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| This photo shows the northern
curve of the "kink" shortly before its removal. When the RVRR was in
operation the tracks more closely followed the grassy patch to the
right. Photo taken by George Picyk. |
Looking north, the tracks and
Clinton Ave. can be seen on the left. The tracks on the left are
part of the "kink" created as part of the construction of A&P's
parking lot. The tracks originally were located in the center
of this photograph. 6/18/2013. Photo taken by Richard
J. King. |
Although not
historically accurate to the time when the Rahway Valley Railroad was
still in operation, the Clinton Avenue grade crossing and the "Kink" are
something to note when looking at what is left of the RVRR today.
The stretch of track between the Boulevard
and the Garden State Parkway overpass was originally
a straight line. There were various spurs and sidings off the main
track into all sorts of industries. Not long after the RVRR closed in 1992
the site formerly occupied by Volco Brass was purchased by the supermarket
chain A&P. The abandoned RVRR tracks posed a problem to A&P
who wished to used that section for parking space for their store.
Although not permitted to remove the tracks entirely, A&P received
permission from the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT
purchased the RVRR in 1995) to "push" the tracks aside. This "push"
in turn formed a kink in the track, with tight curves on either end.
Although this wasn't the historically accurate location of the RVRR main,
at least a portion of this "kink" laid on land formerly occupied by an
RVRR siding for Volco and Protexol.
Also needed for the A&P parking lot was another
entrance. A former access road for Volco was turned into an entrance/exit
for the A&P parking lot. This short road was named "Clinton Avenue."
Clinton Avenue made a grade crossing with the "kink," although the
crossing itself has yet to see a train.
Most of the "kink" tracks were removed during the
attempted reactivation of the railroad, 2001-2007. This was the last
portion of the line worked on before funding for the project dried up.
Today the "kink" area has at least partially been landscaped with a
large amount of woodchips.
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| This aerial view shows the
Clinton Avenue grade crossing (arrow). The red line denotes the
original mainline of the RVRR, the pink line denotes the relocated
RVRR track/trackbed as part of the construction of
A&P. Google
Maps. |
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| This view
looks south towards Clinton Ave. The grade crossing can be seen on
the far right, but the rails originally were located in the middle
of this photo. 6/18/2013. Photo taken by Richard
J. King. |
The
southern curve of the kink, looking north, as the rails
approach Clinton Ave. 6/18/2013. Photo taken by
Richard J. King. |
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| Here the
southern curve of the kink ends and rejoins the original mainline
alignment. 6/18/2013. Photo taken by Richard J.
King. |
Here the
southern curve of the kink emerges from a covering of gravel.
6/18/2013. Photo taken by Richard J.
King. |
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| The RVRR grade crossing, the
never really was, Clinton Avenue. The original alignment of the main
track was further to the left of this photograph. 6/18/2013.
Photo taken by Richard J. King. |
Looking south, with the
Boulevard at our backs, we see what was the northern curve (see the
first photo on this page) of the kink. The kink followed
what is now this covering of woodchips, while the original
mainline went straight through what is now A&P's parking
lot. 6/18/2013. Photo taken by Richard J.
King. |
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| The track a part of, and
around, the kink is stamped 1926. These rails are the heavier ~100
lbs. rail that replaced the earlier, lighter, rail as part of Bernie
Cahill's improvements to the Kenilworth and Roselle Park sections of
the railroad. Cahill received federal funding for these
improvements.
6/18/2013. Photo taken by Richard J. King.
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