Dover and Rockaway Railroad

The Dover and Rockaway Railroad was a section of railroad track completed in 1881 connecting Dover, New Jersey and Rockaway. It formed an important link in the developing American railroad system, connecting major trunks to the New York harbor for freight and provided passenger service to central and southern New Jersey.

Creation

Dover and Rockaway Railroad with neighboring CNJ High Bridge Branch lines.

The Central Railroad out of Dover, New Jersey was originally constructed between Dover and Rockaway and designated as the Dover and Rockaway Railroad. It was incorporated in 1880 and opened for traffic in 1881. This small road was built primarily as a connection between the Longwood Valley Railroad, which was controlled by the Central Railroad of New Jersey and the Hibernia Mine Railroad which was operated by George Richards. It was organized by George Richards, Columbus Beach, and Henry McFarlan, all from Dover. The Railroad was also built by other men from New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts who were interested in the iron mines in the vicinity.

Prior to this time Mayor Richards suggested to the president of Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad (formally the Morris and Essex Railroad) Sam Sloan that a spur be built from the DL&W into a part of Dover along the north side of the Rockaway River terminating at the Hibernia mines. It was an area ripe for development. Mr. Sloan turned down the idea, so Mr. Richards wasted no time in negotiating with landowners along what was to become the right-of-way for his railroad.

The primary object of this new railroad and the other railroads and branches was to carry the iron ore to the furnaces at High Bridge and in the Lehigh Valley in Pennsylvania for use with the Pennsylvania ores. George Richards took great satisfaction that the iron would come from New Jersey and the very first rails used were the product of the Dover Iron Works.

Stations

^[1]

• Port Oram (MP 78.7)
• Dover (MP 80.3)
• Rockaway (MP 83.6)
• Hibernia (MP 87.3)

Major obstacles

Along with the consolidation of many similar small railroads at the time, the Dover and Rockaway was almost immediately consolidated with the New Jersey Central High Bridge Branch. Prior to this time, the Jersey Central terminated at Port Oram (Wharton) and a stagecoach ran from the Searing Hotel on North Sussex Street, bringing passengers into and out of Dover over the Union and Washington Turnpikes.

Before any rail connection between Dover and Wharton and Dover and Hibernia could be accomplished, two major obstacles had to be overcome. A tunnel had to be constructed under the Rockaway Road east of Dover and a very critical "cut" had to be made through solid rock in west Dover above the Mill Pond, adjacent to Clinton Street and what is now the Ayers Chevrolet agency.

Inaugural run

On December 22, 1880 Mayor Richards headed a group that made the first trip from Dover to Hibernia. On April 7, 1881 an inspection run was made over the entire line and the Dover-Rockaway Railroad was soon leased to the Central Railroad of New Jersey, completing a route from High Bridge to Hibernia. The Dover line proved to be a valuable addition since it now formed a fast freight service by connecting with every other trunk line reaching the New York harbor. Passenger service provided direct connection, without transfer, to points in central and southern New Jersey.

Dover and diversity

This project perhaps contributed to Dover's "Melting Pot" as about fifty Swedish immigrants were employed at the eastern end of the "cut" and Irish immigrants were hired to work the western end. In the meantime, a group of Italian immigrants worked laying track in the East Dover "meadows". The Swedish labor force was housed in the apartments and hotel buildings on North Sussex Street for the duration of the project.

After this link was completed the "old farm house" building on North Sussex Street was converted into a train station to become the first Dover terminal, which operated there for over fifty years. Once the line was completed to High Bridge, the building was widely used as a departure and arrival station by the people of such towns as Long Valley, Flanders, Bartley, and Califon as well as nearby communities such as Rockaway, Wharton, and Hibernia.

References

1. ^ Travelers' Official Guide of the Railways; June, 1893: National Railway Publication Company.