagon lifts were built in 1893. The Hoboken travelled from the near the foot of Paterson Plank Road
to Ferry Street,
next to Pohlmann's Hall
in Jersey City Heights. The Weehawken
lift ascended from the foot of Hackensack Plank Road
to West Hoboken
(now Union City
). The remnats of the lift ascend to under a residential highrise.
that ran from Hudson Place
near the Lackawanna Terminal
, up to Jersey City Heights next to the wagen lift at Pohlmann's Hall
. The line turned left and continued along Central Avenue
, and again by elveated over Long Dock Tunnel
and Bergen Arches
to the Hudson County Courthouse
where it descended nearby Journal Square
.
in the Palisades
which ran parallel to the Eldorado, a pleasure garden, and then proceeded east and north to the Nungesser's Guttenberg Racetrack
.
in Hoboken, the line ran west and with a series of trestles and horseshoe curves ascended the Palisades to West Hoboken and beyond. Part of the system near the Wing Viaduct
is New Jersey Register of Historic Places
designated place.
ferry up the cliff to Palisades Amusement Park
.
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...
and southeast Bergen County, New Jersey
Bergen County, New Jersey
Bergen County is the most populous county of the state of New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, its population was 905,116. The county is part of the New York City Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Hackensack...
before and after the turn of twentieth century
Turn of the century
Turn of the century, in its broadest sense, refers to the transition from one century to another. The term is most often used to indicate a non-specific time period either before or after the beginning of a century....
. It was founded by John Bonn, and eventually taken over by the Public Service Railway
Public Service Railway
The Public Service Railway, owned by the Public Service Corporation of New Jersey, operated most of the streetcar lines in New Jersey by the early 20th century. Public Service lines stretched from northeast New Jersey to Trenton, and then south to Camden and its suburbs...
. In its endeavors to overcome the formidable obstacle of ascending the lower Hudson Palisades, or 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:...
, it devised numerous innovative engineering solutions including funicular wagen lifts
Funicular
A funicular, also known as an inclined plane or cliff railway, is a cable railway in which a cable attached to a pair of tram-like vehicles on rails moves them up and down a steep slope; the ascending and descending vehicles counterbalance each other.-Operation:The basic principle of funicular...
, an inclined elevated railway
Elevated railway
An elevated railway is a form of rapid transit railway with the tracks built above street level on some form of viaduct or other steel or concrete structure. The railway concerned may be constructed according to the standard gauge, narrow gauge, light rail, monorail or suspension railway system...
, an elevator
Elevator
An elevator is a type of vertical transport equipment that efficiently moves people or goods between floors of a building, vessel or other structures...
and viaducts.
North Hudson County Railway opened 1861, and in 1891 acquired Pavonia Horse Railroad Company, in 1893 opened Hudson & Bergen Traction Company, and in 1894 opened Palisades Railroad.
North Hudson County Railway included 12.75 miles (20.5 km) of at-grade and 1.25 miles (2 km) of elevated trackage.
Bonn was always involved in other road and real estate projects in the county. He resided in 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...
, where a street is named in his honor.
Wagon lifts
Two funicularFunicular
A funicular, also known as an inclined plane or cliff railway, is a cable railway in which a cable attached to a pair of tram-like vehicles on rails moves them up and down a steep slope; the ascending and descending vehicles counterbalance each other.-Operation:The basic principle of funicular...
wagon lifts were built in 1893. The Hoboken travelled from the near the foot of Paterson Plank Road
Paterson Plank Road
Paterson Plank Road is a road that runs through Passaic, Bergen and Hudson Counties in northeastern New Jersey originally lain in the colonial era. The route, connecting the city Paterson and the Hudson River waterfront, still exists...
to Ferry Street,
next to Pohlmann's Hall
Pohlmann's Hall
Pohlmann's Hall, is located in Jersey City, New Jersey. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places on September 5, 1985.-History:...
in Jersey City Heights. The 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...
lift ascended from the foot of Hackensack Plank Road
Hackensack Plank Road
The Hackensack Plank Road was a major artery which connected the cities of Hoboken and Hackensack, New Jersey Like its cousin routes, the Newark Plank Road and Paterson Plank Road, it travelled over Bergen Hill and across the Hackensack Meadows from the Hudson River waterfront to the city for...
to West Hoboken
West Hoboken, New Jersey
West Hoboken was a municipality that existed in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States, from 1861 to 1925.West Hoboken was originally incorporated as a township by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 28, 1861, from portions of North Bergen Township. The township was reincorporated on...
(now Union City
Union City
-In the United States:*Union City, Connecticut *Union City, California *Union City, Georgia *Union City, Indiana , across the state line from Union City, Ohio...
). The remnats of the lift ascend to under a residential highrise.
Hoboken Elevated
Known as the Hoboken Elevated the long trestle was part of an elevated railwayElevated railway
An elevated railway is a form of rapid transit railway with the tracks built above street level on some form of viaduct or other steel or concrete structure. The railway concerned may be constructed according to the standard gauge, narrow gauge, light rail, monorail or suspension railway system...
that ran from Hudson Place
Hudson Place (Hoboken)
Hudson Place, designated Hudson County Route 736, is a 0.05 mile long street in Hoboken, New Jersey that runs along the north side of Hoboken Terminal, providing the only automobile access to the major transportation hub...
near the Lackawanna 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...
, up to Jersey City Heights next to the wagen lift at Pohlmann's Hall
Pohlmann's Hall
Pohlmann's Hall, is located in Jersey City, New Jersey. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places on September 5, 1985.-History:...
. The line turned left and continued along Central Avenue
Central Avenue (Hudson County)
County Route 663 is long Central Avenue in Jersey City Heights, and is the main commercial thoroughfare for that section of Jersey City, New Jersey.It runs between Newark Avenue near Five Corners and Paterson Plank Road near Transfer Station...
, and again by elveated over Long Dock Tunnel
Long Dock Tunnel
The 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...
and Bergen Arches
Bergen Arches
Bergen Arches is an abandoned railroad right of way through Bergen Hill in Jersey City, New Jersey.-History:...
to the Hudson County Courthouse
Hudson County Courthouse
The Hudson County Courthouse or Justice William J. Brennan Jr. Courthouse is located in Jersey City, New Jersey. The six-story structure was originally built between 1906 and 1910 at a cost of $3,328,016.56...
where it descended nearby Journal Square
Journal Square
Journal Square is a business district, residential area, and transportation hub in Jersey City, New Jersey, which takes its name from the newspaper Jersey Journal whose headquarters are located there. The "square" itself is at the intersection of Kennedy Boulevard and Bergen Avenues...
.
Eldorado Elevator
From the West Shore Ferry Terminal at Weehawken, the elevator rose to meet streetcar line that travelled along a trestle to a cutCut (earthmoving)
In civil engineering, a cut or cutting is where soil or rock material from a hill or mountain is cut out to make way for a canal, road or railway line....
in the Palisades
Palisades
A palisade is a steel or wooden fence or wall of variable height, usually used as a defensive structure.Palisade or Palisades also may refer to:-Geology:United States...
which ran parallel to the Eldorado, a pleasure garden, and then proceeded east and north to the Nungesser's Guttenberg Racetrack
Nungessers
Nungessers is the name of the confluence of roads that meet at the Hudson and Bergen county line at North Bergen and Fairview in northeastern New Jersey. The area is former site the Nungesser's Gutenberg Racetrack, a late 19th century gaming and gambling venue. The neighborhood just south of...
.
Hillside Line
From 14th Street14th Street (Hoboken)
Fourteenth Street in uptown Hoboken, New Jersey carries the Hudson County designation CR670. The eastern end is the Hudson River while its western portion is known simply as the 14th Street Viaduct. It is at the northern end of the city's urban grid, and one of the east–west streets that...
in Hoboken, the line ran west and with a series of trestles and horseshoe curves ascended the Palisades to West Hoboken and beyond. Part of the system near the Wing Viaduct
14th Street (Hoboken)
Fourteenth Street in uptown Hoboken, New Jersey carries the Hudson County designation CR670. The eastern end is the Hudson River while its western portion is known simply as the 14th Street Viaduct. It is at the northern end of the city's urban grid, and one of the east–west streets that...
is New Jersey Register of Historic Places
New Jersey Register of Historic Places
The New Jersey Register of Historic Places is the official list of historic resources of local, state, and national interest in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The program is administered by the Historic Preservation Office of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.The register was...
designated place.
Palisade Line
Horseshoe curves carried cars from the EdgewaterEdgewater, 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...
ferry up the cliff to Palisades Amusement Park
Palisades Amusement Park
Palisades Amusement Park was an amusement park located in Bergen County, New Jersey, across the Hudson River from New York City. It was situated atop the New Jersey Palisades lying partly in Cliffside Park and partly in Fort Lee. The park operated from 1898 until 1971, remaining one of the most...
.