My first job ever was at a Pontiac dealership located at the DL&W interchange with the RVRR in Summit, NJ., on Broad Street. There used to be a trestle for the RVRR across Broad Street, about 100 yards from the dealership. It was a low trestle. The dealership had to be sure that all drivers of the new car carriers were aware of the railroad trestle. I don't know whether they ignored it (to go around was a couple miles out of the way) or they just didn't know... ...until it was too late! The dealership had one or two brand new cars a year down at the bodyshop getting a new roof and windshield installed. Why? These cars were on the front of the car carrier trailer - you know... the ones that are up high and in the front! The trestle was removed years ago. Kinda like losing an old friend.
Not quite, but close. According to the caption, that's the Ashwood Av trestle which is about 100 yards south of the Broad St one. I just Google Mapped "Ashwood Ave Summit NJ" and you can see that Ashwood intersects with Broad St to the north. On the satellite view you can still see the RVRR ROW as a bright green overgrown line that wanders through Summit and meets up with the DL&W (Now NJ Transit) on the other side of Broad St. http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&q...code_result&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CBkQ8gEwAA The trestle was there in 1979... ...I swear! That RVRR steam engine #15 is now in Steamtown, in Scranton, PA. I saw it on a recent trip. It was a pleasant surprise to see something from my old neighborhood!
Hetek: Good stuff! Here's the area: The photo is of RVRR #15 Ashwood Ave, Summit, NJ Photo: William S. Young used by permission. The second bridge S after Broad ST., but they all shared similar characteristics.
Yup! That's the area! You can see Summit Station on the DL&W Morris and Essex Division line clearly marked on your map. That's the station I got off at when I took the train to work. It was Conrail back then. When I first saw the picture of the trestle on Ashwood posted I had to do a double take to see if it was the Broad Street one. The neighborhood looked a little too residential (Broad St is more of a main road) but the height of the trestle sure looked the same! Looks like I could barely get my wife's minivan under that! I've always had a soft spot for the RVRR. Hey - Any railroad that runs a train across a 4 lane grade crossing on Route 22 during rush hour is my hero!
RVRR crossin' Route 22 Kenilworth, NJ rush hour. For those that have never seen it: Keep it comin' guys I have more material to share.
Was (is?) Route 22 three lanes in each direction? It's been a while for me... The RVRR site lists two separate crossings for Route 22 because of the island between the East and West bound sides. I seriously doubt there were any RR customers on the island so that meant crossing Route 22 was a 4, possibly 6 lane gauntlet to cross! And without crossing gates! Only a flagman, a cross buck and some signal lights! No wonder a tractor trailer truck clipped a loco once. Didn't it derail it? Great picture! Great POV shot of a driver waiting on a freight to cross! Now you've done it! I got out my March 2006 issure of Railroad Model Craftsman last night. Looks like the Rahway Valley is going to be my next project! It will mesh nicely with my EL Morris and Essex Div. with only the addition of the interchange in Summit. Now if I can only fit it on its own 36" x 80" hollow core door! Hmmm... The gears are turning! And it will have to have the Broad Street trestle vs the car carrier truck scene!
Yes, Route 22 was three lanes in each direction at this location with the median. 6 lane gauntlet to cross! Only a flagman, a cross buck and some signal lights! Scary and what backups... Folks: March 2006 issue of Railroad Model Craftsman had my Modeling the RVRR article. Cheap plug! . http://www.rrmodelcraftsman.com/
Ah Ha! So that was you. I thought the name looked familiar. Very nice article! I have that issue (and your article) in my Rahway Valley Railroad reference collection.
Durable Welding Roselle Park? HeTek: Guilty as charged! Here's a new goodie and some questions: 1. Is it now called? D-K Tool & Die Welding Inc D K Tool & Die Welding Group Inc, D-K Tool & Die Welding 181 W Clay Avenue Roselle Park, NJ 07204-1946 Phone: (908) 241-7600 The Clay Ave address looks good for Roselle maps, but just to clarify. 2. What direction is the shot/cross street? 3. Anyone with Sanborn maps of this locale? Thanks! Steve
I think I got it! No Sanborn Map, but I used the powers of the internet and came up with this: I believe that is Fairfield Ave in Kenilworth, looking south. It is just south of the RWRR's "fork in the road", on the east leg that heads to the Lehigh Valley interchange. My evidence: On your photo, on the left side you see a green shrub at the road's edge. Behind the shrub you can see the front ends of several cars nosed up to the spur on the RVRR. The building behind is clearly not aligned with the RVRR ROV, but instead is more at an angle, aligned more with the spur. The building also has a loading dock offset towards the rear with an angled roof above. The front edge of the Durable Welding building is more or less even with this loading dock. The Durable Welding building also has two long box-type vents along the peak of the roof. Now look at this aerial photo from 1979. The building described above is the one with the white roof, near center. You can see the green shrub, the cars nosed up to the RVRR ROW, the angled roof above the loading dock (even a tractor trailer truck arriving or leaving the dock) and the "Durable Welding" building with the dark roof, centered at bottom. The long box-type vents can be seen too. The spur on the RVRR must serve the loading dock of the building on the north side of Fairfield Ave as it's angled western wall is aligned with the ROW. What do you think?
"Durable Welding" today Check out what Google Maps Street View found at the location I describe in my last post: It's "Durable Welding"! The pitch of the roof and the location and size of the doors and windows matches your photo. Looks like they spruced the place up some! The overgrown area on the left side is the RVRR ROW. You can still see the pole line. Google lists the address in the photo but also has the "address is approximate" disclaimer. I found this to be very approximate sometimes so I wouldn't count on it. Might not even be a welding place anymore. What do I win?:tb-wink:
Durable Welding Roselle Park? What ya won! Real nice work! What ya won is, ta da: Another great crossing picture ...not great resolution :-( RVRR #17 crossing North Michigan Ave. south of Boyd Terrace 1972. Collection of Frank Reilly
That's more than I could hope for! Looking at these crossing photos brings me to a question. I see all these grade crossings but not one crossing gate? Just crossbucks? And all these photos with road traffic waiting for the train to cross! I grew up in Maplewood, NJ, but I live in a rural area of Long Island, NY now. The LIRR here has grade crossings with gates, crossbucks, flashing lights and they start blowing the horn 1/4 mile before getting to one. They even have a second set of short gates just for the sidewalks! How the Rahway Valley could get across all those crossings in suburbia with freight in tow and without major incident is unbelieveable! Maybe it was the cost of crossing gates? My company maintains a dirt road that crosses the LIRR ROW. It was once "guarded" by a simple crossbuck - nothing more, just like the RVRR. The LIRR recently wanted my company to pay for the installation of crossing gates and lights. Cost? I heard it was just shy of $1 mil! I know these are 2011 dollars but even back then it wouldn't be cheap.
Crossing gates on the RVRR? and the LIRR Gates This view has the Route 22 crossing light above the road; two horizontal alternate flash type. Same as previous photo. Here's my take (will try to confirm): The RVRR had limited funds, ability to buy insurance and carried NO passengers (= few lawsuits) like a passenger carrier. Thus they employed flagmen and used them! Interested in the LIRR? 10 year history site of mine: http://trainsarefun.com/lirr/lirrcontents.htm
Ah, alternate paint job for #17... The year I graduated high school! Kinda sad seeing #17 just pulling one car. Same as in the "Durable Welding" photo. I guess business just wasn't what it used to be by this time. Look at that tight radius curve. That's way tight... even by modeling standards. Where is that going to? Which leads me to my next question: Is there a complete track map for the RVRR showing spurs, sidings and all?
It is in Kenilworth, perhaps someone can spot the location? As far as mpas; never seen one. However, Sanborn Fire Insurance maps are very accurate; 1885-1930. Here's the Kenilworth Station area c.1929. Detail is fabulous. http://www.trainsarefun.com/rvrr/kenilworth/station area.gif
