NEWARK HEIGHTS BRANCH

Louis Keller incorporated the Rahway Valley Line, wholly owned by himself, on August 4, 1914 to construct a three-mile long railroad between connection with the Rahway Valley Railroad’s mainline in Union to a terminus in the Hilton section of South Orange Township (later Maplewood). The new railroad, in practice, would function as a branch line of the Rahway Valley Railroad.

The first mile, known as the “Morris Ave. Extension,” was opened between “Wright’s Switch” (later Branch Junction) and Morris Ave. about 1915. The branch line was not completed to its terminus, which it called Newark Heights, in Hilton until 1918. The branch was unofficially referred to as the Hilton Branch, the Newark Heights Branch, and the Maplewood Branch. In later years, after the line was severed to Maplewood, it was referred to as the Unionbury Spur. After 1986, it was called the Jaeger Industrial Branch.

The railroad’s Board of Directors gave approval to abandon the branch between Rutgers Street and end of track in 1966. The last carloads moved to Newark Heights were moved in 1969. The Interstate Commerce Commission gave permission to abandon the line between MP 1.93, behind Hollywood Memorial Park, and MP 2.89, end of track, on July 19, 1971. Rails between these two points were pulled up about 1973. The remainder of the branch was embargoed in Winter 1991 and later abandoned.