The pioneers in street car traffic were the Orange and Newark Horse Car Railroad Company, who obtained a charter from the Legislature in 1859. This road had its origin in the dissatisfaction which was felt among the people of the Oranges at the wretched management of the old Morris and Essex Railroad.

The owners of the new horse car company decided to construct a line from Orange to the Market Street Depot, which would enable the residents of Orange to avail themselves of the facilities offered by the New Jersey Railroad and Transportation Company (Pennsylvania Railroad). Lawsuits were filed against this proposal by business owners on Market Street. In December 1860 the courts ruled in favor of the Horse Car Railroad. The outbreak of the Civil War delayed the start of the project until the spring of 1862. The first track was laid through Market, Bank and Warren Streets to Roseville (today that path is known as West Market Street). Soon Orange was connected to the Market Street Train Depot.

From the 1871 Newark City Directory:

Orange Line, (White Signal Light), Roseville, East Orange: Leave Market Street Depot about every 15 minutes from 5:56 AM until 12:00 PM. Route from Market Street Depot, through Market, Broad, Orange, through Roseville, East Orange to High Street, Orange. Returning same route and time, last car leaving High Street, Orange 11:52, arriving at Market Street Depot 12:45 PM.

Belleville Line, (Green Signal Light) Woodside: Leave Market Street Depot about every 20 minutes from 5:30 AM until 10:30 PM. Route from Market Street Depot, through Market, Broad, Belleville Avenue., pass Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, trough Woodside to Belleville. Returning same route and time, last car leaving Belleville 11:30, arriving at Market Street Depot 12 PM.

Cars leave Clinton Avenue Depot (Blue Signal Light) for Belleville, Route through Clinton Avenue and Broad.

Broad Street Line (Red Signal LIght) to Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, Woodside: Leave Clinton Avenue Depot every few minutes from early morning until after midnight. Route from Clinton Avenue Depot, through Clinton Avenue, pass Lincoln Park, through Broad, pass N&NYRR Depot, Post Office, Centre Market, Military Park, Washington Park, M&ERR Depot, through Belleville Avenue to Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, Woodside Returning same route and time.

Littleton Avenue or Market Street Line (Red & Green Signal Light) 12th Ward School House: Leave Littleton Avenue about every half hour from about 6 AM to 10 PM. Route from Littleton Avenue through Warren, Wallace Place, Bank, Boston, South Orange Avenue, Springfield Avenue, pass Court House, through Market, pass Opera House, Market Street RR Depot to corner Ferry and Market Streets. Returning same route and time.

Newark & Clinton Line (Yellow Signal Light) to Irvington via Clinton Avenue: Leave Market Street Depot about every hour. Route through Market, Broad, pass N&NYRR Depot, Lincoln Park, through Clinton Avenue, Clinton Place, to Irvington. Returning same route and time, last car leaving Irvington 10:40 PM.

Newark & Irvington Line (Yellow Signal Light) via Springfield Avenue: Leave Market Street Depot about every 47 minutes from about 6 AM to 10 PM. Route from Market Street Depot through Market, pass Court House, through Springfield Avenue, pass Baier's and Traudt's Breweries, Woodland Cemetery to Irvington. Returning same route and time, last car leaving Irvington 10 PM. Sundays every 20 minutes.

Newark & Bloomfield Line (Yellow Signal Light) to Montclair: Leave Market Street Depot, about every half hour. Route from Market Street Depot through Market, Broad, State, High, 8th Avenue, Summer Avenue, Bloomfield Avenue, pass the Quarries, through Mt. Prospect Avenue to Bloomfield and Montclair. Returning same route and time.

Newark & Elizabeth Line (Blue Signal Light) to Waverly: Leave River Street at Centre Street NJRR Depot. Route from Centre Street Depot through Mulberry, pass Centre Market, near Chestnut Street Depot, Camp, Broad, Thomas, to Pennsylvania Avenue, Miller, Elizabeth Avenue, pass Alms House, Through Waverly, pass Fair Grounds, Evergreen Cemetery to Elizabeth. Returning same route. This route as proposed. to continue from Centre Street Depot through Front, S. Bridge, Ogden to Paterson and Newark Railroad Depot.

Purchased by the Essex Passenger Railway Company in 1885.