Centre Street Bridge in Newark

[CJPat]

Although not the pictures you were hoping to see, you can see several aerial photographs of the trestle at:

Go to http://www.historicaerials.com Just enter the address of the NJPAC (1 Center St, Newark, NJ 07102) into the search block and choose the year you want to see. Looks like the bridge lasted until at least 1979.

[Ken W2KB]

Hello CJPat:

Yes, I've seen those photos, and they're very interesting, especially in establishing the timeline of the bridge and the surrounding area. I was hoping for something ground leve other than the 1918 photo of the Park Place Station. I remember traveling under the trestle on Rt. 21 with my father, and him pointing out the "Civil War Warehouse" (actually the Civil War-era Ballantine warehouse) just across Rt. 21 from the old Brewery (later the Rutgers Chemistry Building, now the Newark Science High School). At the time I had no idea that the original Hudson Tubes had run there in the past.

I understand there's a photo or photos of the bridge on display at the Newark Museum, and I may eventually have to make the trip (I still have relatives in the Ironbound I visit from time to time). to satisfy my curiosity...

I attended NCE in the latter part of the 60's and recall the bridges as well. In the 50's I vaguely recall riding in my parent's car as we drove over the upper level which had been converted to a vehicle bridge at some point after H&M moved. The lower level of the bridge then handled local freight trains. I believe that the lower level was also the PRR passenger mainline before the present Penn Station and Dock draw was constructed in the 1930's.

As to the over Route 21 bridge, it was there when I started commuting to NCE in September, 1966. Within a year or two it was gone. I recall a large traffic jam one morning when carpooling to college with the bridge fallen from one end onto the highway - could see it to the north as we crossed on Raymond Boulevard. I don't know if the support on one end spontaneously collapsed or if it was being affirmatively demolished.

[gravelyfan]

You can get a good view (albeit distant) in this photo of Dock bridge, taken around 1979. This is from the Historic American Engineering Record online at the LIbrary of Congress.

http://www.loc.gov/pictures/collection/ ... s.112365p/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[timz]

I believe that the lower level was also the PRR passenger mainline before the present Penn Station and Dock draw was constructed in the 1930's.

It was the passenger/freight main line until around 1870; it was a thru line (connected to the main at both ends) until PRR elevated the main line thru Newark circa 1904.

[R36 Combine Coach]

I believe that the lower level was also the PRR passenger mainline before the present Penn Station and Dock draw was constructed in the 1930's.

It was the passenger/freight main line until around 1870; it was a thru line (connected to the main at both ends) until PRR elevated the main line thru Newark circa 1904.

I believe elevation through Newark did not occur until the WPA/PWA-sponsored projects of 1933-1935 which included Newark Penn Station.

[timz]

If you have Triumph V it probably explains. From 1904 to 1933? the elevated four-track main pinched down to an elevated three-track main to go thru Newark station, then down to two tracks to cross the Passaic on a swing bridge, then back to four tracks.

[pumpers]

Here's a link that says the Centre St branch lost its connection to the main in Newark when the main was elevated in Sept 1902
http://www.prrths.com/Hagley/PRR1902%20Mar%2005.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

And a short thread in this forum about Centre St branch history (although the cars for a heating plant lasting into the 1970's are for a stub-ended branch coming off the main west of Newark Station, not the Centre St branch. )
http://www.railroad.net/forums/viewtopi ... 127&t=4477

This 1904 map mentioned in that thread (linked below) and 1904 just linked in this one show the connection still in, but maybe the maps weren't completely updated. http://www.oldnewark.com/imagepages/ima ... 904/05.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Looking at old Sanborn maps (1926-1950), along the river side of the Centre St branch, on its south end were a Public Service gas plant and electric plant, and on the opposite side was a PRR freight station.

JS

[Joseph DeLuisi]

I realize this is a old thread but is the Center St Branch in Harrison still active? And where exactly is the Harrison Industrial Track? Thanks

[CarterB]

In April 1870 a new direct line opened across the Passaic River, bypassing the Centre Street Bridge. The old bridge remained for freight and to serve downtown. Included in the new line was a new station at Market Street, now Newark Penn Station.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Ne ... al_Company

[Joseph DeLuisi]

Is the Centre St branch in Harrison still active? Also, where is the Harrison Industrial Track? Thanks

[pumpers]

I was in Harrison about 2 years ago and as I recall there was no sign that any train had crossed (traveled west of) Frank Rodgers Blvd. on the Center St Branch in a long time. THere used to be some kind of refinery or chemical plant in Harrison next to the Passaic River, but that is long gone, maybe 5 years, and probably condos by now. No mo re industry on that side of Frank ROdgers Blvd for sure, and probably also on the east side too.

I have read that the Center St track in Harrison east of Frank Rodgers Blvd is (was?) used to exchange cars between CSX and delivery to the Morristown and Erie RR (via delivery on the NJ Transit Morristown Line). But I don't know if that is happening any more now that the M&E lost the contract for providing freight service on the old NJT Lackawanna lines a few years (?) ago.

Regarding the Harrison Industrial, it might be the stub that left of the Lackawanna branch from Harrison to Kingsland, and a few sidings near where it branches off the Lackawanna main line to Newark and Morristown. Google maps shows at least one chemical type plant with a lot of tank cars by Sanford Ave https://goo.gl/maps/taY22efCMJPYMPU76 , but I don't know how old the photo is.

[cr9617]

Regarding the Harrison Industrial, it might be the stub that left of the Lackawanna branch from Harrison to Kingsland, and a few sidings near where it branches off the Lackawanna main line to Newark and Morristown. Google maps shows at least one chemical type plant with a lot of tank cars by Sanford Ave https://goo.gl/maps/taY22efCMJPYMPU76 , but I don't know how old the photo is.

slightly off topic but, while looking around the area, I saw this in street view. https://goo.gl/maps/DGz4w51GikY4zCBk6

Am I seeing things or is that some type of Deutsche Bahn German railcar? Its in the rectangular building just north of 280 pictured here: https://www.google.com/maps/@40.7429768 ... a=!3m1!1e3

I'm not sure who that building belongs to, the driveway to it has a pin dropped labeled Automatic Door Resources Inc. but it appears to be connected to the Campbell Foundry buildings.

[pumpers]

Good catch. I see what you mean about the German look (curved roof). Although I think I have seen portable construction trailers in the US with that same shape. But that neighborhood has had an old find before - for years on and off you could see on aerial photos sometimes what looked like (and was) pieces of an old steam engine. Eventually it got trucked to some museum I think (the one near Morristown?). There was on and off discussion about it in this forum for several years and I recall links to a newspaper article and photo when it was moved (10 years ago???).

Regarding the Center St history, if you look at the Essex County maps here http://mapmaker.rutgers.edu/ESSEX_COUNT ... ounty.html and the Newark maps (link on same page), from 1872 to 1904*** the Center St Bridge was active and tied back to the main on both ends, which now went straight across the river like it does now. THis agrees with CarterB's date of 1870 for the new bridge for the main. No change on the maps regarding Center St connections until the 1915 map, when the track coming over Center St Bridge didn't connect back to the main on the Newark side, and terminated at a station just over the bridge - which must have been the old H&M station by Military Park.
*** EDIT: For some reason the Center St bridge is completely omitted on the 1889 map (the 1889 map without ads - it is on the 1889 map with ads).

[Greg]

The chemical company at the end of the branch near where the bridge was located is gone, it's now multi-family housing.

[Joseph DeLuisi]

Thanks for the reply. But just one more question. The Morristown & Erie interchanges with CSX where exactly? And I would imagine that they come down on the NJT Morris & Essex line correct? Thanks again.