Anderson Street station

Anderson Street station
Company type	NJ Transit rail station
Industry	Rail transport
Founded	1869
Headquarters	Hackensack, New Jersey, United States
Products	Rail services (Pascack Valley Line)
Parent	New Jersey Transit

Anderson Street serves as a New Jersey Transit rail stop on the Pascack Valley Line, situated in Hackensack, New Jersey at the intersection of Anderson Street and Linden Street. It is one of two rail stations catering to Hackensack, the other being Essex Street.

Constructed and inaugurated in 1869 by the Hackensack and New York Railroad, the station was part of a line extension from Passaic Street. Ownership shifted to the Erie Railroad in 1896 and later transitioned to New Jersey Transit in 1983. In 1984, it earned a spot on the National Register of Historic Places. The historic structure, standing for 139 years, was lost to a devastating three-alarm fire and explosion on January 10, 2009. Prior to this event, it ranked as New Jersey’s second-oldest operational station building after Ramsey's Main Street station. Additionally, the depot housed the Green Caboose Thrift Shop, managed by a branch of the Hackensack University Medical Center from 1962 until the fire.

Hackensack and New York Railroad

The inception of Anderson Street station traces back to the 1856 chartering of the Hackensack and New York Railroad by David P. Patterson and associates who aimed to establish a steam railway through the Pascack Valley, with intentions for future northern expansions. Construction commenced in 1866 on this route, initially connecting trains from New York City to Hackensack’s Passaic Street station. Hackensack was served by multiple lines, including the New Jersey Midland Line (currently known as the New York, Susquehanna and Western Railroad), featuring stops at Main Street and Prospect Avenue.

During the 1860s, rail service extended northward to Essex Street. Residents near Anderson Street contributed $2,600 (1869 USD) toward erecting a new depot on the northern tracks. By September 5, 1869, Anderson Street became the new northern terminus, replacing Passaic Street. Service expanded further north in 1870 to Cherry Hill (present-day North Hackensack / New Bridge Landing) and Hillsdale.

The Anderson Street Station was characterized by wooden siding, a shingled roof with two brick chimneys, and asphalt platforms flanking both sides. A garage door was installed on its southern facade; however, its design lacked a distinct architectural style according to a 1920 Engineering Report. Nearby stood a wooden watchman’s shanty adjacent to the team track. The station featured two tracks: a main line and a team track separated by a rail crossing. By 1870, tracks had reached Hillsdale with fares priced at $0.75 (1870 USD). Service further extended north to Haverstraw, New York in 1871. In 1896, operational control shifted when the line was leased to the Erie Railroad.

Erie Railroad station and restoration

After leasing by the Erie Railroad of the New Jersey and New York Railroad, Anderson Street station remained largely unchanged for over sixty years. Erie applied its signature green-and-white paint scheme to the building. By 1964, new asphalt platforms were constructed alongside both the northbound main track and southbound team track; crossing gates were also installed though the paint had darkened over time. In September 1966, following formation of Erie Lackawanna through merger with Delaware, Lackawanna and Western, ownership of the station building transferred when it was sold and converted into the Green Caboose Thrift Shop; it was repainted teal green at this time. The adjacent watchman’s shanty received tan and green paint with a red roof while dismantling of the team track was underway. By 1972, minor refurbishments included repainting the station dark green with red doors; meanwhile, the watchman’s shanty remained red and removal of the team track was completed.

In 1976, Erie Lackawanna merged into the Consolidated Rail Corporation, which continued operating the New Jersey and New York Line until control passed to New Jersey Transit in 1983. On March 17, 1984, recognition came when the then-114-year-old station was listed on the New Jersey Register of Historic Places, followed by inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places that June. A restoration effort took place in 2001 led by Jablonski Building Conservation Incorporated based in Midtown Manhattan—experts specializing in historic train station preservation. This project involved repainting wooden siding yellow and refreshing bay windows brown at ground level platforms, thereby preserving its historic essence while maintaining functionality for ongoing service.

Fire and Explosion at Station Building

At 5:55 a.m. on January 10, 2009, a fire erupted at the Anderson Street station building, leading to the rupture of two propane tanks and triggering an explosion. The incident caused damage to two automobiles and an adjacent apartment complex. Firefighters from twelve companies in neighboring areas responded to the emergency. Operations on the Pascack Valley Line were halted until the hazardous structure was demolished and thorough inspections were conducted. Hackensack city manager Stephen Lo Iacono described the event as a "devastating loss for the community." Efforts by city officials focused on shutting off the gas line near the new station location.

The Green Caboose Thrift Shop, operated by the ladies auxiliary of Hackensack University Medical Center and housed within the station, lost its entire inventory due to the explosion. The shop has since been relocated to Orchard Street in Hackensack. On February 7, 2011, a request was submitted to remove the destroyed station from both the New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places to avoid any non-historic reconstruction efforts. The station was officially delisted from the National Register on May 18, 2011, along with fifty-one other stations originally included in the 1984 designation.

Construction of New Station

In March 2013, work commenced on a replacement station with a budget of $571,061. Completed in 2014, this new facility includes a waiting area enclosed by three walls and is equipped with ticket vending machines.

Station Configuration

Situated at the intersection of Anderson Street and Linden Avenue in Hackensack, the station comprises a single track accompanied by an asphalt side platform serving northbound trains. A parking area nearby at this junction offers fifty permit-only spaces managed by Park America under a lease agreement with New Jersey Transit; this includes two spaces designated for handicapped parking. Parking is complimentary during evenings and weekends. Ticket purchases can be made on-site. Additionally, passengers benefit from connections to New Jersey Transit bus routes 175 and 770, facilitating integrated transportation options.

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