After crossing the
Rahway River, on its ways towards the Springfield Station, the
Rahway Valley Railroad crossed Springfield's Meisel
Avenue at grade. The railroad itself actually
predated the roadway as the road and its grade crossing of the
railroad were constructed well after the end of World War I.
Something to note
about this crossing: it was the only one on the entire Rahway
Valley Railroad to have automatic flashers. Although we don't
know exactly when the flashers were installed the patent date
stamped on the post is from 1937. As an aside, one of the
battery boxes to activate the flashers were located halfway
between Meisel Avenue and Liberty
Avenue.
In 1956 when
Meisel Avenue was being widened the Rahway Valley Railroad was
required by the Union County Road Department to move their
flashers and upgrade the crossing. Railroad President &
General Manager, George A. Clark, charged George Davis with
taking the RVRR Company truck to a crossing of the Morristown
and Erie Railroad in Whippany, NJ and take note of its
construction. (See letter)
See what remains of the Meisel
Avenue grade crossing
today.
