Middleburgh-Schoharie Railroad
Encyclopedia
The Middleburgh and Schoharie Railroad was a railroad in the U.S. state
of New York
.
David Becker was named President of the railroad in 1868. The railroad was constructed at a cost of $105,000. Despite the construction, shares in the railroad dropped by ninety percent.
The Railroad was aided by the fact that most of the terrain between Middleburgh and Schoharie is flat, reducing costs and engineering complexity.
but also as an artery of industry. Hops were frequently sent over the line when Schoharie County was one of the major grower of hops. Fares for the railroad were cheap for the contemporary times and encouraged travel across the Schoharie Valley
. This had not happened before this except for travel by horse or walking.
The Middleburgh and Schoharie Railroad operated in conjunction with the Schoharie Valley Railroad, although they were separate companies, they frequently used each others locomotives, equipment, and facilities. The SVRR ran between Schoharie and Schoharie Junction.
Reluctantly the historic railroad was closed, although there is speculation that it could be reopened in modern times as a tourist attraction. The sister railroad, the Schoharie Valley Railroad continued operation until September 17, 1942 when it to was closed due to changing times.
and Schoharie
still exist. The one in Schoharie is preserved and the other has been used as a house. The depot in Middleburgh has recently been purchased by the Village and will be restored as a museum.
A passenger car and a caboose of the old line are preserved in Schoharie and are open to the public. Within the passenger car is a model railroad of the original M&S.
Making the old path where the Railroad once led into a walking or biking path is a discussed issue. This has been brought up by Middleburgh Town Supervisor Dennis Richards and Village Trustee Matthew Avitabile.
Authorities on the Railroad and other aspects of Schoharie County history include Lester Hendrix, author of A Sloughter's History of Schoharie County and County Historian Harold Zoch.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.
Beginning
The Middleburgh and Schoharie Railroad was founded in 1867. The first Chairman of the railroad was Jacob Vroman and S.L. Mayham was named Secretary.David Becker was named President of the railroad in 1868. The railroad was constructed at a cost of $105,000. Despite the construction, shares in the railroad dropped by ninety percent.
The Railroad was aided by the fact that most of the terrain between Middleburgh and Schoharie is flat, reducing costs and engineering complexity.
Function
The Middleburgh–Schoharie Railroad served not only as a major passenger line in the Schoharie ValleySchoharie Valley
The Schoharie Valley is a corridor that runs through Schoharie County from Schoharie, New York until Gilboa, New York.-Geography:The Schoharie Valley is made up of plains surrounding the Schoharie Creek. Within the Schoharie Valley are the locations of Middleburgh, Schoharie, Fultonham, Breakabeen...
but also as an artery of industry. Hops were frequently sent over the line when Schoharie County was one of the major grower of hops. Fares for the railroad were cheap for the contemporary times and encouraged travel across the Schoharie Valley
Schoharie Valley
The Schoharie Valley is a corridor that runs through Schoharie County from Schoharie, New York until Gilboa, New York.-Geography:The Schoharie Valley is made up of plains surrounding the Schoharie Creek. Within the Schoharie Valley are the locations of Middleburgh, Schoharie, Fultonham, Breakabeen...
. This had not happened before this except for travel by horse or walking.
The Middleburgh and Schoharie Railroad operated in conjunction with the Schoharie Valley Railroad, although they were separate companies, they frequently used each others locomotives, equipment, and facilities. The SVRR ran between Schoharie and Schoharie Junction.
Out of business
After the rise of automobiles and the fall of the hop crop, the Middleburgh and Schoharie Railroad began to decline. The railroad's last day of service was September 24, 1936. The railroad had become unprofitable during the twentieth century.Reluctantly the historic railroad was closed, although there is speculation that it could be reopened in modern times as a tourist attraction. The sister railroad, the Schoharie Valley Railroad continued operation until September 17, 1942 when it to was closed due to changing times.
Today
The railway stations of MiddleburghMiddleburgh
Middleburgh may refer to some places in the United States:* Middleburgh , New York in Schoharie County** Middleburgh , New York, within the town of MiddleburghSee also*Middleburg...
and Schoharie
Schoharie
Schoharie may refer to:*Schoharie County, New York, USA**Schoharie , New York, in the above county***Schoharie , New York, in the above town*Schoharie Creek, a stream in upstate New York, USA**Schoharie Valley, surrounding the above creek...
still exist. The one in Schoharie is preserved and the other has been used as a house. The depot in Middleburgh has recently been purchased by the Village and will be restored as a museum.
A passenger car and a caboose of the old line are preserved in Schoharie and are open to the public. Within the passenger car is a model railroad of the original M&S.
Making the old path where the Railroad once led into a walking or biking path is a discussed issue. This has been brought up by Middleburgh Town Supervisor Dennis Richards and Village Trustee Matthew Avitabile.
Authorities on the Railroad and other aspects of Schoharie County history include Lester Hendrix, author of A Sloughter's History of Schoharie County and County Historian Harold Zoch.
Locomotives
| Number | Name | Built | Builder | Purchased | Sold/Scrapped | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | Middleburgh | 1867 ? | Danforth | 1868 | 1869 | ? | A dummy type locomotive, most likely just for experiment. |
| 1 | Pony or Middleburgh | 1855 | Danforth | 1869 | 1895 | 4-2-4T | Previouly worked on a railroad in Cleveland, named "Reindeer" in Cleveland. |
| 2 | Middleburg(h) | 1895 | Schenectady (Alco) | 1895 | 1936 | 2-4-4T | Scrapped at abandonment. Numbered one on arrival. |
Presidents
- David Becker (1868-1870)
- Daniel D. Dodge (1870-1878)
- G.N. Frisbie (1878-1902)
- Duryea Beekman (1902-1916)
- D.D. Frisbie (1916-1931)
- Christopher S. Best (1931-1935)
- G.A. Hill (1935-1935)
- John B. Bingham (1935-1936)
Interesting facts
- In December 1879, Samuel Clemens also known as "Mark Twain" worked as a brakeman on the Middleburgh and Schoharie Railroad.