WESTFIELD AVE.
The RV's mainline began at a connection with the CNJ at Aldene. Upon departing the interchange, the tracks curved and then crossed the busy four lane Westfield Ave (State Route 28). The tracks continued generally in a northward direction. There were industries, served by the railroad, located along Valley Road that backed up to the main. Until the 1950s/60s, this was a rather sparsely settled section of Roselle Park. Later on, as suburban development increased, grade crossings appeared: W. Webster Ave., Woodside Ave., and W. Colfax Ave.
Points of Interest
Facilities:
Watchman's Shanty
Passing Siding / Runaround Track
Industrial Sidings
Grade Crossings:
Westfield Ave. (NJ 28)
W. Webster Ave. (Pinewood Ave.)
Woodside Ave.
W. Colfax Ave.
Industries:
Burger Foundry Co.
Crossfield Products Corp.
Giesler Products Co. / Giesler Corp.
Robinson Engineering Corp.
Roofing Sales Co., Inc.
Roselle Foundry Co.
R. J. Sheridan & Co.
Joseph P. Turner
Watchman's Shanty
On September 1, 1899, a serious accident occurred at the Westfield Ave. crossing. An NY&NO train, backing down to Aldene from New Orange, struck a top wagon containing Theodore S. Harrison of Newark, NJ, throwing him out of the wagon. Harrison sustained bruises, a laceration of the right leg, and a contusion to the back of the head. The grade crossing was unprotected. In 1901, the New Orange Four Junction Railroad (successor to the NY&NO) erected a small watchman's shanty - or flag house - here. There, a flagman was posted for the duration of the day's train movements. The flagman posted here would protect Westfield Ave. while the train crossed. John DeMato, William Grolebougge, and Vincent M. Halladay were among the flagmen posted here over the years. The building measured 8' x 10', was made of 1" boards, had a shingle roof, contained one stove worth $5.00, as well as two lanterns. The building was located on the southern side of Westfield Ave., offset about ten feet to the west of the railroad tracks. The building was taken down around the year 1911.
The watchman's shanty at Aldene. (John Humes photo)
Passing Siding / Runaround Track
MP 0.19 to 0.27 - There was a runaround track (A) that extended between MP 0.19 and MP 0.27, a distance of 449 feet. The railroad may have constructed this runaround track so that the locomotive could be runaround the passenger combine or coach upon returning from Aldene, as there was no ability to do so there. The switch stands at MP 0.19 and 0.27 were both Ramapo #1 types with targets and no lamps. The runaround track was laid with 70-pound rail. The runaround was noted in 1910, 1919, and 1923.
Industrial Sidings
MP 0.27 - A stub siding (A1) extended off of the runaround track starting at MP 0.20. It was noted in 1910, 1919, and 1923. It had no switch stand, was laid with 70-pound rail, and extended for 90 feet (although, this measurement may have only been to the limit of the RV's right-of-way). The stub siding was removed in 1938. The runaround switch at 0.19 was later removed and the runaround track became a stub ended siding, which was extended nearly to Westfield Ave. These sidings were for several different industries, which included Joseph P. Turner, Roofing Sales Corp., R. J. Sheridan & Co., Robinson Engineering Corp., Giesler Products Co., Burger Foundry Co., Roselle Foundry Co., and Crossfield Products Corp.
Westfield Ave. (SR 28)
Westfield Ave. (NJ Route 28) (MP 0.14). One track (main), plank crossing, concrete street, vehicular traffic heavy, 2 P. U. signs (description from 1944). The RV crossed busy Westfield Ave. just north of its connection with the CNJ at Aldene. The curve of the tracks through the street was flipped as part of the Aldene Plan.
W. Webster Ave. (Pinewood Ave.)
W. Webster Ave. (Pinewood Ave.) (MP 0.35). One track (main), plank crossing, dirt road, vehicular traffic light, 2 P. U. signs (description from 1944). The grade crossing was later removed and the street truncated.
Woodside Ave.
Woodside Ave. (MP 0.49). This grade crossing was constructed in 1966 by Branford Builders, Inc.
W. Colfax Ave.
W. Colfax Ave. (MP 0.57). This grade crossing was constructed sometime between 1972 and 1979, according to available aerial photography.
Industries
Joseph P. Turner (c.1923-1934)
Westfield Ave. W & Valley Road, Roselle Park
Fuel yard; inbound coal
Roofing Sales Co., Inc. [1] (c.1950-1976)
Westfield Ave. W, Roselle Park
Retailer of roofing supplies; inbound wallboard
R. J. Sheridan & Co. (c.1944), then Robinson Engineering Corp. (c.1950-1954), then Giesler Products Co. / Giesler Corp. (c.1954-1964) [2]
128 Valley Road, Roselle Park
Manufacturer of steel pipe, stainless steel fittings, pipes, and valves, steel fabrication, etc.; inbound wrought steel pipes
Robinson Engineering Corp. was originally started in nearby Garwood, New Jersey, in 1933, by Henry M. Robinson (1868-1943) for the fabrication of steel. Walton S. Robinson (1905-2001), Henry's son, became President in 1943 after his father's death. The company moved to Roselle Park and took over the Sheridan plant. The company employed thirty-five males and three females in 1952. Leo Giesler was Vice President, John C. Balas was Secretary and Purchasing Agent, Evan W. Hughes was Treasurer, Melvin C. Luttgens was Plant Manager, and Henry E. Passmore was Sales Manager. Leo Giesler, in partnership with Walton Robinson, incorporated Giesler Corp. in in 1954 and took over the Robinson Engineering plant. The company is known to have been operating at the location as late as 1964.
Burger Foundry Co. [3] (c.1919-1923), then Roselle Foundry Co. [3] (1934-1954)
140 Valley Road, Roselle Park
Manufacturer of gray iron and semi-steel castings.
The Roselle Foundry Co. was organized in 1934 as a manufacturer of gray iron and semi-steel castings. The company took over the Burger Foundry facility in Roselle Park. The company employed twenty-five people in 1938. The company manufactured ammunition parts during World War II. The company moved to Hillside, New Jersey, by 1954.
Crossfield Products Corp. [3] (c.1958-Present)
140 Valley Road, Roselle Park
Manufacturer of a variety of construction coatings; inbound liquid latex, crude rubber, pumice.
Crossfield Products Corp. was founded in 1938 as a manufacturer of a variety of construction coating, overlay, and fluid-applied flooring materials. The company's most well-known brands include Dex-O-Tex, Miracote, and Dex-O-Tex Marine. The company also does contract manufacturing, toll blending, and private label manufacturing. By 1958, the company had taken over the Roselle Foundry building. Other plants are operated in Rancho Dominguez, California, and Torrance, California. The company was a regular inbound carload shipper of liquid latex, crude rubber, and pumice (granulated stone) used in the production of flooring materials. Carloads of liquid latex would arrive in red and gray DuPont tank cars out of Wilmington, Delaware, about twice a month. Carloads of pumice would come from the Midwestern United States, usually in Elgin, Joliet & Eastern (EJ&E) forty-foot boxcars about twice a month, as well. Occasionally, a Northampton & Bath boxcar would come in loaded with hydraulic cement out of eastern Pennsylvania. On at least one occasion, an L&NE boxcar arrived. The company continues to operate its Roselle Park facility as of 2025.
Cars for Crossfield moved via CNJ, Aldene:
1968 - 8 carloads out, 58 carloads in
1969 - 7 carloads out, 49 carloads in
1970 - 1 carload out, 52 carloads in
1971 - 1 carload out, 40 carloads in
