FAITOUTE AVE.

Proceeding westbound, the mainline crossed W. Colfax Ave. and entered the Borough of Kenilworth. The mainline rounded a curved and proceeded in a generally eastward direction. The tracks crossed Faitoute Ave. and S. Michigan Ave. Faitoute Ave. had served as a flag stop for passenger trains until it was supplanted by S. Michigan Ave. in 1903. Between the two crossings, there was a very small coal yard with a short siding.

No. 13 has rounded the curve above the Kenilworth town line and enters the short tangent of straight track between Ashwood Ave. and Faitoute Ave. The house seen at the right still stands at 315 Fairfield Ave. as of 2023. (William S. Young)

Points of Interest

Facilities:

Trolley Line Crossing

Industrial Sidings

Grade Crossings:

Faitoute Ave.

S. Michigan Ave.

Industries:

Karlik Brothers Coal Co.

Trolley Line Crossing

The RV crossed the Kenilworth Car Line of the Public Service trolley system with a diamond crossing at S. Michigan Ave. The trolley line extended between Westfield Ave. & Grand Street in Aldene and the Boulevard & 20th Street in Kenilworth. The line operated between March 1907 and June 1924, which cut into the RV's passenger revenues.

1923 Union County Map, cropped to show the location of the diamond crossing.
The Kenilworth Car Line trolley near 509-511 Boulevard, c.1920.

Industrial Sidings

MP 0.83 - There was a short siding located here; it was constructed in 1932 and removed between April 4 and 5, 1950. It was 150 feet long. The switch stand was a Ramapo #17 with a target. The siding was for Karlik Brothers Coal Co.

Faitoute Ave.

Faitoute Ave. (MP 0.83). One track (main), plank crossing, dirt road, vehicular traffi light. 1 P. U. sign (description from 1944). This crossing was listed as a flag stop in passenger train schedules from 1901 and 1902.

View eastbound from Faitoute Ave., 1989. (John Nolan photo)
NYS&W No. 116 and RV No. 17 cross Faitoute Ave. on March 29, 1988. The house to the right is located at 302 Faitoute Ave. (Ralph Curcio photo)
Looking from Faitoute Ave. towards S. Michigan Ave. The area to the right had been the location of the Karlik Brothers coal yard. (Daniel G. McFadden photo)
Looking from Faitoute Ave. towards S. Michigan Ave. The area to the right had been the location of the Karlik Brothers coal yard. (Jeffrey J. Jargosch photo)

S. Michigan Ave.

No. 16 crosses S. Michigan Ave. in March 1978, with Darren Famular at the throttle. (Walter Schopp photo, Richard J. King collection)

S. Michigan Ave. (MP 0.87). One track (main), plank crossing, asphalt road with concrete, vehicular traffic heavy, 2 P. U. signs (description from 1944). This crossing was listed as a flag stop in passenger train schedules from 1903 onwards, replacing the Faitoute Ave. stop. It was about that time that S. Michigan Ave. was constructed between Faitoute Ave. and Boulevard.

NYS&W No. 116 crosses S. Michigan Ave. on October 12, 1990. (Daniel G. McFadden)

Industries

Karlik Brothers Coal Co. (Lyle B. Reeb) (1932-1979)
323 S. Michigan Ave., Kenilworth

Fuel yard; inbound coal

This small coal yard was owned and operated by John R. Karlik (1914-1996) and Stephen Karlik. Their siding could only accommodate a single car; it was removed in 1950. John Karlik operated the coal yard until his retirement in 1979. 

No. 14 leads a short train past a disused Karlik Brothers siding in Kenilworth. Houses on Fairfield Ave. are seen to the right.