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Kenilworth
Station Pond
Station Pond
From 1897 to 1903, the two New Orange railroads, the NY&NO and NOFJ, had no watering facilities for their locomotives. A report of the New Orange Four Junction Railroad made in 1902 by Walter G. Berg, Chief Engineer of the Lehigh Valley Railroad, makes no indication of any water tower or spout. It appears that the locomotives of the two New Orange railroads took their water from the nearby Station Pond, which was located across from the New Orange Station. The only other option available to the two New Orange railroads was the CNJ's water tank at Roselle Park. The water from Station Pond could have, quite possibly, been harmful to the locomotives - which might account for why Nos. 1 and 2 were off the roster within five years.
Water Tank (1903-1926)
Water Tank (1903-1926)
In May 1903, H. S. Kerbaugh Co. of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania was awarded the contract to excavate Tin Kettle Hill and Press Hill for the Pennsylvania Railroad. Kerbaugh constructed the NOFJ a water tank and pump house across from the New Orange Station. A water well was also drilled. The new water tank had a capacity of about 5,000 gallons.
On June 5, 1907, the pump house was destroyed by fire. For a time, the RV locomotives were forced to take all water from the tank at Summit. A new pump house was constructed.
From the 1910 Reevaluation of the Railroads, on file at the New Jersey State Archives:
Tank supported on eight beams, 2" x 12" x 10' long. On two bents.
Engine house, clapboard, shingle roof, 11 ft. to 15 ft. to peak, condition 50%. Containing pump (15 H.P.), Snow Steam Buffalo, pump water to water tank from well which together with building is on land of Kenilworth Realty Co.
Water Tank (1926-1959)
Water Tank (1926-1959)
December 1937. (Richard T. Loane photo)
July 4, 1939. (George Votava photo, Dave Keller collection)
Detail photo of the water tank, 7/1950. (Richard J. King collection)
At some point, the first water tank at Kenilworth was found to be small and inadequate for the needs of the Rahway Valley Railroad. The RV had acquired larger locomotives whose water needs far outweighed the capacity of the old 5,000 gallon tank. In 1926, a new 12,500 gallon tank was erected.
From the August, 1944 report on the Rahway Valley Railroad by Wm. Wyer & Co.:
There is also a water tank at Kenilworth, built of wood and supported on steel legs, with a capacity of 12,500 gallons, and an adjoining pump house also built of wood, 10' 6" x 12' 4" and 8' high. Water is obtained from a deep well with an electric pump.
From November 19-20, 1945, Wm. Stothoff Co., Inc. of Flemington, NJ installed a new Fairbanks-Morse deep well turbine pump (60 cycle, 220 volt, 1800 RPM, vertical hollow shaft motor) at a cost of $675.00.
At the time of the second tank's construction, it was the only water tank on the RV. The RV's other tank at Summit had been taken down around 1914. Occasionally, water was taken from the DL&W at Summit. Water from the DL&W cost $1.00. Frank Froat would blow two on the whistle, and would get clearance through the DL&W's Summit Station - the tower would hold for the RV. The DL&W's water plug was on the Gladstone side of the tracks. George Clark would scream like hell at the crew over the price. Froat would blame the fireman for wasting water, for letting the engine pop off. In at least one instance, the RV was obliged to take water from the CNJ at Cranford. In November 1950, a high wind knocked the water spout off of the water tank at Kenilworth, so the RV took water from the CNJ in the morning for a time.
The RV's last steam locomotive, No. 15, left the property on June 5, 1959 - making the water tank obsolete. The water tank was taken down December 2-12, 1959.
From the Roadway Completion Report Submitted to the State of New Jersey, 1959:
Retirement of the Water Tank constructed during the year 1926.
Fir Water Tank 14' x 15' x 3" -- 14,000 gallon, complete, including spout, rubberoid roof, gallows frame, float.
"SUBSTRUCTURE"
4 - concrete pedestals
1 - 20' --- 4 post painted steel frame
1 - 2' x 2' wood frost box
"SUPERSTRUCTURE"
1 - 14' x 14' x 3" Fir Tank -- 12-3/4" round hoops with rubberoid roof.
1 - 14' indicator with wood float
1 - set 6" long radius tank fixtures
1 - 6" Halladay Outlet Valve
1 - Wood Gallows Frame
65' -- 2" Galvanized Byers Pipe with necessary Valves & Fittings.
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