Hello everyone! In todays NorthJersey.com there's an article about the old Hudson River trolley line, ol' "Big Red", that ran from Edgewater to Paterson NJ until it's demise in 1938. I'm sure all of you North Jersey guys or trolley fans will find it interesting.
Search www.northjersey.com/news/transportation/road_warrior for the story, it's datelined 8/18/13.
PS: I've got a piece of the line, a 4" section of rail I purchased at the Fritz Behnke Museum in Paramus, NJ several years ago. It seems some of the old trolley tracks surfaced during some construction along what was the old right of way, and the museum got them and cut them up for gift shop articles. A cool souvenir!
The Public Service lines had all kinds of trackage in North Jersey. And, thus, there are quite a few books about them. If you are in NJ, check the local libraries, historical societies, and museums including Whippany RR Museum, and hobby shops for the books. Check out North Jersey Chapt, NRHS, too.
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Hi Henry! I've got two what you might call definitive works on Jersey trolleys, one is "The Public Service Trolley Lines in New Jersey" by Edward Hamm Jr., published by Transportation Trails in 1997, and "New Jersey Trolleys in Color" published by Morning Sun books in 2002, both very informative and fun.
I don't know the current availability of "Public Service", however the address of Transportation Trails is:
9698 W. Judson Rd., Polo Illinois, 61064. Phone # (815) 946-2341. No website listed in the book.
"Morning Sun Books" I'm sure most everyone knows about.
I do appreciate your advice on finding "trolley lore."
Wayne
Bill Greenberg did one on the Morris County Traction, too.
The Hudson River trolley line ran through Bogota on Main Street. Years after its abandonment, I walked across Main Street daily to and from the High School. There was a short section (25') of dual track remaining in the Main Street - Palisade Avenue intersection as sort of an unofficial reminder of the trolley service. In the late 60"s, Main Street was repaved by the county, and the tracks were buried.
Although the locals remembered the buried tracks, the county road department did not. A decade after the paving, the county completely rebuilt Main Street, removing the existing pavement down to the base. The contractor who was removing the pavement with a brand new milling machine found the tracks the wrong way.
I don't know what happened to the rails; they were stored for a while as evidence in a legal battle between the contractor and the county.
Ouch! Sounds like "Big Red's" ghost got his revenge!
Hi again Henry! The "Morris County Traction", that's interesting, I've never heard of them, I'll have to check it out.
By the same token, I'd never heard of the "Bergen County Rapid Transit" until I found the book "Interurban Interlude" by Commander E.J. Quinby. Gone since 1929, I'd be amazed if anyone in North Jersey has any memories of the same.
PS: When I'm back in the area I do raid the hobbyshops for railbooks and such. Don't worry folks, I only get back up there maybe once a year, so I'm not much competition!
"But now, Hudson County has light-rail trolleys and the prospects for bringing this NJ Transit system to Bergen — at least to Englewood — appear bright. Federal money was secured in 2007 to initiate a Big Red-type line that would send trolleys from Paterson into Bergen, although NJ Transit lacks the funds to follow through."
--From the article in The Record.
Wayne,
The more it changes the more it is the same. John
The cliffs and palisades once hosted trolley tracks. I remember finally getting a ride out of the upper level at Hoboken bus and trolley terminal to the top of Union HIll. I also remember the trolley tracks in the road from Weehawken down the hill to the West Shore/O&W station.
John WR "But now, Hudson County has light-rail trolleys and the prospects for bringing this NJ Transit system to Bergen — at least to Englewood — appear bright. Federal money was secured in 2007 to initiate a Big Red-type line that would send trolleys from Paterson into Bergen, although NJ Transit lacks the funds to follow through." --From the article in The Record. Wayne, The more it changes the more it is the same. John
Hi John! Yes, I read that in the article as well, but for the life of me I have no idea where they'd put it, I think the old right-of-way's gone. Maybe down the median of some hiway, but even then I'm not sure where.
Oddly enough, the old Bergen County Rapid Transit right-of -way still exists as a PSE&G power line right-of-way.
Any pics out there my searches are getting all mixed up
Hello Mr. Bonaventure! If you're looking for pictures of the old Public Service trolleys try www.trolleybuses.net. Scroll down the page and there's a large menu block, select "Public Service Coordinated Transport:, there's a whole cornucopia of PS equipment pictures.
The site's got pictures from other parts of the country as well. Follow all the links, fun, fun, fun!
Also, look here.
NW
I looked "here", and wow, what a great site! Thanks Northwest for posting!
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