GOLDEN-ARM wrote:The Greenwood Lake Branch was a short branch line in northern New Jersey that ran from Jersey City, NJ to Greenwood Lake. It was originally built to serve the iron mines in Ringwood and also to transport ice from Greenwood Lake to New York City. After these two businesses shut down the line was cut down to end in the Wanaque/Midvale area. Although primarily a commuter line, it did have some online industries and was host to an occasional local freight or two. Not long after the merger between the Erie and Lackawanna in 1960, the line was coordinated with the DL&W's Boonton Line west of Mountain View, NJ. The Original GL Branch north of Mountain View was then used as an industrial spur only as far as Pompton Jct. Regards
Here's a link, to an old newspaper article: http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-fr ... ref=slogin
Service to Wanaque/Midvale was suspended in 1966. The lower half of the former Greenwood Lake Branch between Montclair and Hoboken was abandoned in 2002 when the "Montclair Connection" opened due to the bridges in West Arlington (WR) and in the Meadows (DB) being in such poor condition. My tag team partner and I toured the west part of the line two weeks ago. Here are some photos.
An old bungalow sits derelict with its door open on the former Erie Greenwood Lake Branch now the NS Orange Industrial Track in North Newark, NJ 11/16/2008. The track diverging to the left is the old Erie Orange Branch.
http://n01jd1.rrpicturearchives.net/sho ... id=1396530
This yellow bear lies on the entrance to the former Erie Ornage Branch near the former Forest Hills Station in North Newark, NJ on the old Greenwood Lake Branch (Now NS's Orange Industrial Track) 11/16/2008.
http://n01jd1.rrpicturearchives.net/sho ... id=1396518
The old 8-1G signal protects a track that no longer exists in the Forest Hills section of North Newark, NJ on the old Erie Greenwood Lake Branch, now the NS Orange Industrial Track 11/16/2008. The old Erie Orange Branch diverges off to the left.
http://n01jd1.rrpicturearchives.net/sho ... id=1396536
The old 9-1G and 9-2G signals stand silent vigil over the remains of the old Greenwood Lake Branch in Belleville, NJ 11/16/2008
http://n01jd1.rrpicturearchives.net/sho ... id=1396527
Here is a photo of the remnants of the former Rowe Street Station in Bloomfield, NJ on the former Greenwood Lake Branch, now NS's Orange Industrial Track. 11/16/2008
http://n01jd1.rrpicturearchives.net/sho ... id=1396556
Here is a photo of an old fashioned crossbuck with the reflective beads and the out of service 10-4G signal on NS's Orange Industrial Track at Glen Ridge, NJ 11/16/2008
http://n01jd1.rrpicturearchives.net/sho ... id=1396638
The former Glne Ridge Station is in horrible shape 11/16/2008. Note that Glen Ridge STILL uses gas lamps for street lights!!
http://n01jd1.rrpicturearchives.net/sho ... id=1396585
The old 10-4G signal governs a track that no longer exists at Glen Ridge, NJ 11/16/2008
http://n01jd1.rrpicturearchives.net/sho ... id=1396651
The fact that the former Glen Ridge Station has been allowed to deteriorate to this condition is a crying shame. Especially since its in a very upscale neighborhood.
http://n01jd1.rrpicturearchives.net/sho ... id=1396658
The Glen Ridge Station is in really poor shape. Its roof is like swiss cheese and the roof on the rear dormer has collapsed. Its only a matter of time before the whole building collapses upon itself.
http://n01jd1.rrpicturearchives.net/sho ... id=1396659
Now back to active rail at Little Falls:
Here is a photo of Little Falls Station as it appeared 11/16/2008
http://n01jd1.rrpicturearchives.net/sho ... id=1396765
Here is a another photo of Little Falls Station as it appeared 11/16/2008
http://n01jd1.rrpicturearchives.net/sho ... id=1396766
Enjoy!