Rahway Valley Railroad
Encyclopedia
The Rahway Valley Railroad (RVRR) was a shortline
ShortLine
Short Line is a brand name for three different Coach USA companies, Hudson Transit Lines, Hudson Transit Corporation, and Chenango Valley Bus Lines that provide local, commuter and intercity bus service in lower New York State, primarily along the Route 17 and Southern Tier corridor.-Service...

 railroad in the Northeastern United States
Northeastern United States
The Northeastern United States is a region of the United States as defined by the United States Census Bureau.-Composition:The region comprises nine states: the New England states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont; and the Mid-Atlantic states of New...

 which connected the Lehigh Valley Railroad
Lehigh Valley Railroad
The 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...

 in Roselle Park and the Central Railroad of New Jersey
Central Railroad of New Jersey
The 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...

 in Cranford
Cranford, New Jersey
Cranford is a township in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the township population was 22,625.Cranford was incorporated as a township by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 14, 1871, from portions of the Townships of Clark, Linden,...

 with the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western in Summit
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....

. Operating over a span of 95 years (1897–1992) in Union County
Union County, New Jersey
Union County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 536,499. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Elizabeth. Union County ranks 93rd among the highest-income counties in the United States. It also ranks 74th in...

, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...

 in its prime it was one of the most successful shortline railroads in US history, even turning a profit during the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...

. During its lifetime, the RVRR was instrumental in the development of Kenilworth
Kenilworth, New Jersey
Kenilworth is a Borough in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 7,914.Kenilworth was incorporated as a borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on May 13, 1907, from portions of Cranford and Union Township, based on the...

(site of its headquarters) as well as Union Township
Union Township, New Jersey
Union Township, New Jersey is the name of several places in the U.S. state of New Jersey:*Union Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey*Union Township, Union County, New JerseySee also:*Union City, New Jersey*Union Beach, New Jersey...

, Springfield and other towns along its route. But later years would see rail traffic decline and by the mid 80's the line could no longer afford to purchase liability insurance. The RVRR was foreclosed on and sold to the Delaware Otsego Corporation
Delaware Otsego Corporation
The Delaware Otsego Corporation is an American railway holding company which owns the subsidiary New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway as well as other, smaller branch line railroads, collectively known as the DO System...

 which did little to revitalize the nearly 90 year old line. Traffic continued to decline until service was finally ended in 1992, with only one customer left on the once flourishing line.

New York and New Orange Railroad 1897-1901

The predecessor railroad to the RV started in 1897 as the New York and New Orange Railroad. The initial four miles of track ran from Kenilworth, New Jersey
Kenilworth, New Jersey
Kenilworth is a Borough in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 7,914.Kenilworth was incorporated as a borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on May 13, 1907, from portions of Cranford and Union Township, based on the...

 to Aldene
Aldene Connection
The Aldene Connection is a connection between two railroad lines in Roselle Park, New Jersey, United States, one formerly belonging to the Central Railroad of New Jersey , the other formerly of the Lehigh Valley Railroad, allowing trains on the New Jersey Transit Raritan Valley Line to travel from...

, where it connected with the Central Railroad of New Jersey
Central Railroad of New Jersey
The 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...

. The railroad was originally created as part of an industrial development project in New Orange (now Kenilworth
Kenilworth, New Jersey
Kenilworth is a Borough in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 7,914.Kenilworth was incorporated as a borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on May 13, 1907, from portions of Cranford and Union Township, based on the...

). The railroad was chartered in June, 1897 by members of the New Orange Industrial Association to serve their factories in New Orange (Now Kenilworth.) In the charter for the railroad the line was given permission to build to Summit, but limited funds prevented this. For the year 1899 the factories in New Orange were shut down, due to an economic recession. The NY&NO only operated passenger trains for this year. The 4-mile NY&NO quickly became unprofitable and soon stopped paying taxes and was sold under foreclosure in 1901 to the hastily organized New Orange Four Junction Railroad.

New Orange Four Junction Railroad 1901–1905

This short-lived railroad was organized by William W. Cole and several partners, who held interests in the New Orange Industrial Association, to take over the foreclosed upon New York and New Orange Railroad. During its entire four years of operation it was mostly a break-even deal for this railroad. In 1903 the NOFJ was contracted by 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....

 to remove the soil from Tin Kettle Hill for the PRR's approach to its New York City tunnel. The PRR became very interested in this line and helped it to acquire right-of-way to build a line to Summit. The PRR also had plans to extend the railroad south to its line. Surveys for the line to Summit were made in 1902. Due to financial problems in the company the NOFJ never extended to Summit. In July 1904 the Rahway Valley Railroad was chartered to build from Kenilworth to Summit. Mr. Cole, president of the NOFJ became associated with the new line and was soon appointed its president. The NOFJ and Rahway Valley Railroad were consolidated on March 1, 1905.

Rahway Valley Railroad 1904–1986

Louis Keller
Louis Keller
Louis Keller is best known as the German-American New Yorker of wide social acquaintance who assembled and published the New York Social Register, which first appeared in 1886...

, a founder of Baltusrol Golf Club
Baltusrol Golf Club
The Baltusrol Golf Club is a private 36-hole golf club located in Springfield Township, Union County, New Jersey. Among the many prestigious tournaments it has hosted, Baltusrol was most recently the site of the 2005 PGA Championship. The course architect is A. W...

, was dissatisfied with the transportation to his golf club over the rough dirt roads that existed in Union County, New Jersey in the early 1900s. He was further frustrated with efforts of the New Orange Industrial Association, and their two railroads the NY&NO and NOFJ, to build a rail line from Kenilworth to Summit. Keller became involved with a project called the "Cross County Railroad" in 1903 in which he invested, but the project went bust. He decided to take matters into his own hands and form the Rahway Valley Railroad on July 18, 1904. Not being experienced in managing and building railroads, Keller became associated with NOFJ President William W. Cole and brought him on as RVRR president, the NOFJ and RVRR were consolidated on March 1, 1905.

Through the efforts of Keller and Cole the line was eventually extended to Summit in 1906, but they were denied access to connect to the Delaware, Lackawanna, and Western Railroad in Summit. Over the next twenty-five years court battles would ensue over this connection before one was finally made in 1931.

In 1909, to lower costs, Keller created a lessee company, the Rahway Valley Company, to lease the entire railroad to, in-order to lower costs. The lessee company was controlled by the Keller family for its entire existence. The Rahway Valley Railroad Company owned all of the track, stations, and other structures, from Roselle Park to Summit, and the Monsanto Branch, but its operations were carried out by the lessee.

In 1914 when World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...

 started the Rahway Valley Railroad experienced a boom in activity. A gunpowder plant was built by the American Can Co. in 1914 on the Unionbury Branch. A plant only known as the “Fireworks Factory” was also opened on the Unionbury branch by Czarist Russia, and shipped via the RV. A disaster on the Unionbury Branch almost destroyed the Fireworks Factory, and rumors of German spies caused the line to hire armed guards to protect the rails from foreign infiltrators. The American Can Co. provided a string of eight coaches that came from Staten Island via the Staten Island Railway
Staten Island Railway
The Staten Island Rapid Transit Operating Authority, publicly known as MTA Staten Island Railway or SIR, is the operator of the lone rapid transit line in the borough of Staten Island, New York City, USA...

 every morning loaded with workers and then transferred to the RV. The Lehigh Valley ran its trains up to Kenilworth for a time to bring in workers, and the CNJ shipped as many as 5,000 arsenal workers a day for three shifts. At its peak the RV carried thousands of workers to the factories around the clock.

In 1918 with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles
Treaty of Versailles
The Treaty of Versailles was one of the peace treaties at the end of World War I. It ended the state of war between Germany and the Allied Powers. It was signed on 28 June 1919, exactly five years after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. The other Central Powers on the German side of...

 World War I quickly came to an end, and with it freight traffic severely declined and almost all passenger traffic disappeared. With a lack of traffic the railroad was put into a greatly compromised position. The railroading experience of William W. Cole disappeared with his unexpected death in 1915, his replacement Charles Wittenberg died in 1919. Louis Keller, with nowhere to turn, and with no ability to operate the railroad himself, brought Roger A. Clark and his son George into the company in 1919. Through Roger Clark's ability to attract business on the line the line's financial situation began to turn around.

In 1921, Louis Keller passed away. The executors of his estate appointed Roger Clark president. His first move was to discontinue passenger service. Since 1918 there were two passenger trains a day that consisted of one passenger coach and locomotive No. 5 which primarily were to cater to Keller's golfing pals, which the Clarks called the "blue chip fellows." Next Clark upgraded the increasingly deteriorating Rahway Valley Railroad locomotive fleet. Nos. 9 & 10 were put out to pasture as unneeded and were eventually scrapped. In 1927 No. 12 was purchased, but deemed to large and retired in 1929. It wasn't until 1929 that Nos. 13 & 14 were purchased that the RVRR completely phased out the older locomotives.

Roger Clark died in 1932 and the Keller estate put his son George A. Clark in the helm of president. Under George Clark the Rahway Valley Railroad made it's actual first net profit in many years in 1934. Clark also continued to attract new businesses to locate on the line. An increase in larger industry along the railroad also occurred. But by the early 1950s with the increase of improved highways, trucks began chipping away at the Rahway Valley's business market.

Clark forced himself to dieselize the railroad in 1951 with the purchase of 70 ton locomotive No. 16 from General Electric. For a few years the Rahway Valley interchangeably used steam (#13 & 15) and diesel (#16) power until a second diesel locomotive (#17) was purchased in 1954. No.13 was scrapped and No.15 was put into storage in Kenilworth until it was sold to Steamtown in 1959.

George A. Clark died in his office in the old Kenilworth Station in 1969. His son Robert G. Clark was created president. By the time George Clark died a significant decrease in the traffic on the Rahway Valley Railroad could be seen. With smaller profits came deferred track maintenance and weeds could be seen growing along the line. In the early 1970s came the closing of the line in Maplewood. Bob Clark attempted to attract new business to the line, and was temporarily successful, but his base was still being taken out from under him. He unexpectedly died in 1975.

The Keller estate, still owners of the railroad, appointed experienced railroader Benard Cahill to the presidency. Cahill was able to bring new life to the railroad. He secured grants from the state to update trackage and secured new office space in a former Lehigh Valley passenger coach that he purchased and parked on a siding in Kenilworth, the previous offices in the old Kenilworth Station burned in 1974.

In 1980 passenger trains were again run over the Rahway Valley Railroad, albeit for a week, for the occasion of the U.S. Open being held at the Baltusrol Golf Club. Trains were run between Kenilworth and Baltustol in a push-pull formation by Nos. 16 & 17. The train, sponsored by the Union County Trust Company, used passenger coaches rented from the Cooperstown & Charlotte Valley Railroad in New York.

Despite improvements and revitalization, the formation of Conrail in 1976 put the Rahway Valley Railroad in an awkward situation. Previously having three independent railroads connecting to it, the RVRR now had one railroad connecting to it in three separate places. With Conrail the last train ran to Summit in 1976. No longer using the Summit connection, the RVRR increasingly used the former Lehigh Valley connection and less and less used the former CNJ connection at Aldene. But despite these new predicaments the RVRR under Cahill kept trudging along, increasingly relying on it's largest customer, Monsanto Corp. in Kenilworth, as slowly more smaller customers switched to trucks.

The Delaware Otsego Corporation 1986-1992

In 1986, the Rahway Valley Railroad was unable to purchase liability insurance. The line was in turn sold to the Delaware Otsego Corporation
Delaware Otsego Corporation
The Delaware Otsego Corporation is an American railway holding company which owns the subsidiary New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway as well as other, smaller branch line railroads, collectively known as the DO System...

 (DO), which operates the New York, Sushquehanna, and Western. Nos. 16 & 17 were removed from the line in 1989, and put into service in Binghamton, NY. The replacement No. 120 of the NYS&W, a EMD SW9
EMD SW9
An EMD SW9 is a diesel switcher locomotive built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division between December 1950 and December 1953. Power was provided by an EMD 567B 12-cylinder engine, producing ....

 built by EMD.

The DO did little to revitialize the line. The DO deferred track maintenance and customers became disenchanted with the lines new management and turned to trucks. The DO, also operators of the former Staten Island Rapid Transit Line from Cranford to Linden, began using the Aldene connection which had received much less maintenance in years past, so derailments were frequent. In 1988, the now unused former Lehigh Valley connection was torn up. But the bottom fell out when Monsanto Corp. closed and Jaeger Lumber discontinued service in 1991. With virtually no business left to serve the Delaware Otsego Corp. closed the Rahway Valley Railroad along with the Staten Island Rapid Transit line in April of 1992, the RVRR having only one customer left.

Current status

The Morristown and Erie Railway
Morristown and Erie Railway
The Morristown and Erie Railway is a freight short line railroad based in Morristown, New Jersey. It operates freight rail service five days a week in Morris County, New Jersey and surrounding areas...

 (M&E) was contracted by the State of New Jersey in 2001 to refurbish and operate the southern portion of the former Rahway Valley Railroad. M&E operations on the southern portion of the former Rahway Valley Railroad commenced in July 2005 and connect to the newly restored Staten Island Railway
Staten Island Railway
The Staten Island Rapid Transit Operating Authority, publicly known as MTA Staten Island Railway or SIR, is the operator of the lone rapid transit line in the borough of Staten Island, New York City, USA...

 on Staten Island
Staten Island
Staten Island is a borough of New York City, New York, United States, located in the southwest part of the city. Staten Island is separated from New Jersey by the Arthur Kill and the Kill Van Kull, and from the rest of New York by New York Bay...

, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...

 and the national rail network via an interchange with Conrail Shared Assets in Cranford.

As of 2010, the funding for the Rahway Valley rebuild by NJDOT are not enough to keep rebuilding. As of now most of the line from Roselle Park-Union/Springfield border is cleared of trees and thick brush. New track has been inserted from the Union/Springfield border to the Union Wye (behind Rahway Ave). On a side note, all the sidings to the railways potential future customers were left unconnected to the main line. Also track has been inserted in some parts of Kenilworth. As for the sections past the Union/Springfield border nothing has been done yet through the towns of Springfield or Summit.

Stations

Station Built Dismantled MP Size Notes
Central Station, Kenilworth 1898 1979 1.7 16' x 40' Burned 1974, torn down. Also known as Kenilworth Station. N. 31st Street.
Warren Street Station, Kenilworth 1899 (?) 1922 N/A 16' x 25' On Monsanto Branch, dismantled after end of regular passenger service. Was located near 26th Street and Sheridan Ave.
Doty's Station, Union 1905 1924 2.6 8' x 12' Location now Rt. 22, dismantled two years after end of regular passenger service
Arion Station, Union 1905 1924 3.1 10' x 12' Next to Liberty Ave. Also known as Katemiller Station, vacant until 1924.
Springfield Station, Springfield 1905 N/A 4.4 18' x 40' On Mountain Ave., Still Survives, used as a business. After end of passenger service used as a freight office, and later housed lawn-sprinkler and print-shop businesses. Now home of Hecht Family Chiropractic Care, the office of Dr. Gary Hecht.
Baltusrol Station, Springfield 1906 1972 5.0 20' x 30' Was located near Baltusrol Way under I-78. Rented out until 1972 when I-78 was built. Served the Baltusrol Golf Club.
East Summit Station, Summit 1906 1910s Unk. Was on Russell Place. Elevated above the road.
Summit Station, Summit 1906 1975 7.1 18' x 25' Was at 270 Broad Street. Torn down to make way for apartments, vacant from 1920s until dismantling.
Unionbury Station, Union 1916/7 1919 0.9 Unk. Was located on what is now Francyne Way in a new development. Was on the Unionbury Branch. Possibly was only a freight station
Newark Heights, Maplewood N/A N/A 2.9 N/A Was planned but never constructed, was planned to be located at Newark Way and Tuscan Road.

There was also a Flag stop at Michigan Avenue in Kenilworth.

Chart, R.J. King 2008

Road crossings

Town Road Name Built Last Use Dismantled Notes
Main Line
Summit
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....

Broad Street 1906 1976 1990s Overpass. Location of Summit Station.
Morris Avenue 1905 1976 1990s Overpass
Ashwood Avenue 1906 1976 Overpass, Originally built 1905, torn down, rebuilt 1906.
Russell Place 1906 1976 Overpass, Originally built 1905, torn down, rebuilt 1906.
Morris Court 1990s ? N/A Built after closure of line to Summit.
Springfield
Springfield Township, New Jersey
Springfield Township is the name of some places in the U.S. state of New Jersey:*Springfield Township, Burlington County, New Jersey*Springfield Township, Union County, New Jersey...

Shunpike Road Early 1960s 1976 1990s Overpass, 1963 shows two overpasses.
Baltusrol Way 1905 1980 Level Crossing. Location of Baltusrol Station.
Mountain Avenue 1905 1980 Level Crossing. Location of Springfield Station.
Miesel Avenue 1905 1980 Level Crossing.
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...

Springfield Road 1905 Late 1980s Level Crossing. Later known as Liberty Avenue. Location of Arion Station.
Chester Road 1904 1926 1926 Level Crossing. Location of Doty's Station
NJ 29 west 1926 1991 Level crossing. Later U.S. Route 22
U.S. Route 22
U.S. Route 22 is a west–east route and is one of the original United States highways of 1926, running from Cincinnati, Ohio, at US 27, US 42, US 127, and US 52 to Newark, New Jersey, at U.S. Route 1/9 near the Newark Liberty International Airport.US 22 also carries the names of the William...

; Had signals.
NJ 29 east 1926 1991 Level crossing. Later U.S. Route 22; Had signals.
Kenilworth
Kenilworth, New Jersey
Kenilworth is a Borough in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 7,914.Kenilworth was incorporated as a borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on May 13, 1907, from portions of Cranford and Union Township, based on the...

Boulevard 1897 1992 Level crossing. Also known as Kenilworth Boulevard.
Passaic Avenue 1990s 1992 Level crossing. Entrance to A&P Supermarket.
Market Street 1897 1992 Level crossing.
Fairfield Avenue 1992 Level crossing.
Michigan Avenue 1897 1992 Level crossing.
Faitoute Avenue 1897 1992 Level crossing.
Roselle Park
Roselle Park, New Jersey
Roselle Park is a borough in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the borough population was 13,297....

Colfax Avenue 1897 1992 Level crossing.
Amsterdam Avenue 1897 1920s 1920s Level crossing. Road cut back in the 1920s.
Woodside Road 1920s 1992 Level crossing.
Pinewood Avenue 1920s ? 1992 Level crossing.
Westfield Avenue 1897 1992 Level crossing.
Lehigh Valley Branch
Roselle Park Fairfield Avenue 1899 1988 1992 Level crossing.
Colfax Avenue 1899 1988 1992 Level crossing.
Webster Avenue 1919 1988 1992 Level crossing.
Rahway Valley Line
Union Morris Avenue 1915 1991 2007 Overpass
Vauxhall Road 1915 1980s 1980s Overpass
Stanley Terrace 1915 1972 1980s Overpass
Maplewood
Maplewood, New Jersey
Maplewood is a township in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 23,867.-History:...

Rutgers Street 1911 1972 1970s Level crossing.
Rahway River Branch
Kenilworth Michigan Avenue 1897 1990 1990s Level crossing.
N. 22nd Street 1897 1990 1990s Level crossing.
N. 21st Street 1897 1990 1990s Level crossing.
N. 20th Street 1897 1990 1990s Level crossing.
N. 19th Street 1897 1990 1990s Level crossing.
N. 18th Street 1897 1990 1990s Level crossing.
N. 17th Street 1897 1990 1990s Level crossing.
N. 16th Street 1897 1990 1990s Level crossing.
N. 14th Street 1897 1990 1990s Level crossing.
Monroe Avenue 1897 1990 1990s Level crossing.
N. 12th Street 1897 1990 1990s Level crossing.
N. 10th Street 1897 1990 1990s Level crossing.
N. 8th Street 1897 1990 1990s Level crossing.

Rahway Valley Locomotive Roster

Number Name Builder Built Builder # Purchased Sold Former Railroad Type Notes
1 New Orange Juniata Locomotive Shops 1869 322 1898 1903 Pennsylvania 4-4-0 Operated by New York and New Orange Railroad.
2 Aldene Juniata Locomotive Shops 1870s 1898 1903 Pennsylvania 4-4-0 Only one locomotive mentioned in 1904.
3 Tin Kettle Hill Juniata Locomotive Shops 1870s 1898 1906 Pennsylvania 4-4-0 Wrecked in 1906
4 Dickson Manufacturing Company
Dickson Manufacturing Company
Dickson Manufacturing Company was a manufacturer of boilers and steam engines used in various industries but most known in railway steam locomotives...

1870 1904 1918 DL&W 2-6-0 Mentioned 1909 & 1911. Scrapped after WWI.
5 Dinkey Baldwin Locomotive Works
Baldwin Locomotive Works
The Baldwin Locomotive Works was an American builder of railroad locomotives. It was located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, originally, and later in nearby Eddystone, Pennsylvania. Although the company was very successful as a producer of steam locomotives, its transition to the production of...

8/1882 6305 1905 1922 CNJ, 23 (710) 0-6-0T Passenger locomotive. Rarely used after 1919. Sold to a contractor
6 Baldwin Locomotive Works
Baldwin Locomotive Works
The Baldwin Locomotive Works was an American builder of railroad locomotives. It was located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, originally, and later in nearby Eddystone, Pennsylvania. Although the company was very successful as a producer of steam locomotives, its transition to the production of...

1905 1917 SIRT 2-4-4 Information needed, ended up in Europe.
7 Baldwin Locomotive Works
Baldwin Locomotive Works
The Baldwin Locomotive Works was an American builder of railroad locomotives. It was located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, originally, and later in nearby Eddystone, Pennsylvania. Although the company was very successful as a producer of steam locomotives, its transition to the production of...

1908 32817 New 1917 New 2-4-4 Shipped to Spain in 1920s. Worked until the 1940s in Brazil, may still exist.
8 Pittsburgh Locomotive and Car Works
Pittsburgh Locomotive and Car Works
The Pittsburgh Locomotive and Car Works was a railroad equipment manufacturing company founded by Andrew Carnegie and T.N. Miller in 1865. It was located in Allegheny, Pennsylvania.It repaired an early locomotive known as Bausman's Rhinoceros in April 1867....

1900 2070 1916 1929 P&LE, 1772 2-8-0 Scrapped after being replaced by Nos. 13 and 14 in 1929.
9 Juniata Locomotive Shops 11/1893 1917 1920s PRR 0-6-0 PRR Class B-3
10 Juniata Locomotive Shops 11/1893 1917 1920s PRR 0-6-0 PRR Class B-3
11 Baldwin Locomotive Works
Baldwin Locomotive Works
The Baldwin Locomotive Works was an American builder of railroad locomotives. It was located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, originally, and later in nearby Eddystone, Pennsylvania. Although the company was very successful as a producer of steam locomotives, its transition to the production of...

3/1904 1920 1937 G&U, 5 2-6-0 Originally Montpelier and Wells River Railroad. Standby service, 1929–1937, Replaced by No.15, Scrapped.
12 Pittsburgh Locomotive and Car Works
Pittsburgh Locomotive and Car Works
The Pittsburgh Locomotive and Car Works was a railroad equipment manufacturing company founded by Andrew Carnegie and T.N. Miller in 1865. It was located in Allegheny, Pennsylvania.It repaired an early locomotive known as Bausman's Rhinoceros in April 1867....

1903 1927 1943 B&LE, 96 2-8-0 Retired in 1929, too big for regular use.
13 Baldwin Locomotive Works
Baldwin Locomotive Works
The Baldwin Locomotive Works was an American builder of railroad locomotives. It was located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, originally, and later in nearby Eddystone, Pennsylvania. Although the company was very successful as a producer of steam locomotives, its transition to the production of...

1905 26355 1929 1952 L&NE, 19 2-8-0 Twin to No.14
14 Baldwin Locomotive Works
Baldwin Locomotive Works
The Baldwin Locomotive Works was an American builder of railroad locomotives. It was located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, originally, and later in nearby Eddystone, Pennsylvania. Although the company was very successful as a producer of steam locomotives, its transition to the production of...

1905 26356 1929 1951 L&NE, 20 2-8-0 Twin to No.13, replaced by No.16
15 Faithful Fifteen Baldwin Locomotive Works
Baldwin Locomotive Works
The Baldwin Locomotive Works was an American builder of railroad locomotives. It was located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, originally, and later in nearby Eddystone, Pennsylvania. Although the company was very successful as a producer of steam locomotives, its transition to the production of...

1916 43539 1937 1959 O&W, 20 2-8-0 Sold to Steamtown.(separate wiki>)Rahway Valley 15
Rahway Valley 15
Rahway Valley Railroad No. 15 is a steam locomotive on display at Steamtown National Historic Site. It was built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works as Oneida and Western Railroad No. 20 in 1916, and was sold to the Rahway Valley Railroad in 1937. It last ran in 1953 before being replaced by #17 a GE...

16 GE Transportation Systems
GE Transportation Systems
GE Transportation, formerly known as GE Rail, is a division of General Electric. The organization manufactures equipment for the railroad, marine, mining, drilling and energy generation industries. It is based in Erie, Pennsylvania. Locomotives are assembled at the Erie plant, while engine...

1951 30838 New 1989 New 70T Sold to Delaware Otsego Corp. in 1986, removed from RV in 1989. Currently (2010) sits at Whippany Railway Museum
Whippany Railway Museum
The Whippany Railway Museum is a railway museum and excursion train ride located in Whippany, New Jersey.-History:In 1965, Whippany was the location of the Morris County Central Railroad, a steam excursion railroad...

.
17 GE Transportation Systems
GE Transportation Systems
GE Transportation, formerly known as GE Rail, is a division of General Electric. The organization manufactures equipment for the railroad, marine, mining, drilling and energy generation industries. It is based in Erie, Pennsylvania. Locomotives are assembled at the Erie plant, while engine...

1954 32130 New 1989 New 70T Sold to Delaware Otsego Corp. in 1986, removed from RV in 1989. Currently (2010) sits at Whippany Railway Museum
Whippany Railway Museum
The Whippany Railway Museum is a railway museum and excursion train ride located in Whippany, New Jersey.-History:In 1965, Whippany was the location of the Morris County Central Railroad, a steam excursion railroad...

.

  • B&LE-Bessemer & Lake Erie
  • L&NE-Lehigh & New England
  • O&W-Oneida & Western
  • G&U-Grafton & Upton
  • P&LE-Pittsburgh & Lake Erie
  • PRR-Pennsylvania
  • LV- Lehigh Valley


Chart, R.J. King 2008

Rahway Valley Passenger Equipment

Number Type Built Builder Purchased Retired Ex. Railroad Notes
1 Combination 1880s ? 1898 1905 CNJ ?
2 Coach 1880s ? 1898 1905 CNJ ?
3 Combination 1880s ? 1902 ? Before 1919 CNJ ?
4 Combination 1905 American Car and Foundry 1905 1922 New Last passenger car in service.
5 Coach 1905 American Car and Foundry 1905 1914 New
6 Coach 1905 American Car and Foundry 1905 1914 New
7 Coach 1905 American Car and Foundry 1905 1914 New
8 Coach 1905 American Car and Foundry 1905 1919 New
9 Coach 1905 American Car and Foundry 1905 1919 New
10 Railbus 1910 Railway Motor Car Corporation 1911 1914 New Resembled a trolley. Had a baggage compartment. Was not a success.
11 Railbus 1919 Mack 1911 1922 New Retired 1914, brought back 1919.
None Coach ???? American Car and Foundry 1975 1986 LV Acquired to serve as an office. Called either the "Black Diamond" or the "White Diamond" on the Lehigh Valley, a club car. Moved to Cooperstown in 1986, still survives, and is for sale.


Chart, R.J. King 2008
  • Please note most information is approximate, and some is a very educated geuss, but is as close to accurate as possible.

Rahway Valley Rolling Stock

Number Built Acquired Sold/Scrapped Notes
101 1880s 1905 ???? Flat car with eight wheels.
102 1914 1934 Late 1960s Referred as the Rahway Valley's one and only caboose. Painted red with yellow cupola. Might have been sold to a railroad in Illinois.


Chart, R.J. King 2008

Rahway Valley Presidents

President Start Year End Year Company Notes
Robert Grimes 1897 1898 NY&NO
William W. Cole 1898 1899 NY&NO Later served as president of the NOFJ.
William White 1899 1900 NY&NO
Robert Grimes 1900 1901 NY&NO
William W. Cole 1901 1905 NOFJ Formerly served as president of the NY&NO.
Louis Keller 1904 1905 RV
William W. Cole 1905 1907 RV Formerly worked with the NY&NO and NOFJ.
Louis Keller 1907 1922 RV Organized the Rahway Valley Lessee in 1909 to take over operations.
Charles J. Wittenberg 1909 1919 RVL Died in office. Was also a director.
R.H. England 1919 1920 RVL Worked with unsuccessful companies. Quit in 1920.
Roger Arthur Clark 1920 1932 RVL Keller brought Clark east in 1920 to work on RV's books as an auditor. When England quit Clark assumed presidency.
George Arthur Clark 1932 1969 RVL Made Rahway Valley profitable, Died in Kenilworth Station.
Robert George Clark 1969 1975 RVL Known as Bob. Died in office.
Bernard J. Cahill 1975 1986 RVL Had 30 years of prior experience on railroads.
Walter Rich 1986 1992 DO President of entire Delaware Otsego operations.


NY&NO- New York and New Orange
NOFJ- New Orange Four Junction
RV- Rahway Valley Railroad
RVL- Rahway Valley Lessee
DO- Delaware Otsego Corp. (New York, Susquehanna, & Western)

Chart, R.J. King 2008

Accidents on the NY&NO and the RV

  • September 1, 1899- At 1:10 PM a Mr. Theo Harrison of Newark, NJ was drivng his horse drawn wagon on Westfield Ave. when he tried to out run the oncoming NY&NO locomotive No.1. Mr. Harrison was thrown from the wagon and sustained a minor flesh wound from a broken crosstie on the right leg. He was later reported to be partially paralyzed.

  • March 11, 1904- William H. Harding, a conductor on the New Orange Junction Four Railroad (NY&NO) was fatally injured while coupling cars and died May 13. The accident was a result of carelessness on the part of Mr. Harding.

  • 1905- James Gray an engineer on the Rahway Valley Railroad was thrown from the cab of locomotive No.3 while running at full speed. His leg was crushed so badly that it was amputated.


Both from the annual reports of the NY&NO and the RV, can be found on Google.

In 1906 No.3 was wrecked after traveling at a high rated speed near the Rahway River
Rahway River
The Rahway River is a river, approximately 24 mi long, in northeastern New Jersey in the United States. The river drains part of the suburban and urbanized area of New Jersey west of New York City. Part of the extended area of New York Harbor, the river empties into the Arthur Kill. In its...

trestle.

Also in 1906 an accident resulted when a passenger train got loose from the locomotive going up the grade to Summit and plowed into a locomotive in Springfield.

External links

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