West Orange in Essex County, New Jersey — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

The Truck of the First Commercial Electric Railroad Locomotive.

Photographed by Don Morfe, May 3, 2016

1. The Truck of the First Commercial Electric Railroad Locomotive. Marker

Inscription. Built by Tho’s Edison and operated with several cars at Menlo Park, N. J. in 1881.

Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical year for this entry is 1881.

Location. 40° 47.044′ N, 74° 14.035′ W. Marker is in West Orange, New Jersey, in Essex County. It is on Main Street. The marker is on the grounds of the Edison National Historic Site. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: West Orange NJ 07052, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in New Jersey’s North Jersey,

in Greater Newark,

and in the New York City Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American Northeast,

in the Mid-Atlantic,

and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Netherland

and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

of this marker: The Truck of the Second Commercial Electric Railroad Locomotive. (here, next to this marker); Thomas Edison’s West Orange Laboratory (a few steps from this marker); Thomas Edison Statue (within shouting distance of this marker); The Main Gate (within shouting distance of this marker); Black Maria Replica (within shouting distance of this marker); The Courtyard (within shouting distance of this marker); Thomas A. Edison Industries (within shouting distance of this marker); The Black Maria (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in West Orange.

The Truck of the First Commercial Electric Railroad Locomotive image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Don Morfe, May 3, 2016

2. The Truck of the First Commercial Electric Railroad Locomotive

Entrance to the Edison National Historic Park Site Visitor Center image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Don Morfe, May 3, 2016

3. Entrance to the Edison National Historic Park Site Visitor Center

Photographed by Don Morfe, May 3, 2016

4. The Truck of the First Commercial Electric Railroad Locomotive

Located in front of the Laboratory Building

Credits. This page was last revised on January 4, 2026. It was originally submitted on May 14, 2016, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 402 times since then and 12 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on May 14, 2016, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.