Embedded Files
No. 13 climbs Springfield Mountain with several freight cars in December 1950. Boy Scouts are riding in the caboose. (William S. Young Photo)
A brakeman rides on top of a Northampton & Bath boxcar as No. 16 brings the train upgrade. The train has just crossed the Private Road crossing for Engleman-Goodfield Co. (William S. Young Photo)
Page Contents
Page Contents
Facilities:
Springfield Mountain
Industrial Sidings
Grade Crossings:
Old Hawthorne Ave.
Private Road
Industries:
Stewart Hartshorn / Hartshorn Quarry
C. H. Winans Co.
Springfield Floral Co.
Springfield Coal Co.
Fuel Sales Corp.
Drake Fuel Sales Corp.
American Chemical Specialties Co.
Carter Bell Manufacturing Co.
Larsen-Lawrence Trap Rock Co.
Larsen Trap Rock Co.
Union Trap Rock Co.
Interstate Crushed Stone Co.
North Jersey Quarry Co.
The Engleman-Goodfield Co.
Springfield Mountain
Springfield Mountain
The RV mainline had a steep grade, that varied between 2 and 5%, which climbed between Springfield proper and the end of track in Summit. The steepest portion of the grade was the horseshoe curved segment that curved around First Watchung Mountain, on the southern side of Hobart Gap, between Baltusrol and Orchard Street. "First Watchung" is the official name of this hill, but it is also referred to as Springfield Mountain or Baltusrol Mountain. The train crew called it "the mountain." Bob Hoeft called it "a hell of a hill." The most common gradient provided for the track around Springfield Mountain is 4%, which is very steep for a railroad. In the 1920s, locomotives Nos. 8 and 11 would sometimes doublehead the mountain. Most often, long or heavy trains would be brought up in two or three sections with part of the train left at Springfield or Baltusrol, called "doubling the hill." The railroad had trouble with runaway cars on the mountain throughout its history.
This view looks eastbound and downgrade. The backyards of houses on Woodcrest Circle can be seen on at the left. (John Nolan Photo)
Industrial Sidings
Industrial Sidings
MP 5.24 - This siding was noted in 1910 and it was gone by 1919. It was 153 feet long. This siding was for the industries here, including: Stewart Hartshorn (quarry).
MP 5.44 - This siding (A) was noted in 1919 and 1923 and was in service through 1986. The length was listed as 212 feet in 1919. The track went in for a couple of car lengths and there was a switch for a reverse track for a coal pocket, which slowly disappeared in the mid-1960s. Beyond that, it was another five or six car lengths to Carter Bell’s building. There were two doors for boxcar loading and a pipe that came out of the building used to unload tank cars. This siding was for the industries here, including: Carter Bell Manufacturing Co.
No. 15 switches a coal hopper on the Fuel Sales siding, which was connected to the Carter Bell siding.
(William S. Young Photo)
(William S. Young Photo)
Siding curves behind Carter Bell, 1989. (John Nolan Photo)
MP 5.62 - This siding (B) was noted as having a length of 166 feet in 1919 but its length was much longer. The length was noted as 952 feet in 1910. The siding was removed in 1937 but was reinstalled in 1940. It was removed again between December 30, 1958 and January 2, 1959. The switch stand was a Ramapo #17B. This siding was for the industries here, including: Interstate Crushed Stone Co., Engleman-Goodfield Co.
MP 5.64 - This siding was constructed in 1931 and removed in 1937. It had a length of 200 feet. This siding was for the industries here, including: Interstate Crushed Stone Co.
Old Hawthorne Ave.
Old Hawthorne Ave.
Old Hawthorne Ave. (MP 5.20) - One track (main), dirt crossing, dirt road, vehicular traffic light (if any), 1 P.U. sign. Road was noted as being in poor condition (description from 1944). This crossing was removed as part of the construction of I-78 and the roadway realigned.
Private Road
Private Road
Private Road (MP 5.60) - Road goes to Interstate Crushed Stone quarry and Engleman-Goodfield, Inc. (coal yard). Dirt road, dirt crossing, one track (main), vehicular traffic medium, one sign reading “Private R. R. Crossing. Warning anyone using this crossing does so at their own risk, to life, limb and property. Rahway Valley R. R. Co.” (description from 1944).
No. 15 is about to cross the Private Road crossing for the quarry in January 1951. The quarry siding that starts at MP 5.62 is to the right. (William S. Young Photo)
Industries
Industries
Stewart Hartshorn / Hartshorn Quarry (c. 1910)
C. H. Winans Co. (c. 1915)
Old Hawthorne Ave., Springfield.
Stone quarry; outbound stone.
Stewart Walker Hartshorn (1840-1937) invented and patented the spring-roller window shade and manufactured the same with his Stewart Hartshorn Co. He purchased and developed the land that became the community of Short Hills, a section of Millburn, New Jersey. Hartshorn also owned large swaths of land in Springfield. On Baltusrol Mountain, he operated a trap rock quarry and stone crusher. Hartshorn utilized the stone mined from his quarry to Telfordize the roads of Short Hills. The trap rock was also used in some of his houses. In 1910, a 153’ long siding was noted to be serving the Hartshorn quarry. From 1910 to at least 1915, the quarry was leased by C. H. Winans Co., an Elizabeth contractor. The siding was gone by the time of the railroad’s 1919 ICC valuation. The quarry site was eventually abandoned and became an open meadow. Today, the site comprises a portion of the Troy Hills condominium complex.
Springfield Floral Co. [1] (c.1913-1926).
713 Morris Ave., Springfield.
Florist.
Springfield Coal Co. [1] (1919-1934)
Fuel Sales Corp. [1] (1934-1953)
Drake Fuel Sales Corp. [1] (1953-1971)
679 Morris Ave., Springfield.
Fuel yard; inbound coal.
The Springfield Floral Co. was a florist that operated a rather large nursery, with several large greenhouses, where Morris Ave. once intersected with Broad Street. Just before World War I, the florist was shipping quantities of coal and lumber over the Rahway Valley Railroad. In 1919, the “Springfield Coal Pockets” appeared as a spur off the Carter Bell Mfg. Co. siding. Evidently, the floral company spun off the coal and lumber business as the Springfield Coal Co., operating next door to the nurseries. The business itself was set far back off of Morris Ave. with a long driveway. The company’s coal trestle was rather high above ground level of the business. Train crews often “dropped in” coal hoppers, uncoupling them from the train and allowing them to roll onto the coal trestle. In 1925, while dropping in a hopper, a brakeman was unable to crank the handbrake on quick enough. The hopper rolled right off the unblocked end of the coal trestle. The Clarks strictly forbade the practice on this coal trestle, but crews continued to utilize the method. The floral and coal businesses eventually parted company. The Springfield Floral Co. eventually became Marmon’s Flowers (Louis J. Marmon Co.). The site was obliterated by the construction of NJ Route 24 between 1967 and 1972. The Springfield Coal Co. became Fuel Sales Corp. in 1934. The company, managed by Louis Zients and Harold A. Stanford, sold Lehigh coal, Koppers coke, fuel oil, oil burners, and automatic stokers. The company was acquired by E. Arthur Drake in 1953, becoming Drake Fuel Sales Corp. It remained in business until 1971, when its long driveway was severed by Route 24 and the property became islanded. The abandoned coal trestle remained for several years. The site is now occupied by a drainage basin for the adjacent Lakeside at Briant Park condominium complex.
American Chemical Specialties Co. [2] (c. 1923-1927)
Manufacturer of fertilizer.
A factory building for the American Chemical Specialties Co. appears under construction between Carter Bell Mfg. Co. and Springfield Coal Co. in a 1923 map, situated alongside Carter Bell’s siding. The company manufactured fertilizer, or at least intended to. It is unclear if the facility was ever completed and placed into operation. The company may have been related to the adjacent Springfield Floral Co.
Carter Bell Manufacturing Co. [3] (1911-1989)
Briant Park Lake, Springfield.
Manufacturer of rubber substitute (vulcanized vegetable oils); inbound soybean oil, rubber filler.
Percy Carter Bell (1867-1916) was born in Manchester, England and graduated with honors from Victoria University. He came to the United States in 1891 and became a chemist for the New York Belting & Packing Co. In 1897, he formed the Carter Bell Manufacturing Co. in New York City. The company manufactured rubber substitutes. It relocated to Springfield in 1911 after receiving overtures from H. F. Dankel, Secretary & General Manager of the railroad. A siding was constructed to serve the plant. Carter Bell received soybean oil and rubber filler in 8,000 gallon (later 10,000) tank cars. Pipes came out of the building to unload the tank cars and also heat them. They would also ship out drums in 50-foot Lehigh Valley insulated boxcars, either green or white cars. The company would take two or three days to load up a boxcar. Carter Bell would get about two or three cars a month. After Bell’s death in 1916, the company was continued by William H. Chidester who had previously served as Treasurer. It continued under the ownership of the Chidester family until its closing. In 1952, Lawrence Chidester was listed as President, Treasurer, and Purchasing Agent. Margaret N. Chidester was Vice President. Elizabeth B. Chidester was Secretary. R. D. Knapp was the plant manager. The company employed sixteen males and three females in 1952. The last carload was received in 1986. The company went defunct in 1989. The site is now occupied by the Lakeside at Briant Park condominium complex.
Carter Bell Manufacturing Co., c.1980s. (Jeff Jargosch Photo)
Larsen-Lawrence Trap Rock Co. (1907-1909)
Larsen Trap Rock Co. (1909-1911)
Union Trap Rock Co. (1911-1912)
Interstate Crushed Stone Co. (1912-1936)
North Jersey Quarry Co. (1936-1940)
Bryant Ave., Springfield (or Shunpike Road)
Stone quarry; outbound stone.
The Larsen-Lawrence Trap Rock Co. was incorporated in December 1907 by Magnus Larsen, George W. Lawrence, and Lawrence E. Brower. After Lawrence left the partnership, the company was renamed the Larsen Trap Rock Co. in February 1909. The company again changed its name to Union Trap Rock Co. in May 1911. Interstate Crushed Stone Co. was incorporated in 1912 by Lawrence E. Brower, C. Swenson, and Edwin Ferris. Brower had formerly been a principal with Larsen-Lawrence. Interstate took over the Larsen-Lawrence quarry in Springfield and later began an operation in Livingston as well. The company dealt in crushed stone, sand, cement, and paving materials. There were two sidings into the quarry in 1931. The property was taken over by North Jersey Quarry Co. in 1936, or thereabouts. The sidings into the quarry were removed in 1937. The quarry was, more or less, defunct after 1940. The quarry company leased a portion of the property to Engleman-Goodfield Co. in 1940. The site has since been redeveloped as the Troy Hills condominium complex.
The Engleman-Goodfield Co. (1940-1955).
Springfield Ave. opposite Middle Ave., Springfield.
Fuel yard; inbound coal.
Harry A. Engleman (1902-1973) had been born in New York and was a graduate of Springfield College in Springfield, Massachusetts. From 1927 to 1939, he was associated with the Hill City Coal & Lumber Co. in Summit. In 1940, however, Engleman partnered with his wife, Erla Tobias Engleman, and Charles W. Goodfield to form The Engleman-Goodfield Co. The company located itself behind Briant Park in Springfield, on a leased portion of the old Interstate quarry property. A siding was constructed for the company in 1941 using the grade of the old quarry spur. The company moved to Chatham in 1955 and is now defunct.
No. 15 is at the Engleman-Goodfield Co. switch with a carload of either coal or coke in January 1951. (William S. Young Photo)
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