Central City Railway
Encyclopedia
The Central City Railway was chartered on April 19, 1859, and was the first street railway company in Syracuse, New York
. It began operations in 1860 as a horse-drawn rail. The road was discussed for many years before it was actually constructed as a link between the First Ward and Erie Canal
at Salina Street. The train line commenced at South Salina Street opposite the Syracuse House and terminated in the First Ward.
The road was extended to Onondaga Lake
about 1872, and a branch line was constructed from North Salina Street along Court Street to Third North Street (now Driscoll Avenue) in Solvay, New York
, a suburb.
During 1890, the company merged with People's Railroad
which merged again into Syracuse Rapid Transit Railway
in 1896.
The road was built during the first half of 1860 and opened in August with a "public demonstration." The first car was a small, single truck car drawn by one horse. There were no lights and no heat in the cars and often straw was placed on the floor to keep passengers feet warm. Cars were driven by one man, who acted as both driver and conductor. The track consisted of a narrow strip of strap iron spiked to wooden stringers, and had practically no foundation and was about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) in length. Fare was only five cents and there were no transfers.
The line was extended to Onondaga Lake
about 1872 and a branch line was constructed from North Salina Street along Court Street to Third North Street (now Driscoll Avenue) in Solvay, New York
, a suburb. The expansion increased the total distance covered by the road to approximately4.5 miles (7.2 km).
During 1889, directors of the company included Daniel Pratt, Jonathan C. Chase, F. S. Wicks, James Barnes, all of Syracuse
and Hy. T. Webb of Skaneateles
. Frederick S. Wicks was president, James Barnes was treasurer and secretary and George Crampton was superintendent.
By 1890, Frederick S. Wicks was president, Jonathan C. Chase was vice-president, James Barnes was secretary and treasurer and George Crampton was superintendent.
, founded in 1860, took control of the rail and on November 1, 1890, they obtained a perpetual lease of the Central City Railway and the Syracuse and Onondaga Railway
and both lines then merged into the company.
In 1896, People's Railroad
merged into Syracuse Rapid Transit Railway
.
By 1948, the company was part of the Syracuse Transit Corporation.
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
. It began operations in 1860 as a horse-drawn rail. The road was discussed for many years before it was actually constructed as a link between the First Ward and Erie Canal
Erie Canal
The Erie Canal is a waterway in New York that runs about from Albany, New York, on the Hudson River to Buffalo, New York, at Lake Erie, completing a navigable water route from the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes. The canal contains 36 locks and encompasses a total elevation differential of...
at Salina Street. The train line commenced at South Salina Street opposite the Syracuse House and terminated in the First Ward.
The road was extended to Onondaga Lake
Onondaga Lake
Onondaga Lake is a lake in Central New York located northwest of Syracuse, New York. The southeastern end of the lake and the southwestern shore abut industrial areas and expressways; the northeastern shore and northwestern end border a series of parks and museums. Although it is near the Finger...
about 1872, and a branch line was constructed from North Salina Street along Court Street to Third North Street (now Driscoll Avenue) in Solvay, New York
Solvay, New York
Solvay is a village located in Onondaga County, New York, and a suburb of the city of Syracuse. According to the 2000 census, the village had a total population of 6,845...
, a suburb.
During 1890, the company merged with People's Railroad
People's Railroad
The People's Railroad was a street railway chartered in 1887 and opened for business in 1889 in Syracuse, New York. The total length of the line was with branches each . In 1896, the company merged into Syracuse Rapid Transit Railway.-History:...
which merged again into Syracuse Rapid Transit Railway
Syracuse Rapid Transit Railway
The Syracuse Rapid Transit Railway, an interurban rail, was chartered on May 21, 1896. The company was a consolidation of the Syracuse Street Railroad Company, the Syracuse Consolidated Street Railway Company and the People's Railroad Company which was formerly leased to the Syracuse Street...
in 1896.
History
The route was originally designated in the charter to run through Lodi Street, Lock Street and Wolf Street, but it was subsequently changed to Salina Street.The road was built during the first half of 1860 and opened in August with a "public demonstration." The first car was a small, single truck car drawn by one horse. There were no lights and no heat in the cars and often straw was placed on the floor to keep passengers feet warm. Cars were driven by one man, who acted as both driver and conductor. The track consisted of a narrow strip of strap iron spiked to wooden stringers, and had practically no foundation and was about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) in length. Fare was only five cents and there were no transfers.
The line was extended to Onondaga Lake
Onondaga Lake
Onondaga Lake is a lake in Central New York located northwest of Syracuse, New York. The southeastern end of the lake and the southwestern shore abut industrial areas and expressways; the northeastern shore and northwestern end border a series of parks and museums. Although it is near the Finger...
about 1872 and a branch line was constructed from North Salina Street along Court Street to Third North Street (now Driscoll Avenue) in Solvay, New York
Solvay, New York
Solvay is a village located in Onondaga County, New York, and a suburb of the city of Syracuse. According to the 2000 census, the village had a total population of 6,845...
, a suburb. The expansion increased the total distance covered by the road to approximately4.5 miles (7.2 km).
Company management
By 1875, James M. Ellis was president; Joel Thayer, vice-president; T. H. Fitch, treasurer; J. C. Chase, secretary; and S. D. Evans was superintendent. The business office was located in Mechanic's Bank at Warren and East Genesee Streets in the Larned Block.During 1889, directors of the company included Daniel Pratt, Jonathan C. Chase, F. S. Wicks, James Barnes, all of Syracuse
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
and Hy. T. Webb of Skaneateles
Skaneateles (village), New York
Skaneateles is a village in the town of Skaneateles, Onondaga County, New York, United States. The village is named from and located on the shores of Skaneateles Lake, one of the Finger Lakes. The village, as of the 2000 census, has a population of 2,616 residents. The main highway through the...
. Frederick S. Wicks was president, James Barnes was treasurer and secretary and George Crampton was superintendent.
By 1890, Frederick S. Wicks was president, Jonathan C. Chase was vice-president, James Barnes was secretary and treasurer and George Crampton was superintendent.
Operations
During 1890, the company employed both 47 and 51 pound rail. They owned 18 rail cars and 64 horses.People's railroad
On April 4, 1889, People's RailroadPeople's Railroad
The People's Railroad was a street railway chartered in 1887 and opened for business in 1889 in Syracuse, New York. The total length of the line was with branches each . In 1896, the company merged into Syracuse Rapid Transit Railway.-History:...
, founded in 1860, took control of the rail and on November 1, 1890, they obtained a perpetual lease of the Central City Railway and the Syracuse and Onondaga Railway
Syracuse and Onondaga Railway
The Syracuse and Onondaga Railway, a horse-drawn city railway, was chartered on April 29, 1863, in Syracuse, New York. The line commenced in Downtown Syracuse at Washington Street and terminated at Oakwood Cemetery at Brighton Avenue where it connected with the Onondaga Valley Railroad...
and both lines then merged into the company.
In 1896, People's Railroad
People's Railroad
The People's Railroad was a street railway chartered in 1887 and opened for business in 1889 in Syracuse, New York. The total length of the line was with branches each . In 1896, the company merged into Syracuse Rapid Transit Railway.-History:...
merged into Syracuse Rapid Transit Railway
Syracuse Rapid Transit Railway
The Syracuse Rapid Transit Railway, an interurban rail, was chartered on May 21, 1896. The company was a consolidation of the Syracuse Street Railroad Company, the Syracuse Consolidated Street Railway Company and the People's Railroad Company which was formerly leased to the Syracuse Street...
.
By 1948, the company was part of the Syracuse Transit Corporation.