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Raritan Center
A while back I read in RailPace that Durham Transport (which services the Raritan Center Industrial Park in Edison, NJ) had tripled its business, and indeed it has brought (or leased) a new Geep to supplement its switcher. Well, this is all well and good, but I ask what business did it triple? I don't remember seeing much except for a number of boxcars for one industry, and tanks cars for the plant South of Durham's main yard.
For those of you unfamilar with Raritan Center, on maps the trackage density rivals that of an old-fashioned steel mill, and indeed there really is a lot of trackage throughout the park - seemingly a Railfan's paradise. Unfortunately, its a Railfan's nightmare as most of the trackage is just gathering rust. Many of the industrial buildings seem modern (heck, they're building new ones as I write this), and in one section (Newfield Rd - Mayfair?) every building has access to a siding - but only one industry out of, maybe 40, uses rail (alright - I'll grant you many business such as Marine Recovery, MRC (yes, that MRC), or the Expo center aren't potential rail clients - but many could be).
So, I ask, does anyone know what happened? Did Penn Central (or CNJ) lay massive amounts of trackage, just to have ConRail dump it a few years later? Did any of this trackage serve a military facility in this area? Does Durham serve the chemical plants along Industrial Highway (and does it make it to the steel plant past Meadow Rd?) Does Durham serve the I-O plant and the NY Times plant along Woodbridge Ave (?) [I must apologize, 'Maps on Us' seems particulary vague about this area, and I don't have my Hagstrom's handy]? And where did that ConRail transfer caboose go? As you may guess, searching for Durham Transport on the Web turned up precious little - anyone have any better sites to check?
And yes, I do know I ask too many questions.
RE: Raritan CenterI live right by there so I can explain. The area once did prosper with trains. Coming in from the west was the PRR Bonhamtown Branch and the east was the Lehigh Valley Perth Amboy Branch.(The LV was torn up in the mid eighties due to lack of use.) Where Middlesex County College is today is where the military base was. There are still tanks and bombs hidden in the ground today if they weren't excavated out yet. The I-O plant and NY Times are served by CSX/NS. I went by the yard a few weeks ago and I saw the caboose there.(Near the I-O plant.)
RE: Raritan CenterThanks, that does answer some questions - in particular, I did wonder where the military base was [Raritan Arsenal, I think it was called]. Also I remember reading last year about plans to turn the old LV line (whose bridges still span 440 and the Parkway) into a hiking trail (of course). And I had thought that CSAO still worked IO & Times etc, but wasn't sure.
Still, do you know when they build the spurs around Mayfair - Newfields Rd., and then decided not to use them; what else does Durham Transport serve (and the steel mill is past Crow's Neck - sorry).
Also, I know of the caboose you're talking about in the CSAO yard (near the Bank); 2 years ago or more there was also a transfer caboose (I took a number of photos in hopes of modeling it one day) which was always on the lead to the yard in Raritan Center - this was the section of track they replaced this Spring.
RE: Raritan CenterWhere exactly is the Durham Transport Yard?
RE: Raritan CenterFrom 440, take Raritan Center Parkway south midway into Raritan Center (it is a divided 4 lane road with a rather silly speed limit). First you'll cross the lead that connects with ConRail SA (perhaps this is SA, since it connects with a few large chemical plants to the East along Industrial Hwy). Keep going south, and on your left will be a sign for 'Jetson's' Resturant (this will be right before the grade crossing of the Newfield Ave. Siding). Turn left, continue East (the siding will be to your right, on somewhat of a fill, and eventually curves away to the south, to join the south end of the yard), and the yard is a short distance straight ahead of you (the North End of the yard is along side a large parking lot). The Locos are usually photographable from the Parking lot, but try not to go into the maintainance area (you'll see what I mean if you go there). After that, you can pretty much explore as you see fit - although I never see much activity, there is a lot of ROW to explore.
Please keep in mind that Raritan Center is not a run-down, half abandoned, decaying old mill complex, but a busy, well manicured, office/industrial complex with well maintained service roads (some recently repaved), dozens of modern buildings, groomed lawns, etc. Although I've never had a problem with security,... well, you know the rest.
RE: Raritan CenterA few more points about the Durham Transport. DRHY (their offical reporting marks) operates trackage on both sides of the Raritan Center Industrial Track. It is a mishmosh of ex PRR and LV track. Leaving the Conrail Metuchen Yard, you would proceed across Rt 1 by the Ford Plant. Duck under the NJ Turnpike and you would then cross Woodbridge Ave. Just past Woodbridge Avenue, you would enter the Upper Yard, home of the phantom caboose until recently. A track splits away from the yard and curves shaprly to the left and heads towards New York Times. On the other hand, if you continue toward Raritan Center you will eventually swing 90 degrees to your left. At that point, their is a trailing point switch for the Heller Park lead (another large warehousing complex).Now heading roughly east, with Heller Park behind you, you cross Raritan Center Parkway. Immediately after Raritan Center Parkway is the trailing point switch for the Durham Transport Interchange. Moving further ahead is another trailing point switch off to the left, which is also operated by Durham. Further on, you would come alongside Industrial Ave, and reach the chemical plant and Praxair and so on. It is in this area that the track ends. It formerly tied into the LV old main to Perth Amboy as was mentioned earlier. Durham Transport starts their day by picking up cars left at the aforementioned interchange at about 1 or 2 in the afternoon. Customers include Rivianna Foods, who has a fleet of IC boxcars in captive service. The cars carry rice up from the south to the distribution facility in Raritan Center. The tank cars that were talked about earlier were for Heritage Ink, which is now closed. Covered hoppers come in for storage under a contract with Union Carbide and other car leasing outfits. NDC, National Distribution Corporation, also has two seperate facilities in Rartian Center. To reach one of them, permission is granted by the Metuchen Yardmaster for DRHY to open up and go east on the RCIT. They then shove back in on that trailing point switch i mentioned and serve NDC and another customer. Following that work they return to their yard and set out their outbounds for the next morning when the ME-37 (usally) will come and pick them up and set off the next days loads (usally about 11 in the morning). Hope this cleared up a lot of questions.
Mike
RE: Raritan CenterI believe Raritan Center itself was the main military facility. That's why everything is new in the center. Raritan Arsenal operated from WWI until the early 60's when small, adjacent parts were sold to Middlesex County for the college and Thomas Edison Park. Then the arsenal itself was sold to the developers who built the office/industrial park.
There are still buried munitions and much TNT contaminated soil to be dealt with. The Raritan River waterfront is next to be cleaned up.
RE: Raritan CenterMy brother was a security guard for HOLMES Protection Agency at one time(He had to work the night Durham Woods exploded). He told me the last of the burried tanks, mustard bombs, ect. were dug up in the spring of 1998.
Why not try a real search engine?
