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Posted: Monday May 16, 2011
Located off of Route 23 in northern Passaic County within an unincorporated area of West Milford, remains the old Newfoundland Train Station. The wooden station built in 1872 currently sits vacant, accompanied by three railcars dating from the early to mid 1900's. In recent years the property has been most noted for serving as the set for the 2003 independent film entitled, The Station Agent. However an earlier history reveals connections with the Morris County Central Railroad, which served as an excursion steam train ride, that ran up until the early 1970's.
Today the railway tracks and property are owned by the New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway. The mainline is currently used and operated as a freight railroad, and is no longer in the business of providing passenger excretion rides. The following websites provide detailed history about the Morris County Central Railroad along with facts concerning the former Newfoundland Station.
- Business information about the Newfoundland Train Station: www.NewfoundlandStation.com
- Information about the Whippany Railway Museum. Clicking on the "Visitor Info" tab provides a drop down menu complete with lots of great historical links: www.WhippanyRailwayMuseum.net
- Photographs of Morris County Central Railroad rolling stock: www.rrpicturearchives.net
The video above shows old footage from the Morris County Centrail Railroad running out of Newfoundland New Jersey. (Video Credit: Joesavana)
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The original sixteen by forty foot Newfoundland Train Station, built in 1872. Unfortunately the doors were locked, so there was no getting inside. From the pictures posted on this website the interior looks rather bland anyway. Here's a photo I took back a few years ago of the abandoned Sparta Train Station, which is nearly identical in design, although remaining in a far more dilapidated condition.
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The frontmost train car is a 1946 Erie Caboose. The doors were dead-bolted shut, however here is a photograph showing the interior from a more modern but similarly designed 1973 Erie Caboose.
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Close up photo detailing the hitch mechanism.
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Pictured above is the Morris County Central Railroad (MCC) logo painted along the side of a caboose car. MCC was the first railroad system established for historic preservation in New Jersey. From 1965 to 1973, Whippany New Jersey was the location of the MCC, where it served as a steam excursion railroad attraction. However due to acts of vandalism and arson the MCC ran its last rail excursion in 1980. Today the Morris County Central Railroad operates out of Newfoundland NJ. Whippany NJ is now home to The Whippany Railway Museum.
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The train car with the air conditioning unit protruding out from its side, is a 1914 Pennsylvania Caboose.
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These caboose cars have been sitting vacant for years. The red paint is quickly starting to fade while the wood beneath is slowly begining to rot.
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A close up look of the hitch on the 1914 Pennsylvania Caboose.
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A 1926 Jersey Central Coach passenger car. Formally known as, Morris County Central Coach "Beaver Lake" number 1001.
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This sign forewarned me of a looming tripping hazard, for without it I would have fallen one foot to my death.
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An underbelly view of the suspension system in place on the Morris County Central Coach. It appeared to follow a leaf spring suspension design.
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Sun faded paint and locked doors.
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Here is a wide view of the Morris County Central Passenger Car. I have no idea for how long it has been resting on the tracks.
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In the distance can been seen the cement remains of a water tank and the two parked caboose rail cars.
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A manual derrick car was found chained to a set of tracks. These cars were usually pulled by a small speeder car, as detailed in this image. I'm not entirely sure what a derrick car was used for, but I would image that the crane may have been used to raise and lower railroad ties and various other equipment onto the tracks.
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The cement remains from what was a water fueling tower. Located on top of the cement base there used to be an aluminum water basin, complete with an extending spout. A steam engine would pull up to the tower to refill its tank with water. Here's a historic image of a typical water fueling tower. Pictured in this link is the water fueling tower located at the abandoned Sparta Train Station, which is still complete with the wooden water barrel.
