The first railroad charter in the United…

The first railroad charter in the United States had been issued February 6, 1815 to the New Jersey Railroad Company on behalf of John Stevens and others.

Based on turnpike charters, it had allowed the company to build between New Brunswick and Trenton, and had become a model for future railroad charters.

The company has never done anything, but the idea has evolved into the New Jersey Railroad (NJRR), chartered in 1832 as a parallel line to the C&A.

Beginning at Jersey City, closer to New York City, but limited to building south to New Brunswick due to the C&A's influence, the C&A is to build the part from New Brunswick south to Spotswood.

In November 1832, the NJRR acquires control of the Newark Turnpike, which parallels the planned alignment east of Newark, to avoid problems caused by competition.