Operating Passenger Railroad Stations Thematic Resource (New Jersey)

The Operating Passenger Railroad Stations Thematic Resource is a list of 53 New Jersey Transit stations in New Jersey entered into the New Jersey Register of Historic Places and National Register of Historic Places in 1984 for their architectural, historical, and cultural merit.

Rail service in New Jersey began in 1834. Over the course of the next century, an expansive system operated by competing private companies crisscrossed the state, providing freight, long distance and commuter passenger service. By the mid 1970s most were financially troubled. Amtrak began operations on May 1, 1971 after having taken over long-distance passenger service considered to be in the nation's best interest, including the Northeast Corridor in New Jersey. Statewide commuter services came under the auspices of the New Jersey Department of Transportation and were operated under contract by Conrail, which had been established in 1976. New Jersey Transit Rail Operations (NJTRO) was established by 1983 when New Jersey Transit (NJT) took over operations.

New Jersey Transit in conjunction with State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) commissioned a field study concluded in 1981 of 112 train station buildings, or head houses, under its jurisdiction that had been built before World War II and were still in operation, which culminated in a report The Operating Railroad Stations of New Jersey: A Historical Survey. After a process of elimination over the next years the SHPO recommended that fifty-three stations be included in a multiple property submission (MPS) thematic nomination (TN); several had been previously designated, some as contributing properties to historic districts. The NJRHP designation took place on March 17, 1984 (#5080). The MPS was made on May 8, 1984. Forty of the stations were entered into the NRHP on June 22, 1984 and the remainder were entered as part of the completed TN on September 29, 1984 (#64000496). Many stations were along former lines that had become part of NJTRO, one of which is used by Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA).