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History
The line opened in 1935 along the old Morris Canal right-of-way, from Broad
Street, at the old Newark Public Service Terminal, north to Heller Parkway. WPA
artists decorated the underground stations with art-deco scenes from life on the
defunct Morris Canal. The southernmost part, south of Warren Street, was capped
with a new road, known as Raymond Boulevard. Only one grade crossing was present
on the original subway; the line crosses Orange Avenue at grade so it can pass
over the below-grade Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad (now NJT
Morristown Line) immediately to the north.
In 1937, the subway was extended to a lower level of the new Newark Penn
Station. Additionally, the Cedar Street Subway, which had been used to access
the Newark Public Service Terminal from Washington Street, was pushed through to
a junction with the subway between Broad Street and Penn Station. An extension
to North 6th Street, subsequently re-named Franklin Avenue (now Branch Brook
Park Station), opened in 1940.
The subway was originally operated by the Public Service Corporation as its #7
line. Other streetcar routes used parts of the subway, with ramps to the
surface:
Via Cedar Street Subway: #13 Broad Street, #17 Paterson, #27 Mount Prospect, #43
Jersey City
Warren Street Ramp: #21 Main Street—West Orange via Market Street
Norfolk Street Ramp: #23 Central Avenue
Orange Street Grade Crossing: #21 Main Street—West Orange via Orange Street
Bloomfield Avenue Ramp: #29 Bloomfield Avenue
Until June 5, 1952, the Roseville Car House, on the south side of Main Street
(on the #21 line) near the east border of East Orange, was used for the #7 line.
Since then, Newark Penn Station has been used for storage and maintenance. A new
shops and yard complex opened with the extension to Grove Street, beyond the end
of passenger service at Grove Street.
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