CENTRAL RAILROAD COMPANY OF NEW JER SEY, THE. This American railway had its beginning in the Elizabethtown and Somerville railroad, incorporated in New Jersey in 1831, and in the Somerville and Easton railroad, incorporated in 1847. By a supplementary act the name was changed, on April 23, 1849, to The Central Railroad Company of New Jersey. It ex tended its lines and opened them for operation, as follows: 1852, White House, New Jersey to Phillipsburg, New Jersey, 28 m.; 1864, Elizabeth, New Jersey, to Jersey City, New Jersey, 11.5o m.; 1872, Elizabethport, New Jersey, to Brills Junction, Newark, New Jersey, 5.45 miles. Since its incorporation, the company has grown in mileage largely through merger of other companies. In 1935 the system extended westward from Jersey City, New Jersey, to Scran ton, Pennsylvania, and central and southern New Jersey is served through lines extending from Jersey City and Newark, through the centre of the State to Bivalve, and to Greenwich Pier on Delaware bay. A line also serves the New Jersey coast resort points, and steamers are operated between New York and Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey, during the summer months. In all there were 449 m. of road in New Jersey and 239 m. in Pennsylvania, a total of 688 m. of road, and a total of 1,940.9 m. of tracks.
The entire line from Jersey City, New Jersey, to Scranton, Pennsylvania, serves a highly industrial region, including steel and cement industries. It is also the route of heavy anthracite shipments from mines to tidewater.