Rahway Valley Railroad

infobox SG rail
railroad_name=Rahway Valley Railroad
logo_filename=RV_RR_Logo.jpg
logo_size=100
old_gauge=
marks=RV
locale=Northern New Jersey
start_year=1897
end_year=1992
hq_city=Kenilworth, New JerseyThe Rahway Valley Railroad (RVRR) was a shortline railroad in the eastern United States. It operated over a span of 95 years (ending in 1992) in Union County, New Jersey between Roselle Park and Summit, with a number of branch lines that served local industries. The Rahway Valley Railroad connected the Lehigh Valley Railroad in Roselle Park and the Central Railroad of New Jersey in Cranford and the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western in Summit.

History

The predecessor railroad to the RV started in 1897 as the New York and New Orange Railroad. The initial segment of tracks ran from Kenilworth, New Jersey to Aldene, where it connected with the Lehigh Valley Railroad and Central Railroad of New Jersey. The railroad was originally created as part of an industrial development project in New Orange (now Kenilworth). The railroad failed to pay back taxes and was sold under forclosure to another company the New Orange Four Junction Railroad in 1901. After that line failed it was acquired in 1904 by "New York Social Register" publisher Louis Keller to provide passenger rail service to Baltusrol Golf Club, of which he was a founder.

In 1904, Keller reorganized to the Rahway Valley Railroad. The Rahway Valley Railroad added trackage over the years and finally reached its final length of 15.28 (including sidings) miles when it reached Summit in 1906 and when its Unionbury Branch was built to Maplewood between 1909 and 1911. It finally connected to the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad (DL&W) in 1931 in Summit, New Jersey. The DL&W connection turned the railroad from a marginal shortline operation into a steady money maker, as carloads from the DL&W were transported over the Rahway Valley Railroad. [http://members.tripod.com/njrails/20th_Century/RahwayValleyRailroad/RahwayValley.htm]

Later years saw the railroad run as a freight-only line. The Rahway Valley Railroad was vital to industry in the area, with customers ranging from small fuel companies to large companies such as Monsanto. The Rahway Valley Railroad was bought by the New York Susquehanna & Western Railroad's parent company Delaware Otsego Corporation on December 22, 1986.

Delaware Otsego Corporation did little to revitilize the former Rahway Valley Railroad and broader macro economic trends did not help. As customers switched to truck freight, moved away, or went out of business, the former Rahway Valley Railroad withered to the point that service was ended entirely in 1992 by then owner Delaware Otsego Corporation.

Depression

The Rahway Valley Railroad was one of the most successful shortline railroads in U.S. history, even turning a profit during the Great Depression. During its lifetime, the RVRR was instrumental in the development of Kenilworth, site of its headquarters, as well as Union, Springfield, and other towns along its route. The RVRR provided both freight and limited passenger services during its early years. Freight became the RVRR's only revenue source after passenger operations were ended in the mid 20th Century, as people switched to automobiles.

Stations

NY&NO- New York and New OrangeNOFJ- New Orange Four JunctionRV- Rahway Valley RailroadRVL- Rahway Valley LesseeDO- Delaware Otsego Corp. (New York, Susquehanna, & Western)

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 13th. 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."

External links

* [http://www.trainsarefun.com/rvrr/rvrr.htm The Rahway Valley Railroad]
* [http://home.comcast.net/~rvrrhs/RVRRHS.home.html Rahway Valley Railroad Historical Society]
* [http://www.ericmarcussen.com/RVRR.aspx Archived news articles on the progress of RVRR reactivation]
* [http://www.freewebs.com/rahwayvalleyrr The Rahway Valley Railroad]