Morris County Traction Company

The Morris County Traction Company began trolley service in downtown Dover, New Jersey in July 1904. It was expanded over the years until the system was completed in 1914 all the way to Newark, New Jersey, via Morristown, New Jersey and Summit, New Jersey.

Routes and Service

Service was provided to: Bertrand Island Amusement Park at Lake Hopatcong, Ledgewood, Succasunna, Kenvil, Mine Hill, Dover, Wharton, Rockaway, Denville, Mountain Lakes, Boonton, Morris Plains, Morristown, Madison, Chatham, Summit, Irvington, downtown Elizabeth, and downtown Newark.

The line ran on both exclusive rights-of-way and on city streets, some of which, such as Broad Street in Summit, were designed and built to accommodate the trolley line. The power house for the trolley was located along the Passaic River in Summit, on the border of Chatham, New Jersey.

Buses and private automobiles proved to be too much competition for the trolley lines, and the trolley cars were replaced with buses between 1926 and 1928.[1]

Modern remnants

A two mile portion of the former Morris County Traction Company trolley line, along New Jersey Transit's Morris and Essex line in Morris Township, New Jersey, now serves as a bike and walking trail called the Traction Line Recreation Trail, under the supervision of the Morris County Park System.[2]

In Union, a portion of the line forked off of Morris Avenue. Part of the right of way and partial grading is very noticeable behind Holy Spirit Church. Huguenot Avenue and Euclid Avenues are in line of this portion not on Morris Avenue.

The Summit NJ car barn is still in existence as of November 2008. The building is located on River Road in Summit, just north of the intersection with Chatham Road. A turntable is visible between the river and the building. The building, currently vacant, has been a car dealership, and earlier, a Public Service bus service facility for the number 70 and 72 routes. These routes replaced the MCTC lines when PS assumed the routes in the late 1920s.

The bridge over the Passaic River between Chatham and Summit is gone, but the piers still stand in the river.

The Dover NJ car barn is still in use as a facility for Lakeland Bus lines.

In Mountain Lakes the ROW is used as a cycle and walking path(paved) on the left as you drive towards Boonton from the Rt 46 traffice light.

See also

References

  1. ↑ A History of Transit In Morris County, accessed November 29, 2006
  2. ↑ Traction Line Recreation Trail, accessed November 29, 2006

Further reading

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