Lake & Chester Junctions - Then & Now
DL&W, Wharton & Northern
At Lake Junction, the Wharton & Northern, later a part of the CNJ's High Bridge Branch, crossed the DL&W's Chester Branch.
About a hundred feet over, the Chester branch terminated at its connection with the Boonton Line, then the Lackawanna's high
speed freight main. The Lackawanna recognized both of these as a part of Chester Junction.
Lake Junction also had a small interchange yard, on the CNJ right-of-way. In addition, a short branch to the Hercules
ammunition plant (known as the 'Gunpowder Branch') broke off of the yard ladder. At the far end of the yard, the tracks
again condensed to and ducked underneath the Boonton Line in a concrete culvert.
This image is looking down the interchange yard, away from Lake Junction and towards the Boonton Line overpass. The track
leaving the yard to the left is the Gunpowder branch. Notice the amount of sand on the tracks - this is due to the leaking
covered hoppers that would sit in this area before being delivered to Hercules. The sand was necessary for making their
explosive products.
This is more or less what the yard looks like today. The cars at right are stored there by the Morristown & Erie, who
operates the remaining trackage today. These tank cars are for Bayway Refinery. The track the photographer is standing on
is the one to the left of where he stood 20 years before - the switch leads to the intact but overgrown Gunpowder branch.
This is the far end of the small interchange yard at Lake Junction, as seen from the top of the Boonton Line culvert.
The track continued through Picatinny Arsenal en route to Green Pond Junction.
Twenty-four years later, this end of the yard is now overgrown. The M&E does not need to use the far throat of the yard,
and instead operates it as a stub-end facility. The tracks, however, are intact here - some of which is still visible through
the foliage.
More Then & Now pictures of Lake Juction to come!
This page was written by Anthony R. Tofani
Anthony@GSMRRClub.org
Doug Earls can also answer any questions about Lake, Chester, or Hopatcong Junctions
Doug@GSMRRClub.org
Last Updated February 23, 2005
For information about the GSMRRClub, feel free to contact us!
Info@GSMRRClub.org
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