Yes through 2008 the last customer on the branch still had rail service. I believe it got down to a once a week basis when operations across Route 17 were discontinued
Wow thank you! I used to work at Hackensack in 1999, but I don't remember seeing one. I left that area soon after, so I had no idea there was service into 2008!@@northjerseyaerialrail9597
Great video, thanks so much for filming. I found this branch line extremely interesting growing up as a kid visiting my grandma in Maywood, right by the mainline. Its too bad they did this, considering the upgraded siding and Essex st crossing within the 2000 era. I would love to see a train here. I always found the crossing under the highway most interesting, strobe lights, an ancient cantilever, a teardrop bell.
Which is why railroad ROWs should be nationalized. It's a selfish mindset of "Well, we don't want it or refuse to invest on repairs. But NO ONE ELSE CAN HAVE IT EITHER!!" Norfolk Southern (NS) rented the Newark Branch & Boonton line within Newark city limits to a trucking firm. They literally buried the tracks under 2 feet of gravel & paved over it in spots. Especially after Westrock cardboard went to all trucks & SETON's closure years earlier. NS RR refused to serve the Riverside industrial park & asphalt plant along rt 21. Leasing the ROW to truck storage. Well, guess what? A two massive distribution warehouses are now being built alongside the buried ROW. The same with SRR lodi br. As soon as the tracks are pulled, watch some massive industrial complex come up.
@@larroyo1973 exactly. Then the rr will cry well we don’t have any money for new tracks etc, we need grants or tax payer money. Honestly it’s all a scam. Rails to trails - the rr sales to the city, city pays the rr with tax money, city uses free grant money to make a dirt trail while hiring their buddies. Sad.
Sad. I remember how busy that line was. they even used it to stare the circus train on in its last years when they would come to the old Izod Center. So much in that statement is gone now. Sometimes progress is ugly.
Ugly is right. The circus hasn't come through since it was the continental airlines arena and I'm sure it was years earlier that the circus train stopped coming to town
Great drone work and super video. It's sad, all the work went to China and now we lost Railroads. 😢 One day that will be a bile trail like in Michigan with the Grand Rapids &Indiana/Pennsylvania Railroad.
The nearby Passaic branch is also getting ripped up. Shame as these were neat little branch lines, unfortunately the industry just isn't there anymore to justify keeping them around.
I grew up in that area the line went all the way out to Main St. Lodi at one time crossing Main St. to service the chemical plants. and Washine Bleach Co. And at one time the Passaic Lumber Company.
The track went across main street near the shop right. There was a station at main. The tracks went into a chemical company located on Westside of main Mallinckrodt then across the saddle River to a paper plant. This was a through girder span. Paper plant was located across river from current townhall library
I grew up two blocks from where the Lodi Branch in Lodi, crossed Main St. and entered Washine Chemical. Me and my friends would ride the train out to Modells on ESsex St. Then in the late 80's I got hired while trespassing at the Roundhouse in LF and made dozens of trips down the Lodi Branch.
Didn’t know the line was abandoned. Many of the sidings are for the numerous chemical factories along the line. Every few years one of those plants would have a mishap that would explode and burn for days. Many never rebuilt, causing less traffic on the line
If you want a part go for the bell of the rusty crossing on the highway as it is a rare US&S teardrop bell and it’s so sad when this happens Canada lost a 36 mile short line last year.. Great video!
Came across this 🎥 by chance and was dismayed to see this being ripped up especially when you see all those trucks on the clogged highways and then some of those customers dealt in bulk materials that could go by rail. This was like the Milwaukee Road tearing up the beer line in Milwaukee but here the breweries had closed and most of the other Industries moved away or went to truck but that was a staggering 500 cars a day on about 7 miles of track. Good camera work and editing thank you
Thank you, appreciate it! The borough of Lodi there also tightened restrictions on industrial businesses after a fire a chemical fire a few decades ago. They were pleased to see industry leave
@@northjerseyaerialrail9597 about 6 months ago lost a large malt plant in West Milwaukee that was good for 40 cars a day. It sounds so screwy that today the biggest industries using rail in Milwaukee is a cement transload facility and a scrap yard and 2 GP9s on CP now cover all yard assignments plus the local to Sturtevant at nite. Even in the early 1970s it was still 38 assignments weekdays
Nice video, although its sad to see how rail lines in New Jersey continue to diminish. It looks like some of this line was at one time repaired or maintained with new ballast.
Is the Elmwood Park switch that go's across rt 46 abandon as well. Do they plan on ripping that up. I know they use it for storage for now and have a derail at the crossing on Market St.
I remember always crossing the crossings under the highway and the road next to the Home Depot, I remembered always thinking when I approach the crossing, “what if a train will come”?
Thanks George. The branch splits and ends just prior to Garibaldi Ave. There is an industrial spur across the tracks opposite the inspection station that's still there if that's what you're referring to?
Fascinating watch! Without being too specific, I live in one of the garden apartments near the end of track. There's a lot with all heavy equipment vehicles/construction vehicles adjacent to the end of this railway. What is going on there? Google maps has no idea who those vehicles and land belongs to and I don't believe I ever seen any of them in use (at least in the time since I moved here). Creates issues when there are deep trenches of dirty still water attracting many bugs and some wildlife yet no clue who owns the property.
Thank you! I'm actually not quite sure who owns the property of the old railroad right of way at the moment. My assumption would be the state, but as of the end of 2021 the abandonment of the line was complete therefore the railroad no longer has any work or equipment on the land there whatsoever. My only guess if there's heavy machinery there now, would rails being removed by the state but I haven't been by in a long time. Also highly unlikely that the state would sorting into action and spend the money to rip up the rails when they could just be left there
Some people have misinformation in their comments.I lived in Lodi from April,1973, and 1)namenof the Lumber Company ws Lodi Lumber located on Main St.,where the 7-11 is currently located,2)Kruger Bros.Paper Company was formerly situated where the Tennis Courts are,just South of the Lodi Library.Train NEVER CROSSED the Saddle River,as there was only a Generation Plant on the opposite side,no manufacturing building.The big Fire was in 1977, and I explored the debris fields for years,as a teenager,before it was finally cleared and the Municipal Complex was built on that land from 1980-1984,when it opened.My father was the Municipal Security Guard on that site.
Actually,where the trucks used to cross Main St.,into the Malinrokt Chemical Factory,they went straight back to the Saddle River,then turned South along the Saddle River,crossing Arnot St.,into United Peace Dye Works, what is now the rear parking lot of The Lodi Police Department.My father,Mike The Russian,was working for The Lodi Water Works, and,was a former builder of The New York World's Fair Complex, and a fearless Iron Walker, somehow got permission to rip up and scrap those Railroad Tracks, and,The Boro of Lodi even lent him their trucks,backhoe,etc! He was in with former Mayors Bombace and Paci.I do remember that he got hurt doing this job,as well.
We used to hop the train at main street by Lodi Lumber, many times, the caboose, and ride out to Modells over Rt17 to play pinball, then walk the tracks back home.
@@northjerseyaerialrail9597 Around 2007 I probably last saw it. I have been in the area my whole life and only twice saw it cross 17. It was a pretty cool sight to see when it did cross. It was a strange timing too b/c it was in the mid afternoon.
@@northjerseyaerialrail9597 On Marsellus Pl in Garfield (close to River Rd.) there was a line that went across the street. They ripped up the rail but the path it took still exists (somewhat). The strange thing about this is I remember part of that rail going through the parking lot of a Jews for Jesus church (this is now part of the parking for the new Walmart they opened - the church was torn down I believe). The rail that went thru the lot was definitely abandoned but I the line that crossed the road was active. Do you know anything about this line?
@@sugarphantom7837 I believe that would have just been an industry lead or short spur off of the Bergen County Main Line to a long gone business or facility located near where Walmart is today. I'm guessing that the tracks ran east on the south side of the dog park before crossing the road?
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Big problem was getting across Rt. 17. Cars would NOT stop. Last business was a rail car repair operation around 2008.
I'm sure it was easier to go across during heavy afternoon rush hour when NB is bumper to bumper.. the other side not so much
Yes through 2008 the last customer on the branch still had rail service. I believe it got down to a once a week basis when operations across Route 17 were discontinued
Wow thank you! I used to work at Hackensack in 1999, but I don't remember seeing one. I left that area soon after, so I had no idea there was service into 2008!@@northjerseyaerialrail9597
@@jackwilliams5474it’s a state highway, you’re taking your life in your hands
@@Cape-Dweller Dude, I'm not sure why you're replying to me. I was asking a question about trains not taking my life in my hands or whatever LOL!
In the early 2000s is the last time I caught the train crossing Rt. 17. Only twice I had ever seen it cross. Thank you for posting this video
Lived 40 years down there and never saw one cross. You're fortunate.
What kind of train was it?
What kind of train was it?
Did you really? I didn't see one in 2000's
Great video, thanks so much for filming. I found this branch line extremely interesting growing up as a kid visiting my grandma in Maywood, right by the mainline. Its too bad they did this, considering the upgraded siding and Essex st crossing within the 2000 era. I would love to see a train here. I always found the crossing under the highway most interesting, strobe lights, an ancient cantilever, a teardrop bell.
Would have been very interesting to see today!
Thank you!!
Would really like to see a train here!
Industry leaves, railroads leave. 1:1 ratio. This is a really well done video. I remember those tracks going over 17. Real shame to lose them.
Thank you, certainly will be a lost part of history there
They're gone.
Which is why railroad ROWs should be nationalized. It's a selfish mindset of
"Well, we don't want it or refuse to invest on repairs. But NO ONE ELSE CAN HAVE IT EITHER!!"
Norfolk Southern (NS) rented the Newark Branch & Boonton line within Newark city limits to a trucking firm.
They literally buried the tracks under 2 feet of gravel & paved over it in spots. Especially after Westrock cardboard went to all trucks & SETON's closure years earlier.
NS RR refused to serve the Riverside industrial park & asphalt plant along rt 21. Leasing the ROW to truck storage.
Well, guess what? A two massive distribution warehouses are now being built alongside the buried ROW.
The same with SRR lodi br. As soon as the tracks are pulled, watch some massive industrial complex come up.
@@larroyo1973 exactly. Then the rr will cry well we don’t have any money for new tracks etc, we need grants or tax payer money. Honestly it’s all a scam. Rails to trails - the rr sales to the city, city pays the rr with tax money, city uses free grant money to make a dirt trail while hiring their buddies. Sad.
@@mortrob8371 they ripped up ALL THE TRACK?!?!
Was hoping to see the former junction to the spur that went off to the Pascack Valley line in the late 1800s, but I guess it's long gone.
At 2:25 that would have been just across the street and heading east (left) from there. Also long gone
Very well done! I recall walking much of this in 1975 when I worked a summer job for the Bergen County Mosquito Commission.
@@tomcarrollsusinaperstek2602 must have been quite a different scene!
Sad. I remember how busy that line was. they even used it to stare the circus train on in its last years when they would come to the old Izod Center. So much in that statement is gone now. Sometimes progress is ugly.
Ugly is right. The circus hasn't come through since it was the continental airlines arena and I'm sure it was years earlier that the circus train stopped coming to town
I lived by the Lodi DMV then. They parked the trains back there
Great drone work and super video. It's sad, all the work went to China and now we lost Railroads. 😢 One day that will be a bile trail like in Michigan with the Grand Rapids &Indiana/Pennsylvania Railroad.
Unfortunately so
The nearby Passaic branch is also getting ripped up. Shame as these were neat little branch lines, unfortunately the industry just isn't there anymore to justify keeping them around.
Changing times unfortunately for the railroad
I grew up in that area the line went all the way out to Main St. Lodi at one time crossing Main St. to service the chemical plants. and Washine Bleach Co. And at one time the Passaic Lumber Company.
Must have been a bitch to flag those crossings !😡
Good of you to get this in before the crossings were torn up, a fantastic video
Thank you!!
The track went across main street near the shop right. There was a station at main. The tracks went into a chemical company located on Westside of main Mallinckrodt then across the saddle
River to a paper plant. This was a through girder span. Paper plant was located across river from current townhall library
Thank you for the information! I had no idea about the spam across the Saddle River to the paper plant. Any further details on that end?
I grew up two blocks from where the Lodi Branch in Lodi, crossed Main St. and entered Washine Chemical. Me and my friends would ride the train out to Modells on ESsex St. Then in the late 80's I got hired while trespassing at the Roundhouse in LF and made dozens of trips down the Lodi Branch.
Came full circle from those childhood rides! Very funny!
The spur used to go across 46 and into downtown Lodi
Right! All the way down to where Shop Rite is today across Main St
Any evidence of anything like that there?
Didn’t know the line was abandoned. Many of the sidings are for the numerous chemical factories along the line. Every few years one of those plants would have a mishap that would explode and burn for days. Many never rebuilt, causing less traffic on the line
Several fires/hazmat incidents over the years had the borough chomping at the bit to shut down rail traffic one by one customer at a time
Increased taxing drives the industries away, which drives the railroads and the people away.
If you want a part go for the bell of the rusty crossing on the highway as it is a rare US&S teardrop bell and it’s so sad when this happens Canada lost a 36 mile short line last year.. Great video!
Gone along with the rails now. All crossing equipment was removed a week or so after I recorded this unfortunately. Thank you though!
@@northjerseyaerialrail9597 well at least you tried…
Great video especially near the end where it spurred into an old industrial area. Sad to see these old lines abandoned. Well done!
Thank you!
Came across this 🎥 by chance and was dismayed to see this being ripped up especially when you see all those trucks on the clogged highways and then some of those customers dealt in bulk materials that could go by rail. This was like the Milwaukee Road tearing up the beer line in Milwaukee but here the breweries had closed and most of the other Industries moved away or went to truck but that was a staggering 500 cars a day on about 7 miles of track. Good camera work and editing thank you
Thank you, appreciate it! The borough of Lodi there also tightened restrictions on industrial businesses after a fire a chemical fire a few decades ago. They were pleased to see industry leave
@@northjerseyaerialrail9597 about 6 months ago lost a large malt plant in West Milwaukee that was good for 40 cars a day. It sounds so screwy that today the biggest industries using rail in Milwaukee is a cement transload facility and a scrap yard and 2 GP9s on CP now cover all yard assignments plus the local to Sturtevant at nite. Even in the early 1970s it was still 38 assignments weekdays
@@paulbergen9114 wild.. Different time, more common sense in moving America and more emphasis on American industry
Every time I go to Staten Island, I always pass grade crossing the high way
Damn. Looks like the whole line will be ripped up and one of a few crossings over a highway will be gone forever
Sad to see it go. I thought the sign said repair but I’m Wrong. That rusty crossing on the highway will be gone forever.
I’m going to see if I can a crossing part when they take them down
Nice video, although its sad to see how rail lines in New Jersey continue to diminish. It looks like some of this line was at one time repaired or maintained with new ballast.
Thank you!
1:42 what is the purpose of this box?
That was a signal control box for the route 17 crossing heading north on the branch line towards the highway
Is the Elmwood Park switch that go's across rt 46 abandon as well. Do they plan on ripping that up. I know they use it for storage for now and have a derail at the crossing on Market St.
The tracks were cut recently and the rails crossing Rt 46 were removed. Trackage is in place prior to that for car storage purposes yes
I remember always crossing the crossings under the highway and the road next to the Home Depot, I remembered always thinking when I approach the crossing, “what if a train will come”?
It would be interesting to see the former Roseville station in Newark
Nice video. Is that the spur the ends up across from the Inspection Station?
Thanks George. The branch splits and ends just prior to Garibaldi Ave. There is an industrial spur across the tracks opposite the inspection station that's still there if that's what you're referring to?
@@northjerseyaerialrail9597 yes that’s it. Thanks
Fascinating watch! Without being too specific, I live in one of the garden apartments near the end of track. There's a lot with all heavy equipment vehicles/construction vehicles adjacent to the end of this railway. What is going on there? Google maps has no idea who those vehicles and land belongs to and I don't believe I ever seen any of them in use (at least in the time since I moved here). Creates issues when there are deep trenches of dirty still water attracting many bugs and some wildlife yet no clue who owns the property.
Thank you! I'm actually not quite sure who owns the property of the old railroad right of way at the moment. My assumption would be the state, but as of the end of 2021 the abandonment of the line was complete therefore the railroad no longer has any work or equipment on the land there whatsoever. My only guess if there's heavy machinery there now, would rails being removed by the state but I haven't been by in a long time. Also highly unlikely that the state would sorting into action and spend the money to rip up the rails when they could just be left there
Do you think you will ever do the northern branch?
Already halfway done. Stay tuned in a month or so 🤙🏼
@@northjerseyaerialrail9597Alr bet 👍
Once it’s gone, it’s pretty much gone forever
U never Know.
Trying to get my bearings here. I Know the area a little bit. I used to shop at the Liquidators on rt 17 in the 1990's/
Some people have misinformation in their comments.I lived in Lodi from April,1973, and 1)namenof the Lumber Company ws Lodi Lumber located on Main St.,where the 7-11 is currently located,2)Kruger Bros.Paper Company was formerly situated where the Tennis Courts are,just South of the Lodi Library.Train NEVER CROSSED the Saddle River,as there was only a Generation Plant on the opposite side,no manufacturing building.The big Fire was in 1977, and I explored the debris fields for years,as a teenager,before it was finally cleared and the Municipal Complex was built on that land from 1980-1984,when it opened.My father was the Municipal Security Guard on that site.
Great information and thank you for the corrections. I figured that the tracks definitely never crossed the Saddle River
Actually,where the trucks used to cross Main St.,into the Malinrokt Chemical Factory,they went straight back to the Saddle River,then turned South along the Saddle River,crossing Arnot St.,into United Peace Dye Works, what is now the rear parking lot of The Lodi Police Department.My father,Mike The Russian,was working for The Lodi Water Works, and,was a former builder of The New York World's Fair Complex, and a fearless Iron Walker, somehow got permission to rip up and scrap those Railroad Tracks, and,The Boro of Lodi even lent him their trucks,backhoe,etc! He was in with former Mayors Bombace and Paci.I do remember that he got hurt doing this job,as well.
Those rails then went though the entire 11+ acres, and ended at Kruger Brothers Paper Company.
We used to hop the train at main street by Lodi Lumber, many times, the caboose, and ride out to Modells over Rt17 to play pinball, then walk the tracks back home.
In all my years driving tractor trailers on rt 17 never seen a train cross!
From my understanding, the frequency was down to some type of "as needed" status with the remaining customer or two
What year did the last train go trought this branch?
Last year of use as far as I can find was 2009 including then infrequent moves across Route 17 into Lodi
@@northjerseyaerialrail9597 ok, thanks
@@northjerseyaerialrail9597 Around 2007 I probably last saw it. I have been in the area my whole life and only twice saw it cross 17. It was a pretty cool sight to see when it did cross. It was a strange timing too b/c it was in the mid afternoon.
@@northjerseyaerialrail9597 On Marsellus Pl in Garfield (close to River Rd.) there was a line that went across the street. They ripped up the rail but the path it took still exists (somewhat). The strange thing about this is I remember part of that rail going through the parking lot of a Jews for Jesus church (this is now part of the parking for the new Walmart they opened - the church was torn down I believe). The rail that went thru the lot was definitely abandoned but I the line that crossed the road was active. Do you know anything about this line?
@@sugarphantom7837 I believe that would have just been an industry lead or short spur off of the Bergen County Main Line to a long gone business or facility located near where Walmart is today. I'm guessing that the tracks ran east on the south side of the dog park before crossing the road?
The very things that shaped our towns and built our culture and community have disappeared leaving behind an ugly skeleton of pseudo progress
When was it abandoned
It was officially abandoned in 2021, though a train has not gone down the branch in years
Time to hunt for the date nails
Bada Bing!!!
Sad
so sad any chance of rail line being used again ?😢😭🛤
Nope as of today it’s getting ripped up
Like he said before me, no chance at all in the foreseeable future