Millburn station
| Company type | Commuter railroad station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Rail transport |
| Founded | September 28, 1837 |
| Headquarters | Millburn Township , United States |
| Products | Passenger rail service |
Millburn functions as an operational commuter railroad stop located within Millburn Township, Essex County, New Jersey. It accommodates NJ Transit's Morristown Line and Gladstone Branch routes, offering service from New York Penn Station and Hoboken Terminal to destinations westward such as Dover, Gladstone, and Hackettstown. Neighboring stations include Short Hills to the west and Maplewood to the east. The station is equipped with two low-level side platforms, each bordered by office buildings: a colonial-style edifice constructed in 1962 on the westbound side, and a contemporary office building dating from 1987 on the eastbound side. Facilities include a ticket office and a waiting area.
Rail operations commenced on September 28, 1837, coinciding with the Morris and Essex Railroad's extension from Orange to Madison. After the original station was destroyed by fire in 1874, its freight depot served passengers until 1907, when the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad erected a new station. This construction resulted in the November 10, 1907 closure of Wyoming station. Later redevelopment led to the demolition of both initial depots: the westbound platform was replaced in 1962 by a two-story office building designed by Frank Donnelly, while P&R Associates demolished the eastbound structure in December 1986 to make way for their office building, which opened on August 3, 1988.
Construction (1837–1907)
Rail service began in Springfield Township—then part of Union County—on September 17, 1837, when the Morris and Essex Railroad's locomotive named "Orange" conducted a trial run between Newark and Madison. Regular service started on September 28, 1837, with Millville station established near a pond utilized for replenishing water supplies. Due to difficulties with the steam engine's water supply system, a pump was later installed at Summit.
The arrival of the Morris and Essex Railroad through Millville stimulated local economic growth. Prior to the railroad’s presence, Millville had few commercial enterprises and operated a paper mill. The railroad enabled direct transportation of paper products to Elizabeth and New York City, transforming the paper mills into the dominant industry in the area and encouraging development around them.
The original Millville station—renamed Millburn Township in 1857—was destroyed by fire in 1874. Its replacement was a freight depot built in 1855 by entrepreneur Jonathan Parkhurst to safeguard paper goods; this wooden structure was subsequently adapted for passenger use. Neglected maintenance led this depot to deteriorate significantly by the late 1800s.
A new Millburn station was inaugurated on November 10, 1907. An incident involving the 11:50 p.m. train on November 9 caused it to be the first train to utilize the new platform instead of the scheduled 11:20 a.m. train. The opening of this facility resulted in Wyoming station’s closure, inconveniencing passengers who lacked direct access to Millburn. To mitigate this issue, the Lackawanna Railroad constructed a sidewalk connecting Wyoming’s Laurel Street vicinity with Millburn station. Both stations were brick buildings; the eastbound measured 28 by 73 feet and the westbound 16 by 60 feet, complemented by an adjacent freight house measuring 32 by 117 feet.
The shutdown of Wyoming station faced opposition from local residents. In January 1908, community members formed the Wyoming Association to campaign for its reopening. Following participation in a Board of Public Utility Commissioners hearing on March 3, the board mandated that service at Wyoming be reinstated with a new station.
Despite this directive, the railroad company ignored it and postponed compliance. In 1910, they petitioned to overturn the order without restoring service. A June 10 hearing held in Newark revealed strong public support for reopening Wyoming station; however, permission was granted allowing continued closure. Subsequently, the Wyoming Association requested removal of the depot structure and conversion of its site into parkland. The railroad dismantled Wyoming station around May 1912.
Deadly accident (1941)
On August 17, 1941, a tragic incident occurred at Millburn station when a Lackawanna train en route from Dover to Orange lost control. The locomotive derailed while navigating a sharp curve just east of the station, tipping over onto its side and colliding with the westbound platform and an adjacent concrete overpass. This resulted in significant obstruction of the tracks. The train was carrying three loaded milk cars alongside two empty passenger cars, creating a large pile of wreckage that halted all rail movement.
Emergency responders managed to extinguish fires and averted a potential boiler explosion; nevertheless, the fireman sustained a fatal leg wound. The engineer was hospitalized with serious injuries. Local community members aided the rescue teams by providing supplies. The Lackawanna Railroad mobilized over 100 personnel and cranes to remove the debris, rerouting trains via the Boonton Branch during cleanup. By August 18, partial rail service resumed, supplemented by shuttle buses and alternative commuter options. The milk company promptly recovered its goods to ensure continued deliveries. Complete track repairs were finalized by August 19, restoring regular operations.
Station replacements (1961–1988)
In October 1961, Frank G. Donnelly, Inc. acquired the eastbound Millburn station building from Erie-Lackawanna Railroad with plans to construct a 185-foot commercial structure encasing the existing depot, enhancing commuter amenities and adding 70 parking spaces. The township approved this proposal, citing the station’s deteriorated state due to prolonged neglect. Donnelly also suggested erecting a new three-story colonial-style building on the westbound platform to serve as office space and provide employee recreational facilities.
Work on the westbound facility commenced in March 1962; it subsequently became Donnelly Bros.' headquarters after relocating from Newark. The original westbound depot was demolished that same month, and the new office building opened in November 1962, featuring a waiting area and ticket office. Donnelly took responsibility for upkeep of the pedestrian tunnel linking both platforms.
Despite progress on the westbound side, redevelopment of the eastbound depot stalled. In 1973, Donnelly proposed a 3.5-story structure designed to preserve a notable beech tree; however, his company declared bankruptcy in 1976. The property was then purchased by Marc Berson, who proposed a colonial-style building with an attached parking deck—plans that local officials ultimately rejected.
By 1980, Berson obtained approval for a two-story addition designed by Michael Graves at the depot’s western end, which necessitated removing the beech tree despite community opposition. Financial difficulties delayed construction until 1983 when Berson sold the site to P&R Associates for $250,000, supported by a $1.5 million loan from Essex County.
P&R modified plans several times—initially seeking approval for a third story addition (denied), then proposing demolition of existing structures to build a new two-story office building incorporating bank drive-up facilities and a commuter waiting room. Toward late 1984, NJ Transit and local officials entered negotiations to purchase the station from P&R with funding aimed at rehabilitation.
Disagreements over property valuation prompted legal proceedings in 1985; an arbitration settlement was reached by September that year. By March 1986, Millburn Township withdrew condemnation actions in exchange for municipal rights to adjacent parking lots and maintenance duties. P&R advanced plans for constructing a new granite-faced two-story office building totaling roughly 13,707 square feet to house its parent company headquarters along with ticketing and banking services.
Although initial delays arose due to Essex County’s right-of-way requirements along Essex Street, final approvals were secured by November 1986. Demolition of the eastbound depot began in December following minor complications.
The new station facility was completed by July 1988 but remained closed pending resolution of NJ Transit ticket agent staffing issues. The station officially opened on August 3, 1988, with Leonard Pagano appointed as ticket agent, marking his return after previously serving at Maplewood station.
Station configuration and amenities
Millburn station is equipped with two low-level side platforms and includes a ticket office situated on the outbound platform, which operates during the morning peak period. Adjacent to the ticket office, there is a single ticket vending machine available for passengers. The station provides four public parking areas overseen by Millburn Township: Lot 1 accommodates 325 vehicles with 4 spaces designated for handicapped parking and operates on a permit basis with complimentary parking after 6 p.m.; Lot 3 contains 114 spaces including 4 handicap-accessible spots; Lot 4 offers 97 spaces with 1 reserved for handicapped use; and Lot 5 has 40 spaces with 3 allocated for handicapped parking.
Both Millburn station and the nearby Short Hills station are located within NJ Transit’s fare zone 7.