The Newark City Subway was, for the most part, constructed in the bed of the Morris Canal, which itself was built between Jersey City and Phillipsburg, NJ in the period 1825-1837. At its peak it was over 100 miles long and barges took five days to traverse its entire length. But, by the early 1900's, the railroads across New Jersey (specifically the Lackawanna and Jersey Central) signed the Morris Canal's death certificate and by 1920, the stagnant waters were a health hazard and the New Jersey state legislature pushed for the draining and filling of the canal bed.

In 1927, the Newark portion of the canal was authorized to become a right-of-way for streetcars, and construction began on this new subway on November 18, 1929. The downtown portion of the line was covered, creating a new street (Raymond Blvd.), while the outer portion was dredged out and overpasses were built at major cross streets and station locations. In 1934, rail was laid and the first streetcar traversed the tracks on October 3, 1934. The original southern terminal was at Warren Street; the extension to Pennsylvania Station was completed and opened June 20, 1937. The northern extension from Heller Parkway to Franklin was completed on November 22, 1940.

By 1935, a number of Newark streetcar routes had been diverted into the new subway. Street connections were built at various locations for streetcars to enter the subway. These connections are shown in the table below

City Subway Services

Newark Penn Station is described on a separate page 

Departing Penn Station, our first stop is at Military Park, formerly known as Broad Street. On September 4, 2004, the name of this station was changed to help avoid confusion when construction of the Newark City Subway extension to Newark Broad Street Rail Station is completed, and as a method of honoring the nation's veterans. The main tile color is tan and the tile band is blue with a top and bottom green border (similar to New York City IND subway stations). The platforms have been shortened from their original length by means of wrought iron railings and signs advising passengers not to go beyond this point. A mosaic name tablet in colors of dark blue and brown was found for Park Place, Broad Street East and Broad Street West. 

Washington Street has two tracks and two side platforms and has a strong resemblance to NYCT’s IND. North exit is to Plane Street and South exit to Washington Street. This station along with  the other underground stations have  a closed track level crossover The North end has been extended to accommodate ADA elevators 

Warren Street is next and features tile band in two tone grey. Like Broad Street, the platforms have been shortened. Another mosaic here continues the theme of scenes of the old Morris Canal. Mosaic name tablets indicate "To Street", "Lock Street", and "Warren Street". This is the last subway stop with the tunnel portal being at the north end, just beyond the end of the original platform. 

We arrive at Norfolk Street, an open cut station. The tile is white, having been placed on top of the original concrete walls. The top features three narrow tile bands of Orange, Mauve and Purple-- the NJT logo colors. Exits are up at both ends.

The most unusual station is next: Orange Street. This is the site of the only grade crossing on the pre-extension  Newark City Subway and is controlled by a standard street traffic light. Formerly, this station had a side platform, one on each side of the street on the far side (i.e. the trolley crossed the street before making the station stop). It was reconstructed to a single island platform on the south side of the Orange Street grade crossing

We arrive at Park Avenue next. Also in an open cut, this station resembles Norfolk St. down to the tile on the walls. One exit on each platform is closed (the south exit on the northbound side, and the north exit on the southbound side). 

Bloomfield Avenue is next, also in an open cut resembling Norfolk and Park. This station also has closed exits, with the closure pattern being the opposite of the pattern found at Park Avenue. 

Davenport Avenue is next and resembles Norfolk with the exception of wrought iron side walls and a view of Branch Brook Park. Heller Parkway was the next station, but was closed during the Franklin Avenue reconstruction and line extension. It featured two exits on the northbound side and a single north exit on the southbound side, with almond-colored tile walls over the original concrete. 

Next is Branch Brook Park. Formerly known as "Franklin Ave.", and the last station on the City Subway route, this station was fully reconstructed in 2000-2001 for the subway line extension. Originally, the platform was at street level on the southbound side-- northbound cars traversed a track loop north of the station to make a single station stop on the southbound side. Now there is a three platform arrangement, side, island, side; the loop track has been removed. 

Silver Lake has two tracks and an island platform.

The new terminus of the line is at Grove Street, Bloomfield, a center island platform with two tracks. This station looks nearly identical to many of the center-island stations of the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail. Adjacent to the station is the new City Subway maintenance facility and yard.

Statistics

Weekday service is operated in peak periods with cars every two minutes. Daytimes the service is operated every six minutes, and late evenings every 30 minutes. Weekend base service is every 8 minutes Saturdays and every 15 minutes Sundays. The system is operated with a proof-of-payment system in which a rider validates a ticket at a stamping machine on each platform before boarding. The rail weight is 115 pound, and the overhead wire is 750V constant-tension catenary.

Where to Find More Information

The Public Service Trolley Lines in New Jersey. By Edward Hamm, Jr. November, 1991. Transportation Trails, 9698 W. Judson Rd., Polo, IL 61064. A detailed description of the routes of the Public Service trolley system in Hudson, Essex, Bergen, Passaic, Morris counties and the interurban lines to Camden.