Passaic Junction facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Passaic Junction
Passaic Junction Location in Bergen County, New Jersey
Country	United States
State	New Jersey
County	Bergen
Borough	Elmwood Park and Saddle Brook
Elevation	52 ft (16 m)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
GNIS feature ID	879158

Passaic Junction is a special area where train tracks meet and trains can be stored. It's owned by the New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway. You can find it right on the edge of two towns in New Jersey: Elmwood Park and Saddle Brook. This area is in Bergen County.

Train workers sometimes call this place 'PC' using a special telegraph code.

What is Passaic Junction?

Passaic Junction is mainly a "rail yard." Think of it like a big parking lot for train cars. Trains can be stored here when they are not being used. It's also a place where different train lines can connect.

History of the Yard

A long time ago, in the late 1800s, this same area was known by a different name: Coalburg Junction. It shows that trains have been important here for a very long time!

How Trains Connect Here

Passaic Junction is a key meeting point for trains. It's where the New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway connects with another big train company called Norfolk Southern. This connection is called an "interchange location." It means trains from one company can easily switch over to the tracks of the other company.

What Else is at the Yard?

Besides storing train cars for customers, Passaic Junction is surrounded by a few small businesses. These businesses might use the trains to move their products. There's also something called a "team track" here. A team track is a special side track where trucks can load or unload goods directly from train cars.

At the far west end of the yard, past a bridge that goes over the tracks, you'll find another important spot. It's called the Passaic Branch junction. This is where a specific train line, the Passaic Branch, connects.