Somerset Hills Rail Travel & Commuting Over the Last 150 Years

Ever wonder what it was like to travel on a train back in 1872 in the Somerset Hills? Train service has always been a connector between Somerset Hills, Hoboken, and New York City.

Service runs on what is known as the Gladstone branch of the Morris & Essex Line of the New Jersey Transit system, which began operating as early as 1872 between Bernardsville and Hoboken. Later sections were added, reaching out to Peapack and Gladstone in the 1890s, allowing the wealthy to travel to their estates. One fellow historian told me once that back in the day, if you wanted to find the wealthiest, you just had to travel to the end of the railroad line. Let’s take a look at the history of the railroad in the Somerset Hills.

The Passaic Valley and Peapack Railroad was incorporated in March 1865. As President, Mr. John H. Anderson of Basking Ridge was elected and allocated $1.2 million to get the project rolling.

Basking Ridge issued $127,000 in 1877 with a whole bunch of arguments between residents and the bondholders. After a legal battle that led all the way to the US Supreme Court, the bondholders finally won out in 1890. The railroad reached Basking Ridge and Bernardsville, introducing service in 1872.

See what early travel was like on the steam locomotives of the 1800s.

The Bernardsville station opened on January 29, 1872, with the first New Jersey West Line Railroad train leaving Hoboken, stopping in Summit, then traveling on to Bernardsville, New Jersey. Dubbed “The Millionaire’s Express,” the train to Bernardsville promised respite from the commotion of the city, as well as lucrative business prospects.

The Millionaire’s Express and the Parlor Car

Known as “the parlor car”, this car had comfortable oversized individual chairs lining each side of the aisle. The gentlemen’s section, where smoking was permitted, had 28 chairs, and the smaller, non-smoking ladies’ section had 17 chairs. Each seat in the smoking section had a silver-plated spittoon that was filled with fresh, soapy water each morning and afternoon.

The Berkshire Hills Parlor Car train interior seat view was very similar to the Millionaire’s Express car that brought the elite to the Somerset Hills.

Every other seat had a small white ivory button on the wall between the windows that, when pushed, summoned the white-jacketed attendant to take their order. The entrance to his tiny beverage station (more of a closet) had no door but instead had fancy carved wooden columns, one on each side. The last attendant on this car was James Moore, who assisted the millionaires onto and off the train at each station a millionaire boarded.

In 1930, this parlor car was equipped with air conditioning, a scarce feature at the time. It was the Carrier Ice Safety System, a large steel box suspended from the underside of the floor, in which 200-pound blocks of ice were placed each hot afternoon. A fan blew air over the ice, and the chilled air was blown into the passenger area. Now, this was commuting at its best for the wealthy.

DL&W No. 2454 was assigned to the Hoboken to Gladstone Branch run on a train known as The Millionaire’s Express. The Gladstone Club car was the only one that had a porter, and it was the only car that received air conditioning. Cool air was vented out of the ceiling via ducts from ice bunkers filled with huge blocks of ice. You can see cars like 2454 at the Whippany Rail Museum.

After # 2454 was renumbered to #3454, the Subscription Club Car lead the Tri-State NRHS’ Farewell To The DL&W Gladstone Branch excursion over the Millington Trestle on its final ride on Aug. 19, 1984.
Photo: Steve Hepler

This historically significant railroad car was built in 1912 by the Barney & Smith Car Co. of Dayton, Ohio, for the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western RR.

Rail Expansion

Far Hills, Peapack, and Gladstone stations were later added in 1890, thanks to individuals like Grant Schley and C. Ledyard Blair, who needed rail access to support their estate projects (Froheim and Blairsden). The Passaic and Delaware Extension Railroad was chartered in 1890 and opened later that year, extending the line to its current terminus in Gladstone, New Jersey.

Take a look at the Gladstone Train station, built in 1890. Along with the Gladstone Station, the Bernardsville and Lyons stations are all on the New Jersey and National Registries of Historic Places.

Through Grant Schley’s efforts, the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad built an extension line from Bernardsville to Gladstone. Service began in 1890. A train station was constructed at Far Hills, around which a rural commercial center developed and became the village of Far Hills.

Gladstone’s original station opened in 1891 with its wood station and freight station remaining in service today. The head house has been on the state and federal registers of historic places since 1984.

Known as Engine 24 or the “Madison” crossing what was the new Passaic River bridge on its way to Basking Ridge, c.1895. It was often a very wobbly experience.

Lyons Station was originally built in 1931 by the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad to coincide with electrification and to serve the new VA Medical Center in Lyons (opened in 1930). It was the last station built by the Delaware, Lackawanna, and Western Railroad in New Jersey, commonly referred to as the “Delay, Linger, and Wait”.

The Lyons station was listed in the New Jersey Register of Historic Places on March 17, 1984, and in the National Register of Historic Places on June 22, 1984.

Train Service over the Years

It’s interesting to understand the differences in commuting over the years. In the almost 150 years of service, the train has gained a 33% efficiency (but boy, it just feels the same for some reason).

Mr. Local History ran a few numbers to find out just how long it took to get from New York City to the Somerset Hills now versus back in 1872 on those old-fashioned steam engine trains. What we found is that it takes pretty much the same amount of time now as it did back then. Take a look.

Ellendor back in the day was Berkeley Heights station.

Electric and Diesel Hybrid Trains Take Over

Starting in 1928, electric service transformed rail traffic again. However, it wasn’t until 1954 that the line was decommissioned for steam engine traffic. Some areas saw electric trains as early as 1928. We know Far Hills got its first electric trains sometime in 1931.

Today, both electric and hybrid electric/diesel trains run the Morris Essex line to afford direct travel to New York City’s Penn Station. But the trip to Summit and Hoboken remains dedicated to electric rail service.

Double-decker hybrid diesel-electric trains now make their way from New York City to the Somerset Hills without interruption due to their diesel to get through the tunnel and their electricity to get them to run the Gladstone Branch.

Additional Information

Train stations in the Somerset Hills are not just for commuters. What’s interesting is that train stations in Far Hills, Bernardsville, Lyons, and Millington all offer excellent food and coffee services, providing a great opportunity for conversation with coffee and sandwiches. Please stop by, grab something to snack on, and share a photo with us!

And don’t forget the Bernardsville Farmers Market, typically on Saturdays at their train station.

Thanks, Mayor, for reminding us! Trains and grains at the Bernardsville Farmers Market are held on Saturday mornings in Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall.