PHOTO: Thomas Edison Introduces The Montclair-To-Hoboken Connection

Happy birthday, Lackawanna Railroad.

According to NJ Transit, 85 years ago on Thursday, Thomas Edison introduced and ran the state’s first suburban, electric “multi-unit” train on its inaugural run from Hoboken to Montclair via the Lackawanna Railroad.

The same fleet of railcars would serve local commuters until their retirement in 1984, NJ Transit stated.

According to Wikipedia, electric service at Lackawanna Plaza – originally built as a railroad station and now serving as a small shopping mall – began in 1930.

The station closed in 1981, and was replaced by the Bay Street station two blocks to the east during the first stage of the building of the Montclair Connection, forming the modern Montclair-Boonton Line.

Photo caption: Thomas Edison, 2nd from left, introduces a Lackawanna railroad train in 1930.

Photo courtesy of NJ Transit via Facebook

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