New Jersey Transit Montclair- Boonton Line     

By Adam Moss and Peggy Darlington

(West = To Montclair and Hackettstown, East = to Hoboken/New York)

Stations from New York to Newark are discussed on NJT Midtown Direct

The tour of the Montclair-Boonton Line begins after trains depart the Newark Broad Street Station. 

After leaving Newark-Broad Street, the Montclair-Boonton Line heads eastward through Newark as a four-track system. The tracks enter the Roseville section of Newark, where it comes to the intersection of Roseville Avenue and Seventh Street. There on the depressed tracks is the site of the former Roseville Avenue Station, constructed by the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad in the 1890s. During the track depression of 1905, tracks were moved underground with the Roseville Avenue Station. The old station got regular service for the DL&W until 1974, when service became limited. The station was of regular Lackawanna design, with two side platforms. Roseville Avenue also had an interlocking tower above ground which remained in use after the station closed, but this building burned down in 2002. The Roseville Avenue Station was canned in 1984 by New Jersey Transit. The only remaining portion of Roseville is a control box marked “ROSEVILLE” at the site.

After forking with the Morris and Essex Lines (Gladstone and Morristown), the Montclair-Boonton Line enters the Oranges, and comes upon the Ampere Plaza and Whitney Place intersection. This intersection was the site of Ampere Station, an elevated station in Ampere, New Jersey, a portion of East Orange. Ampere had two side platforms to serve two tracks, with a retaining wall and two waiting shelters on the western platform. Ampere was constructed by the DL&W by 1909 and remained in use through the Lackawanna Railroad’s lifetime, becoming part of the National Register of Historic Places. The station lasted for 12 years as part of New Jersey Transit’s Montclair Branch until the April 1991 timetables, when trains were ordered to not stop at Ampere. The station has since been demolished.

After passing through the abandoned Ampere Station, the Montclair Branch portion of the Montclair-Boonton Line continues northward into the community of Bloomfield. There it comes to the intersection of Watsessing Avenue and Orange Street, the site of the next station. Watsessing Avenue is the first (open) station along the line since Newark-Broad Street and was one of five stations involved with the grade separation program. Watsessing is a Lenni Lenape term for “crooked” or “elbow”. The station was constructed in 1912 during the grade separation that also created Glen Ridge and Bloomfield Stations. Watsessing Avenue Station has two side platforms and 2 electrified tracks running through. The station was formerly known in its DL&W days as Doddtown, another portion of Bloomfield, but the name was changed for the nearby Watsessing River. There are connections to the NJ Transit Bus Route 94 here.

Continuing through Bloomfield, the Montclair-Boonton Line enters the center part of the city. Just off the Bloomfield Avenue mainline, the line comes to the namesake Bloomfield Station, one of active two stations in the community. (Bloomfield also had Rowe Street on the former Lower Boonton Line, Orchard Street, which was demolished for the Garden State Parkway and replaced by Rowe Street, and Walnut Street.) Bloomfield Station has two side platforms and is above-ground despite its surrounding stations, and serves the two bi-directional tracks. The station was constructed in 1912 as part of the grade separation project, which raised the tracks above Bloomfield. A large station building was constructed by the DL&W, but this has since been abandoned. The station has access to several NJ Transit buses: the 11, 28, go28, 29, 34, 72, 92, 93, 94 and 709 on nearby Bloomfield Avenue.

 After Bloomfield Station, the Montclair-Boonton Line continues to the northwest, beginning a half-mile parallel to the former Erie Boonton Line into the community of Glen Ridge. Glen Ridge, famous for its gas-powered lights, is a community in western Essex County. Glen Ridge Station is on the western side of the intersection of Bloomfield Avenue and Ridgewood Avenue in the namesake community. The station is underground, with two side platforms and large canopies designed similar to Ampere and Roseville Avenue. The site of the train station in Mona Lisa Smile (2003), Glen Ridge Station is the last underground station built in 1912 due to the grade separation project. The station was formerly known as Ridgewood, the former name of Glen Ridge. Glen Ridge Station is the westernmost station outside of Montclair and part of the former Montclair Branch. 

 After Glen Ridge Station, the Montclair Branch portion of the Montclair-Boonton Line continues on its northeast progression, crossing under Bloomfield Avenue (County Route 506, which it had formerly paralleled). After the crossing, the line enters Montclair, New Jersey, the site of five stations. The first station that trains often come to is Bay Street, a large station at the intersection of Bay Street and Glenridge Avenue in Montclair. Bay Street has two high side platforms that serve the twin tracks through Montclair. The station has a large 248-space parking garage on southbound side and a large crossing bridge between the two platforms. Bay Street is also the western terminus for the weekend service on the Montclair-Boonton Line, implemented on November 8, 2009. Trains on weekends stop at Watsessing, Bloomfield, Glen Ridge and Bay Street along with Newark-Broad Street and the main terminals to Hoboken.  

 Bay Street was constructed in 1981 as a replacement for the Montclair Terminal, which was the main terminal for Montclair Branch trains. The old terminal was converted into a shopping mall while Bay Street was constructed as a bare platform station with a lone staircase, shelter and one track. In 2002, during construction of the Montclair Connection between the Montclair Branch and Boonton Lines, New Jersey Transit rebuilt the Bay Street station, creating the large crossover tower, built the parking garage, and decorated the entire station with mosaics and tiles. Bay Street is also the last station before the line turns off the former Montclair Branch and onto the Boonton Line. 

  After leaving Bay Street, the line heads northbound, the station crosses through Montclair and crosses past Sherman Street, where the right-of-way merges from the Boonton Line and the Montclair-Boonton Line follows the Boonton ROW for the next several miles. The line heads northwestward, crossing under Claremont Avenue and Grove Street before crossing under Walnut Street and into Erie Park. In Erie Park, the railroad enters the Walnut Street Station, the 2^nd in Montclair. Walnut Street is in Depot Square, and is a ground level station with 2 side platforms to serve the two tracks.  The station has a nearby station house, used for the Depot Square restaurant.  

Walnut Street was the original designated Montclair-Erie Plaza station, constructed in 1873 as the Montclair Station. The station was demolished and rebuilt in 1952 and was renamed to Walnut Street from Montclair-Erie Plaza by New Jersey Transit sometime during the 1980s. In 1973, during the Erie Railroad days, Walnut Street was the site of a freight train derailment.  

  Starting out of Walnut Street Station, the trains continue through Montclair and along the Essex Park. The route crosses Chestnut Street before running along the western edge of Essex Avenue Park in Montclair. After leaving Essex Avenue Park, the route crosses at-grade with North Fullerton Avenue, the site of one of the Erie Railroad’s frame signal cabins. The signal cabin at North Fullerton Avenue was constructed in 1905 and was 7’ x 7’ in design. Its purpose was to be a manual block station for the railroad and a gated railroad crossing which was manually operated. The signal box was operated from 10-6 on every day except for Sunday and eventually was upgraded to handle more freight for the Boonton Line. When the semaphore signals were removed from the upcoming Montclair Heights station, the services were moved into North Fullerton.  

 However, continuing northward along the Montclair-Boonton Line, entering the Upper Montclair region, and into Watchung Plaza, a portion of Montclair at the intersection of Park Street, Watchung Avenue and Fairfield Street. Watchung Avenue Station is an elevated station with 2 ground-level platforms and a station building built in 1901. The station has 95 parking spots, all permits necessary, nearby and the station building with the necessities for riders (bathrooms, ticket agent, ticket vending machines, etc.) The 1901 Type 5 terra cotta station was constructed as a replacement to the nearby Park Street Station for $4700 (1901 USD). The station is weekday only and on the National Register of Historic Places, but vandalism has been constantly reported at the station since 2007.  

  After crossing through Watchung Avenue Station, the Montclair-Boonton Line crosses over Watchung Avenue and turns to another northwestern stretch of rail. The rail line continues through Upper Montclair and begins to parallel to the east of Anderson Park before crossing Bellevue Avenue. After Bellevue Avenue, the tracks enter Upper Montclair Station, the 4^th station in Montclair. Upper Montclair is a ground-level station with two side platforms. The western platform was also the site of the station building, a Type 5 station built in 1898 by the Erie to replace the Montclair Railway’s original station. However, on February 5, 2006, the Upper Montclair Station building caught fire by the restaurant inside the station, and was mostly leveled. A small portion remained, and a new replica station building is being constructed, but larger than the original. The Upper Montclair Station currently uses a tent for a shelter as the westbound platform has no official shelter while the building is being reconstructed. 

  After the tracks leave Upper Montclair Station, the Montclair-Boonton Line crosses the northern Lorraine Avenue and Jerome Places before continuing further into Montclair. After beginning a parallel with Valley Road, the rails quickly enter the 5^th of 6 stations in Montclair, the Mountain Avenue Station, located at Laurel Place and Upper Mountain Avenue. Mountain Avenue Station is a ground-level, two platform station with a station house on the eastbound side. However, the station house is leased by New Jersey Transit as a private residence, so the building is off-limits. The station has bike racks and 23 free-use parking spots with access to New Jersey Transit bus route 28. The original station building was constructed in 1873 and rebuilt in 1893 as an irregular station design.  

  As the tracks leave Mountain Avenue Station, the Montclair-Boonton Line parallels Upper Mountain Avenue and Valley Road through Montclair Heights (the community). The tracks pass Mountainside Park and the local bird sanctuary, where the rail line enters the 6^th and final station legislatively in Montclair, Montclair Heights Station. Montclair Heights Station is a two side platform station with a station house on the Newark-bound platform. Signage on the station is signed as: Montclair Heights: Home to Montclair State University, a relic name from the Erie Railroad days, when signs referenced the same thing. Although Montclair Heights is no longer the official station for Montclair State University, the Heights station still receives fair amounts of traffic and has 67 parking spots and bicycle racks. The station has access to bus routes 28, 191 and 705 by New Jersey Transit. There are mini-high platforms at the East end.

Montclair Heights Station was built in 1905 as a Type 5 Erie Railroad design.  The station remained in active service for the Erie until November 20, 1959, when the Erie Railroad disregarded use of the station. New Jersey Transit took the station back, and prior to the construction of the Montclair State University station, travelers heading westward to Hackettstown or Dover had to use this station to transfer from an electric train to a diesel train for westward service, as catenaries ended here. Once the new station was constructed, travelers heading to Hackettstown/Dover could use the Montclair State University station to transfer for westward service.  

  After trains depart from Montclair Heights, they cross over Normal Avenue and enter the campus of Montclair State University, where the first station outside of Montclair since Glen Ridge is located. The next three stations are in the community of Little Falls, New Jersey. Montclair State University [Station] was opened on October 20, 2004 as a state of the art station, with a new parking deck and one high island platform, the station is now the transfer point for the electric and diesel trains (a job once held by Montclair Heights), due to the ending of catenary wires at the next station. Montclair State University is the terminal station of many trains due to the lack of electricity, but for express trains from Newark/New York/Hoboken, this is the first local stop.  The entire station was constructed for $26 million, and prior to its opening, the transfers done at Montclair Heights were moved over to the newly built platform. However, at that point, many services were not opened yet. It was strictly a transfer stop. 

 Closing on January 16, 2010 

Great Notch station is currently the station whose use is in question. The station was slated by New Jersey Transit for closing in 2009, but the residents of Little Falls complained. The mayor of Little Falls and New Jersey Transit were able to strike a deal in April 2009 to give Great Notch some extra trains as a one-year test to attract riders. This test has proven to fail as on December 18, 2009, New Jersey Transit has announced closure of the station on January 16, 2010 due to diminished ridership. As of January 16, 2010, commuters at Great Notch will have to use Montclair State University, over a mile away, and Little Falls Stations for service.  

  After trains leave the limited service and to be closed Great Notch Station, the trains continue as one track into Little Falls. After crossing under Long Hill Road, the tracks leave Great Notch, paralleling Jacobus Road for a distance and Little Falls-Cedar Grove, where the tracks bend to the northwest. After crossing Stevens Avenue and Central Avenue, the tracks continue to the northeast before entering Little Falls Station. Little Falls station has 1 track and 1 side platform with the station building built in 1915. The 1915 building was constructed as a Type 6 brick and slate station. The station has led a rather quiet lifetime, with scenes changing little since its 1915 inception. There was also a roundhouse near Little Falls station used by the Erie Railroad, but this has been dismantled.  

  After trains leave the Little Falls Station, the tracks continue to the northwest, crossing under Montclair Avenue and crossing through Little Falls. The tracks then paralleled Dewey Avenue and Main Street (Passaic County Route 631), crossing Main Street and entering the site of the Erie’s former Singac Station. Singac has not been in used for over 5 decades and no remains are in existence. The rails then cross over the Passaic River and into Wayne, New Jersey. After crossing the Passaic, the railroad paralleled Route 23 and Passaic County Route 703 (Old Turnpike Road). The rails cross under the Route 23 and U.S. Route 46 interchange in Wayne and soon under Interstate 80. After crossing over another body of water and entered the Wayne-Route 23 Transit Center, a bus and railroad station in Wayne near Westbelt. Wayne-Route 23 was constructed in 2006 and 2007 as a new transportation center for buses and railroads. It has 1,000 parking spaces and full necessities are available. The station was constructed for $51 million and opened on January 12, 2008. The original intent of the station was to relieve congestion on the Westbelt Interchange and for nearby for Routes 46, 23 and 80.  platforms are full high platforms.

(Signed, but not officially MOUNTAIN VIEW-WAYNE) 

Mountain View originally had a Type 4 Erie building constructed in 1910. The station however, lasted only 55 years, when the building was replaced with a metal Armco box when the junction for the two railroads was rebuilt. 

 After the former Erie alignment forks at Mountain View station, the Montclair-Boonton Line turns to the northwest, cross out of Mountain View and through the western portion of Wayne. The rail line soon crosses over the Passaic River once again and enters the borough of Lincoln soon after. In Lincoln, the tracks cross under Ryerson Road and fork into two tracks once gain. After beginning a parallel with East Main Street, the tracks enter Lincoln Park Station. The station has two tracks, and two side platforms to service them both. The station has access to the MCM Bus Route 1 (run by New Jersey Transit) and service by Lakeland Buses’ Route 46. There are two parking lots for the station. The first is on Comley Road and Main Street with 164 spaces, while the second is on the Park Avenue and has 83 spaces, for a grand total of 247 spaces to park in the station. The station building was constructed by the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad in 1912 and remains in use.  

  After tracks leave Lincoln Park Station, they head westward along Troy Lane before the tracks merge back into one single track. The single track crosses under Beaver Brook Road and makes a large moderated curve to the southwest. When the railroad comes around the curve, it enters the community on Montville, New Jersey. As it enters Montville, the railroad begins a northern parallel with U.S. Route 202 (Main Road) which ends when Route 202 crosses over the railroad. The alignment parallels Route 202 to the north and Whitehall Road, where it enters the Towaco Station. Towaco Station is the de facto stop in Montville, as the Montville Station closed before the NJ Transit days. The station has one main track and one platform set for the track. The station has access to the MCM1 bus route provided by New Jersey Transit and limited Route 46 Lakeland Bus service. The station has 148 parking spaces at the parking lot on Route 202 and 74 spaces on the second lot on Whitehall Road.  

The original Towaco Station building was constructed in 1910 and 1911 as a replacement to the former Whitehall Station, which was renamed Towaco in 1905. The actual origination for the name Towaco is a contraction of the Totowa Water Company, which maintained several water wells in the area of the Whitehall Station. Due to the closing of the Montville Station during the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western times, the station in Towaco is now the only station in Montville Township. 

   After tracks leave Towaco Station, they head to the southwest, paralleling U.S. Route 202 and the former alignment of the Morris Canal through Montville Township. Soon after, Route 202 turns off to the west while the railroad continues southwestward and beginning a parallel with Macculoch Drive before both the road and railroad turn to the northwest. The tracks continue to the northwest, soon crossing under Route 202 near the Plastenics factory in Montville. The tracks cross under Interstate 287 just north of Interchange 47 in Boonton, where the tracks enter the community. The tracks make a large curve from a straight northwest progression back to a southwestward one. Along the southwestern stretch, the railroad crosses under Taylortown Road and enters the community of Boonton. In Boonton, the railroad parallels Route 202 once again and soon after with Interstate 287. Approaching Interchange 45 on Interstate 287, the railroad finally enters it next station, Boonton Station. 

Boonton Station has one track and one side platform to serve the station. There is a covered staircase from the bridge for County Route 511 down to the station, and at the Main Street (CR 511) and Myrtle Avenue (U.S. Route 202) intersection, Boonton Station has a 69-space parking lot with a $0.50 fee to use daily. Similar to Towaco, Boonton has access to the MCM1 Bus Route and the limited Route 46 Lakeland bus route.  The original Boonton Station was constructed in 1912 and has remained there uneventfully. The building however, is now a local bar. There is a mini high platform

 After Boonton Station, the Montclair-Boonton Line continues to the southwest, paralleling Interstate 287 and Morris Avenue as a two-track mainline through Boonton. Crossing over Fanny Lane, Interstate 287 turns to the southeast and away from the railroad, which continues into Intervale, New Jersey. The rails become one tracked once again, and the rail continues southward into Mountain Lakes, New Jersey. The track continues southward, paralleling Elm Street until entering the Mountain Lakes Station. Mountain Lakes Station is one of the most isolated stations along the entire line, with the entire site several miles west from U.S. Route 202 and Interstate 287. It is not ADA-accessible, nor does it have a ticket machine. The station has no access to bus routes or taxi services and still gets full service. The station’s only services beyond the lone platform and shelter are the 87 parking spaces divided into three lots around the station. Without a permit however, the station has a three hour parking limit.

 The original Mountain Lakes station was constructed by the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad in 1912. Since then, the scene has changed little, but the station building is now the nearby Station Restaurant at Mountain. 

  As the trains depart Mountain Lakes Station, they continue to the southwest through Morris County, paralleling nearby Pollard Road for several miles until the tracks cross under U.S. Route 46 near the Rainbow Lakes. The railroad parallels U.S. Route 46 westward, crossing Fox Hill Road, where the railroad curves, crossing under Interstate 80 and into the community of Denville. There, the railroad crosses over State Route 53 and enters the large Denville Station. Denville Station is the first electric station along the Montclair-Boonton Line since Great Notch and the largest station in terms since Wayne-Route 23 Transit Center. Denville has four low platforms, two for the Montclair-Boonton Line on the northern side of the property and two for the Morristown Line (of the Morris & Essex) on the southern side of the property. Denville Station is ADA-accessible with two large parking lots on Thurmont Road to serve the station. In the middle of the station, the interlocking tower for the fork is still standing, but unused. There are bus connections to the MCM10 Bus Route provided by New Jersey Transit. Lakeland Buses stop on Route 46 and Bloomfield Avenue near the Route 53 interchange. From Denville Station to the terminus at Hackettstown, the Morristown Line follows the same trackage as the Montclair-Boonton. 

   After the trains leave Denville Station, the tracks of the Morristown Line and the Montclair-Boonton Line merge and continue westward, paralleling Estling Lake Road to the south through Denville before the three track alignment crosses between Lake Estling and Indian Lake. There, it turns to the southwest, passing South Shore Park and beginning to parallel Franklin Road along the shores of Lake Estling. After leaving the shores of Lake Estling, the tracks cross over Franklin Road. The route continues westward, entering the community of Dover, New Jersey. After crossing over Franklin Avenue, the former DL&W Rockaway Branch merges in with the Montclair-Boonton. (Rockaway Station details are covered in the NJ Transit Morristown Line page.) Paralleling the Rockaway River, the Montclair-Boonton and Morristown Line continues westward into the Victory Gardens district and soon into downtown Dover, where it parallels U.S. Route 46 once again. Crossing through Dover Yard, the two lines soon enter the Dover Station near Dickerson Street. 

Dover Station is an important station for both lines. On Weekends, no service for the Morristown Line goes past Dover, and many Montclair-Boonton weekday trains terminate here. Only a limited amount of trains continue further to Hackettstown. Dover Station is the first station on the Montclair-Boonton Line since Wayne-Route 23 Transit Center to have a Ticket Vending Machine and the first on the Morristown Line since Morristown Station. The station has two side platforms for the two tracks, with a ticket agent in the station building seven days of the week. The station has 846 parking spots, divided up into eight lettered routes. Lot B on Monmouth Street and South Morris Street has the most, with 385 parking spaces. The station is also an important terminal because electricity once again ends for the Montclair-Boonton, although this stretch was only from Denville. Passengers must transfer at Dover for the Morristown Line trek, while most Montclair-Boonton trains remain the same. 

Dover Station was constructed in 1901 and 1902 by the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad with a full station building. The station building is in use to this date, and has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1980.  

 After leaving Dover Station, the diesel trains continue westward along Dickerson Street until the intersection with Warren Street, where the line turns to the northwest and begins to leave downtown Dover. The two tracks cross under U.S. Route 46 and parallel State Route 15 northward into the community of Wharton. In Wharton, the station crosses through the former Wharton Station. The Wharton Station was constructed in 1900 when the community was still known as Port Oram. Two years later, the town was renamed to Wharton. The station building was a Type W-101A, but the station was out of service by 1962 and never made it to NJ Transit days. 

  After leaving the abandoned Wharton Station behind, the Montclair-Boonton and Morristown Line continue westward, paralleling West Dewey Avenue for several miles, crossing over Baker Mill Pond. The railroads parallel Interstate 80 and cross over Berkshire Valley Road (Morris County Route 699). The two rail lines continue eastward, paralleling Route 80 into the community of Mount Arlington, New Jersey. There, approaching Interstate 80’s Interchange 30, the lines enter Mount Arlington Station. Mount Arlington is the newest station on the line, just 9 days newer than Wayne-Route 23 Transit Center. Mount Arlington is also an older park and ride that had its station introduced for better service to the community. The station has regular bus service by Lakeland Bus’ Route 80 Line, which was the owner of the park and ride as well prior to 2008 opening. The station has two side platforms for the lone track along the lines and receives diesel only service to and from Hackettstown. The station since opening has actually seen little ridership and numbers very stagnant to what was predicted.  

This is not the first station in Mount Arlington, however. The community had service by the DL&W during the early 20^th century, but service was discontinued in the 1930s. 

  After trains depart the Mount Arlington Station, the Montclair-Boonton Line and Morristown Line cross over Howard Boulevard (Morris County Route 615) and continue their parallel of Interstate 80 for a short distance out of Mount Arlington. The rails enter the northern reaches of Ledgewood, but turn northward soon after. The lines cross Interstate 80 and parallel Ledgewood Landing Road (Morris County Route 631) into the community of Landing. In Landing, the tracks pass a couple small ponds and enter the Lake Hopatcong Station. Lake Hopatcong station has two tracks in the station, with two side platform. The station has service by the Lakeland Bus Route 80 Line and has access via the Midtown Express from New York Pennsylvania Station. 

design, which the normal station building at-grade and two massive towers to bring the pedestrian walkway across the station to the eastbound platform. Below, there were the two platforms both of which had a large canopy over itself. This very large station was considered the “white elephant” with the fieldstone design. It opened on May 28, 1911 and had glass elevators along. In total, the construction of entire station was $53,274 (1911 USD). Eventually, the massive station began to be underused for the design. The vandalism also became too much, and most of the station was demolished in the 1970s.  

  After trains depart the Lake Hopatcong Station, they head to the north through the community of Landing and soon turn to the northwest out of Landing. Paralleling Lakeside Boulevard (Morris County Route 602), the railroad enters the community of Port Morris. There, the Montclair-Boonton Line and Morristown Lines head to the southeast at Port Morris Junction. This junction is where the Lackawanna Cut-Off once split from the DL&W mainline and will eventually serve purpose for New Jersey Transit upon completion of rehabilitation. There were rumors that a station building existed here, but the only known structure is Port Morris Tower (UN Tower), constructed in 1909. 

    After the trains curve off at Port Morris Junction, the Morristown Line and Montclair-Boonton Line turn to the southwest, paralleling Kings Highway into the community of Netcong. There, the tracks near Lake Musconetcong and enter the downtown portion of the community. There, the tracks parallel U.S. Route 46 once again and cross over State Route 183 through downtown Netcong. This bridge over Route 183 is slated for replacement as part of the removal of the Netcong Traffic Circle. Paralleling Route 46 through Netcong, the two lines enter the Netcong Station near the Main Street intersection. Netcong Station has 1 platform for the one lone track that enters the station. The station is the last one that is not ADA-accessible for handicap people and has 245 parking spots in two lots along Main Street and Route 46.

Netcong Station opened in 1903 and was often referred to as Netcong-Stanhope Station. (Stanhope is to the near north of Netcong.) The station was a special brick station made of bricks from Port Murray, New Jersey. Netcong Station was also the junction of the former Sussex Branch, and some trackage still remains at the station. Until 1994, NJ Transit used Netcong Station as the western terminus for both the Montclair-Boonton and Morristown Lines. This was extended westward in 1994 to Hackettstown. 

 After the trains depart the Netcong Station, both train lines continue to the southwest, paralleling Route 46 out of Netcong. After crossing under Flanders Avenue, Route 46 and the railroad cross Interstate 80 and U.S. Route 206. At this interchange, the Montclair-Boonton and Morristown Lines turn to the west through Budd Lake, crossing under International Drive for the International Trade Center. A short distance later, the tracks make a gradual bend to the north and begin to parallel International Drive and interstate 80 in the community of Mount Olive Township. After crossing Waterloo Valley Road, the tracks enter the Mount Olive Station. One of the two new stations past Netcong, Mount Olive is the underdeveloped one, with only 23 parking spaces on Waterloo Valley Road for use and the lack of services. The station is ADA-accessible, however and has one platform to service one track. Mount Olive opened in 1994 and once was the site of the former Waterloo DL&W station. 

  After the trains depart the Mount Olive Station, the tracks go to the northwest, paralleling Waterloo Valley Road and Interstate 80 into Allamuchy State Park. In Allamuchy State Park, the tracks make a gradual bend to the southwest and parallel Waterloo Valley Road for several miles through the park. Waterloo Valley Road soon ends and the railroads continue to the southwest through the community of Waterloo. They then turn to the west once again through Stephens State Park, reaching the junction of the Mars Candy Company spur rail. (Mars Candy is the producer of the chocolate candy, M&Ms.) After that, the station continues into the community of Hackettstown, crossing over County Route 517 and U.S. Route 46. Near the intersection of Valentine Street and Beatty Street, the Montclair-Boonton Line and Morristown Line both meet their current terminus at Hackettstown Station. The station has one platform for the lone track, and has a parking lot at the nearby intersection with 99 spaces. Although service ends here, trackage along the Washington Secondary is maintained by Norfolk Southern. There have been calls to extend both lines to Phillipsburg Station along the Route 57 corridor and more of the former DL&W mainline. 

Hackettstown Station was constructed in 1868 as a Type W-2 frame building for the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad. The station was the first in Warren County, New Jersey and red and green Lackawanna building was torn down in the late 1960s, almost 100 years after its original construction. Hackettstown received renewed service by New Jersey Transit when the Boonton Line and Morristown Line were extended from Netcong to Hackettstown.

The Montclair-Boonton Line was created in 2002 when the Montclair Branch and Boonton Lines were merged into one service as part of the new Montclair Connection. As a result, three stations were abandoned by New Jersey Transit. These stations are marked in entirely dark colors to differentiate them from other abandoned stations. North Newark is also there because it made New Jersey Transit service on the former Boonton Line.

 The former Erie Boonton Line came from Hoboken and through the New Jersey Meadows from Secaucus to Kearny. In Kearny, the trains crossed through the downtown portion of the community, crossing Forest Street. At Forest Street, trains entered the Arlington Station. Arlington is a portion of Kearny and the station had two ground platforms. The station building was constructed in 1899 by the Erie Railroad and its subsidiary, the New York & Greenwood Lake. It also had two nearby sheds. The structure remained in place for years and once served public service trolleys in the community.  After the closure of Arlington Station in 2002, Kearny has no train station to service the community. However, as a result of the new trans-Hudson tunnel, the town of Kearny is supposed to receive a new station on the Harrison-Kingsland Branch.

 The station crossed the former West Arlington Station and WR Interlocking Tower before crossing over the Passaic River on Bridge 7.44 (constructed in 1897). There, the line entered Newark, New Jersey. In Newark, the line did not use Newark Broad Street or Newark Pennsylvania Station. Instead, the only station in Newark was the North Newark Station. North Newark was constructed in 1898 as a special Erie design and combination station with freight lines. The station was a full house-sized building that remained in service through the 1960s. In June 1970, vandals set fire to the North Newark Station, demolishing the entire building. The only part saved was the lone canopy on the westbound side. That was turned into the new station and given a new green and white paint job. The Erie Railroad soon put up a microwave transmission tower. North Newark did reach the New Jersey Transit era and was used as a station for several years, but by 1990, the station was out of service.

 After New Jersey Transit Boonton Line trains left North Newark, they continued through Belleville and soon into Bloomfield. In Bloomfield, the line crossed the former site of the Rowe Street Station. Although the second station in Bloomfield, it was named Rowe Street to differentiate it from Bloomfield Station to the south. Rowe Street was built in 1955 when Orchard Street Station was demolished because of plans for the Garden State Parkway to head up that stretch. This never occurred, but Rowe Street then became the premiere Bloomfield Station on this stretch. The building was a simple brick station with two low-level platforms and remained in service until 2002, when the Montclair Connection was finished. Now all Bloomfield train service is done at the Bloomfield Station in downtown. The building has since been demolished. 

  After Rowe Street, the Boonton Line paralleled the Montclair Branch from Bloomfield into Glen Ridge. In the northern Boonton Line, the railway crossed through the residential portions of the community. At the intersection of Benson Street and some nearby streets, the line came to the Benson Street Station. Benson Street station was first constructed in 1896 as a special design white stucco building with a slate roof. The station had two ground-level platforms in each direction and during the Erie days, it was called Glen Ridge. The station was rented to a resident named Jim Wilson in the 1960s, where he was a young kid doing shoeshine. He kept maintenance of the station. New Jersey Transit picked up the station in 1979, but also kept Jim Wilson as owner, as he kept a little Erie-Lackawanna Railroad Museum in the building.  The station also had (and still has) an asphalt parking lot across Benson Street from the station. 

 However, during the 2002 construction of the Montclair Connection, the state decided, with the closing of Benson Street, they wanted Wilson out. Jim threatened to sue, but fire soon caught the building. The building was then considered condemned, although it was still structurally standing. The station remained closed off for the next nine years until the station was bought from New Jersey Transit in May 2009 by Richard and Edna Moriarty. They have plans to restore the old building, but construction has been halted a number of times: once due to a threatened lawsuit, once due to questionable decisions, and once to the possibility of the sale becoming null & void.  However, on December 2, 2009, the Moriarities received the go-ahead to continue rehabilitation of the old structure. From Benson Street, service merged into Montclair Branch near current-day Walnut Street Station.