Madison station (NJ Transit) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Madison
View east from south (eastbound) platform
Owned by	NJ Transit
Platforms	2 side platforms
Tracks	2
Connections	NJ Transit Bus: 873
Construction
Parking	413 spaces (10 accessible)
Disabled access	Yes
Other information
Station code	426 (Delaware, Lackawanna and Western)
Fare zone	11
History
Opened	September 17, 1837 (preliminary trip) September 28, 1837 (regular service)
Rebuilt	January 1, 1879 January 1915–April 17, 1916
Electrified	December 18, 1930
Key dates
April 1915	1879 depot razed
Traffic
Passengers (2017)	1,536 (average weekday)
Services
Preceding station NJ Transit Following station Convent Station toward Hackettstown Morristown Line Chatham toward New York Penn Station or Hoboken
Former services Preceding station Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad Following station Convent toward Buffalo Main Line Chatham toward Hoboken
Madison Station
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Southern side, 2007
Location	Madison, New Jersey
Built	1916
Architect	Frank J. Nies
Architectural style	Collegiate Gothic
NRHP reference No.	84002764

The Madison train station is a busy stop for NJ Transit trains in Madison, New Jersey. It is part of the Morristown Line, which connects many towns. The station building you see today was finished in 1916. This happened after the local government and the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad (D.L. & W.R.R.) worked together. They made a plan to raise the train tracks above the streets. This meant trains would no longer block traffic at road crossings.

The new station was very modern for its time. It had places for luggage and cargo. There were also offices for the station manager, a newsstand, and comfy waiting areas. Outside, beautiful Weeping Mulberry trees were planted. In 1984, the station was recognized as a special historic place. It was added to both the New Jersey Register of Historic Places and the National Register of Historic Places.

Station History

Early Days: Building the Line (1835–1838)

The train line through Madison started in 1835. It was called the Morris and Essex Railroad. The New Jersey government approved its creation. An agreement was made for the train to always stop in Madison. This agreement was signed in January 1836.

The first trains ran from Newark to Morristown. Madison was one of only three regular stops. The very first passenger train came through Madison on September 17, 1837. It was pulled by horses! Two horse-drawn cars carried about 30 people. A few months later, a steam locomotive named "Orange" took over.

The first Madison station was a simple shack. It was used for railroad services. Passengers could even wave a white handkerchief to make the train stop! For a while, Madison was the end of the line. The tracks to Morristown were not yet finished.

Station Upgrades and a Big Fire (1841–1879)

Frank Lathrop was one of the first people to regularly commute from Madison to Newark. In 1843, local people helped build a new station. By 1860, the station needed another upgrade. Samuel Tuttle, a local pastor, and Frank Lathrop helped make this happen. The Lackawanna Railroad expanded the station.

This upgrade meant moving the station building. Madison's town hall and a church also had to move. The railroad and Madison shared the cost, which was $12,000 in 1860. In 1861, the train tracks were improved. Stronger ties were used for better trains. A second track was added in 1867. The Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad took over the Morris and Essex Railroad in 1868.

Sadly, the Madison station caught fire on October 21, 1877. The fire started in a nearby grocery store. Strong winds quickly spread the flames. Several buildings burned down, including the local YMCA. The fire reached the train station in less than ten minutes. Luckily, all the tickets and luggage were saved. But the station building was completely destroyed.

People in Madison were upset about the slow progress on a new station. For a while, people had to cross the tracks to get tickets. This was very dangerous. By March 1878, materials for a new station finally arrived. Construction began soon after. The new platform was finished on January 1, 1879. In 1903, the Lackawanna Railroad added electricity to the station.

Plans for Track Elevation (1913–1914)

In 1913, the Lackawanna Railroad started buying land. They bought property between Chatham and Madison. People thought this was to make the train tracks straighter. It was also part of a bigger plan to raise the tracks.

First Plan for a New Station (December 1913)

In December 1913, the chief engineer of the Lackawanna Railroad met with Madison's town council. He explained the plan to raise the tracks. A brand new train station would be built. It would have a park around it. There would be easy ways to get to the station from different streets. The plan also included making the areas around the station look nicer.

A tunnel would connect both sides of the tracks. This tunnel would have a waiting room. The station would also have a special area for baggage and express deliveries. The plan meant that many road crossings would go under the tracks. This would make travel safer and faster. Some smaller roads would be closed at the tracks.

However, the mayor-elect of Madison did not like the idea of closing Ridgedale Avenue. He lived near that crossing. The railroad said that not many cars used it. Closing it would also save a lot of money on the project. But talks between Madison and the railroad broke down. The town council did not agree to the railroad's terms. So, the plans were put on hold for a while.

Station Layout and Services

Madison station has two train tracks. It is part of New Jersey Transit's Morristown Line. The station has two platforms, one for each direction. These platforms are low, but they have small raised sections. These "mini-high-level platforms" make it easier to get on and off the train.

You can buy tickets from machines in the tunnel under the tracks. There is also a ticket office, but it's only open on weekday mornings. Madison has three parking lots. They are on Kings Road and Prospect Street. There are 413 parking spaces in total. Ten of these are for people with disabilities. The town of Madison manages the parking. You can also find bicycle racks and lockers if you ride your bike to the station. Madison station is in fare zone 11.

There is one bus that stops at Madison station. It is the 873 bus. This bus runs six days a week, but not on Sundays. It travels between Parsippany–Troy Hills and Livingston.

Images for kids

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  The former station at Madison before the tracks were raised