The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1908-01-07


'orhe d. L. and w. has six grade
crossings in Montclair, as follows:
greenwood Avenue-This is the end
of the line and is only used by the en-
CINE moving slowly halfway across
the roadway, for the purpose of switch
ing to the turntable.. This crossing IS
entirely unprotected, but there is ample
room for vehicles to pass beyond the
end of the tracks. There should, how
ever, be a sign there, and the dense
s%hrubbery to the north of the track
on the railroad property should be re-
moved.
"Grove Street-Here there are two
main tracks and four switch tracks;
practically level, and is protected by
sign. gates, Hagmen and bell; This
crossing is near the depot and all trains
"GrOve Street-About seventy feet
south of the main track, is a switch
track. entirely unprotected, at the Dot
Harrison Milling Company only, cars
pass over 1t rather infreduently and
are consequently unexpected. 1t is a
from behind the mill, which is on the
side track line. and the engine is on,
the road suddenly and without warm
ing. 1 consider this a dangerous cross
.sPIne street-Here there are two
main tracks and one switch track, pro-
tected by sign, gates and fagmen and
bell. 1t is practically level on a slight
@Bay street-Consists of two main
tracks and two switch tracks on the
level at an acute angle. Protected by
gates, sign, hagmen and bell.
"BlOomneld Avenue-This is the most
dangerous crossing in the town, coun-
ty and. l think, the State. The steam
railroad crosses at an acute angle on
a steep grade. The approach from
the east Is through a cut, causing the
engine whistle to echo so that the train
] a y r1 ra4nh FnFthnr nxrtaN fho~ n
really is, and one cannot tell whether
it is approaching from the east or
west. The crossing is protected by
gates, sign and lagmen. and a bell is
runs as the gates are lowered, and also
a bell inside the nagman's shanty,
which rings TO notify him of the APP
Street Railway Company cross the
tracks. of the steam railroad at this
point at grade. The approach from
either direction is a steep down grade.
The trolley crossing is protected by
a derailing switch, and the conductor
Of each car passes over the crossing.
There have already been a number of
accidents at this crossing, and on two
occasions the trolley cars, after being
derailed, stopped on the steam railroad
the abutment of the bridge over the
brook. and In another the steam engine
was stopped within a few feet of the
trolley car. Bloomfield avenue is a
county road under control of the Free
holders of Essex County, and though
the Town Council of Montclair has sent
numerous communications to them and
also TO the North Jersey Street Rail-
way Company and the D., L.. and w,
urging that an overhead bridge be con-
structed for the trolley at this point,
nothing definite has yet been dom
toward the erection of such a struc-
ture. I nave been told that this cross
Ing was cited at the trial of the rail-
road officials after the Clifton avenue
accident as being even more dangerous
than the other crossing. All the gates
at crossings on the D.. l.. and w. in
this town are operated all night as well
as all day.
'gThe New York and Greenwood Lake
Railroad has its gatemen at such
crossings as IL has them only from
a. m. TO Z p. m.
"On the New York and Greenwood
Lake division OF the Erie there are
fourteen grade crossings and three
crossings in Montclair. as follows:
Fifth Avenue-Here there are two