Jersey Central Traction

The Jersey Central Traction Company was a streetcar company in central New Jersey, with its main lines from Red Bank and Highlands to Perth Amboy.

Lines

The main line began in Perth Amboy, at the corner of Smith Street and Davidson Avenue (Public Service's #3 and #5 lines operated on Smith Street). It went south on Davidson Avenue, west on Market Street, and south on Sheridan Street and over the Raritan River on a low bridge. The south side of the bridge connected to Scott Avenue; the line turned east on Stevens Ave, crossing Public Service's #1 line at Main Street.

The line out of South Amboy is unknown. It eventually got to what is now Route 35 and followed it into Monmouth County; the truss bridge that now carries Route 35 northbound over the New York and Long Branch Railroad in Sayreville was probably built for it. The line left Route 35 between County Road and Cliffwood Avenue, running just to the east where South Amboy Road, Sweetbriar Street and Bridge Avenue run, joining Front Street at Matawan Creek. It ran through Keyport on Front Street, Broad Street and 1st Street.

History

Until November 1901, the company was known as the Keyport and Matawan Street Railway, incorporated March 26, 1891. The line, originally horse-powered, was electrified on July 4, 1901.

The line to Highlands opened on September 1, 1907.

The line originally ended in South Amboy; an extension over the Raritan River opened on July 10, 1910, and was shared by Public Service north of Main Street in South Amboy.

In 1917, the American Railways Company bought the line. Operations ended in 1923.

References

* [http://www.earlpleasants.com/search_1.asp Railroad History Database]
* [http://hometown.aol.com/chirailtwo/njthiso.html NJ Transit - Independent Electric Railway Lines]
* [http://www.highlandsnj.com/news/html/NewsDocs/trolleys.html Trolleys Again on the Highlands Shore]