Editing Jersey Central Traction Company

The '''Jersey Central Traction Company''' was a [[streetcar]] company in central [[New Jersey]], with its main lines from [[Red Bank, New Jersey|Red Bank]] and [[Highlands, New Jersey|Highlands]] to [[Perth Amboy, New Jersey|Perth Amboy]].

==Lines==
The main line began in Perth Amboy, at the corner of Smith Street and Davidson Avenue ([[Public Service Railway|Public Service]]'s #3 and #5 lines operated on Smith Street). It went south on Davidson Avenue, west on Market Street, and south on Sheridan Street and over the [[Raritan River]] on a low bridge. The south side of the bridge connected to Scott Avenue; the line turned east on Stevens Ave, crossing Public Service's #1 line at Main Street.

The line out of South Amboy is unknown. It eventually got to what is now [[Route 35 (New Jersey)|Route 35]] and followed it into [[Monmouth County, New Jersey|Monmouth County]]; the truss bridge that now carries Route 35 northbound over the [[New York and Long Branch Railroad]] in [[Sayreville, New Jersey|Sayreville]] was probably built for it. The line left Route 35 between County Road and Cliffwood Avenue, running just to the east where South Amboy Road, Sweetbriar Street and Bridge Avenue run, joining Front Street at [[Matawan Creek]]. It ran through [[Keyport, New Jersey|Keyport]] on Front Street, Broad Street and 1st Street.

===Keyport-Middletown-Highlands===
From Keyport the line ran east alongside the [[New Jersey Southern Railroad]] (NJS, part of the [[Jersey Central Railroad]]) tracks to [[Belford, New Jersey|Belford]] near the junction of the NJS Port Monmouth-Red Bank. From here the line went south along Main St to Campbell's Junction. The Stone Church Branch departed east along Valley Drive (now Leonardville Road), shifted northward towards the NJS line to Atlantic Highlands in Leonardo between Concord and Hosford Aves<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.middletownnjhistory.org/middletown-development-map.html|title = Middletown Development Map}}</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20210819062518/https://doc-0k-2g-mymaps.googleusercontent.com/untrusted/hostedimage/67ht0gn364521qiheeia79564g/fm8g03jef3sjmkp9p622cflflg/1629352800000/GxTmA3cLq6h1u0_WYAM8yys5t6RiWs42/*/6AOlzF5ZUacbxbnjoQ5N256MTzOt_9K6P_ENIQn0-pB-giBPIQb0LHsKJrXWlbEvZdAx-oWI2VLdOAw-7kNkJSP2KLqHlMFEl-4W0HIFhxr8VsiSZnFSqHfaFK671pqPKFohPFqABnm3yRo2FQ3qtUvxysgq9S9tqWJ8Ke_VkXpmU-pZzTCnBIg77wQV5FcxCBWZsyOY?fife=s16383] {{Bare URL image|date=March 2022}}</ref> and then continued along Valley Drive to [[Stone Church, New Jersey|Stone Church]] at Claypit Creek with another short section to Highlands via Navesink Ave around to Portland Rd overlooking the river inlet. Later a connection was made to Atlantic Highlands.<ref>https://www.middletownnjhistory.org/uploads/1/2/5/8/125868552/3-5_oct_1987.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=March 2022}}</ref>

===Middletown-Red Bank-Rumson===
The main line from Campbell's Junction continued south towards Middletown Village on Tindall Road joining the King's Highway (today's [[NJ-35]]) south to Red Bank. A trestle built alongside Cooper's Bridge allowed trolleys to cross the Navesink River. The line moved along Bridge Ave to meet with the [[New York and Long Branch Railroad]] (current [[North Jersey Coast Line]]) at the train station. From here the line split again. A branch headed east along Monmouth St. The line wrapped around multiple blocks using West St and Broad St to join Front St/River Rd towards [[Fair Haven, New Jersey|Fair Haven]] and [[Rumson]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.loc.gov/resource/g3814rm.g3814rm_g056101922/?sp=1&r=0.13,0.107,0.398,0.23,0|title=Image 1 of Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Red Bank, Monmouth County, New Jersey|website=[[Library of Congress]]}}</ref>

===Red Bank-Eatontown-Long Branch===
The main line headed west on Monmouth and continued south via Shrewsbury Ave to Eatontown along Main St. The line then turned east onto Broad St (then Broadway) which lead onto Eatontown Blvd into West Long Branch and on to Long Branch as Broadway.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.loc.gov/resource/g3814rm.g3814rm_g056101922/?sp=1&r=0.273,0.508,0.277,0.16,0|title = Image 1 of Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Red Bank, Monmouth County, New Jersey|website = [[Library of Congress]]}}</ref>
{{inc-transport|date=August 2008}}

==History==
Until November 1901, the company was known as the '''Keyport and Matawan Street Railway''', incorporated March 26, 1891. The line, originally horse-powered, was [[electrified]] on July 4, 1901.

The line to Highlands opened on September 1, 1907.

The line originally ended in [[South Amboy, New Jersey|South Amboy]]; an extension over the [[Raritan River]] opened on July 10, 1910, and was shared by [[Public Service Railway|Public Service]] north of Main Street in South Amboy.

In 1917, the [[American Railways Company]] bought the line. Operations ended in 1923.

==See also==
*[[List of New Jersey street railroads]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}
*{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20151104155926/http://www.earlpleasants.com/search_1.asp Railroad History Database]}}
*[http://hometown.aol.com/chirailtwo/njthiso.html NJ Transit - Independent Electric Railway Lines]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20050311205823/http://www.highlandsnj.com/news/html/NewsDocs/trolleys.html Trolleys Again on the Highlands Shore]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Jersey Central Traction Company}}
[[Category:Tram, urban railway and trolley companies]]
[[Category:New Jersey streetcar lines]]
[[Category:Defunct companies based in New Jersey]]
[[Category:Interurban railways in New Jersey]]