Membership Meeting - January 2023 - Railroads of Picatinny Arsenal

The US Army's Picatinny Arsenal is located in the Highlands of northwestern Morris County.  Picatinny is situated on approximately 5,853 acres and stretches northwards from Route 15 towards Green Pond.  The Arsenal specializes in the research, development, acquisition and lifecycle of advanced conventional weapon systems and ammunition.  The Cultural Resources Program (CRP) located in the Environmental Affairs Division of the Directorate of Public Works manages the historic structures, buildings, districts, and archaeological sites located across the Arsenal.  

We were joined by Jason Huggan and Jeff Ranu. Their presentation demonstrates a historical background of Picatinny Arsenal’s Railroads that were used to transport ammunition, equipment, and personnel across the installation, along with the Wharton & Northern Railroad, which was installed starting in 1887 with a 99-year lease.  At one time, Picatinny had over 42 miles of railroads across the installation.