Dock Bridge
Encyclopedia
Dock Bridge is a pair of vertical lift bridges crossing the Passaic River
at Newark, New Jersey
, used exclusively for railroad traffic. Sometimes known as the Amtrak Dock Vertical Lift, the bridges cross the river between Newark and Harrison
and carry Amtrak
, New Jersey Transit
, and Port Authority Trans Hudson trains.
(PRR) for its main line. The west span carries three tracks and was built in 1935, concurrently with Newark Penn Station
. The length of the lift span is 230 feet (70.1 m), which was the longest in the world at the time of construction. The eastern span was built in 1937 when the Hudson and Manhattan Railroad (H&M, later called PATH) extended its rapid transit
service into New York Penn Station.
The bridge has a vertical clearance of 35 feet (10.7 m) (mean high water).
With the opening of Dock Bridge, the PRR closed Manhattan Transfer station
, located just east of Newark Penn Station. Passengers destined for New York previously changed at Manhattan Transfer from steam trains to electrified trains heading for New York Penn Station, or to the H&M. Beginning in 1937 passengers boarded H&M trains at the new station in Newark.
(NEC). The east structure carries two PATH tracks and one additional Amtrak/NJ Transit track. The bridge is currently owned by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
, which operates the PATH system. It is manned full-time. While the bridge has not received a request for opening since 2004, it plays a crucial role in train traffic along the NEC.
Dock Bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places
on October 3, 1980.
Passaic River
The Passaic River is a mature surface river, approximately 80 mi long, in northern New Jersey in the United States. The river in its upper course flows in a highly circuitous route, meandering through the swamp lowlands between the ridge hills of rural and suburban northern New Jersey,...
at Newark, New Jersey
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
, used exclusively for railroad traffic. Sometimes known as the Amtrak Dock Vertical Lift, the bridges cross the river between Newark and Harrison
Harrison, New Jersey
Harrison is a town in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the town's population was 13,620. The town is a suburb of the nearby city of Newark, New Jersey.-Geography:Harrison is located at ....
and carry Amtrak
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
, New Jersey Transit
New Jersey Transit rail operations
New Jersey Transit Rail Operations is the rail division of New Jersey Transit. It provides regional rail service in New Jersey, with most service centered around transportation to and from New York City, Hoboken, and Newark...
, and Port Authority Trans Hudson trains.
History
The bridge was built by the Pennsylvania RailroadPennsylvania Railroad
The Pennsylvania Railroad was an American Class I railroad, founded in 1846. Commonly referred to as the "Pennsy", the PRR was headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
(PRR) for its main line. The west span carries three tracks and was built in 1935, concurrently with Newark Penn Station
Pennsylvania Station (Newark)
Pennsylvania Station is a major transportation hub in Newark, New Jersey. Located at Raymond Plaza, between Market Street and Raymond Boulevard, Newark Penn Station is served by the Newark Light Rail, New Jersey Transit commuter rail, Amtrak long distance trains, the PATH rapid transit system, and...
. The length of the lift span is 230 feet (70.1 m), which was the longest in the world at the time of construction. The eastern span was built in 1937 when the Hudson and Manhattan Railroad (H&M, later called PATH) extended its rapid transit
Rapid transit
A rapid transit, underground, subway, elevated railway, metro or metropolitan railway system is an electric passenger railway in an urban area with a high capacity and frequency, and grade separation from other traffic. Rapid transit systems are typically located either in underground tunnels or on...
service into New York Penn Station.
Pennsylvania Station (New York City)
Pennsylvania Station—commonly known as Penn Station—is the major intercity train station and a major commuter rail hub in New York City. It is one of the busiest rail stations in the world, and a hub for inbound and outbound railroad traffic in New York City. The New York City Subway system also...
The bridge has a vertical clearance of 35 feet (10.7 m) (mean high water).
With the opening of Dock Bridge, the PRR closed Manhattan Transfer station
Manhattan Transfer (PRR station)
Manhattan Transfer was a passenger station in Harrison, New Jersey, east of Newark, 8.8 miles west of New York Penn Station on the Pennsylvania Railroad main line, now Amtrak's Northeast Corridor...
, located just east of Newark Penn Station. Passengers destined for New York previously changed at Manhattan Transfer from steam trains to electrified trains heading for New York Penn Station, or to the H&M. Beginning in 1937 passengers boarded H&M trains at the new station in Newark.
Current operation
The west span carries three tracks for the Amtrak Northeast CorridorNortheast Corridor
The Northeast Corridor is a fully electrified railway line owned primarily by Amtrak serving the Northeast megalopolis of the United States from Boston in the north, via New York to Washington, D.C. in the south, with branches serving other cities...
(NEC). The east structure carries two PATH tracks and one additional Amtrak/NJ Transit track. The bridge is currently owned by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is a bi-state port district, established in 1921 through an interstate compact, that runs most of the regional transportation infrastructure, including the bridges, tunnels, airports, and seaports, within the Port of New York and New Jersey...
, which operates the PATH system. It is manned full-time. While the bridge has not received a request for opening since 2004, it plays a crucial role in train traffic along the NEC.
Dock Bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
on October 3, 1980.
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Essex County, New Jersey
- List of bridges, tunnels, and cuts in Hudson County, New Jersey
- List of bridges on the National Register of Historic Places in New Jersey
- Gateway ProjectGateway ProjectThe Gateway Project is a proposed American rail expansion project to build a high-speed rail right-of-way and to alleviate the bottleneck along the Northeast Corridor between Newark, New Jersey, and New York City...
(regional transportation improvement project)
External links
- WorldFlicks. Aerial photo of Dock Bridge and interlocking tower