CRRNJ - Abandoned Platforms

A wrought iron ionic column stands sentinel in a field of columns within the Central Railroad of New Jersey terminal in Jersey City,... more

by James Aiken

Title

CRRNJ - Abandoned Platforms

Artist

James Aiken

Medium

Photograph - Photography

Description

A wrought iron ionic column stands sentinel in a field of columns within the Central Railroad of New Jersey terminal in Jersey City, NJ.

Originally chartered in 1838, �The Elizabeth and Somerville Railroad Company� operated a fledgling line in Elizabeth. Christened the Central Railroad of New Jersey (CRRNJ) in 1849, the line reached Phillipsburg, New Jersey by 1852. In 1860, the CRRNJ chartered a waterfront location in Jersey City. Heavier transportation demands soon rendered the original terminal inadequate. In 1889 a new terminal was designed and constructed by the Boston architectural firm of Peabody and Stearns. The three-story head house joined twelve tracks with six platforms to the ferry slips at the water�s edge making this complex the largest in the New York Harbor at the turn of the century. With the opening of the Immigration Station on Ellis Island in 1892, traffic increased dramatically. Two-thirds of these courageous newcomers, welcomed by the Statue of Liberty and processed on Ellis Island, started their new lives via the CRRNJ Terminal, settling in New Jersey or traveling on to other states. By the turn of the century, the CRRNJ Terminal accommodated between 30,000-50,000 people per day on 128 ferry runs and 300 trains. By 1914, the train and ferry sheds were enlarged to accommodate the growing numbers of commuters. The Bush train shed, still standing today, housing 20 tracks, was the largest one ever built. The end of �The Age of the Railroad� was in sight and the industry, which had peaked by 1929, rapidly declined. Better highways, competition from the trucking industry, and the shift from coal to oil and gas led to the demise of the railroads. Finally, in 1967, the Aldene Plan called for the rerouting of all train traffic to the Pennsylvania Station in Newark. The CRRNJ declared bankruptcy and the Terminal ceased passenger operations in April 1967. (Information obtained from the NJ DEP Liberty State Park website)

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Please note:
The watermark visible in the lower right hand corner of the image will NOT print on any purchased artwork.

Uploaded

October 8th, 2014