By the 19th century , shipping lines were using Hoboken as a port , and the Delaware , Lackawanna & Western Railroad ( later the Erie Lackawanna Railroad ) had became a railroad center at the waterfront . By the late 19th century , shipping lines were using Hoboken as a terminal port , and the Delaware , Lackawanna & Western Railroad ( later the Erie Lackawanna Railroad ) developed a railroad terminal at the waterfront .