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Between 1844 and present-day, four different station buildings on the Central Railroad of New Jersey mainline (today's NJ TRANSIT Raritan Valley Line) have served the community of Cranford, New Jersey.
Cranford (1844-1865)
Cranford (1844-1865)
First Station
This photograph shows the original Cranford station with its 1865 successor to the right. Note the dual gauge trackage, used to accommodate the trains of the then 6' gauge Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad east of Hampton, New Jersey.
The first station at Cranford was constructed by the Elizabethtown & Somerville Railroad, which completed its line between Elizabeth and Plainfield in January 1839. The original facility consisted of a simple platform, and the stop was known as “French House.” In 1844, a small station building was erected. Local legend holds that schoolchildren chalked the name “Cranesville” on the building during the 1840s, and the name endured.
In 1864, the town formally adopted the name “Cranford” by popular vote, and the station name was changed accordingly. Following the construction of a new, standard Central Railroad of New Jersey station in 1865, the 1844 station building was repurposed as a freight house before eventually being demolished.
Cranford (1865-1909)
Cranford (1865-1909)
Second Station
The second station at Cranford was constructed in 1865 to replace the original 1844 structure, which had been little more than a shed. The 1865 station was a standard Central Railroad of New Jersey design, similar to those erected at Roselle Park, Westfield, Fanwood, Plainfield (Clinton Avenue), Glen Gardner, and Bloomsbury during the 1860s and 1870s. This station remained in service until 1906, when it was replaced and subsequently demolished.
A westbound commuter train departs the 1865-built Cranford station. The station was set in a well manicured plaza. The train is about to cross North Union Avenue.
A westbound commuter train departs the 1865-built Cranford station.
Note the semaphores faintly seen in the distance.
Note the semaphores faintly seen in the distance.
Cranford (1909-1930)
Cranford (1909-1930)
Third Station
The third station at Cranford was constructed in 1906 at a cost of $45,000, replacing the earlier 1865 station. The new facility opened to passengers on April 27, 1906. The eastbound station was a one-story brick-and-stone structure measuring 21 by 71 feet, topped with a tile roof.
Notably, the 1906 station featured an interior brick fireplace and was once described as the finest station on the Central Railroad of New Jersey between Scranton, Pennsylvania, and Jersey City, New Jersey. The station was demolished as part of the CNJ’s track elevation project carried out between 1928 and 1930.
The eastbound station building of the 1906-built facility.
This view looks southwest from North Ave. at the twin 1906-built Cranford stations.
This 1928 view east along the CNJ mainline at the twin 1906-built Cranford stations. The combined Union and Walnut Avenues cross the many tracks. The CNJ's Cranford freight house is seen off to the right.
Cranford (1930-Present)
Cranford (1930-Present)
Fourth Station
The westbound platform shortly after it was completed.
The fourth station at Cranford was built between 1928 and 1930 as part of the grade crossing elimination project, which eliminated the incredibly dangerous seven track (six main tracks, one side track) grade crossing at Union and Walnut Avenues. The 1930-built station featured elevated boarding platforms located between tracks 3 and 5 (eastbound) and tracks 4 and 6 (westbound). A pedestrian tunnel beneath the elevated tracks connected the ground level station building, which contained a waiting room and the agent's office, to the platforms. The facility is still used by NJ TRANSIT for its Raritan Valley Line service.
The eastbound platform with the ground level station building, located on South Ave., seen at the right, c.1930.
The westbound and eastbound platforms, looking east, shortly after they were completed.
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