The Central Railroad Company of New Jersey, more commonly known as the Jersey Central Lines, or CNJ, was a regional railroad with beginnings in the 1830s that lasted until 1976 when it was absorbed into Conrail.

The main line ran from Jersey City, New Jersey across the state to Phillipsburg, then across the Delaware River into Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania Division ran from the Delaware River Bridge at Easton, Pennsylvania, through the Lehigh River Valley , and up to Scranton, Pennsylvania. The Southern Division ran from Red Bank, New Jersey (on the New York and Long Branch Railroad, which was jointly owned by the CNJ and the Pennsylvania Railroad) to Bridgeton, New Jersey, and carried millions of tons of glass sand and construction sand . In 1961 the 'Central' purchased two portions of the shutting down Lehigh and New England Railroad, from the Lehigh Coal and Navigation (which also owned the CNJ's Pa Division, and leased it to them). This became the Lehigh and New England Railway , with two segments--Lansford to Tamaqua, Pa., connecting coal mines to the Reading Railroad, and Bethlehem to Bath and Uhlers, Pa., connecting cement mills to the CNJ and Lehigh Valley Railroads.

The main line from Elizabeth, New Jersey to Phillipsburg, New Jersey opened in 1852, with the extension to Jersey City, New Jersey opening in 1864 and the Newark Branch from Elizabethport in 1872.

Paralleling the Lehigh Valley Railroad from New York Harbor to Scranton, the Jersey Central was a fierce competitor for coal and freight. With heavy commuter traffic and short freight hauls, the company was in and out of bankruptcy throughout its history. In 1967, bankruptcy was declared for the last time, and the company was folded into Conrail in 1976.

Liberty State Park in Jersey City, New Jersey is located on the site of the Jersey City terminal of the company.

History

On July 29, 1864, the CNJ opened its extension from Elizabeth to Jersey City and their ferry to Cortlandt Street in New York.

On July 23, 1869, the Newark and New York Railroad opened, providing a faster route from southern Newark to CNJ's Hudson River terminal.

In early 1872, the CNJ and the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad started to work together; plans were to move the DL&W's terminal to the CNJ terminal at Communipaw.

On June 7, 1872, the Newark Branch, between Newark and Elizabethport, opened for passengers.

Corporate history

The CNJ was formed on February 26, 1847 as a consolidation of the Elizabeth and Somerville Railroad and Somerville and Easton Railroad .

The CNJ leased the Dover and Rockaway Railroad for 990 years from April 26, 1881.

The CNJ leased the Ogden Mine Railroad for 999 years from January 1, 1882.

The New York and Long Branch Railroad was jointly operated by the CNJ and the Pennsylvania Railroad under an agreement signed January 2, 1888.

The CNJ leased the Hibernia Mine Railroad for 20 years from October 1, 1890; this lease was renewed at least once for another 20 years.

In late 1917, the following companies were absorbed into the CNJ:

• Buena Vista Railroad
• Carteret and Sewaren Railroad
• Carteret Extension Railroad
• Cumberland and Maurice River Railroad
• Cumberland and Maurice River Extension Railroad
• Elizabeth Exrension Railroad
• Freehold and Atlantic Highlands Railroad
• Lafayette Railroad
• Manufacturers' Extension Railroad
• Middle Brook Railroad
• New Jersey Terminal Railroad
• New Jersey Southern Railroad
• Navesink Railroad
• Passaic River Extension Railroad
• Raritan North Shore Railroad
• Sound Shore Railroad
• Toms River Railroad
• Toms River and Barnegat Railroad
• Vineland Railroad
• Vineland Branch Railway
• West Side Connecting Railroad
• West End Railroad

The Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) authorized the CNJ to acquire the Wharton and Northern Railroad and the Mount Hope Mineral Railroad on February 4, 1930.

The Hibernia Mine Railroad was merged into the CNJ on November 25, 1930.

On June 6, 1935, the ICC authorized the CNJ to abandon the Ogden Mine Railroad .

Sources

• Opening of the Newark and New-York Railroad, New York Times July 24, 1869 page 8
• Railway Consolidation, New York Times March 19, 1872 page 5
• New-York and Suburban News, New York Times June 1, 1872 page 8