As we discuss the future of the West Side of the Newark Branch in it's entirety, I wanted to share a video that an urban explorer took of the Lower Boonton Line in 2019. Why I am posting this here, you ask ?
Simple, as he was approaching what was the North Newark station site, he had to detour since that part of the ROW has been leased to a private company who uses the ROW itself and the station site. That detour took him onto the section of the Newark Branch at the Belleville/Newark line that has been leased out to a trucking company, and he includes a picture of it.
This came up as the discussion about turning the Lower Boonton line into a rail trail has surfaced again, in part as the deadline to purchase the ROW from NS is coming up. I'm not against rail trail conversions, but the cost and issues facing that proposal have never been discussed.
Lastly, when you view the pictures you'll notice that the Lower Boonton line ROW is in pretty sorry shape, far worse than the West Side of the Newark Branch.
http://luckycigarette.com/walking_the_old_boonton_line/
Ken