Revisiting New Jersey's Rahway Valley Railroad

Arcadia Publishing has taken their great series of interesting books from local authors one step further with their "Images of Rail" series. Produced in the same format as their other books, such as the "Images of America" series, Donald A. Maxton's Rahway Valley Railroad is a great addition to the line.

The Rahway Valley has an interesting history serving Union and Essex Counties in northern New Jersey for almost a hundred years. From 1897 to 1992, the RV went about its business serving the small communities and industries in the way only a short line can. Originally chartered as the New York & New Orange Railroad, it was bought and reorganized as the Rahway Valley Railroad in 1904. The RV interchanged with the Lackawanna, the Jersey Central, and the Lehigh Valley, surviving where other small carriers could not. They even managed to turn a profit in the middle of the Great Depression. While the line continued to operate in the black through the 1970s, trucking would eventually take its toll on the little line. In 1986, the line was purchased and operated by Delaware Otsego Corp., the same company that owns and operates the New York, Susquehanna & Western. He final train ran in 1992, when the last customer on the line closed shop.

Each chapter in the book describes an aspect of the RV's growth throughout the twentieth century. The line was managed by the Clark family from 1921 to 1974, who maintained a proud tradition of service to the communities of northern Jersey. Upon completion of the DL&W interchange at Summit in 1931, the RV reached its greatest extent of mileage (15.3, including all sidings and branches). The RV carried a variety of goods, but its largest customer was Monsanto Chemical Company in Kenilworth. The last chapters describe the RV's struggle in the 1970s and 1980s, and eventual sale to Delaware Otsego Corp. The final chapter describes various preservation efforts for old RV equipment.

Numerous historical photos and captions full of detail make it easy for anyone to get acquainted with the Rahway Valley. There are many before-and-after photos, and nearly every structure and every piece of equipment the RV owned is included at some point. There are also many pictures of NYS&W SW9 #120, and "NYO&W" NW2 #116 in service on the line during the later DO years.

I would recommend this book for anyone with a serious or even passing interest in the Rahway Valley, or New Jersey railroads in general. The text, photos, maps and diagrams all come together in a way that best paints an accurate picture of the mighty little Rahway Valley Railroad.

The Rahway Valley Railroad By Donald A. Maxton $19.99 plus shipping and handling Arcadia Publishing 224 State Street Portsmouth, NH 03801 http://www.arcadiapublishing.com (888) 313-2665