Official Rahway Valley Thread

[RV History Buff]

I've been making a lot of updates to the Rahway Valley Railroad webpage that I've been working on... www.trainweb.org/rahwayvalley.

The men & women of the Rahway Valley... http://trainweb.org/rahwayvalley/People.htm
Route of the Rahway Valley... http://trainweb.org/rahwayvalley/Route.htm
Stories .... http://trainweb.org/rahwayvalley/Stories.htm

Enjoy!!

Sincerely,
Richie King
[email protected]

[ironhorsehistory]

Rich,

The site is looking GREAT!!! I especially like the story about the Corson Brothers...great stuff.

Please...share more!

JS

[RV History Buff]

The website is really taking off and I hope you are all enjoying all of the additions that have been made.

The First 'Numero Uno,' by Jeff Jargosch - http://trainweb.org/rahwayvalley/storie ... erouno.htm
The Railroad That Golf Built, by Richard J. King - http://trainweb.org/rahwayvalley/storie ... ilroad.htm
LCL Freight, by Jeff Jargosch - http://trainweb.org/rahwayvalley/storie ... reight.htm
Railroad Date Nails, FYI, by Jeff Jargosch - http://trainweb.org/rahwayvalley/storie ... enails.htm
The UCTC Special, by Richard J. King - http://trainweb.org/rahwayvalley/storie ... pecial.htm
Daily Dalliances with the New Jersey Motorist, by Richard J. King - http://trainweb.org/rahwayvalley/storie ... iances.htm
I've Been Working on the Railroad, by Jeff Jargosch - http://trainweb.org/rahwayvalley/storie ... ilroad.htm
Rail HQ Capital of NJ, by Richard J. King - http://trainweb.org/rahwayvalley/storie ... railHQ.htm
#15 Meets the Corson Brothers 1/30/1951, by Jeff Jargosch - http://trainweb.org/rahwayvalley/storie ... corson.htm
The Line's First Diesel, by Bob Hoeft - http://trainweb.org/rahwayvalley/storie ... diesel.htm
Freight Salesman on the RVRR, by Frank Reilly - http://trainweb.org/rahwayvalley/storie ... lesman.htm
Kenilworth Station Fire, by Corinne Clark - http://trainweb.org/rahwayvalley/storie ... thfire.htm

News Article Archive - http://trainweb.org/rahwayvalley/stories_news.htm
Magazine Article Archive - http://trainweb.org/rahwayvalley/stories_magazines.htm

Employee & Management Database - http://trainweb.org/rahwayvalley/employeespeople.htm
Roger A. Clark - http://trainweb.org/rahwayvalley/employ ... rclark.htm
George A. Clark - http://trainweb.org/rahwayvalley/employ ... eclark.htm
Robert G. Clark - http://trainweb.org/rahwayvalley/employ ... rclark.htm
George Davis - http://trainweb.org/rahwayvalley/employ ... edavis.htm
Carl Nees - http://trainweb.org/rahwayvalley/employee_carlnees.htm
Frank Froat - http://trainweb.org/rahwayvalley/employ ... kfroat.htm

History of the Railroad (work in progress) - http://trainweb.org/rahwayvalley/history.htm

Route of the Rahway Valley Railroad - http://trainweb.org/rahwayvalley/route.htm
Customers of the Rahway Valley Railroad (work in progress) - http://trainweb.org/rahwayvalley/route_customers.htm
New! Chemical Company of America, Springfield, NJ - http://trainweb.org/rahwayvalley/route_ ... merica.htm

The Abandoned Rahway Valley Railroad (then & now) - http://trainweb.org/rahwayvalley/abandoned.htm

Locomotives & Equipment - http://trainweb.org/rahwayvalley/engines.htm

Memorabilia & Paperwork http://trainweb.org/rahwayvalley/paperwork.htm
Train tickets, passenger schedules, train order sheet, Articles of Incorporation, NY&NO Corporate Seal, Letters, Calling Cards (Caution - X-rated.. lol)

Table of Contents of everything on the website thus far: http://trainweb.org/rahwayvalley/sitemap.htm

I have been extremely fortunate, thus far, to have worked with members of the Clark Family, RVRR Historians, Area Historians, Former RVRR Employees, and Area Residents on this project. It is still very much a work in progress, adding new things almost everyday! Lots of history of this awesome little railroad in 95 years of operations. I'd love to see the RVRR operating today but I don't think I could handle another 21 years of history!!... LOL.

I would love to hear from anyone interested in anything relating to the Rahway Valley Railroad. Whether to collaborate on historical topics, contribute photos, share information, or just talk Rahway Valley - - - - I'd Love To Hear From You!! Honest!

I hope you are enjoying the website!

All the best,
Richie King
[email protected]

[BigDell]

Wow...absolutely wonderful site! I remember the last days of the Rahway Valley, in the 80's.... had no idea it was that rich in the past... I should go through this forum more. Wondering how much trackage still exists, does the M&E run anything over it or is that completely unrelated, etc...
Great website!

[RV History Buff]

Hey BigDell,

The RVRR has been completely out of service since 1992. The M&E was contracted by Union County to rebuilt the line in 2001, but funding ran out by 2007 and the project remains uncompleted. The railroad lays abandoned in various states. Hope you enjot the site!

Richie King
trainweb.org/rahwayvalley

[therudycometh]

Since Richie didn't post it himself... this is coming out this summer or fall.....



More info at http://www.garbelypublishing.com/store/rv_1897-1950

Enjoy!

[therudycometh]

I am pleased to announce the imminent release of Just a Short Line - The Story of the Rahway Valley Railroad, Volume I: History of the Line: 1897-1950 by Richard J. King on Sunday, September 21, 2014. The softcover, 104-page book will have an MSRP of $55.00.

This book covers the history of the Rahway Valley Railroad from 1897 to 1950. Thoroughly researched and documented, this history covers the railroad from its inception as the New York & New Orange Railroad until the last full year of steam locomotive operation. Utilizing countless historic documents and photo collection of the Steamtown National Historic Site, the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, the New Jersey State Archives, and several collectors and individuals, Richard King presents a great deal of information about this colorful little railroad. This book includes recollections of employees, rare photographs, and information from previously unpublished documents. This book is the first in a series which will extensively chronicle the story of the Rahway Valley Railroad for the first time on record.

For more information or to place a pre-order, please visit The Garbely Publishing Company's website at http://www.garbelypublishing.com/store/rv_1897-1950.

The book release coincides with Mr. King's presentation on the Rahway Valley Railroad, hosted by the Union Township Historical Society. The presentation will be held on Sunday, September 21st at 2:30 PM at the historic 1782-built Caldwell Parsonage (909 Caldwell Avenue, Union, NJ 07083). For more information on the presentation, please visit the Union Township Historical Society website at http://uniontwphistoricalsociety.webs.c ... nniversary. Signed copies of the newly-released book will be available for purchase from the author at the conclusion of the presentation.

I will also have copies of the book available at the 38th Annual Lehigh Valley Regional Train Show & Expo, held this year on Sunday, September 28th from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM at the Charles Chrin Palmer Community Center (4100 Green Pond Road, Easton, PA 18045).

If you place a pre-order for the book via The Garbely Publishing Company website, I can arrange to have your copy available to you at either of the above locations to save you on shipping costs.

Thanks for your interest!

[therudycometh]

LIMITED EDITION BOOK RELEASE - To commemorate the September 21st release of author Richard King’s new book, Just a Short Line - The Story of the Rahway Valley Railroad, Volume I: History of the Line: 1897-1950, an extremely limited edition version of the book will be made available for the normal MSRP of $55.00 each.

Twenty copies have been signed by the author and stamped with the original 1897 corporate seal of the Rahway Valley’s earliest predecessor, the New York & New Orange Railroad. King will be giving a presentation on the Rahway Valley Railroad at the Union Township Historical Society's Caldwell Parsonage on Sunday, September 21st at 2:30 PM, and the twenty signed and stamped limited edition copies will be available exclusively at this presentation on a first-come, first-serve basis. The historic Caldwell Parsonage is located at 909 Caldwell Avenue, Union, NJ 07083.

King’s new book covers the history of the Rahway Valley Railroad from 1897 to 1950. Thoroughly researched and documented, this history traces the railroad from its inception as the New York & New Orange Railroad until the last full year of steam locomotive operations. Utilizing countless historic documents and photo collection of the Steamtown National Historic Site, the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, the New Jersey State Archives, and several collectors and individuals, Richard King presents a great deal of information about this colorful little railroad. This book includes recollections of employees, rare photographs, and information from previously unpublished documents. This book is the first in a series that will extensively chronicle the story of the Rahway Valley Railroad for the first time on record.

Special thanks goes to owner Ed Leonard for his generosity in allowing the use of the NY&NO corporate seal for this limited edition release.

[Earle Baldwin]

I purchased my copy of the new Rahway Valley book at yesterday's meet in Easton. Anyone with an interest in the Rahway Valley owes it to himself to get this title. I'm very impressed by the detail of the text and quality and variety of the photographs. I recommend the book highly to anyone with an interest in this railroad. Thank you Mr. King for your dedication in authoring it and Mr. Garbely for taking a chance and publishing it. I enjoyed meeting you yesterday and look forward to purchasing the next volume.

Best regards,
Bob Callahan

[myfavscr]

F.Y.I - the track crossing Michigan Ave in Kenilworth( near Michigan Pub) has been removed and paved over.

[myfavscr]

Only scars remain..... The remaining grade crossings have had their rails removed and have been paved over. Locations are the Boulevard by the Acme and Market St. both in Kenilworth and Westfield Ave in Roselle Park.

[pumpers]

Giving this thread a bump.
I know passenger service on the RV only last a year or so, but I happened to be looking in a 1910 Official Guide and look what I found. http://cprr.org/Museum/Books/I_ACCEPT_t ... e_1910.pdf
Go to page 339 of the Official Guide (which is page 447 of the pdf) for RV passenger schedules.
There are 7 daily trains down the CNJ (from Communipaw, I would assume) onto the RV (presumably at Aldene) and on to Summit, and 7 the other way! Hard to believe. 3 comments/questions
1. Were these thru trains or did you have to switch at Aldene. In the timetable, there doesn't seem to be time for a transfer. I guess I could see if these times were the same as for regular CNJ trains (implying the passengers transferred), but I was too lazy.
2. In some cases you could go from lower Manhattan (Liberty St) to Summit in just over an hour. That was competitive with the mighty Lackawanna! (see Official Guide page 362)
3. Was this timetable for real, or just some BS.
THanks Jim S

Edit: I checked. (see page 314 of the Off. Guide.) Those are regular CNJ trains between Communipaw and Aldene. I suppose eastbound passengers walked under (or over) the tracks at Aldene. This still doesn't answer if the RV trains were for real. Only ~22 minutes from Aldene to Summit.