Radburn station facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Radburn
The 1929 station depot at Radburn is on the left in May 2014.
Coordinates	40°56′23″N 74°07′18″W / 40.9396°N 74.1217°W / 40.9396; -74.1217
Owned by	New Jersey Transit
Platforms	2 side platforms
Tracks	2
Connections	NJT Bus: 145 and 171
Other information
Fare zone	6
History
Opened	October 1, 1881
Rebuilt	April–October 1929
Traffic
Passengers (2012)	1,436 (average weekday)
Services
Preceding station NJ Transit Following station Glen Rock–Boro Hall toward Suffern Bergen County Line Broadway toward Hoboken
Former services Preceding station Erie Railroad Following station Glen Rock-Bergen Line toward Ridgewood Bergen County Railroad Fair Lawn toward Jersey City
Radburn-Fair Lawn Station
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
The depot at Radburn in May 2014.
Location in Bergen County, New Jersey Show map of Bergen County, New Jersey Location in New Jersey Show map of New Jersey Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	Pollitt Drive, Fair Lawn, New Jersey
Area	0.3 acres (0.1 ha)
Built	1929
Architect	Clarence S. Stein
Architectural style	Dutch Colonial Revival
MPS	Operating Passenger Railroad Stations TR
NRHP reference No.	84002580
Significant dates
Added to NRHP	June 22, 1984

Radburn is a New Jersey Transit train station located in Fair Lawn, New Jersey. It serves the Bergen County Line and is known for its unique Dutch Colonial Revival architecture style. The station is found on Fair Lawn Avenue, within the special Radburn section of Fair Lawn. It is one of two train stations in Fair Lawn, the other being Broadway Station.

The station was designed by Clarence Stein and built in 1929. It was part of the original plan for the Radburn community. Because of its special design and history, Radburn Station has been listed on both the state and national lists of historic places since 1984. It is still used today, with a station agent available on weekday mornings.

The History of Radburn Station

The old station building at Radburn, when it was called Fair Lawn Station.

The Radburn community was built in a great spot because it was right on the Erie Railroad line. This meant people could easily travel to places like Hoboken, Newark, and even Manhattan. The people who planned Radburn knew how important a train station would be for connecting the new town to the wider New York metropolitan area.

In July 1928, they suggested building a new station called Fairlawn Station Square. They planned for a station building that would cost about $60,000 (which was a lot of money back then!). This new station would serve the first 200 homes built in the Radburn neighborhood. It would connect passengers to Suffern to the north and Hoboken to the southeast.

Building the New Station

A brand new train station was built on the Bergen County Line in 1929. This new building replaced an older wooden freight station that had been in the area. The famous architect Clarence Stein designed the new station. He chose the Dutch Colonial Revival style to match the modern and efficient look of the Radburn neighborhood.

The new Radburn station had three main parts. The middle section held a large waiting room and the ticket office. This main area had a special sloped roof that hung over the edges. The south side of the station had the restrooms. The north side contained the office for the track supervisor, a baggage room, and a porch where passengers could wait. The station was built with a sandstone design, tall 14-foot ceilings, a slate roof, and wooden siding.

How the Station Works

Radburn Station has two tracks, and each track has a low-level platform next to it. These are called side platforms.