Erie Railroad
Encyclopedia
The Erie Railroad was a railroad that operated in New York State, New Jersey
, Pennsylvania
, Ohio
, Indiana
, and Illinois
, originally connecting New York City
with Lake Erie
. Its mainline route proved influential in the development and economic growth of the Southern Tier
, including cities such as Binghamton, New York
and Elmira, New York
.
While the Erie enjoyed financial ups and downs, during the golden age of American railroads it was largely successful; as a consequence of its success it was able to extend itself westward to Cleveland, Ohio
and Chicago
.
In 1960 the Erie merged with the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad
to form the Erie Lackawanna Railroad, becoming part of Conrail in 1976. In 1983, remnants of the line became part of New Jersey Transit rail operations
, including its Main Line. Today, most of the Erie Railroad routes are operated by Norfolk Southern.
The New York and Erie Rail Road was chartered April 24, 1832 by Governor of New York, Enos T. Throop
to connect the Hudson River
at Piermont, north of New York City
, west to Lake Erie
at Dunkirk. On February 16, 1841 the railroad was authorized to cross into the northeast corner of Pennsylvania
on the west side of the Delaware River
. Construction began in 1836, and it opened from Piermont to Goshen on September 23, 1841. After some financial problems, construction resumed in August 1846, and the next section, to Port Jervis, opened on January 7, 1848. Further extensions opened to Binghamton December 27, 1848, Owego January 1, 1849, and the full length to Dunkirk May 19, 1851. At Dunkirk steamboat
s continued across Lake Erie
to Detroit, Michigan
.
The line was built as wide gauge
; this was believed to be the best way to prevent traffic being lost to other lines.
In 1848 the railroad built the Starrucca Viaduct
, a stone railroad bridge over Starrucca Creek
in Lanesboro, Pennsylvania
which has survived and is still in use today. The viaduct is 1040 feet (317 m) long, 100 feet (30.5 m) high and 25 feet (7.6 m) wide at the top. It is the oldest stone rail bridge in Pennsylvania
still in use.
The Erie's charter was amended April 8, 1845 to allow the building of the Newburgh Branch, running from the main line near Harriman north-northeast to Newburgh, also on the Hudson River. The branch opened January 8, 1850. It was later used as a connection to the New York and New England Railroad
via a car float
operation across the river to Beacon, New York.
The Paterson and Ramapo Railroad and Union Railroad opened in 1848, providing a connection between the Erie at the village of Suffern
in Ramapo
and Jersey City, across the Hudson River
from New York City
. Through ticketing began in 1851, with a required change of cars at Ramapo due to the gauge break. In 1852 the Erie leased the two companies along with the Paterson and Hudson River Railroad
, and Erie trains begin operating to the New Jersey Rail Road's Jersey City
terminal on November 1853 after a third rail
for wide gauge
was finished.
In 1852 the Buffalo and Rochester Railroad
, part of the New York Central Railroad
system, completed a new alignment between Buffalo
and Batavia. The alignment from Buffalo to Attica was sold to the Erie's Buffalo and New York City Railroad, a reorganization of the Attica and Hornellsville Railroad, and converted to the Erie's wide gauge
. The extension from Attica southeast to Hornellsville opened on November 17, 1852, giving the Erie access to Buffalo, a better terminal than Dunkirk.
The Erie began operating the Chemung Railroad in 1850; this provided a branch from Horseheads
north to Watkins
. The Canandaigua and Elmira Railroad opened in 1851 as a northern extension from Watkins to Canandaigua and was operated by the Erie until 1853. At this point, the Erie subleased the Chemung Railroad to the Canandaigua and Elmira. The C&E went bankrupt in 1857 and was reorganized in 1859 as the Elmira, Canandaigua and Niagara Falls Railroad, at which time the Erie leased it again. The Chemung Railroad reverted to the Erie in 1858 during the bankruptcy.
The Canandaigua and Niagara Falls Railroad continued this line beyond Canandaigua to North Tonawanda with trackage rights
over the Buffalo and Niagara Falls Railroad
to Niagara Falls and the Niagara Falls Suspension Bridge
into Ontario
. This was leased by the Canandaigua and Elmira from its opening in 1853 to 1858, when it went bankrupt, was reorganized as the Niagara Bridge and Canandaigua Railroad, and was leased by New York Central Railroad
. The NYC converted it to standard gauge
and blocked the Erie from it.
The Erie pushed southward into the coal fields of Elk County, Pennsylvania
, Jefferson County, Pennsylvania
, and Clearfield County, Pennsylvania
to acquire a source of fuel for its locomotives. This action began with the February 26, 1859 merger of two earlier roads to form the Buffalo, Bradford and Pittsburgh Railroad Company. The new organization was sponsored by the New York and Erie Railroad Company, later known as the Erie. The B.B.& P. ran for 25.97 miles through Bradford, Pennsylvania
after connecting with the primary line of the Erie at Carrollton, New York
. The line came to a point known as Gilesville, the site of a bituminous mine, by January 1, 1866.
due to the large costs of building, and on June 25, 1861 it was reorganized as the Erie Railway. This was the first bankruptcy
of a major trunk line in the U.S.
In 1863 the Erie leased the Buffalo, New York and Erie Railroad and its subsidiary the Rochester and Genesee Valley Railroad, jointly operating it with the Pennsylvania Railroad
's Northern Central Railway
. The BNY&E had taken over the Buffalo and New York City Railroad in 1857 due to the Erie's bankruptcy, and the BNY&E used it west of Attica to reach Buffalo
from its southeast end at Corning. The R&GV split from the main line at Avon, running north to Rochester. A joint through line was created between Philadelphia and Buffalo. At this time, the Northern Central leased the Elmira and Williamsport Railroad, forming the part of the line from Elmira south into Pennsylvania
. After disputes due to charges of the Erie using its own line via Hornellsville (the B&NYC) too much, and problems with the gauge break at Elmira, this contract was cancelled in 1866. The Elmira, Jefferson and Canandaigua Railroad (and its Chemung Railroad) was transferred to the Northern Central, and a third rail was built to allow the Northern Central's standard gauge
trains to operate over it.
To restore access to the Niagara Falls Suspension Bridge
, the Erie got the Suspension Bridge and Erie Junction Railroad chartered in 1868. The line opened in 1871, running from eastern Buffalo
to Tonawanda and then alongside the New York Central Railroad
's Buffalo and Niagara Falls Railroad
to the bridge. The Erie International Railway, chartered 1872 and opened 1874, provided a branch to the International Bridge, and the Lockport and Buffalo Railway, chartered 1871 and opened 1879, provided a branch to Lockport.
In the Erie War
of the 1860s, four well-known financiers struggled for control of the company; Cornelius Vanderbilt
versus Daniel Drew
, James Fisk
and Jay Gould
. Gould ultimately triumphed in this struggle, but was forced to relinquish control in 1872-73, due to unfavourable public opinion following his involvement in the 1869 gold-rigging scandal
and to his loss of $1 million of Erie Railroad stock to the British con-man Lord Gordon-Gordon
.
In 1869, the railroad moved its main shops facilities from Dunkirk to Buffalo
. Rather than demolishing the shops in Dunkirk, the facility was leased to Horatio G. Brooks
, the former chief engineer of the NY&E who was at the controls of the first train into Dunkirk in 1851. Horatio Brooks used the facilities to begin Brooks Locomotive Works
, which remained in independent business until 1901 when it was merged with seven other locomotive manufacturing firms to create ALCO
. ALCO continued new locomotive production at this facility until 1934, then closed the plant completely in 1962.
The Erie still did not see profits and via bankruptcy was sold in 1878 to become the New York, Lake Erie and Western Railroad.
The New York, Lake Erie, and Western Coal and Railroad Company pushed the line south to Johnsonburg, Pennsylvania
in 1881 - 1882, a distance of 29.68 miles. This section encompassed the once significant Kinzua Bridge
.
In 1883 the Erie expanded west beyond New York State when it leased the New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio Railroad
which ran westward from Salamanca
. Eventually, the Erie would reach as far west as Chicago
.
In 1886, it was reported that the Erie and the Reading Railroad shared ferry services between their two Jersey City
terminals, the larger being Pavonia Terminal
, and Fulton Ferry
in Brooklyn, New York for 11 round trips on weekdays and Saturdays, and four round trips on Sunday. In 1889, it opened a new bridge across the Hackensack River
improving service to its terminals.
In 1897 trackage rights were obtained by the Erie over the Pennsylvania Railroad
, from Johnsonburg to Brockway, Pennsylvania
, then known as Brockwayville. The distance was 27.76 miles.
On May 1, 1907 the Erie obtained new trackage rights over the Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburgh from Clarion, Pennsylvania
, north of Johnsonburg, to Eleanora Junction, later called Cramer, in Jefferson County, Pennsylvania
. This covered a distance of 50.67 miles.
George W. Perkins brought Frederick D. Underwood into the Erie Railroad in 1910. During the eastern railroad strike of 1913
Underwood agreed to accept any ruling made by mediators under the Newlands Reclamation Act
. One of the demands made by Erie employees was a 20%
increase in wages. Erie management had refused a wage increase but compromised by asking employees to wait until January 1915 for any advance. Union leaders agreed to make this an issue which Erie management would settle with its own men. However, W.G. Lee, president of the brotherhood of railroad trainmen, asserted that the
only way to deal with the Erie is through J.P. Morgan & Company, or the banks. Underwood responded from his home in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin
, I am running the Erie Railroad: not George W. Perkins, nor J.P. Morgan & Co., nor anybody else.
In mid-1920s the successful Van Sweringen brothers
gained control of the Erie, improving operations (such as standardizing the railroad's locomotives and rolling stock) and bottom-line earnings. Unfortunately, both brothers, who at the time owned several other railroads, died at an early age but had they lived the shape of railroads in the east would likely look very different today.
In 1938, the Erie Railroad was involved in the famous U.S. Supreme Court
case of Erie R.R. v. Tompkins. The Erie doctrine, which governs the application of state law in federal diversity cases, is still taught in American law school
s today.
On September 15, 1948, the Cleveland Union Terminals Company allowed the Erie to use the Union Terminal adjacent to Terminal Tower
in lieu of its old station. http://www.prrths.com/Hagley/PRR1948%20Sep%2004.wd.pdf#search='PRR%20Heavyweight%20Diners'
Steam last operated on the Erie on March 17, 1954, when the fires were dropped on K-1 class Pacific
locomotive No. 2530, used on a commuter run between Jersey City
and Spring Valley, New York
.
In 1958, the Erie shifted its Hudson river terminal from Pavonia
to Hoboken
, and in 1960 merged with the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad
. The new company became known as the Erie Lackawanna Railroad.
, Pacific Express, Atlantic Express, Midlander, Southern Tier Express, Mountain Express and Tuxedo.
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
, and Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, originally connecting New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
with Lake Erie
Lake Erie
Lake Erie is the fourth largest lake of the five Great Lakes in North America, and the tenth largest globally. It is the southernmost, shallowest, and smallest by volume of the Great Lakes and therefore also has the shortest average water residence time. It is bounded on the north by the...
. Its mainline route proved influential in the development and economic growth of the Southern Tier
Southern Tier
The Southern Tier is a geographical term that refers to the counties of New York State west of the Catskill Mountains along the northern border of Pennsylvania. It is a loosely defined term that generally includes the counties that border Pennsylvania west of Delaware County inclusive...
, including cities such as Binghamton, New York
Binghamton, New York
Binghamton is a city in the Southern Tier of New York in the United States. It is near the Pennsylvania border, in a bowl-shaped valley at the confluence of the Susquehanna and Chenango Rivers...
and Elmira, New York
Elmira, New York
Elmira is a city in Chemung County, New York, USA. It is the principal city of the 'Elmira, New York Metropolitan Statistical Area' which encompasses Chemung County, New York. The population was 29,200 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Chemung County.The City of Elmira is located in...
.
While the Erie enjoyed financial ups and downs, during the golden age of American railroads it was largely successful; as a consequence of its success it was able to extend itself westward to Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
and Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
.
In 1960 the Erie merged with the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad
Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad
The Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad Company was a railroad connecting Pennsylvania's Lackawanna Valley, rich in anthracite coal, to Hoboken, New Jersey, , Buffalo and Oswego, New York...
to form the Erie Lackawanna Railroad, becoming part of Conrail in 1976. In 1983, remnants of the line became part of New Jersey Transit rail operations
New Jersey Transit rail operations
New Jersey Transit Rail Operations is the rail division of New Jersey Transit. It provides regional rail service in New Jersey, with most service centered around transportation to and from New York City, Hoboken, and Newark...
, including its Main Line. Today, most of the Erie Railroad routes are operated by Norfolk Southern.
New York and Erie Rail Road: 1832-1861
Enos T. Throop
Enos Thompson Throop was an American lawyer, politician and diplomat who was the tenth Governor of New York from 1829 to 1832.-Early life and career:...
to connect the Hudson River
Hudson River
The Hudson is a river that flows from north to south through eastern New York. The highest official source is at Lake Tear of the Clouds, on the slopes of Mount Marcy in the Adirondack Mountains. The river itself officially begins in Henderson Lake in Newcomb, New York...
at Piermont, north of New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, west to Lake Erie
Lake Erie
Lake Erie is the fourth largest lake of the five Great Lakes in North America, and the tenth largest globally. It is the southernmost, shallowest, and smallest by volume of the Great Lakes and therefore also has the shortest average water residence time. It is bounded on the north by the...
at Dunkirk. On February 16, 1841 the railroad was authorized to cross into the northeast corner of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
on the west side of the Delaware River
Delaware River
The Delaware River is a major river on the Atlantic coast of the United States.A Dutch expedition led by Henry Hudson in 1609 first mapped the river. The river was christened the South River in the New Netherland colony that followed, in contrast to the North River, as the Hudson River was then...
. Construction began in 1836, and it opened from Piermont to Goshen on September 23, 1841. After some financial problems, construction resumed in August 1846, and the next section, to Port Jervis, opened on January 7, 1848. Further extensions opened to Binghamton December 27, 1848, Owego January 1, 1849, and the full length to Dunkirk May 19, 1851. At Dunkirk steamboat
Steamboat
A steamboat or steamship, sometimes called a steamer, is a ship in which the primary method of propulsion is steam power, typically driving propellers or paddlewheels...
s continued across Lake Erie
Lake Erie
Lake Erie is the fourth largest lake of the five Great Lakes in North America, and the tenth largest globally. It is the southernmost, shallowest, and smallest by volume of the Great Lakes and therefore also has the shortest average water residence time. It is bounded on the north by the...
to Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
.
The line was built as wide gauge
Broad gauge
Broad-gauge railways use a track gauge greater than the standard gauge of .- List :For list see: List of broad gauges, by gauge and country- History :...
; this was believed to be the best way to prevent traffic being lost to other lines.
In 1848 the railroad built the Starrucca Viaduct
Starrucca Viaduct
Starrucca Viaduct is a stone arch bridge that spans Starrucca Creek near Lanesboro, Pennsylvania, in the United States. At the time of its construction, the bridge was thought to be the most expensive railway bridge in the world, at a cost of $320,000 , and it was the largest stone rail viaduct in...
, a stone railroad bridge over Starrucca Creek
Starrucca Creek
Starrucca Creek is an tributary of the Susquehanna River in Susquehanna and Wayne counties, Pennsylvania, in the United States.The tributary Shadigee Creek joins Starrucca Creek just downstream of the borough of Starrucca....
in Lanesboro, Pennsylvania
Lanesboro, Pennsylvania
Lanesboro is a borough in Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 588 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Lanesboro is located at ....
which has survived and is still in use today. The viaduct is 1040 feet (317 m) long, 100 feet (30.5 m) high and 25 feet (7.6 m) wide at the top. It is the oldest stone rail bridge in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
still in use.
The Erie's charter was amended April 8, 1845 to allow the building of the Newburgh Branch, running from the main line near Harriman north-northeast to Newburgh, also on the Hudson River. The branch opened January 8, 1850. It was later used as a connection to the New York and New England Railroad
New York and New England Railroad
The New York and New England Railroad was a major railroad connecting southern New York state with Hartford, Connecticut, Providence, Rhode Island and Boston, Massachusetts. It operated from 1873 to 1893. Prior to 1873 it was known as the Boston, Hartford and Erie Railroad, which had been formed by...
via a car float
Car float
A railroad car float or rail barge is an unpowered barge with rail tracks mounted on its deck. It is used to move railroad cars across water obstacles, or to locations they could not otherwise go, and is pushed by a towboat or towed by a tugboat...
operation across the river to Beacon, New York.
The Paterson and Ramapo Railroad and Union Railroad opened in 1848, providing a connection between the Erie at the village of Suffern
Suffern, New York
Suffern is a village in the Town of Ramapo, Rockland County, New York, United States located north of the State of New Jersey; east of Hillburn; south of Montebello and west of Airmont...
in Ramapo
Ramapo, New York
Ramapo , formerly known as New Hempstead and then Hampstead, is a town in Rockland County, New York, United States located north of New Jersey; southeast of Orange County, New York; south of the Town of Haverstraw and west of the Town of Clarkstown and the Town of Orangetown...
and Jersey City, across the Hudson River
Hudson River
The Hudson is a river that flows from north to south through eastern New York. The highest official source is at Lake Tear of the Clouds, on the slopes of Mount Marcy in the Adirondack Mountains. The river itself officially begins in Henderson Lake in Newcomb, New York...
from New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. Through ticketing began in 1851, with a required change of cars at Ramapo due to the gauge break. In 1852 the Erie leased the two companies along with the Paterson and Hudson River Railroad
Paterson and Hudson River Railroad
The Paterson and Hudson River Railroad was a railroad that operated in New Jersey and connected the cities of Jersey City and Paterson. The railroad was started in 1833 and connected with the Paterson and Ramapo Railroad in Paterson. The two lines provided a shorter route from Suffern to New York...
, and Erie trains begin operating to the New Jersey Rail Road's Jersey City
Jersey City, New Jersey
Jersey City is the seat of Hudson County, New Jersey, United States.Part of the New York metropolitan area, Jersey City lies between the Hudson River and Upper New York Bay across from Lower Manhattan and the Hackensack River and Newark Bay...
terminal on November 1853 after a third rail
Dual gauge
A dual-gauge or mixed-gauge railway has railway track that allows trains of different gauges to use the same track. Generally, a dual-gauge railway consists of three rails, rather than the standard two rails. The two outer rails give the wider gauge, while one of the outer rails and the inner rail...
for wide gauge
Broad gauge
Broad-gauge railways use a track gauge greater than the standard gauge of .- List :For list see: List of broad gauges, by gauge and country- History :...
was finished.
In 1852 the Buffalo and Rochester Railroad
Buffalo and Rochester Railroad
The Buffalo and Rochester Railroad, like many others of its day, was a short line that lasted a short time.-The gist of the idea:Initially, the germ of the idea for this line came from the perceived need for a rail line to serve Steuben and Livingston Counties in New York. Farmers and merchants in...
, part of the New York Central Railroad
New York Central Railroad
The New York Central Railroad , known simply as the New York Central in its publicity, was a railroad operating in the Northeastern United States...
system, completed a new alignment between Buffalo
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
and Batavia. The alignment from Buffalo to Attica was sold to the Erie's Buffalo and New York City Railroad, a reorganization of the Attica and Hornellsville Railroad, and converted to the Erie's wide gauge
Broad gauge
Broad-gauge railways use a track gauge greater than the standard gauge of .- List :For list see: List of broad gauges, by gauge and country- History :...
. The extension from Attica southeast to Hornellsville opened on November 17, 1852, giving the Erie access to Buffalo, a better terminal than Dunkirk.
The Erie began operating the Chemung Railroad in 1850; this provided a branch from Horseheads
Horseheads (village), New York
Horseheads is a village in Chemung County, New York, USA. The population was 6,461 at the 2010 census. The name is derived from the number of bleached skulls of pack horses left behind by the Sullivan Expedition....
north to Watkins
Watkins Glen, New York
Watkins Glen is a village in Schuyler County, New York, United States. The population was 2,149 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Schuyler County.The Village of Watkins Glen lies on the border of the towns of Dix and Montour....
. The Canandaigua and Elmira Railroad opened in 1851 as a northern extension from Watkins to Canandaigua and was operated by the Erie until 1853. At this point, the Erie subleased the Chemung Railroad to the Canandaigua and Elmira. The C&E went bankrupt in 1857 and was reorganized in 1859 as the Elmira, Canandaigua and Niagara Falls Railroad, at which time the Erie leased it again. The Chemung Railroad reverted to the Erie in 1858 during the bankruptcy.
Trackage rights
Trackage rights , running rights or running powers is an agreement whereby a railway company has the right to run its trains on tracks owned by another railway company....
over the Buffalo and Niagara Falls Railroad
Buffalo and Niagara Falls Railroad
The Buffalo and Niagara Falls Railroad was a part of the New York Central Railroad system, connecting Buffalo, New York to Niagara Falls. It is still used by CSX for freight and Amtrak for passenger service.-History:...
to Niagara Falls and the Niagara Falls Suspension Bridge
Niagara Falls Suspension Bridge
The Niagara Falls Suspension Bridge was the world's first working railway suspension bridge. It spanned and stood downstream of Niagara Falls from 1855 to 1897...
into Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
. This was leased by the Canandaigua and Elmira from its opening in 1853 to 1858, when it went bankrupt, was reorganized as the Niagara Bridge and Canandaigua Railroad, and was leased by New York Central Railroad
New York Central Railroad
The New York Central Railroad , known simply as the New York Central in its publicity, was a railroad operating in the Northeastern United States...
. The NYC converted it to standard gauge
Standard gauge
The standard gauge is a widely-used track gauge . Approximately 60% of the world's existing railway lines are built to this gauge...
and blocked the Erie from it.
The Erie pushed southward into the coal fields of Elk County, Pennsylvania
Elk County, Pennsylvania
Elk County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the population was 31,946.Elk County was created on April 18, 1843, from parts of Jefferson, Clearfield and McKean Counties, and is named for the Eastern elk that historically inhabited the region. Its county...
, Jefferson County, Pennsylvania
Jefferson County, Pennsylvania
Jefferson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. In 2010, its population was 45,200. It was established on March 26, 1804, from part of Lycoming County and named for then-President Thomas Jefferson. Its county seat is Brookville...
, and Clearfield County, Pennsylvania
Clearfield County, Pennsylvania
Clearfield County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of 2010, the population was 81,642.Clearfield County was created on March 26, 1804, from parts of Huntingdon and Lycoming Counties but was administered as part of Centre County until 1812...
to acquire a source of fuel for its locomotives. This action began with the February 26, 1859 merger of two earlier roads to form the Buffalo, Bradford and Pittsburgh Railroad Company. The new organization was sponsored by the New York and Erie Railroad Company, later known as the Erie. The B.B.& P. ran for 25.97 miles through Bradford, Pennsylvania
Bradford, Pennsylvania
Bradford is a small city located in rural McKean County, Pennsylvania, in the United States 78 miles south of Buffalo, New York. Settled in 1823, Bradford was chartered as a city in 1879 and emerged as a wild oil boomtown in the Pennsylvanian oil rush in the late 19th century...
after connecting with the primary line of the Erie at Carrollton, New York
Carrollton, New York
Carrollton is a town in Cattaraugus County, New York, United States. The population was 1,410 at the 2000 census. The name comes from an early settler.The Town of Carrollton is on the south border of Cattaraugus County...
. The line came to a point known as Gilesville, the site of a bituminous mine, by January 1, 1866.
Erie Railway: 1861-1878
In August 1859 the company went into receivershipReceivership
In law, receivership is the situation in which an institution or enterprise is being held by a receiver, a person "placed in the custodial responsibility for the property of others, including tangible and intangible assets and rights." The receivership remedy is an equitable remedy that emerged in...
due to the large costs of building, and on June 25, 1861 it was reorganized as the Erie Railway. This was the first bankruptcy
Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy is a legal status of an insolvent person or an organisation, that is, one that cannot repay the debts owed to creditors. In most jurisdictions bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debtor....
of a major trunk line in the U.S.
Pennsylvania Railroad
The Pennsylvania Railroad was an American Class I railroad, founded in 1846. Commonly referred to as the "Pennsy", the PRR was headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
's Northern Central Railway
Northern Central Railway
The Northern Central Railway was a Class I Railroad connecting Baltimore, Maryland with Sunbury, Pennsylvania. Completed in 1858, the line came under the control of the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1861, when the PRR acquired a controlling interest in the Northern Central's stock to compete with the...
. The BNY&E had taken over the Buffalo and New York City Railroad in 1857 due to the Erie's bankruptcy, and the BNY&E used it west of Attica to reach Buffalo
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
from its southeast end at Corning. The R&GV split from the main line at Avon, running north to Rochester. A joint through line was created between Philadelphia and Buffalo. At this time, the Northern Central leased the Elmira and Williamsport Railroad, forming the part of the line from Elmira south into Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. After disputes due to charges of the Erie using its own line via Hornellsville (the B&NYC) too much, and problems with the gauge break at Elmira, this contract was cancelled in 1866. The Elmira, Jefferson and Canandaigua Railroad (and its Chemung Railroad) was transferred to the Northern Central, and a third rail was built to allow the Northern Central's standard gauge
Standard gauge
The standard gauge is a widely-used track gauge . Approximately 60% of the world's existing railway lines are built to this gauge...
trains to operate over it.
To restore access to the Niagara Falls Suspension Bridge
Niagara Falls Suspension Bridge
The Niagara Falls Suspension Bridge was the world's first working railway suspension bridge. It spanned and stood downstream of Niagara Falls from 1855 to 1897...
, the Erie got the Suspension Bridge and Erie Junction Railroad chartered in 1868. The line opened in 1871, running from eastern Buffalo
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
to Tonawanda and then alongside the New York Central Railroad
New York Central Railroad
The New York Central Railroad , known simply as the New York Central in its publicity, was a railroad operating in the Northeastern United States...
's Buffalo and Niagara Falls Railroad
Buffalo and Niagara Falls Railroad
The Buffalo and Niagara Falls Railroad was a part of the New York Central Railroad system, connecting Buffalo, New York to Niagara Falls. It is still used by CSX for freight and Amtrak for passenger service.-History:...
to the bridge. The Erie International Railway, chartered 1872 and opened 1874, provided a branch to the International Bridge, and the Lockport and Buffalo Railway, chartered 1871 and opened 1879, provided a branch to Lockport.
Erie War
The Erie War was a 19th century conflict between American financiers for control of the Erie Railroad, which operated in several American states and connected New York to Chicago....
of the 1860s, four well-known financiers struggled for control of the company; Cornelius Vanderbilt
Cornelius Vanderbilt
Cornelius Vanderbilt , also known by the sobriquet Commodore, was an American entrepreneur who built his wealth in shipping and railroads. He was also the patriarch of the Vanderbilt family and one of the richest Americans in history...
versus Daniel Drew
Daniel Drew
-Biography:He was born in Carmel, New York.Drew was poorly educated. His father died when Daniel was fifteen years old. Drew enlisted and drilled, but because he enlisted too late, never fought in the War of 1812. After the war, he started a successful cattle-driving business. In 1823, he married...
, James Fisk
James Fisk (financier)
James Fisk, Jr. —known variously as "Big Jim," "Diamond Jim," and "Jubilee Jim"—was an American stock broker and corporate executive.-Early life and career:...
and Jay Gould
Jay Gould
Jason "Jay" Gould was a leading American railroad developer and speculator. He has long been vilified as an archetypal robber baron, whose successes made him the ninth richest American in history. Condé Nast Portfolio ranked Gould as the 8th worst American CEO of all time...
. Gould ultimately triumphed in this struggle, but was forced to relinquish control in 1872-73, due to unfavourable public opinion following his involvement in the 1869 gold-rigging scandal
Black Friday (1869)
Black Friday, September 24, 1869 also known as the Fisk/Gould scandal, was a financial panic in the United States caused by two speculators’ efforts to corner the gold market on the New York Gold Exchange. It was one of several scandals that rocked the presidency of Ulysses S. Grant...
and to his loss of $1 million of Erie Railroad stock to the British con-man Lord Gordon-Gordon
Lord Gordon-Gordon
Lord Gordon-Gordon, also known as Lord Gordon Gordon, Lord Glencairn and The Hon. Mr. Herbert Hamilton was a British fraud and impostor, responsible for one of the greatest swindles in the 19th century United States. He swindled $1 million from Jay Gould, who was fighting for control of the Erie...
.
In 1869, the railroad moved its main shops facilities from Dunkirk to Buffalo
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
. Rather than demolishing the shops in Dunkirk, the facility was leased to Horatio G. Brooks
Horatio G. Brooks
Horatio G. Brooks worked as chief engineer for the New York and Erie Railroad until the railroad moved its steam locomotive maintenance facilities from Dunkirk, New York, to Buffalo, New York. In 1869 he leased the former NY&E shops in Dunkirk and formed Brooks Locomotive Works...
, the former chief engineer of the NY&E who was at the controls of the first train into Dunkirk in 1851. Horatio Brooks used the facilities to begin Brooks Locomotive Works
Brooks Locomotive Works
The Brooks Locomotive Works manufactured steam railroad locomotives and freight cars from 1869 through its merger into the American Locomotive Company until 1934.-History:...
, which remained in independent business until 1901 when it was merged with seven other locomotive manufacturing firms to create ALCO
American Locomotive Company
The American Locomotive Company, often shortened to ALCO or Alco , was a builder of railroad locomotives in the United States.-Early history:...
. ALCO continued new locomotive production at this facility until 1934, then closed the plant completely in 1962.
New York, Lake Erie and Western Railroad: 1878-1895
The New York, Lake Erie, and Western Coal and Railroad Company pushed the line south to Johnsonburg, Pennsylvania
Johnsonburg, Pennsylvania
Johnsonburg is a borough in Elk County, Pennsylvania, northeast of Pittsburgh and south of Buffalo, New York, in a productive farming and lumbering region. Paper mills were once common here, and Domtar still maintains a paper mill there today. In 1910, 4,334 people lived here...
in 1881 - 1882, a distance of 29.68 miles. This section encompassed the once significant Kinzua Bridge
Kinzua Bridge
The Kinzua Bridge or the Kinzua Viaduct was a railroad trestle that spanned Kinzua Creek in McKean County in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania...
.
In 1883 the Erie expanded west beyond New York State when it leased the New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio Railroad
New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio Railroad
The Nypano Railroad, earlier the New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio Railroad, was organized from the bankrupt Atlantic and Great Western Railroad in March 1880....
which ran westward from Salamanca
Salamanca (city), New York
Salamanca is a city in Cattaraugus County, New York, United States, located inside the Allegany Indian Reservation. The population was 6,097 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
. Eventually, the Erie would reach as far west as Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
.
In 1886, it was reported that the Erie and the Reading Railroad shared ferry services between their two Jersey City
Jersey City, New Jersey
Jersey City is the seat of Hudson County, New Jersey, United States.Part of the New York metropolitan area, Jersey City lies between the Hudson River and Upper New York Bay across from Lower Manhattan and the Hackensack River and Newark Bay...
terminals, the larger being Pavonia Terminal
Pavonia Terminal
Pavonia Terminal was the Erie Railroad terminal on the Hudson River situated on the landfilled Harsimus Cove in Jersey City, New Jersey.-History:The Erie began developing the waterfront site in 1856.The intermodal complex was built between 1886 and 1889...
, and Fulton Ferry
Fulton Ferry
Fulton Ferry can refer to the following:*Fulton Ferry , a former ferry connecting Manhattan's and Brooklyn's Fulton Streets*Fulton Ferry Company, which operated the Fulton Ferry*Fulton Ferry, Brooklyn, the neighborhood around the former ferry landing...
in Brooklyn, New York for 11 round trips on weekdays and Saturdays, and four round trips on Sunday. In 1889, it opened a new bridge across the Hackensack River
Hackensack River
The Hackensack River is a river, approximately 45 miles long, in the U.S. states of New York and New Jersey, emptying into Newark Bay, a back chamber of New York Harbor. The watershed of the river includes part of the suburban area outside New York City just west of the lower Hudson River,...
improving service to its terminals.
Erie Railroad: 1895-1960
In 1893 that railroad also went into bankruptcy reorganization, to emerge in 1895 as the Erie Railroad.In 1897 trackage rights were obtained by the Erie over the Pennsylvania Railroad
Pennsylvania Railroad
The Pennsylvania Railroad was an American Class I railroad, founded in 1846. Commonly referred to as the "Pennsy", the PRR was headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
, from Johnsonburg to Brockway, Pennsylvania
Brockway, Pennsylvania
Brockway is a borough in Jefferson County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,182 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Brockway is located at ....
, then known as Brockwayville. The distance was 27.76 miles.
Clarion, Pennsylvania
Clarion is a borough in Clarion County in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, about 100 miles north-northeast of Pittsburgh and part of the Pittsburgh DMA. Clarion was settled in 1839 and incorporated in 1841. In the past, the surrounding area produced natural gas, oil, lumber and coal. Merely 2,004...
, north of Johnsonburg, to Eleanora Junction, later called Cramer, in Jefferson County, Pennsylvania
Jefferson County, Pennsylvania
Jefferson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. In 2010, its population was 45,200. It was established on March 26, 1804, from part of Lycoming County and named for then-President Thomas Jefferson. Its county seat is Brookville...
. This covered a distance of 50.67 miles.
George W. Perkins brought Frederick D. Underwood into the Erie Railroad in 1910. During the eastern railroad strike of 1913
Underwood agreed to accept any ruling made by mediators under the Newlands Reclamation Act
Newlands Reclamation Act
The Reclamation Act of 1902 is a United States federal law that funded irrigation projects for the arid lands of 20 states in the American West....
. One of the demands made by Erie employees was a 20%
increase in wages. Erie management had refused a wage increase but compromised by asking employees to wait until January 1915 for any advance. Union leaders agreed to make this an issue which Erie management would settle with its own men. However, W.G. Lee, president of the brotherhood of railroad trainmen, asserted that the
only way to deal with the Erie is through J.P. Morgan & Company, or the banks. Underwood responded from his home in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin
Wauwatosa, Wisconsin
Wauwatosa is a city in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, United States, and was incorporated on May 27, 1897. As of the 2006 census estimate, the city's population was 44,798. Wauwatosa is located immediately west of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and is a part of the Milwaukee metropolitan area...
, I am running the Erie Railroad: not George W. Perkins, nor J.P. Morgan & Co., nor anybody else.
In mid-1920s the successful Van Sweringen brothers
Van Sweringen brothers
Oris Paxton Van Sweringen and Mantis James Van Sweringen were brothers who became railroad barons in order to develop Shaker Heights, Ohio. They are better known as O.P. Van Sweringen and M.J. Van Sweringen, or by their collective nickname, the Vans...
gained control of the Erie, improving operations (such as standardizing the railroad's locomotives and rolling stock) and bottom-line earnings. Unfortunately, both brothers, who at the time owned several other railroads, died at an early age but had they lived the shape of railroads in the east would likely look very different today.
In 1938, the Erie Railroad was involved in the famous U.S. Supreme Court
Supreme Court of the United States
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...
case of Erie R.R. v. Tompkins. The Erie doctrine, which governs the application of state law in federal diversity cases, is still taught in American law school
Law school
A law school is an institution specializing in legal education.- Law degrees :- Canada :...
s today.
On September 15, 1948, the Cleveland Union Terminals Company allowed the Erie to use the Union Terminal adjacent to Terminal Tower
Terminal Tower
The Terminal Tower is a landmark skyscraper located on Public Square in downtown Cleveland, Ohio. It was built during the skyscraper boom of the 1920s and 1930s, and was the second-tallest building in the world when it was completed. The Terminal Tower stood as the tallest building in North America...
in lieu of its old station. http://www.prrths.com/Hagley/PRR1948%20Sep%2004.wd.pdf#search='PRR%20Heavyweight%20Diners'
Steam last operated on the Erie on March 17, 1954, when the fires were dropped on K-1 class Pacific
4-6-2
4-6-2, in the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, represents the wheel arrangement of four leading wheels on two axles , six powered and coupled driving wheels on three axles, and two trailing wheels on one axle .These locomotives are also known as Pacifics...
locomotive No. 2530, used on a commuter run between Jersey City
Jersey City, New Jersey
Jersey City is the seat of Hudson County, New Jersey, United States.Part of the New York metropolitan area, Jersey City lies between the Hudson River and Upper New York Bay across from Lower Manhattan and the Hackensack River and Newark Bay...
and Spring Valley, New York
Spring Valley, New York
Spring Valley, incorporated on July 9, 1902 is a village spanning the Town of Ramapo and Town of Clarkstown in Rockland County, New York, United States located north of Nanuet; east of Airmont and Monsey; south of Hillcrest and west of West Nyack...
.
In 1958, the Erie shifted its Hudson river terminal from Pavonia
Pavonia Terminal
Pavonia Terminal was the Erie Railroad terminal on the Hudson River situated on the landfilled Harsimus Cove in Jersey City, New Jersey.-History:The Erie began developing the waterfront site in 1856.The intermodal complex was built between 1886 and 1889...
to Hoboken
Hoboken
Hoboken may refer to:*Hoboken, New Jersey, United States*Hoboken, Antwerp, a district of Antwerp, Belgium*Hoboken, Georgia, United States*Hoboken, Alabama, United States*"Hoboken", a song on Operation Ivy's 1988 album Hectic-See also:...
, and in 1960 merged with the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad
Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad
The Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad Company was a railroad connecting Pennsylvania's Lackawanna Valley, rich in anthracite coal, to Hoboken, New Jersey, , Buffalo and Oswego, New York...
. The new company became known as the Erie Lackawanna Railroad.
Passenger Trains
The Erie Railroad operated a number of named passenger trains, although none were as well known or successful as others like the Pennsylvania Railroad's Broadway Limited or New York Central's 20th Century Limited. Some of the Erie's most well known trains included the Erie Limited, Lake CitiesLake Cities (train)
The Lake Cities was a passenger train operated by the Erie Railroad and its successor the Erie Lackawanna Railway between Chicago, Illinois and New York City....
, Pacific Express, Atlantic Express, Midlander, Southern Tier Express, Mountain Express and Tuxedo.
Locomotives
- L-1Erie L-1The three L-1 0-8-8-0 steam locomotives of the Erie Railroad, built in 1907 by ALCO, were unique in that they were the only articulated camelback locomotives ever built. When built, they were the largest steam locomotives in existence. They were built for pushing service, especially on the heavy...
0-8-8-00-8-8-0In the Whyte notation for classifying the wheel arrangement of steam locomotives, an 0-8-8-0 is a locomotive with two sets of eight driving wheels and neither leading wheels nor trailing wheels...
pusher locomotive. - "Triplex" 2-8-8-8-22-8-8-8-2Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, a 2-8-8-8-2 has two leading wheels, three sets of eight driving wheels, and two trailing wheels. Because of its length, such a locomotive must be an articulated locomotive. It is not longer than a normal articulated; the third...
pusher locomotive.
Company officers
The following are the presidents of the Erie Railroad through its history:- Eleazer Lord (1833–1835)
- James Gore King (1835–1839)
- Eleazer Lord (1839–1841)
- James Bowen (1841–1842)
- William Maxwell (1842–1843)
- Horatio AllenHoratio AllenHoratio Allen LL.D was an American civil engineer and inventor.Born in Schenectady, New York, he graduated from Columbia in 1823, and was appointed the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company chief engineer. In 1828 he was sent to England to buy locomotives for the canal company's projected railway...
(1843–1844) - Eleazer Lord (1844–1845)
- James HooperJames HooperJames Hooper, in 2006, became one of the youngest Britons to climb Mount Everest, along with his school friend Rob Gauntlett. In November 2008 James and Rob were awarded with the National Geographic Adventurers of the Year prize for their expedition from the North Geomagnetic Pole to the South...
(only for two months in 1845) - Benjamin Loder (1845–1853)
- Homer Ramsdell (1853–1857)
- Charles MoranCharles MoranCharles Moran was an American racecar driver.-Indy 500 results:...
(1857–1859) - Samuel Marsh (1859–1861)
- Nathaniel Marsh (1861–1864)
- Samuel Marsh (four months in 1864)
- Robert H. Berdell (1864–1867)
- John S. Eldridge (1867–1868)
- Jay GouldJay GouldJason "Jay" Gould was a leading American railroad developer and speculator. He has long been vilified as an archetypal robber baron, whose successes made him the ninth richest American in history. Condé Nast Portfolio ranked Gould as the 8th worst American CEO of all time...
(1868–1872) - John A. DixJohn Adams DixJohn Adams Dix was an American politician from New York. He served as Secretary of the Treasury, U.S. Senator, and the 24th Governor of New York. He was also a Union major general during the Civil War.-Early life and career:...
(four months in 1872) - Peter H. Watson (1872–1874)
- Hugh J. JewettHugh J. JewettHugh Judge Jewett was an American railroader and politician. He served as United States Representative from Ohio's 12th congressional district in the 43rd United States Congress....
(1874–1884) - John King (1884–1894)
- Eben B. Thomas (1894–1901)
- Frederick D. UnderwoodFrederick D. UnderwoodFrederick Douglas Underwood was president of the Erie Railroad from 1901 to 1926 and a director of Wells Fargo & Company.-Early life:...
(1901–1926 - retired Dec. 31) - John Joseph Bernet (1927–1929)
- Charles Eugene DenneyCharles Eugene DenneyCharles Eugene Denney, Sr. was president of Northern Pacific Railway from 1939 through 1950.-Biography:He was born in Washington, D.C., on October 18, 1879, the son of William H. Denney and Sarah E...
(1929–1939) - Robert Eastman Woodruff (1941–1949)
- Paul W. Johnston (1949–1956)
- Harry W. Von Willer (1956–1960)
External links
- Western New York Railroad Archive
- Erie page by the Erie Lackawanna Historical Society
- Starrucca Viaduct
- The Starrucca Viaduct today
- Presidents of the Erie Railroad
Further reading
- The Scarlet Woman of Wall Street
- Hungerford, Edward. Men of Erie: A Story of Human Effort. New York: Random House, 1946.
- Stratton, Fred, Erie Railroad presidents. Retrieved March 2, 2005.
- Railroad History Database
- Henry Whittemore, Fullfilment [sic] of the Remarkable Prophecies Relating to the Development of Railroad Transportation (1909)
- PRR Chronology
- List and Family Trees of North American Railroads