The official NJT abandoned stations thread

[metsfan 2]

This thread is dedicated to all of the abandoned stations along all of NJT served areas, including all lines that could be re-activated and have service, and lines that will never be re-activated due to a re-alignment.

 

Some interesting stations include Sea Girt, Monmouth Junction, Adams, Iselin, and Hopewell. Some are 100% intact, while others are merely a blank spot where a station used to be, perhaps only a clearing or some small rubble fragments hinting at its location.

 

There are about 80 abandoned stations in NJ as i can add up in my memory.

 

Feel free to post photos of the stations, if they are not yours please make a note to that effect.

 

To clarify before people go crazy, this thread is not really for relocated stations, but ones that were active, and are no longer active. However, if the relocation has resulted in 1 used station, and one intact unused station, that's acceptable.

 

3 stations i am very interested in, are penns neck (princeton branch), adams (northeast corridor), and hopewell (west trenton line).

 

- A

[Smoot178 0]

Isn't that old blue building at Aberdeen-Matawan the old station before the new one opened?

[metsfan 2]

It's the old station building from before it was reconstructed. Same station though, just lengthened & given new station building.

 

Get any photos of it? If so post it.

 

- A

[kaback9 0]

http://kaback9.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1444824

 

Old Matawan station.

[metsfan 2]

I wonder why a few station buildings are huge 3 floor structures while so many station buildings are so much smaller... Pennington & hopewell also have large 3 floor station buildings.

 

- A

[R44 5278 0]

I thought Iselin is now known as Metropark. No?

[MTR Admiralty 4]

Nice stuff, it would be cool if you have a map with the abandoned stations, that way we will know the location. :cool:

[drxtreme21 0]

you can practically on the northeren end of things count the old Lyndhurst Station as practically abandoned, they tried doing the sports bar and nightlife thing for a few years, then in like 01 or 02 there was a fire and there was damage to the roof. Hasnt been anyone there in years-- I wish someone would do something with it, i mean , it is one of the oldest buildings in lyndhurst .

[metsfan 2]

I thought Iselin is now known as Metropark. No?

 

No, its a different station on the other side of the bridge over the highway. I've wondered about this spot for a long time only to have it be confirmed by that guy's (NJT) map. Adams was another more obvious location because of the stairs.

 

- A

[R44 5278 0]

There's still a sign on the SE corner of Park Ave and Oak Tree Avenue in Edison indictating that Iselin station still exists. When travelling north on Park Ave, you see the sign that if you wanted to go Iselin, you'll make a right onto Oak Tree Avenue/Rd. I traced Oak Tree Avenue on Google Earth until it ended around Metropark station. Therefore, I assumed that Metropark used to be called Iselin b/c that area is also called Iselin.

[kaback9 0]

Metropark and Islein are and were two seperate stops, Metropark was built by the Penn Central as part of improvement plans with the NJDOT. Islein was across the bridge over the parkway and a few 100 ft up the ROW. I have found the exact location of it, its just a matter of getting there and photographing it(its on my to do list).

[metsfan 2]

Metropark and Islein are and were two seperate stops, Metropark was built by the Penn Central as part of improvement plans with the NJDOT. Islein was across the bridge over the parkway and a few 100 ft up the ROW. I have found the exact location of it, its just a matter of getting there and photographing it(its on my to do list).

 

Yes, i originally thought that metropark ate islein, but the line drawings are to scale, so i started looking on the other side of the bridge, that is where there is obviously a missing station.

 

Adams should be re-opened i think, give people more options since there are houses right there. All you'd need is a canopy over the stairs, and an elevator. The bridge is tall enough to accommodate a mezzanine level to allow people to cross over without going all the way up to the bridge. The current stairs need to be reconstructed and the elevator would have to be on one side of the stairs to allow proper access to the platform(s). Put the station house at the far end of the platform on each side, one where you can get tickets, and the other for (NJT) police, or you could combine them. You could also put a high speed interlocking there that allows jersey ave trains to return to nyp/mmc vs how it is now where they either go all the way back to morisville, or stop on the branch track. Would allow more trains to stop at jersey ave, and more trains to be available overall because they don't all have to stay at the station.

 

There are a bunch of ideas that could make Adams work as a local stop, but obviously there are other projects that are far more important.

 

- A

[kaback9 0]

There are plans for a station on the site of what was Adams, it would be built with a large enough parking lot as to allow for the closing of Jersey Ave.

[metsfan 2]

There are plans for a station on the site of what was Adams, it would be built with a large enough parking lot as to allow for the closing of Jersey Ave.

 

I was thinking that as well. There is a lot of parking potential on the western side, and a bit on the eastern side.

 

Creepy to think one day some stations active now will be abandoned. :eek:

 

- A

[NJTipper 0]

Along the old :mbl: Boonton line there are some stations that still have old NJ Transit signs pointing to them. Primarily the old Benson St. station in Bloomfield/Glen Ridge right before the junction with the new montclair track. I have also looked at the old Rowe St station which doesn't have much but a platform. I haven't gotten to any of the other stations namely Arlington or North Newark. I know it's owned by conrail now, but i would love to see new service to Hoboken or a rail trail. Anyone have any nice tidbits about these stations? I'd like to give them wikipedia pages.

[kaback9 0]

Your not going to see a rail trail, there is always talks though about bringing back the old alignment in some capacity, btw I love exploring the old line as everything was just left in place. Also its not Conrail any more but Norfolk Southern who runs it! The trains either come out of Dover(most of the time) or Croxton on a rare occasion.

[metsfan 2]

Yea, unlike when took over from conrail, and from PRR, (NJT) will never just let lines go. In fact (NJT) has expanded & increased service since taking over. Reading going under meant the WTL went with it since it wasnt seen as crucial to pax transportation. The lackawanna cutoff had more to do with lack of coal trains than anything to do with passengers. Each line has ~10 stations and would re-connect PA to NJ in 2 busy areas.

 

The stations on the WTL are mostly intact, wheras the lackawanna cutoff mostly needs new facilities.

 

The only station in NJ that will never likely be re-opened is the CRRNJ elizabeth station for obvious reasons.

 

- A

[kaback9 0]

Actually...if the proposed light rail is built the CNJ station in Elizabeth would be used again,well the area as I believe the station is actually a restaurant now. At least its somewhat saved .

[metsfan 2]

Actually...if the proposed light rail is built the CNJ station in Elizabeth would be used again,well the area as I believe the station is actually a restaurant now. At least its somewhat saved .

 

Yea, that's true. But it wouldn't be the for "real" station. Just like NCS broad street isn't the same as the one you can take to hoboken. what would be a real hoot is taking that ROW which is still being held in sections here and there by someone (no idea who) to communipaw terminal. :cool:

 

- A

[R44 5278 0]

 

Actually...if the proposed light rail is built the CNJ station in Elizabeth would be used again,well the area as I believe the station is actually a restaurant now. At least its somewhat saved .

If they do that, then they should consider another Newark Bay Bridge to connect with the HBLR.

[metsfan 2]

If they do that, then they should consider another Newark Bay Bridge to connect with the HBLR.

 

HBLR would be connected from west side ave where the CRRNJ lift bridge used to be.

 

- A

[R44 5278 0]

HBLR would be connected from west side ave where the CRRNJ lift bridge used to be.

 

- A

No. The swing bridge for the Newark Branch was there, not Lower Bay Lift Bridge. Lower Bay Lift Bridge is at 7th St Bayonne, which is south of the current HBLR terminus 22nd St.

[metsfan 2]

I'm talking about the former CRRNJ main line connector to where it used to pass the current nwk station.

 

- A

[N-Trizzy2609 11]

One station that draws me is North Asbury Park Station. It is so intact, out-of-towers think it still a station. One time a friend of mine waited for a train there only to have a car stop with a conductor inside and the conductor said "This is no longer a station, the station is down Route 35."

 

Another is the station everyone forgot about. Brielle station. Though it is no longer exsistant (Building torn down 1983), the clearing is still widely visible. Manasquan is just only a mile away which led to NJ Transit abandoning it.

 

[kaback9 0]

Speaking of Coastline abandoned stations, Seagirt is still around and now the town Library.

 

If we want to include future MOM line stations in this Freehold still stands as does if the Matawan route is chosen Marlboro along with its Freight Station, the site of Morganville station is still there with some rail in the ground, Frenau is around on the Pine Creek Railroad(was moved there in the 60's). If MOM via Monmouth Jct is chosen the Freehold PRR station is still around used as a bus depot and the Monmouth Jct shack is still there. I also know of the exact locations of the old Freehold PRR Branch stations but they are all gone except for a freight station lost in the weeds in Howell on the OOS section between Freehold and Farmingdale.

 

Freehold PRR & CNJ Stations:

http://kaback9.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1453724

http://kaback9.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1453730

http://kaback9.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1453728

http://kaback9.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1539813

http://kaback9.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1567027

 

Marlboro:

http://kaback9.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1450976

http://kaback9.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1450977