Hike #518; Oakland to Mountainside

 Hike #518 10/10/10

10/10/10 Oakland to Mountainside with "Action Adam" Stevens

Action Trailer Adam!

This next hike would be another impromptu one with Action Adam covering two sections of old rail lines I had wanted to see, from Oakland NJ on the New York, Susquehanna, and Western to Mountainview on the former Greenwood Lake Railroad. After meeting at the Mountainview train station, Action Adam and I shuttled north to Oakland, to a lakefront park along an impounded section of the Ramapo River across from the NYS&W Railroad tracks.

A lake on the Ramapo River in Oakland NJ

NYS&W Railroad tracks, Oakland NJ; view east

We began following the NYS&W heading southwest parallel with West Oakland Ave. I had followed all of the NYS&W pretty much from it's end in Stroudsburg PA to nearby Butler area, but wanted to get this next section in.

Some sort of siding from the NYS&W railroad near Pompton Lakes

The tracks took us through what looked like an undeveloped area, then into another developed area. We entered the town of Pompton Lakes and paralleled Cannonball Road. I had read a book about vanishing iron works in the Ramapos when I was in las Vegas and there was a long chapter on this. Much of it is now a trail further north.

Pompton Lakes Station

We crossed Wanaque Ave and stopped in at a Domino's Pizza, as well as a liquor store for sustenance. There were two pizzas for like 8 dollars or something, some great deal. We got them to go and then headed down the tracks eating our pizza.

Eating Dominos Pizza on the tracks in Pompton Lakes

We continued down the tracks and crossed over a large through style truss bridge, followed by Ringwood Ave.

Trestle, I think over the Pequannock River in Pompton Lakes

Quarry view just west of Pompton Lakes

We soon came to where the Greenwood Lake Railroad once crossed the NYS&W. We were going to folow this line to the south, but first I wanted to connect it to previous hikes I'd done, so we continued ahead on the NYS&W.

Frog cross track of NYS&W and former Greenwood Lake Railroad

We soon came to the underpass beneath Rt 287. There was some impressive looking graffiti as well as a noose hanging from the underside of the bridge!

Graffiti under the Rt 287 underpass

Graffiti under the Rt 287 underpass

A noose tied to the underside of the Rt 287 bridge

Graffiti under the Rt 287 bridge, Riverdale area

Underside of the Rt 287 bridge, Riverdale NJ

Underside of the Rt 287 bridge, Riverdale NJ

We continued on the tracks across the Paterson-Hamburg Turnpike and continued on. On our left was a junction with another former siding or spur line from the main one.

Former spur line in Butler NJ

We soon reached the grade crossing of Mathews Ave. This was where I'd last left off hiking the NYS&W eastbound. I had done a hike with my ex girlfriend Cathy to this point, and we turned right up to the shopping centers along Rt 23 on that occasion.

Beginning of a former spur line, probably an old quarry access

Action Adam and I turned around and then returned to the old spur line we had spotted earlier and began walking it parallel with the active tracks.

Former NYS&W spur line near Riverdale and Butler NJ

The abandonment led slowly away from the active tracks hugging a hillside to the right. It became a bit more overgrown and then was covered over with rock from the right. We had to leave the right of way and bushwhack to the left back to Hamburg Paterson Turnpike to regain the active tracks.

We headed back to the Rt 287 underpass and then set our pizza box on fire on the tracks beneath it. We ran off and walked behind a long pile of railroad ties to stay out of sight, then continued on the tracks back to the Greenwood Lake Railroad.

Our burning pizza box

NYS&W Railroad in Riverdale NJ

We turned right on the former Greenwood Lake Railroad, which was still somewhat active at this point. We immediately crossed a small trestle as we walked south on this much lesser used line, now just a spur. The line used to run all the way from Greenwood Lake south toward Newark.

Former Greenwood Lake Railroad in Riverdale NJ

We saved a turtle stuck between the rails in Riverdale

While we were walking we came across a turtle stuck between the two rails. It was lucky we found him there still alive, or he would certainly have died. I put him down along the tracks and he took off. He must have been very thursty.

Riverdale Railroad Station

We came to the Riverdale Railroad station at the Paterson-Hamburg Turnpike, and the tracks ahead of here were gated off with chain link fence. We were forced to turn left along the highway, and then go right onto Post Road which sort of ran parallel.

The road took us through a pretty new development as it headed south.

Former route of the Pequannock River to the left, and an old mill race to the right along Post Lane.

As we reached a sharp bend in the road, I was struck by a beautiful old stone house on the left side of the road. It was quite out of place among all of the new development houses. While we were looking, the home owner came out and we chatted with him for quite a while about he history of the place.

Left is the former route of Pequannock River, right was an old mill race.

The main explained to us that there was once a mill on the site, and that this road was once the major through travel route. The ditches in his back yard were to the right  a former mill race, and to the left, the actual former route of the Pequannock River. He went on to explain that a bad flood had come through the area years ago and changed the entire course of the river through the area!

This house was formerly a barn for the homestead across the street.

He then pointed out that a house across the street, which by no means looks historic, was actually the barn for the homestead he was living in, but it was converted for use as a home. We were in the right place at the right time to meet this guy!

This was an old homestead which used to sit beside the Pequannock River

We continued along Post Lane which did lead back across the tracks, but here too it was also fenced off heavily. We instead turned left parallel onto Dalton Drive to the Riverdale Boro Park. This park had what appeared to be another section of the former Pequannock River before the flood changed it's course. We were able to walk along it through this park.

Riverdale Boro Park. Possibly the former route of Pequannock River.

Riverdale Boro Park. This might have been the Pequannock River before a flood changed it.

We walked through the park where there was a ball game going on, and then into a wooded section where a foot bridge led out of the park.

Riverdale Park pathway

To the right of us was a standing body of water, apparently an inlet of the Pequannock River, and probably the river route prior to the flooding that changed it as well.

Pond in an inlet of the Pequannock River in Riverdale, probably the former river route prior to flooding.

We came out of the park at the end of a corperate drive and headed south along it. Everyone attending the ball game in the park was parked in the spaces at this building, which may have been abandoned. We headed south to Riverdale Ave and turned right back to the tracks.

Former Greenwood Lake Railroad

There were no fences along this section, so we could get right back on it with no problem. We walked south and were soon into a wooded section. Houses were still visible but it was much more secluded. I think we crossed one more road at grade.  I was a little concerned with being there and my ability to run because the place was heavily signed as state property.

Signage in Riverdale NJ

Former Greenwood Lake Railroad passing under Rt 23

The former Greenwood Lake Railroad abandonment entering Pompton Plains

We followed the tracks through a gate that no longer closed and under Rt 23 heading south. Soon, the tracks started becoming overgrown, and then soon after that there were no tracks left at all. We continued on across Woodland Place and reached Rt 504 at the old Pompton Plains Railroad Station.

Old Pompton Plains Railroad Station along Greenwood Lake Railroad bed

I always love a nice old railroad station, and this one was now the home to an historical society. Today was our lucky day, because it was open! We went in and met two guys who were taking care of the place. There were all sorts of great pictures and maps throughout the building. We talked to them for a while about the history of the area, and they told us that people use the rail bed to the south as an unofficial trail all the time. It was indeed proposed to be turned into a rail trail, but the state property signs to the north were a bit unnerving. I don't remember seeing any this far south though.

Pompton Plains Station along abandoned Greenwood Lake Railroad

After our visit we continued south on the rail bed it was very clear and easy to walk. It was also very exposed to light for a lot of it, but at some points the used pathway went to the right of the former rail bed under the shade. We crossed over Alexander Ave, and then soon over the Newark-Pompton Turnpike and continued. It was open for a bit but then went into some thicker woods. It appeared that the section had been mowed off for public use.

Former Greenwood Lake Railroad south of Pompton Plains.

Action Opossum Adam

After a short while the right of way became overgrown. No one had made any effort to go any further clearing it ahead, and so we bushwhacked it as best we could. It got really rough at times, and to our right was a lot of earth that had long ago been pushed onto the rail bed. It must have been a former quarry to our west or something. Eventually, we came across more rails left intact, with large trees growing through them.

Former Greenwood Lake Railroad south of Pompton Plains

It was obvious this section hadn't been used in quite some time. Judging by the size of the trees I'd say it saw it's last train in the late 1980s. We continued bushwhacking through until we came to a property with all sorts of junk laying around. There were all sorts of cars and just random things piled everywhere. The old railroad was still overgrown directly to our left, but the drive into this place was right alongside it. We walked through in awe of the place and the mounds of junk, but I was cautious. Action Adam banged on something, not nearly as concerned as me.

As we walked, we approached the old railroad trestle over the Pompton River. I had seen this before from the other side, and this side bore little difference. It had a giant steel barricade over it that we would have to climb to get across. As I reached the bridge, we heard a motor behind us start up. The owner of the house had dogs out there and they had started barking like crazy as we went by, so it was only a matter of time. Whatever eccentric owns this place might not think twice to do some bodily harm, so I threw myself over the top. Adam hurried right behind me, with the guy on his quad fast heading for us.

Former Greenwood Lake Railroad crossing the Pompton River

We had to jump down from the top of the steel barricade onto the deck of the bridge, and below us was just lots of dead leaves so we had to literally take a leap of faith not knowing if there was going to be anything there significant enough to support us. We made it over, and then hurried across the bridge.

Greenwood Lake Railroad, Pompton River Trestle

My heart was racing from this one. Planks had been placed across the trestle because the ties were too rotted to walk on alone, and lots of weeds were growing out of the deck. Once on the other side, there was a second steel barrier over the way to cross. We looked over first, then hurried across it as best we could. We could still hear an ATV engine, but heading off another way now. I knew the nearest bridge was the one for Newark Pompton Turnpike up stream, but it would take anyone a couple of minutes to get there so we had a bit of time.

Crossing the steel barrier that blocked the Greenwood Lake Railroad's Pompton Trestle

We immediately crossed over Haul Road and headed south. I kept on looking back along the rail bed which was not a road, but wide enough to accomodate any truck which that guy was certain to have, seeing as though he'd accumulated so much shit on his property. We kept a good pace heading south.

Former Greenwood Lake Railroad just north of Wayne NJ

The tracks were to the east of us in the weeds, and the good path followed right along side. The accessability continued to freak me out for a little while. We were near enough to houses, and we had a means of escape over wetlands to the left. I think I saw remnants of what might have been the Morris Canal in there, but I'm not sure what it's exact whereabouts were in this area. I had walked it in 2009, or parallel to it, but couldn't remember.

Abandoned Greenwood Lake Railroad in Wayne NJ

Possibly the old Morris Canal in Wayne NJ?

This section of the railroad bed soon took us out behind a truck storage place of some kind in Wayne NJ. We walked between the trucks which led us out to Ryerson Ave. Across the street, the tracks were totally overgrown and seemingly impossible to follow.

Action Trailor Adam, Wayne NJ

We crossed, and instead of walking the tracks we walked Railroad Ave along it. This led as I recall to a Jewish Center or something. We passed through the back of the parking lot of this place and entered a grassy area to the south of it. We continued parallel with the tracks until it looked feasable to ascend the low fill back onto them.

Greenwood Lake Railroad in Wayne NJ

Former Greenwood Lake Railroad between Wayne and Mountainside NJ

After a short while, the trees and vegetation began to diminish and we could see down the tracks clearly. We continued walking and soon came to the former Lackawanna Railroad's Boonton Branch, now NJ Transit. After NJ Transit took over the Boonton Branch, they also had some of the Greenwood Lake Railroad. In this area, the original Boonton Branch went to the left, and is now abandoned; NJ Transit had the tracks turn right and follow Greenwood Lake Railroad south from here. We continued straight along the tracks across Rt 202 and to the Mountainside NJ Transit Station to complete our great hike.

Mountainside Station on former Greenwood Lake Railroad.