Annandale station
| Company type | Commuter railroad stop |
|---|---|
| Industry | Rail transport |
| Founded | July 4, 1852 |
| Headquarters | Clinton Township , United States |
Area served | Hunterdon County, New Jersey |
| Products | Passenger rail service |
Annandale is a commuter railroad stop located in the Annandale neighborhood of Clinton Township, New Jersey within Hunterdon County, New Jersey. Positioned close to exit 18 off Interstate 78 at the intersection of Main Street and East Street, it serves NJ Transit's Raritan Valley Line, which operates between High Bridge and Newark Penn Station. The adjacent stations are High Bridge to the west and Lebanon to the east. The facility includes one low-level asphalt side platform and a ticket vending machine housed inside a shelter.
Rail service commenced in 1852 when the Central Railroad of New Jersey laid tracks through Clinton Township. Initially called Clinton, this station briefly functioned as the line’s terminus. It began operations on July 4, 1852, providing passenger connections to Easton, Pennsylvania. Around 1900, the original depot was replaced but was later destroyed by fire in September 1934. A freight depot constructed circa 1865 was torn down in 1960.
Passenger operations at Annandale ceased in October 1970 following the removal of the station agent role; warming shelters were then installed for commuters traveling as far as Allentown, Pennsylvania. The depot built in 1934 was demolished in 1983.
History
The Central Railroad of New Jersey, formed through the merger of the Somerville and Easton Railroad and the Elizabeth and Somerville Railroad, completed track construction through Clinton Township in 1852. A temporary terminus was established here with a new turntable constructed to reverse trains heading back toward Jersey City. Track installation through Clinton concluded on June 20, 1852, with passenger services starting on July 4, 1852, extending to Easton. George Frech, formerly a station agent at White House station, moved to Clinton Station and collaborated with local merchant Jacob Young, tavern owner N.N. Boeman, and railroad workers James Kenna and Thomas Kinney to foster community growth. The initial station building was a two-story wooden edifice featuring a long overhanging roof and two chimneys.
Following railroad completion, the village surrounding Clinton Station grew significantly. Boeman ran a tavern on the first village lot until 1879. Jacob Young established a trading post near the station along with a grain storage facility. Kinney and Kenna settled locally and were employed by the railroad. In 1873, John T. Johnston, president of the Central Railroad of New Jersey, renamed Clinton Station to Annandale in honor of his Scottish birthplace.
During this era, Annandale's economy flourished due to plentiful limestone and lime quarries accessible via rail. The railroad also facilitated nearby lumber yards that benefited from their close proximity to the line.
Station layout
The station consists of one low-level asphalt side platform approximately 200 feet long, sufficient to serve two train cars.