All that remains of the CNJ Broad Street Station. Opened in 1869, it provided a direct route from downtown Newark to the CNJ terminal in Jersey city. From there passengers could go from the train to a ferry to get into Manhattan. This route handled the CNJ trains as well as connections to B&O and Reading. It had 10 tracks leading up to it on multiple platforms. The last passenger train to use the tracksd was in 1971. After that the station was abandoned but freight traffic continued to the yard behind the station to serve the CNJ freight warehouse. After CNJ merged into Conrail, the yard continued to be used into the late 70's. In the early 80's the tracks and freight house were removed, ending all traffic to the yard.
Years later the platforms and train shed were removed as part of a redevelopment of the property into a mall. But the station itself remained intact and was to be the centerpiece of the mall. Sadly the project was never finished and it too was abandoned. The building sat dormant until 2005, when demolition of the structure began to make way for the Prudential Center, the new arena for the New Jersey Devils. Most of the station was demolished, including the waiting room, ticket windows, and the gates to the platforms. All that remains is what you see in this picture, the Broad St. entrance and the ramps to the main building. This remaining section was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. Also there was talk to incorporate it into the arena project as one on the entrances but that never came to be. Without a rear wall, windows, and a missing roof section, its open to the element and deteriorating day by day.
