Arlington station (NJ Transit)

Arlington station

Company type	Commuter rail stop
Industry	Rail transport
Founded	January 1, 1873 (1873-01-01)
Defunct	September 20, 2002 (2002-09-20)
Headquarters	Kearny, New Jersey , United States
Area served	Hudson County, New Jersey
Products	Commuter rail service

Arlington functioned as a commuter rail stop situated in the Arlington neighborhood of Kearny, Hudson County, New Jersey. Positioned on Garafola Place between Forest and Elm Streets, it catered to NJ Transit’s Montclair-Boonton Line and was the sole operational station within Kearny until it ceased operations. The facility included two low-level side platforms and facilitated train service running from Hoboken Terminal westward toward Dover and Hackettstown. Adjacent stations on the route were Hoboken to the east and Rowe Street in Bloomfield to the west.

Rail operations at Arlington commenced on January 1, 1873, with the Montclair Railway linking Pavonia Terminal in Jersey City to Monks in West Milford. Arlington was one of a pair of stations serving Kearny along this line, the other being West Arlington. Over time, this line developed into the New York and Greenwood Lake Railroad, managed by Erie Railroad until October 17, 1960. Subsequently, it merged with the Boonton Branch in 1963 to create the Greenwood Lake–Boonton Line, which later became known as NJ Transit’s Boonton Line. The Arlington station was permanently closed on September 20, 2002, simultaneously with Rowe Street and Benson Street stations, prior to the inauguration of the Montclair Connection.

Accident

On September 8, 1965, a tragic incident occurred when three students from Kearny High School were fatally hit by a two-car Erie Lackawanna train. Despite the crossing gate being lowered at Elm Street crossing, the students crossed the tracks under the mistaken belief that the warning lights indicated an eastbound train was departing. Their view of an approaching westbound express train was blocked by a boxcar stationed nearby.

The fatalities included Robert Floyd (16), Rodney Murdock (16), and Richard Collins (15), all of whom died instantly. Following this event, manslaughter charges were brought against the train’s fireman and conductor. To improve safety measures, Kearny authorities installed physical crossing guards during school hours at this location.

See also

• Benson Street – One of two stations closed due to the Montclair Connection project.
• Rowe Street – The second station eliminated with the Montclair Connection.
• West Arlington station – The other Arlington station served by the Erie Lackawanna Railway.