West Milford Combining his technical drawing skills with a lifelong interest in railroad and industrial archeology, local historian Jim Schmitt of West Milford has released his first book, titled Historic Rails of The New York Susquehanna & Western Railroad. What began as casual research into abandoned industrial rail sidings in Paterson ended up leading the author on a six-year journey uncovering the interesting history of this northern New Jersey freight railroad. The journey led back in time to 1872 when the New Jersey Midland Railroad built the original line from Middletown, N.Y., across the rugged North Jersey Highlands, through Paterson and Hackensack to Jersey City. Seizing opportunity to supply the industries that were quickly sprouting up in places like Paterson and Passaic, the railroad expanded west to reach the coal country of Pennsylvania. Reorganizing in 1881, the New Jersey Midland Railroad merged with several subsidiaries to form the New York, Susquehanna & Western Railroad. The book is presented in the form of scale maps, depicting the railroad from Jersey City west to the Delaware River. The drawings detail customer sidings, industrial layouts, bridges, road crossings, engineering and construction information, as well as some local history of the various locations the railroad passes through. Touted as an archeological guide as well, Schmitt presents the details of the past in the context of what is there today. Especially interesting are places like Crystal Lake, where the original route of the railroad, the passenger depot, the lake, and the road that led to it have all been swallowed by the construction of Route 287 and 208. Even more dramatic is the disappearance of the massive industrial complex that crowded the banks of the Hudson River in Edgewater. Vast train yards and factories have disappeared without a trace. Only an abandoned, flooded, and overgrown tunnel beneath the Palisades marks where the NYS&W once accessed their massive waterfront terminal and coal loading facility. Historic Rails of the New York, Susquehanna & Western Railroad retails for $35 plus shipping and handling and can be purchased at www.historicrailmaps.com