High Bridge Branch

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The High Bridge Branch was a branch line of the Central Railroad of New Jersey (CNJ) that started in High Bridge, New Jersey at a connection with the CNJ main line and continued north to iron-ore mines in Morris County. The line followed the South Branch of the Raritan River for much of its duration.

The line connected to the Lackawanna Railroad in Wharton, New Jersey over the former Wharton and Northern railroad, and also connected at one time to the Erie Railroad Chester branch. The line once carried both freight and passengers, with iron ore being its primary commodity. The line is now almost entirely abandoned and serves as a recreational trail, known as Columbia Trail. The northern part of the line is still active with local freight service and is served by the Morristown and Erie Railway (M&E) regional shortline.

There are few remants of the former High Bridge Branch rail line along the present rail trail, except for the occasional rotting railroad cross ties along the trail. The former wye connection to the CNJ mainline is still partially present in High Bridge in the parking area for the trail. There is a small section of track preserved in Califon and a small and rarely open museum dedicated to the High Bridge Branch rail line history is located in the preserved train station in the Califon town center.

[edit] Current Status

The High Bridge Branch is now owned by the M&E shortline, which has operated it since 1986. The branch starts at Ferromonte Junction, which is a switch on the M&E Chester Branch. The High Bridge Branch is served five days per week and terminates just across U.S. Route 206 in Flanders, New Jersey.

Current M&E High Bridge Branch Service - Explanation of current service by M&E.

The remainder of the former branch line is owned by Columbia Gas Company which runs a gas pipeline along the right-of-way, with land rights provided to Morris and Hunterdon counties for the Columbia Trail.

[edit] History

1860s -- 33 miles of the Jersey Central's High Bridge Branch laid out to connect the mainline at High Bridge with a number of small branches headed to various iron mines in the region.
1876 -- The Jersey Central High Bridge Branch is completed and opened for service. With branches on the northern portions extending to iron ore mining operations in Morris County.
1882 -- High point of the railroad traffic here with 118 cars filled with iron-ore using the tracks in one day.
1930s -- Last passenger train runs on the line.
1971 -- CNJ petitions to abandon the High Bridge Branch, but the planned Sears, Roebuck & Company warehouse in Mount Olive Township saves the day for the branch.
1976 -- CNJ becomes part of the federally created Conrail system. The High Bridge Branch line is deactivated by Conrail, because it duplicates other routes in the newly created system.
1980 -- The line up to just beyond the Sears warehouse in Flanders is maintained, but the portion south of it to High Bridge abandoned.
1986 -- The M&E, a regional shortline operator, takes over operation of the active portions of the High Bridge Branch line in Morris County.
Mid 1990's -- The Columbia Gas Company of West Virginia constructed a gas line under the former rail bed and the surface rights for the former High Bridge Branch line were transferred to the Hunterdon County Department of Parks and Recreation and Morris County Parks and Recreation for use as a recreational trail, known as Columbia Trail.
1995 -- A federally-funded rehabilitation program allows the M&E to refurbish the active portion of the line.
2004 -- The Columbia Trail is resurfaced by the county parks departments.