Forgotten Railway Stores Ep. 4 - New Jersey's Lost Interurban Railroad

[@stuartlee6622]

There were trolleys in Newark when I was a kid.

[@wayneantoniazzi2706]

That's a great telling of the story of the North Jersey Rapid Transit! I've known about the NJRT for about 20 years since I was lucky enough to find a copy of Commander E.J. Quinby's book "Interurban Interlude." Actually it found ME! Quinby was an employee of the NJRT and loved the line. "Interurban Interlude" shows up at train shows from time to time and it's a good book to look out for if you're interested in North Jersey railroading.

[@njtrainsandairplanes5355]

Being a local of the area, I never knew about this interurban line until a few years ago. Some of the right of way is still intact between Fair Lawn and Mahwah, being used as recreation trails and an access road for PSE&G

[@wayneantoniazzi2706]

True. In fact if you head west on Grove Street in Ridgewood back in the access area to the left opposite Dunham Trail (the PSE&G right-of-way) is the site of the 1911 interurban crash shown in the video. As far as I know there's no marker telling the significance of the spot.

[@J-Bahn]

Awesome! IMO, your channel is underrated. I wish you great success! Curious if you plan to do a video on the Gladstone Line or the Trenton Fast Line, as I plan do videos on both sometime.

[@JeffFrmJoisey]

There are still rails in the sidewalk where the line crossed Franklin Tpk.

[@wayneantoniazzi2706]

They're still there? Now how cool is that? Thanks for letting us know! Those sidewalk rails are mentioned in "Interurban Interlude" but I had no idea they'd still be there decades later.

[@JeffFrmJoisey]

@@wayneantoniazzi2706 They are visible on google maps. Enter 238 E Franklin Turnpike, Ridgewood and take a look. It looks like the sidewalk around the rails may have been replaced, but they left the rails intact. If you walk south down the PSEG right-of-way a few hundred feet, on the right there may be some foundation remnants from the NJRT office and shop. I can’t see clearly what’s there on g maps, but they were there in the 80’s. Don’t know if there’s anything there any more.

[@vincenthuying98]

Dear West of Hudson Studios, the true reason for the demise of interurban train traffic, whether real trains, streetcars, trolleys or upgraded streetcars, is of of course the North American Streetcar Scandal. The right of ways buyout by bus and tire manufacturers and other automotive companies and lobby groups, the sword of Damocles for the interurban rail service. Just imagine how New Jersey would look different if these rail scalpers hadn’t had their way. In any case much more sustainably prone than the contemporary situation. Also, interesting how the ghosts of these rail systems still linger and now show up as newly instigated light rail projects and initiatives. Cheerio

[@wayneantoniazzi2706]

While we're on the subject of trolleys and interurbans there's an absolutely fascinating book that was published in 1991 with a second printing in 1997 called "The Public Service Trolley Lines in New Jersey" by Edward Hamm Jr. With heavy coverage of Northern New Jersey it's an incredibly fascinating study. You'd be amazed at all the places the trolleys went! Maybe even more amazed at how they disappeared so completely. When it says "Public Service" it also means all the smaller lines absorbed into the PS system. I've seen it advertised in various on-line sources (it's out of print now) ranging from reasonable to ridiculous. BUT it's a good book to have if you're interested in the subject.

[@TheRoadTripChannel]

Great video! Public Service Corporation is now known as Public Service Enterprise Group, Inc., the parent company of Public Service Electric and Gas. The Borough of Ho-Ho-Kus, Bergen County, New Jersey, is not ho-hum. LOL. 😁😂🤪🤣😆😄😊👌 I was born in Paterson, NJ at Saint Joseph's Hospital, now known as Saint Joseph's University Medical Center. 👌