Community Corner
Thomas Edison Drove First Electric Train to S.O.
South Orange rail history also includes a 1906 train yard disaster and the building of an elevated track in 1916.
You may be surprised to know that Thomas Edison made electric trains possible, and that Edison himself made them a reality here in South Orange! On Sept. 3, 1930, Edison introduced electric trains to the Lackawanna Railroad, NJ Transit’s predecessor, by driving an electric train from Hoboken Terminal to South Orange station.
"This station stop is South Orange!" We have heard these words countless times. October 2, 1837 was the start of railroad history in South Orange with the Morris and Essex Railroad having extended their steam train service to our town. It took one hour and 45 minutes just to get from South Orange to the train station in Newark; now, it can take as few as 15 minutes on NJ Transit.
In the late 1800s and early 1900s, if you needed a doctor’s help, you would hold up a white flag at the train station. That way, a doctor would be alerted that you needed medical attention.
Over 100 years ago, South Orange was the site of a train yard disaster! You know the woods by New Waterlands Park and the recycling center? That area was the site of a train turntable. On May 1, 1906, locomotive no. 940 was backing out to be used for passenger service. The driver failed to turn the track for the train to go across the pit, so the train fell into the pit, which disrupted service on the line. Thankfully, nobody was injured in the event, though the driver was released from employment that very day.
The South Orange train station has always been at its current location, but before 1916, the tracks were not elevated. That year, the train went above ground to prevent pedestrian and animal accidents on South Orange Avenue. Over $1 million was spent for the elevation. Frances Speir, village president of South Orange from 1911 to 1915, was responsible for the elevation. Speir Drive in Newstead is named in his honor.
The South Orange train station has always been at its current location, but before 1916, the tracks were not elevated. That year, the train went above ground to prevent pedestrian and animal accidents on South Orange Avenue. Over $1 million was spent for the elevation. Frances Speir, village president of South Orange from 1911 to 1915, was responsible for the elevation. Speir Drive in Newstead is named in his honor.
Did you ever realize that the train tracks serve as the dividing line for many streets? South Orange Avenue becomes West South Orange Avenue, Third Street becomes West Third Street, and Montrose Avenue becomes West Montrose Avenue on either side of the tracks. So, the next time you take the train, have coffee at Starbucks or eat dinner at the Village Diner, and remember the rich history of railroads in South Orange.
Jared Kofsky is an 11-year-old student in the SO-M school district who is a local history buff and train historian. At age 9, he was an award recipient in the Celebrate South Orange poetry contest. He has given speeches about trains and local history at SOPL and before the South Orange Historical Preservation Society.
