Allendale station (NJ Transit)
| Company type | Commuter rail station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Rail transport |
| Founded | October 19, 1848 |
| Headquarters | Allendale, New Jersey , United States |
| Products | Passenger rail services |
Allendale functions as a rail stop on NJ Transit, served by both its Main and Bergen County routes, along with Port Jervis Line trains run by NJ Transit on behalf of Metro-North Railroad. Situated near the intersection of Allendale, Park, and Myrtle avenues in Downtown Allendale, this station has two low-level platforms accommodating trains traveling between Hoboken Terminal and Suffern. Certain westbound Port Jervis trains also make stops here. Passenger amenities include two ticket vending machines located on the inbound platform and three commuter parking areas. The station building, constructed in 1870, serves dual purposes for passengers and freight; the southern portion houses a waiting room, while the northern section remains unused.
Rail service commenced on October 19, 1848, following land donation by Joseph Mallinson for the Paterson and Ramapo Railroad depot. Operations halted in 1857 due to deterioration but resumed in 1859 after Mallinson undertook repairs. The original structure was replaced in 1870 by a board-and-batten style station. In 1902, responding to concerns over its condition, the station was relocated to the opposite side of the tracks. A pedestrian underpass was constructed in 1939 as part of local initiatives to remove several at-grade crossings within the village.
Construction
Rail transportation in Allendale originated during the 1840s with the establishment of the Paterson and Ramapo Railroad, linking Paterson, New Jersey, to the border with New York State. In 1844, surveyor Joseph Warner Allen proposed rerouting through the Ho-Ho-Kus valley, a plan that received approval in 1845. Construction began in 1847, leading to service initiation in October 1848.
On October 19, 1848, a station was founded on land generously donated by carriage painter Joseph Mallinson to promote railroad expansion. Bearing the name Allendale in honor of surveyor Allen, the depot fell into neglect by 1857 causing service suspension; however, Mallinson restored operations and erected a freight depot shortly thereafter. By 1860, a new gravel depot had been built.
Smith Roswell acted as Allendale’s inaugural stationmaster and was a prominent local businessman who managed grocery stores and held the postmaster position for over five decades. The local economy featured strawberry farming that capitalized on rail transport to distribute millions of baskets to urban markets including Newark, Paterson, and New York City.
Allendale as a commuter village
During the late 1800s, Allendale transformed into a commuter community serving New York City residents seeking affordable homes and cleaner air. In 1868, farmer John Garrison sold 34 acres subdivided for residential development and parkland; however, expansion slowed due to an economic downturn.
In 1870, Herman Tallman proposed constructing a hotel near the station; despite this effort, it was demolished in 1887 after limited success. The area became a favored summer retreat for Erie Railroad executives such as president Robert H. Berdell and other officials, which led to Allendale becoming an express stop.
A new board-and-batten depot was erected east of the tracks at a cost of $3,000 and completed by 1872. The former gravel depot was sold back to Mallinson for repurposing as an ice house. A telegraph office was introduced in 1873 alongside enhancements including improved lighting for aesthetic appeal.
Commercial enterprises flourished around the station area with establishments like James Linkroum’s confectionery and stationery shop, a pharmacist relocating from Ramsey, and William Kornhoff’s bakery founded in 1903 (which later moved following a fire). The station also supported livery stables managed by Alonso Barrett and saw a barber shop open near the relocated depot in 1917.
1902 relocation and upgrade
By 1902, the original depot constructed in 1870 had deteriorated into an unattractive structure, leading residents of Allendale to urge the Erie Railroad to replace it. The railroad responded by moving the depot to the west side of the tracks and undertaking partial renovations at a cost of $1,100. This new location was regarded as an improvement, and a new freight depot was erected on the site of the original building. Renovations completed by July 1903 included combining the waiting rooms, installing additional seating for passengers, introducing electric lighting, and creating a new entrance for the baggage room. Simultaneously, track expansion commenced in October 1903, increasing the number of tracks from two to four between Ridgewood and Allendale.
In December 1903, the Allendale Village Improvement Association was established with the aim of enhancing the station’s landscaping but ceased operations in 1917. Despite these beautification initiatives, thefts from vending machines continued to be an issue. The post office vacated the station premises in 1913. By 1916, the Allendale Christmas Tree Association began organizing annual holiday decorations at the station square. Public restroom facilities were introduced in March 1917.
Great Depression
The economic downturn triggered by the 1929 Wall Street Crash severely affected Allendale, resulting in abandoned residences along Allendale Avenue. In 1931, Erie Railroad shifted its headquarters from Jersey City to Cleveland, causing changes in employment patterns. During this challenging period, the local Garden Club took responsibility for maintaining the station’s landscaping. The depot underwent repairs and expansions in both 1932 and 1939.
Between 1938 and 1939, a collaborative effort involving Erie Railroad, the Works Progress Administration, and New Jersey Public Utilities Commissioners eliminated grade crossings near the station. This project included constructing new overpasses and a pedestrian underpass at Allendale station to replace previously closed crossings at West Allendale and Park avenues.
Since 1949
In 1949, the borough of Allendale acquired land surrounding the depot from Erie Railroad, completing the transaction in 1950 and developing parking areas with landscaping assistance from the Garden Club. The merger of Erie with Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad in 1960 formed Erie-Lackawanna Railroad; financial difficulties eventually led to its incorporation into federally controlled Conrail during the mid-1970s.
New Jersey Transit (NJT) took over commuter rail operations in 1982 and carried out extensive renovations on the depot to facilitate management by the borough. These improvements included installing new structural supports, reinforcing foundations, replacing walls and floors, repairing gutters, and applying stucco to exterior surfaces. Despite these enhancements, certain parts remained unused or fell into neglect. In 1987, NJT introduced new low-level platforms, upgraded sidewalks and curbs, and reseeded lawns to improve amenities for commuters.
Layout
Allendale station consists of two tracks, each served by a low-level side platform.
There are three permit parking lots available at Allendale station: one surrounding the depot offering 77 permit-only spaces during daytime hours; plus two lots on the east side of the tracks along Allendale Avenue. The second lot contains 43 permit spaces with complimentary parking during evenings and weekends, while the third lot provides 138 spaces accommodating both daily and permit parking. Permit issuance is administered by the borough of Allendale. Additionally, two ticket vending machines are located on the depot side adjacent to the inbound platform.