Roseville Tunnel

Roseville Tunnel

Company type	Railway tunnel
Industry	Rail transport
Founded	1911
Founder	Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad
Headquarters	Byram Township, Sussex County, New Jersey , United States
Area served	Lackawanna Cut-Off, New Jersey
Products	Rail tunnel for freight and passenger trains
Parent	Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad (original), Erie Lackawanna Railway, Conrail, NJ Transit (current)

Roseville Tunnel is a dual-track railway tunnel situated on the Lackawanna Cut-Off within Byram Township, Sussex County, New Jersey. Positioned between mileposts 51.6 and 51.8 (83 km), approximately north-northwest of Port Morris Junction, it accommodated both freight and passenger trains from 1911 until 1979. Presently, the tunnel is undergoing alterations—including a reduction from its initial length—and is scheduled to reopen for passenger operations by 2026.

History

Built between 1908 and 1911 by the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad (DL&W), Roseville Tunnel was a key component of the Lackawanna Cut-Off initiative, which sought to establish a straight and level mainline through the mountainous terrain of northwestern New Jersey. The contract for constructing the Roseville segment was awarded to contractor David W. Flickwir from Roanoke, Virginia.

Initially, engineers had planned a deep cut—estimated at —but upon encountering unstable "bastard granite," characterized as brittle and soft rock unsuitable for stable excavations, the design shifted toward tunneling. DL&W Assistant Chief Engineer Wheaton proposed this change, which received approval from President William Truesdale. Excavation commenced in December 1909, with roughly 35,000 cubic yards of material removed.

The tunnel officially opened on December 24, 1911, permitting train speeds up to 70 mph (113 km/h). In 1958, anticipating the merger between DL&W and Erie Railroad, the line was converted to single track. During the 1970s, the succeeding Erie Lackawanna Railway (EL) realigned the remaining track within the tunnel to accommodate larger railcars by increasing clearance. Operational control passed to Conrail in 1976.

Conrail ceased operations on the Cut-Off in January 1979 and dismantled tracks by 1984 despite resistance. The right-of-way was initially sold to developer Jerry Turco before being acquired by the state of New Jersey in 2001. NJ Transit initiated restoration work in 2011 under the Lackawanna Cut-Off Restoration Project.

Rockslides

The geological conditions of New Jersey contribute to frequent rockslide hazards that threaten train safety within deep cuts. Following a rockslide in 1941 that closed the Cut-Off for a month at Armstrong Cut near Johnsonburg, DL&W deployed heavy machinery to reduce the northern slope's steepness there, lowering future slide risks.

Roseville presented a more complex issue. Scaling back the steep rock faces at Colby Cut—the tunnel’s western approach—was not feasible without extended line closures. After the Armstrong Cut incident, DL&W assigned a shantyman to continuously inspect and clear debris such as fallen rocks and ice at Roseville. In 1913, a hand-operated switch was installed enabling trains to switch tracks if obstructions occurred, reflecting early recognition of rockslide dangers. Around 1950, electronic detectors were introduced that would automatically set signals to red if rocks breached protective fencing. Additionally, during the 1970s, concrete lining was applied to the tunnel’s westernmost 133 feet (41 m) to prevent internal rockfalls. Despite these preventative efforts, rock dislodgments continued after the Cut-Off was abandoned.

Rehabilitation for Andover service

In 2011, New Jersey Transit obtained authorization to reconstruct 7.3 miles (11.8 km) of rail line extending from Port Morris Junction through Roseville Tunnel, facilitating commuter rail operations westward toward Andover, New Jersey.

Work remained dormant until April 13, 2022, when NJ Transit contracted Schiavone Construction Company for $32.5 million to undertake the rehabilitation efforts. The project entails constructing 8,000 feet of new track bed, reinforcing and stabilizing the tunnel’s interior structure, shortening the tunnel by removing 15 to 20 feet—bringing its length to just under 1,000 feet (approximately 300 meters)—enhancing drainage systems, installing an internal pedestrian walkway, and integrating radio and security technology. Two culverts will be replaced: one located at Hudson Farm near the planned Andover station, and another at Andover Junction Brook. Completion of this phase is expected by early 2025.

The full reinstatement of rail service to Andover is planned for late 2026.

References

• The Lackawanna Railroad in Northwestern New Jersey by Larry Lowenthal and William T. Greenberg, Jr., Tri-State Railway Historical Society, Inc., 1987.
• Farewell to the Lackawanna Cut-Off (Parts I-IV), by Don Dorflinger, published in the Block Line, Tri-State Railway Historical Society, Inc., 1984–1985.

External links

• 2006 photos of Roseville Tunnel