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Bridge: Morris Avenue

This view looks eastbound on Morris Avenue (SR 82), and shows the RVRR's bridge over the four lane road. Jaeger Lumber, an RVRR customer, is seen on the right. Both photos taken by Jeff Jargosch. This view, taken from the RVRR's embankment, reveals much. While the bridge was in service, it was painted a green color. Seen on the left is a small yellowish building which was the Unionbury Freight Agent's Station. Wm. Wyer & Co. Report on Rahway Valley Railroad August 1944 Over Morris Ave. (Route S-24). Span thru plate girder bridge for one track. Length of girders 61'-8". Underclearance 13'-9" (painted on bridge). Condition good. Old trolley guards on the underside of bridge are poor and should be removed. Trolley line has been abandoned. Along the three mile branch line to Maplewood, the Rahway Valley Line , were three elevated road crossings, all in Union Township. The first of these was the railroad's crossing of Morris Avenue (RVL MP 0.81) (SR 82). This thru plate girder bridge was constructed in 1915 as part of the construction of the Rahway Valley Line during World War I. The branch line was completed in 1918. If contending with street traffic was not enough, trolley traffic also passed underneath the bridge. The line of the Morris County Traction Company , which the railroad did battle with in 1904 over some land in Summit, passed underneath. The MCT's overhead lines ducked under the railroad's bridge and were protected by "trolley guards." The MCT was abandoned in 1926. See what this location looks like today Someone must of opened up the throttle instead of applying the brake. New engineers these days! (Well, the 1930's). George Clark could have walked from home to the scene of this wreck, as he lived just up the road. Here is seen a boxcar, perhaps for Holzapfel's, in the middle of Morris Avenue. Seen in the foreground is the RVRR's Morris Avenue bridge, proudly bearing the name of the railroad. Collection of Jeff Jargosch. Seen here is the approach to the Morris Avenue bridge, from the west side. The spur leading to the left was Jaeger Lumber's siding. The remnants of the Unionbury Team Track spur can be seen just up ahead.Photo taken by Jeff Jargosch Looking eastward towards the Morris Ave. bridge. 1990. Photo taken by Peter Thornton, courtesy of Don Maxton. Aerial view of the Morris Avenue bridge from 1923. The dark patch through the middle of the road is most likely the line of the Morris County Traction Company, which passes underneath the railroad bridge. Just below, and a little to the left, of the bridge is Unionbury, a freight agency station and freight house. Courtesy of the Union Township Historical Society. This aerial image from 1961 shows many changes that occurred in less than forty years. Jaeger and International Paint (earlier Holzapfel's) are still extant, as they were in 1923 (and today). The Unionbury Freight Agency Station is still open and can be seen, as well as the freight house which eventually burned. Courtesy of the Union Township Historical Society.

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