Rahway Valley Railroad

Rahway Valley Railroad
7.1 mi
11.4 km
Summit
East Summit
5.0 mi
8 km
Baltusrol
4.4 mi
7.1 km
Springfield
3.1 mi
5 km
Katemiller (Arion)
2.9 mi
4.7 km
Newark Heights
0.9 mi
1.4 km
Unionbury
Unionbury Branch
2.6 mi
4.2 km
Doty's (Union)
Warren Street
Monsanto Branch
1.7 mi
2.7 km
Central (Kenilworth)
Lehigh Line
to Port Reading Junction
RVRR bridge over the Rahway River
RVRR bridge over the Rahway River
Overview
HeadquartersKenilworth, New Jersey
Reporting markRV
LocaleUnion County, New Jersey
Dates of operation1897 (1897)–1992 (1992)
SuccessorMorristown and Erie Railway
Technical
Track gauge4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge

The Rahway Valley Railroad (RVRR) was a short-line railroad in the Northeastern United States which connected the Lehigh Valley Railroad in Roselle Park and the Central Railroad of New Jersey in Cranford with the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western in Summit. Operating over a span of 95 years from 1897 until 1992 in Union County, New Jersey, in its prime it was one of the most successful short line railroads in U.S. history, turning a profit during the Great Depression.

During its lifetime, the RVRR was instrumental in the development of Kenilworth (site of its headquarters) as well as Union Township, Springfield and other towns along its route. Later years saw traffic decline; in 1986 the line could not secure liability insurance. The railroad was sold to the Delaware Otsego Corporation which did little to revitalize the nearly 90-year-old line. Traffic continued to decline until service ended in 1992, with a single customer remaining.