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Rahway Valley Railroad -
Maplewood Branch, NJ |
RVRR #15, caboose #102 switching a Maplewood siding
c. 1940's Photo: George E. Votava Archive: Don Maxton
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The Rahway Valley Line was incorporated in 1909 and line was
completed in 1911. Keller began raising the line in 1915 between just southeast of
Morris Ave to just northeast of Stanley Terrace and finished in
1918 during the rush of WWI. The line in Maplewood wasn't elevated. I
don't see why they wouldn't have completed to Essex County in 1911,
and if it wasn't completed then, there was certainly enough cash flow in
1918 to do it.
The line into Maplewood closed in 1973 after the ICC approved its
abandonment. Only one customer, Maplewood Building Specialties, which shipped slate,
remained on the once busy line in Essex County and it only shipped
occasionally via the RV. The line was torn up from near Vauxhall Road to
Maplewood, no customers remained on this segment any longer. Research: Richard King
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Unionville, NJ Maps |
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RVRR 1923 Unionville
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RVRR 1951 Township of Union |
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Unionbury Station, in my final analysis is that it was built in
1911 when the line was originally laid out, and was on
Morris Ave to allow for
a connection to the Morris County Traction Line. Richie King
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1928 Maplewood RVRR Newark Heights branch
Archive: Steven Lynch
A 1928 large scale map of Maplewood's Hilton section shows the Rahway
Valley Newark Heights branch - the last mile of the Unionbury spur- in great detail. Once part of the a
country estate, this land was sold by Maplewood's Menzel family to several
industries in the early 1900's. Rahway Valley President Louis Keller extended
the railroad across the Union-Essex County line in 1909 to serve this burgeoning
industrial district. Early freight customers included H. Boker & Company, a cutlery
manufacturer; the Newark Heights Supply Company; the Hilton Brass Company;
and the Woolley Coal and Fuel Oil Company. A passenger station was planned at the junction of Newark
Way and Tuscan Road, but it was never constructed. Research: Donald A. Maxton
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The Falk Coal Co. Unionbury
Spur - Union, NJ 09/1971
Photo: Steve Hepler |
N&W hopper at Falk
Coal Co. Union, NJ 09/1971 |
Vauxhall Rd Bridge view SE next intersection Commerce
Ave
GAF building c. 1992 -
Research/Photo: Don Maxton |
Morris Ave. RVRR bridge view W 2007 |
Morris Ave. RVRR bridge close up view W 2007 |
Woolley Fuel c.1946
Photo/Archive: Norman Woolley |
Woolley Fuel 3/1929+
Photo/Archive: Norman Woolley
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RVRR 03-15-29 Siding Agreement
Archive: Norman Woolley |
Agreement termination letter 12/26/1956
Archive: Norman Woolley
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USGS topographic map - Roselle, NJ 24K Quad cropped.
1955 and photo revised in 1981 |
Titanine Corp. (foreground), International Paint Company
Morris Ave., Unionbury, NJ - View N 1950's |
International Paint Co. thermometer
George Lightfoot, III |
Unionbury, NJ 1961 View N
Archive: Union Township Historical Society |
International Paint Company received paint pails at the Team Track.
Source:
The Story Of
The Rahway Valley Railroad, Vol. 3Unionbury, NJ
area Customers (1965-72)
Elizabeth Iron Works
Gemex Corp - 1200 Commerce Ave. Manufactured jewelry (watch bracelets).
Shipped packing paper
Ideal Dairy Farms - Shipped hay, straw, milk bottles. Out of business by
1969
Industrial Plywood Co. - Receiving rail freight 1972, 24 - 26 carloads a
year
International Paint Co. - Received paint pails at the Team Track 1965-72
no longer listed
International Winery - Prior to 1965 "Out of Business, now the Holiday
Motel."
Schering Corp. - 1095 Morris Ave., Union
Titanine Corp. - Adjacent to the Team Track |
