[?]

Company History of the Rahway Valley Railroad

For being such a short rail line the Rahway Valley Railroad had quite an interesting way in which it financially and corporately operated. The earliest company history of the Rahway Valley Railroad can be traced to the New York & New Orange Railroad which was incorporated on June 9, 1897. That company fell under foreclosure and was sold to the quickly organized New Orange Four Junction Railroad in 1901. The Rahway Valley Railroad Company was formed on July 18, 1904 and on March 1, 1905 it was consolidated with the New Orange Four Junction Railroad to form the Rahway Valley Railroad Company. In 1909 another corporation was formed, the Rahway Valley Company, Lessee, to lease and operate the railroad which was owned by the Rahway Valley Railroad Company . In 1914 another corporation was formed, the Rahway Valley Line, which built and owned the branch line to Maplewood. This company was also leased and operated by the lessee. This system of one company leasing and operating the other two stood in place for 72 years. The majority of the stock in all three companies was all held by the Keller Family . These three corporations were all sold to the Delaware Otsego Corporation in 1986.

NEW YORK & NEW ORANGE RAILROAD: 1897-1901

The New York & New Orange Railroad Company (NY&NO) was incorporated on June 9, 1897 (See Articles of Incorporation) by Robert Grimes, Dennis Long, William S. McCord, Charles W. Manahan, Jr., George B. Frost, Theodore C. English, and Nicholas C. J. English. The NY&NO was founded primarily by those involved with the New Orange Industrial Association and backed with Elmira, NY capital. During the years of 1897 and 1898 the NY&NO constructed a 2.96 mile long rail line, connecting New Orange with the Central Railroad of New Jersey (CNJ) at Aldene and the Lehigh Valley Railroad (LV) at Roselle Park. A mile long spur was constructed through the middle of New Orange in 1900, titled the Rahway River Branch. The NY&NO was plagued by the lack of success of the New Orange Industrial Association. The finances of the railroad prohibited it from being able to pay its taxes to the State. As a result, the railroad was foreclosed upon on

NEW ORANGE FOUR JUNCTION RAILROAD: 1901-1905

The New Orange Four Junction Railroad Company (NOFJ) was incorporated on February 5, 1901 (See Articles of Incorporation) by William W. Cole, Platt V. Bryan, Albert C. Bennett, Charles W. Manahan, Jr., Nicholas C. J. English, Dennis Long, and William S. McCord.

CROSS-COUNTRY RAILROAD: 1902-1904

RAHWAY VALLEY RAILROAD: 1904-1986

BALTUSROL RAILROAD: 1907

RAHWAY VALLEY COMPANY, LESSEE: 1909-1986

RAHWAY VALLEY LINE: 1914-1986

COMPANY FLOW CHART

New York & New Orange Railroad Incorporated June 9, 1897 | Sold Under Foreclosure, 1901 | New Orange Four Junction Railroad Incorporated February 5, 1901 Rahway Valley Railroad Co. Incorporated July 18, 1904 \                                    / Consolidated on March 1, 1905 \ Rahway Valley Line Incorporated 1914 Rahway Valley Railroad Co. Formed from consolidation on March 1, 1905 \                         Leases                         / Rahway Valley Company, Lessee Incorporated March 1, 1909 The Rahway Valley Railroad Co., the Rahway Valley Line, and the Rahway Valley Company, Lessee were sold to the Delaware Otsego Corporation in 1986.

Head Back to the Station!