New York and Ottawa Railway
Encyclopedia
The New York and Ottawa Railway was a railroad connecting Tupper Lake in northeastern New York
to Ottawa, Ontario, becoming part of the New York Central Railroad
system in 1913 although it was under the larger company's possession since the end of 1904. It had started out as the Northern Adirondack Railroad and evolved into the Northern New York Railroad, the New York and Ottawa Railroad and was last known as the New York and Ottawa Railway before being merged into the New York Central and Hudson River Railroad. Other lines that were a part of this route (like in Canada) are described below.
In 1885, Hurd had extended his railroad southwards to Santa Clara
, but it remained inactive until a new company was created to operate this section and extend it further south, eventually reaching Tupper Lake. This company would merge into the Northern Adirondack Railroad in 1890 (see below). On July 1 of that year, the first train entered Tupper Lake. Hurd's business practices would eventually send him into debt, and before he declared bankruptcy, his railroad went into receivership on January 25, 1894. On May 25, 1895, the railroad was sold to a business syndicate and two days later was renamed to the Northern New York Railroad.
, the site of the largest saw mill in the U.S. at the time. The first section of the extension opened on July 6, 1886, south to Brandon
. The remaining section to Tupper Lake was completed in 1889, with regular service to the southern terminus starting on July 1, 1890. Prior to that, on April 5, the Northern Adirondack Extension was merged into the Northern Adirondack Railroad.
In 1887 Patrick Ducey, whom owned a large tract of land south of Brandon, had built his own logging railroad from his jackworks in Black rapids to a point on the Northern Adirondack Extension Railroad called Black Rapids Junction. Although the John Hurd owned railroad was not completed and officially opened, it could be assumed that some kind of shipments was hauled out from Ducey's operations. This small line would become Northern Adirondack Railroad property approximately in 1889 when the line opened to Tupper Lake.
In 1892, the Mohawk and Malone Railway
was completed and crossed the northern Adirondacks at Tupper Lake Junction, just north of Tupper Lake.
One of the last items that the Northern Adirondack Extension Railroad had done was negotiated for trackage rights
over the Saratoga and St. Lawrence Railroad, which was running at that time from Moira to Bombay on the Grand Trunk Railway
's United States and Canada Railroad, which was a line that linked Massena
to Montreal. John Hurd had plans to add this small rail line to his own company.
politicians Dr. Darby Bergin
(Member of Parliament) and Joseph Kerr (Member of the Legislature) in 1880. Four plans were brought up:
Plan #1 - line starting at Cornwall and head to Crysler, then end at Perth
. A branch from Cornwall to Ottawa was included
Plan #2 - line starting at Cornwall and head to Newington, then run through Smiths Falls
, ending at Perth. A branch from Cornwall to Ottawa was included.
Plan #3 - line starting at Cornwall and head to Newington, then run through Smiths Falls, ending at Perth. A branch from Cornwall to Crysler was included.
Plan #4 - line starting at Cornwall and head to Newington, then run through Smiths Falls, Perth, Glen Tay and Actinolite
, then junction at Madoc
to the Grand Junction Railway, where running rights could be granted to Peterborough, more running rights over the Midland Railway of Canada from Peterborough to Orillia, then another granting of running rights over the Northern & North Western Railway from Orillia to Gravenhurst
. Here, the company would built northwards and end east of the French River
settlement.
Debate of the four plans continued on until it was agreed that the proposal would following a route from Cornwall to Embrun
to Richmond to Perth to Lake St. Peter to French River to Sault Ste. Marie
, with branches from Pickerel Lake to Parry Sound
, Manotick
to Ottawa and Cornwall through Malone to Lyon Mountain by means of a bridge over the St. Lawrence River.
Bergin & Kerr's company received its charter on May 17, 1882 as the Ontario Pacific Railway. The approved route was from Cornwall to Ottawa, through Arnprior
and Eganville
to Lake Nipissing
to a point at or near French River, with a branch from Cornwall to Smiths Falls or Perth. Also included was the right to build a bridge over the St. Lawrence River at Cornwall to connect to any American railroad.
On May 25, 1883, the planned route was extended to Sault Ste. Marie and the branch to Smiths Falls or Perth was to leave the main line at Newington, and go through Carleton Place to end at Almonte. A third branch was to leave the main line between Eganville and Renfrew and end at Pembroke.
Although Bergin never stopped his promotion of his railway, Kerr had to bow out to focus on his other businesses. Through the years, the Ontario Pacific Railway lay dormant, although meetings were held often, but work never got underway. It would not be until a fateful train trip in 1896 between Ottawa and Coteau Station that Bergin would meet Charles Hibbard, owner of the Northern New York Railroad, that progress would finally be made. A deal was struck between the two businessmen and their companies were to work together to form one line from Ottawa to New York City. Bergin would not see his dream come true as he died that October. His brother, John, would take the reins and the Ontario Pacific Railway changed its name on May 21, 1897 to The Ottawa & New York Railway.
east of Moira on the Ogdensburg and Lake Champlain Railroad to Malone.
Hibbard was not unlike John Hurd. He too envisioned a greater railroad that would expand its reach to new areas. His group had created the Racquette River Railroad on April 25, 1895 for the purpose of building a rail route between Tupper Lake and Axton Landing. From that point, the Delaware & Hudson had planned to extend their Adirondack Railway that terminated at North Creek
to Axton landing under the Adirondack Extension Railroad charter. Hibbard's trains was to have running rights to Saratoga Springs and then on to New York City.
The second extension was to build northwards into Canada. At first, it was planned to take over the Saratoga & St. Lawrence Railroad and then head to St. Regis in Quebec. From there, Hibbard's line would build to Ottawa. From June 11 to July 30 in 1896, the Northern New York Railroad operated the Saratoga & St. Lawrence Railroad, but for unknown reasons Hibbard was not pleased with it. Instead, he planned to build northwards from Moira himself and a new company was created to do so. After meeting Dr. Darby Bergin from the Ontario Pacific Railway, Hibbard formed a partnership with him and these two railroaders planned to connect Ottawa to the Adirondack line. On October 28, 1897, the Northern New York Railroad merged into this new northern extension company.
to Ottawa as well as to construct a bridge crossing over the St. Lawrence River at Cornwall. Construction began on August 23 and was quickly completed, opening on July 29, 1898, although the first revenue train operated the year before from Crysler to Finch. Before the opening day, the company was purchased by its American partner on June 13, 1898 and had dropped 'The' from its title.
Although the American company had been purchased by the New York Central & Hudson River Railroad, the Ottawa & New York Railway continued to exist as a company and owner of their rail line, but the majority shareholders were New York Central interests. From 1905 to 1957, the Ottawa & New York Railway was operated under a lease by the New York Central until abandonment and the selling of the property. The Ottawa & New York Railway was dissolved on December 20, 1957.
. By the time the bridge crossing over the St. Lawrence River was completed, the Black Rapids Branch of the line was abandoned.
An extension south from Tupper Lake was also planned as part of the new line. On April 25, 1895, the Racquette River Railroad was created to build from Tupper Lake to Axton Landing, where the Adirondack Extension Railroad was to build to North Creek
. This company went under the New York and Ottawa Railroad control in November 1898. This southern extension was not built due to the refusal of the State Forest Preserve to allow the New York and Ottawa Railroad to build in the state owned park, but was likely influenced by the New York Central Railroad, whom had an existing line from Herkimer to Malone.
The entire route from Ottawa to Tupper Lake was finally operating on October 1, 1900, which was after the company entered receivership
on April 25, 1900. The company was sold to New York Central interests on December 22, 1904 and was renamed to the New York & Ottawa Railway on January 19, 1905. This was followed by the company being leased to the New York Central & Hudson River railroad on February 1.
was the single most important part of the construction of the Ottawa to Tupper Lake route. At the time of its opening, there were no other bridge crossings between Queenston and Coteau Landing. The crossing consisted of two bridges, one span over the south channel, most of it being in the United States, made up of three Pratt trusses, and the second over the north channel, all in Canada, being of a cantilever design as well as a swing span over the Cornwall Canal.
Company wise, it began on July 28, 1897 with the creation of the Cornwall Bridge Company that was to construct the south channel bridge, as it was decided to cross at Cornwall where the river was split in two by Cornwall Island. The north channel bridge was to be constructed by the Ottawa & New York Railway. Construction was done quickly by Phoenix Bridge Company, but on September 6, 1898 a tragic accident claimed the lives of 15 workers and injured 18 others. Pier 2 of the south channel bridge had suddenly sunk into the river, taking two of the three spans down with it, just as the finishing touches were being completed on it. An investigation ruled that the bridge company and Sooysmith Company, who built the piers, did not test the river bed properly and built the piers on unstable ground. What was thought to have been bedrock was actually 5 feet (1.5 m) of gravel that rested on top of 20 feet (6.1 m) of clay. The rebuilding of the south channel bridge was tendered out and Union Bridge Company won the contract. The bridge was opened for regular traffic on October 1, 1900, with an official opening on December 11.
Other companies were involved concerning the bridge throughout its life. On April 18, 1899 the New York & Ottawa Bridge Company was created to operate the crossing and started a lease of it on November 1, 1900. This lasted until September 6, 1917 when this company was dissolved and the Cornwall Bridge Company merged into New York Central Lines.
During the 1920s, negotiations with several parties began to find a means to have the Cornwall railway bridge system support automobile traffic as well. Many plans were submitted but it was agreed upon to plank the existing bridges (as well as build a road bridge beside the railway one over the Racquette River), and both trains and cars would share the right-of-way. On November 23, 1931, the Cornwall-Northern New York International Bridge Corporation was created to handle the planking and operate the bridge system. May 17, 1934 was when the first automobile crossed over the bridges, the corporation took control on the 29th and everything was officially opened on June 30 with the bridges being commemorated as the Roosevelt International Bridges.
The corporation lasted until 1949 when the Roosevelt International Bridge Company took possession of the bridges, who operated it until 1957.
The line was abandoned from Tupper Lake Junction to Helena
on May 6, 1937 and then from Rooseveltown
to Ottawa on March 22, 1957.
were removed by the St. Lawrence Seaway, the south span in 1958 and the north span in 1965. Meanwhile Canadian National Railways purchased the Canadian portion of the route in April 1957 and used the rails to build a new hump yard in Montreal
. They left a section from Hawthorne to the Terminal Avenue Yard in Ottawa, and then by the end of 1957 reopened a portion from Hawthorne to Ramsayville. This relaid section was removed in 1972. The remaining track in Ottawa remained in service until 2002 when the Ottawa Central Railway
removed the tracks opposite the Canada Science and Technology Museum
to the yard. In Cornwall, the track was relaid from the Canadian National Railway main line to what was once Cornwall Junction in 1971 as the Wesco Spur.
In the United States, the track from Rooseveltown
to Helena
has remained in use since the New York Central Railroad
years. It has managed to survive Penn Central Transportation
, Conrail, and CSX ownership and is still in use as of this writing. The track in Tupper Lake was used until Penn Central abandoned it in 1972, but was put back in service by the Adirondack Railway
from 1979 to 1981. Today, the tracks remain on the right-of-way for future use by the Adirondack Scenic Railroad
.
, 1996.
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...
to Ottawa, Ontario, becoming 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 in 1913 although it was under the larger company's possession since the end of 1904. It had started out as the Northern Adirondack Railroad and evolved into the Northern New York Railroad, the New York and Ottawa Railroad and was last known as the New York and Ottawa Railway before being merged into the New York Central and Hudson River Railroad. Other lines that were a part of this route (like in Canada) are described below.
Northern Adirondack Railroad: 1883-1895
The Northern Adirondack Railroad was chartered February 9, 1883 to build from Moira on the Ogdensburg and Lake Champlain Railroad south to St. Regis Falls. The company was owned by Peter MacFarlane, Charles Hotchkiss and John Hurd. Logging businessmen were hoping to use this railroad to ship out their logs from the region. The line opened on September 25, 1883 with a rented locomotive from the Ogdensburg and Lake Champlain Railroad, which derailed when it entered St. Regis Falls. MacFarlane was soon bought out by Hotchkiss and Hurd and eventually John Hurd became the majority owner.In 1885, Hurd had extended his railroad southwards to Santa Clara
Santa Clara, New York
Santa Clara is a town in Franklin County, New York, United States. The population was 395 at the 2000 census. The name was derived from the wife of an early town businessman, John Hurd....
, but it remained inactive until a new company was created to operate this section and extend it further south, eventually reaching Tupper Lake. This company would merge into the Northern Adirondack Railroad in 1890 (see below). On July 1 of that year, the first train entered Tupper Lake. Hurd's business practices would eventually send him into debt, and before he declared bankruptcy, his railroad went into receivership on January 25, 1894. On May 25, 1895, the railroad was sold to a business syndicate and two days later was renamed to the Northern New York Railroad.
Northern Adirondack Extension Railroad: 1885-1890
The Northern Adirondack Extension Railroad was chartered on February 17, 1886 to take over the existing rails between St. Regis Falls and Santa Clara, as well as to extend the Northern Adirondack Railroad south to Tupper Lake in the Adirondack MountainsAdirondack Mountains
The Adirondack Mountains are a mountain range located in the northeastern part of New York, that runs through Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Hamilton, Herkimer, Lewis, Saint Lawrence, Saratoga, Warren, and Washington counties....
, the site of the largest saw mill in the U.S. at the time. The first section of the extension opened on July 6, 1886, south to Brandon
Brandon, New York
Brandon is a town in Franklin County, New York, United States. It is centrally located in the county, southwest of the village of Malone. The town population was 542 at the 2000 census. It was named after Brandon, Vermont by early settlers.-History:...
. The remaining section to Tupper Lake was completed in 1889, with regular service to the southern terminus starting on July 1, 1890. Prior to that, on April 5, the Northern Adirondack Extension was merged into the Northern Adirondack Railroad.
In 1887 Patrick Ducey, whom owned a large tract of land south of Brandon, had built his own logging railroad from his jackworks in Black rapids to a point on the Northern Adirondack Extension Railroad called Black Rapids Junction. Although the John Hurd owned railroad was not completed and officially opened, it could be assumed that some kind of shipments was hauled out from Ducey's operations. This small line would become Northern Adirondack Railroad property approximately in 1889 when the line opened to Tupper Lake.
In 1892, the Mohawk and Malone Railway
Mohawk and Malone Railway
Dr. William Seward Webb's Mohawk and Malone Railway crossed the northern Adirondacks at Tupper Lake Junction, just north of Tupper Lake. Webb was president of the Wagner Palace Car Company...
was completed and crossed the northern Adirondacks at Tupper Lake Junction, just north of Tupper Lake.
One of the last items that the Northern Adirondack Extension Railroad had done was negotiated for trackage rights
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 Saratoga and St. Lawrence Railroad, which was running at that time from Moira to Bombay on the Grand Trunk Railway
Grand Trunk Railway
The Grand Trunk Railway was a railway system which operated in the Canadian provinces of Quebec and Ontario, as well as the American states of Connecticut, Maine, Michigan, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont. The railway was operated from headquarters in Montreal, Quebec; however, corporate...
's United States and Canada Railroad, which was a line that linked Massena
Massena (town), New York
Massena is a town in St. Lawrence County, New York, United States. The town is on the northern border of the county and is nicknamed "The Gateway to the Fourth Coast". The population was 13,121 at the 2000 census. The town of Massena contains a village also called Massena...
to Montreal. John Hurd had plans to add this small rail line to his own company.
Ontario Pacific Railway: 1882-1897
The Ontario Pacific Railway concept was originally planned out by Cornwall, OntarioCornwall, Ontario
Cornwall is a city in Eastern Ontario, Canada and the seat of the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry, Ontario. Cornwall is Ontario's easternmost city, located on the St...
politicians Dr. Darby Bergin
Darby Bergin
Darby Bergin was an Ontario physician and political figure. He represented Cornwall from 1872 to 1874 and from 1878 to 1882 and then Cornwall and Stormont from 1882 to 1896 in the Canadian House of Commons as a Liberal-Conservative member.He was born in York , Upper Canada in 1826, the son of...
(Member of Parliament) and Joseph Kerr (Member of the Legislature) in 1880. Four plans were brought up:
Plan #1 - line starting at Cornwall and head to Crysler, then end at Perth
Perth, Ontario
Perth is a town in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario, Canada . It is located on the Tay River, 83 km southwest of Ottawa, and is the seat of Lanark County.-History:...
. A branch from Cornwall to Ottawa was included
Plan #2 - line starting at Cornwall and head to Newington, then run through Smiths Falls
Smiths Falls, Ontario
Smiths Falls is a town in Eastern Ontario, Canada. It is in the census division for Lanark County, but is considered a separated town and does not participate in county government...
, ending at Perth. A branch from Cornwall to Ottawa was included.
Plan #3 - line starting at Cornwall and head to Newington, then run through Smiths Falls, ending at Perth. A branch from Cornwall to Crysler was included.
Plan #4 - line starting at Cornwall and head to Newington, then run through Smiths Falls, Perth, Glen Tay and Actinolite
Actinolite, Ontario
Actinolite is a community on the Skootamatta River in eastern Ontario. It is in the Municipality of Tweed, in Hastings County, on Highway 37 just south of Highway 7 and north of Tweed....
, then junction at Madoc
Madoc, Ontario
Madoc is a township in Eastern Ontario, Canada, in Hastings County.The township was named after legendary Welsh prince Madoc ap Owain Gwynedd, credited by some with discovering North America in 1170.-Communities:...
to the Grand Junction Railway, where running rights could be granted to Peterborough, more running rights over the Midland Railway of Canada from Peterborough to Orillia, then another granting of running rights over the Northern & North Western Railway from Orillia to Gravenhurst
Gravenhurst, Ontario
Gravenhurst is a town in the Muskoka Region of Ontario, Canada. It is located approximately south of Bracebridge, Ontario. The mayor is Paisley Donaldson...
. Here, the company would built northwards and end east of the French River
French River (Ontario)
The French River is a river in Central Ontario, Canada. It flows from Lake Nipissing west to Georgian Bay. The river largely follows the boundary between the Parry Sound District and the Sudbury District, and in most contexts is considered the dividing line between Northern Ontario and Southern...
settlement.
Debate of the four plans continued on until it was agreed that the proposal would following a route from Cornwall to Embrun
Embrun, Ontario
Embrun (ˈɛmbrən in English; ), UN/LOCODE: CA EBU, is a community in the Canadian province of Ontario in the Eastern Ontario region. Embrun is also part of the National Capital Region. Embrun is part of the larger Russell Township in Prescott and Russell United Counties...
to Richmond to Perth to Lake St. Peter to French River to Sault Ste. Marie
Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
Sault Ste. Marie is a city on the St. Marys River in Algoma District, Ontario, Canada. It is the third largest city in Northern Ontario, after Sudbury and Thunder Bay, with a population of 74,948. The community was founded as a French religious mission: Sault either means "jump" or "rapids" in...
, with branches from Pickerel Lake to Parry Sound
Parry Sound, Ontario
Parry Sound is a town in Central Ontario, Canada, located on Parry Sound on the eastern shore of Georgian Bay. Parry Sound is located south of Sudbury and north of Toronto. It is the seat of Parry Sound District, a popular cottage country region for Southern Ontario residents. It is also the...
, Manotick
Manotick, Ontario
Manotick, Ontario is an exurb in Eastern Ontario on the Rideau River, located on the south edge of Ottawa's urban area. Manotick is located immediately south of the booming suburbs Barrhaven and Riverside South and is about from downtown Ottawa. It has been part of the City of Ottawa since...
to Ottawa and Cornwall through Malone to Lyon Mountain by means of a bridge over the St. Lawrence River.
Bergin & Kerr's company received its charter on May 17, 1882 as the Ontario Pacific Railway. The approved route was from Cornwall to Ottawa, through Arnprior
Arnprior, Ontario
Arnprior is a town in Renfrew County, in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario, Canada. It is located at the mouth of the Madawaska River, as it enters the Ottawa River in the Ottawa Valley...
and Eganville
Eganville, Ontario
Eganville is a small community occupying a deep limestone valley carved at the Fifth Chute of the Bonnechere River in Renfrew County, Ontario, Canada. It is in the township of Bonnechere Valley. This village also has two of the most popular restaurants in the upper Ottawa Valley: The Granary and...
to Lake Nipissing
Lake Nipissing
Lake Nipissing is a lake in the Canadian province of Ontario. It has a surface area of , a mean elevation of above sea level, and is located between the Ottawa River and Georgian Bay. Excluding the Great Lakes, Lake Nipissing is the fifth-largest lake in Ontario. It is relatively shallow for a...
to a point at or near French River, with a branch from Cornwall to Smiths Falls or Perth. Also included was the right to build a bridge over the St. Lawrence River at Cornwall to connect to any American railroad.
On May 25, 1883, the planned route was extended to Sault Ste. Marie and the branch to Smiths Falls or Perth was to leave the main line at Newington, and go through Carleton Place to end at Almonte. A third branch was to leave the main line between Eganville and Renfrew and end at Pembroke.
Although Bergin never stopped his promotion of his railway, Kerr had to bow out to focus on his other businesses. Through the years, the Ontario Pacific Railway lay dormant, although meetings were held often, but work never got underway. It would not be until a fateful train trip in 1896 between Ottawa and Coteau Station that Bergin would meet Charles Hibbard, owner of the Northern New York Railroad, that progress would finally be made. A deal was struck between the two businessmen and their companies were to work together to form one line from Ottawa to New York City. Bergin would not see his dream come true as he died that October. His brother, John, would take the reins and the Ontario Pacific Railway changed its name on May 21, 1897 to The Ottawa & New York Railway.
Northern New York Railroad 1895-1897
After the Northern Adirondack Railroad was purchased bought on May 25, 1895, the syndicate (led by Charles Hibbard), reorganized it as the Northern New York Railroad two days later. Although uncertain, it appears that Hibbard managed to acquire trackage rightsTrackage 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....
east of Moira on the Ogdensburg and Lake Champlain Railroad to Malone.
Hibbard was not unlike John Hurd. He too envisioned a greater railroad that would expand its reach to new areas. His group had created the Racquette River Railroad on April 25, 1895 for the purpose of building a rail route between Tupper Lake and Axton Landing. From that point, the Delaware & Hudson had planned to extend their Adirondack Railway that terminated at North Creek
North Creek, New York
North Creek is a hamlet in the Adirondack Park, in the town of Johnsburg, in Warren County, New York, United States. It is an area known for skiing , hiking and other outdoor recreational activities. It is located at ....
to Axton landing under the Adirondack Extension Railroad charter. Hibbard's trains was to have running rights to Saratoga Springs and then on to New York City.
The second extension was to build northwards into Canada. At first, it was planned to take over the Saratoga & St. Lawrence Railroad and then head to St. Regis in Quebec. From there, Hibbard's line would build to Ottawa. From June 11 to July 30 in 1896, the Northern New York Railroad operated the Saratoga & St. Lawrence Railroad, but for unknown reasons Hibbard was not pleased with it. Instead, he planned to build northwards from Moira himself and a new company was created to do so. After meeting Dr. Darby Bergin from the Ontario Pacific Railway, Hibbard formed a partnership with him and these two railroaders planned to connect Ottawa to the Adirondack line. On October 28, 1897, the Northern New York Railroad merged into this new northern extension company.
Ottawa & New York Railway 1897-1957
When Dr. Darby Bergin and Charles Hibbard finalized their agreements, the Ontario Pacific Railway plans were revised. On May 21, 1897 the company was renamed to The Ottawa & New York Railway and was to build from CornwallCornwall, Ontario
Cornwall is a city in Eastern Ontario, Canada and the seat of the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry, Ontario. Cornwall is Ontario's easternmost city, located on the St...
to Ottawa as well as to construct a bridge crossing over the St. Lawrence River at Cornwall. Construction began on August 23 and was quickly completed, opening on July 29, 1898, although the first revenue train operated the year before from Crysler to Finch. Before the opening day, the company was purchased by its American partner on June 13, 1898 and had dropped 'The' from its title.
Although the American company had been purchased by the New York Central & Hudson River Railroad, the Ottawa & New York Railway continued to exist as a company and owner of their rail line, but the majority shareholders were New York Central interests. From 1905 to 1957, the Ottawa & New York Railway was operated under a lease by the New York Central until abandonment and the selling of the property. The Ottawa & New York Railway was dissolved on December 20, 1957.
New York & Ottawa Railroad 1897-1905
The New York and Ottawa Railroad was chartered on July 22, 1897 to build an extension north from Moira to the St. Lawrence River, where it would connect to the Ottawa and New York Railway. On October 28 the Northern New York was merged into the New York and Ottawa. The NY&O acquired the O&NY's stock on June 13, 1898. On September 28 of that year, the line in New York was completed, running to the St. Lawrence River at RooseveltownRooseveltown, New York
Rooseveltown, New York is a hamlet in the town of Massena, New York, United States located in St. Lawrence County, New York. It is near the eastern town line by the Raquette River....
. By the time the bridge crossing over the St. Lawrence River was completed, the Black Rapids Branch of the line was abandoned.
An extension south from Tupper Lake was also planned as part of the new line. On April 25, 1895, the Racquette River Railroad was created to build from Tupper Lake to Axton Landing, where the Adirondack Extension Railroad was to build to North Creek
North Creek, New York
North Creek is a hamlet in the Adirondack Park, in the town of Johnsburg, in Warren County, New York, United States. It is an area known for skiing , hiking and other outdoor recreational activities. It is located at ....
. This company went under the New York and Ottawa Railroad control in November 1898. This southern extension was not built due to the refusal of the State Forest Preserve to allow the New York and Ottawa Railroad to build in the state owned park, but was likely influenced by the New York Central Railroad, whom had an existing line from Herkimer to Malone.
The entire route from Ottawa to Tupper Lake was finally operating on October 1, 1900, which was after the company entered receivership
Receivership
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...
on April 25, 1900. The company was sold to New York Central interests on December 22, 1904 and was renamed to the New York & Ottawa Railway on January 19, 1905. This was followed by the company being leased to the New York Central & Hudson River railroad on February 1.
St. Lawrence River crossing at Cornwall
The crossing of the St. Lawrence River at CornwallCornwall, Ontario
Cornwall is a city in Eastern Ontario, Canada and the seat of the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry, Ontario. Cornwall is Ontario's easternmost city, located on the St...
was the single most important part of the construction of the Ottawa to Tupper Lake route. At the time of its opening, there were no other bridge crossings between Queenston and Coteau Landing. The crossing consisted of two bridges, one span over the south channel, most of it being in the United States, made up of three Pratt trusses, and the second over the north channel, all in Canada, being of a cantilever design as well as a swing span over the Cornwall Canal.
Company wise, it began on July 28, 1897 with the creation of the Cornwall Bridge Company that was to construct the south channel bridge, as it was decided to cross at Cornwall where the river was split in two by Cornwall Island. The north channel bridge was to be constructed by the Ottawa & New York Railway. Construction was done quickly by Phoenix Bridge Company, but on September 6, 1898 a tragic accident claimed the lives of 15 workers and injured 18 others. Pier 2 of the south channel bridge had suddenly sunk into the river, taking two of the three spans down with it, just as the finishing touches were being completed on it. An investigation ruled that the bridge company and Sooysmith Company, who built the piers, did not test the river bed properly and built the piers on unstable ground. What was thought to have been bedrock was actually 5 feet (1.5 m) of gravel that rested on top of 20 feet (6.1 m) of clay. The rebuilding of the south channel bridge was tendered out and Union Bridge Company won the contract. The bridge was opened for regular traffic on October 1, 1900, with an official opening on December 11.
Other companies were involved concerning the bridge throughout its life. On April 18, 1899 the New York & Ottawa Bridge Company was created to operate the crossing and started a lease of it on November 1, 1900. This lasted until September 6, 1917 when this company was dissolved and the Cornwall Bridge Company merged into New York Central Lines.
During the 1920s, negotiations with several parties began to find a means to have the Cornwall railway bridge system support automobile traffic as well. Many plans were submitted but it was agreed upon to plank the existing bridges (as well as build a road bridge beside the railway one over the Racquette River), and both trains and cars would share the right-of-way. On November 23, 1931, the Cornwall-Northern New York International Bridge Corporation was created to handle the planking and operate the bridge system. May 17, 1934 was when the first automobile crossed over the bridges, the corporation took control on the 29th and everything was officially opened on June 30 with the bridges being commemorated as the Roosevelt International Bridges.
The corporation lasted until 1949 when the Roosevelt International Bridge Company took possession of the bridges, who operated it until 1957.
New York Central Railroad: 1905-1957
On December 22, 1904 the line was bought, and was reorganized January 19, 1905 as the New York and Ottawa Railway. It was leased to the New York Central and Hudson River Railroad on February 1, becoming its Ottawa Division, and merged into the company on March 7, 1913.The line was abandoned from Tupper Lake Junction to Helena
Helena, New York
Helena is a hamlet in the Town of Brasher in St. Lawrence County, New York, United States.It is also known as "Ohi'karónthne", a Mohawk name which translates to: "at the place of the thorn bush"....
on May 6, 1937 and then from Rooseveltown
Rooseveltown, New York
Rooseveltown, New York is a hamlet in the town of Massena, New York, United States located in St. Lawrence County, New York. It is near the eastern town line by the Raquette River....
to Ottawa on March 22, 1957.
After 1957
The bridges at CornwallCornwall, Ontario
Cornwall is a city in Eastern Ontario, Canada and the seat of the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry, Ontario. Cornwall is Ontario's easternmost city, located on the St...
were removed by the St. Lawrence Seaway, the south span in 1958 and the north span in 1965. Meanwhile Canadian National Railways purchased the Canadian portion of the route in April 1957 and used the rails to build a new hump yard in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
. They left a section from Hawthorne to the Terminal Avenue Yard in Ottawa, and then by the end of 1957 reopened a portion from Hawthorne to Ramsayville. This relaid section was removed in 1972. The remaining track in Ottawa remained in service until 2002 when the Ottawa Central Railway
Ottawa Central Railway
The Ottawa Central Railway is a Canadian shortline railway subsidiary of the Canadian National Railway. The headquarters are at the Walkley Yard, 3141 Albion Road South, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada....
removed the tracks opposite the Canada Science and Technology Museum
Canada Science and Technology Museum
The Canada Science and Technology Museum is located in Ottawa, Ontario, on St. Laurent Boulevard, to the south of the Queensway .-Mission:...
to the yard. In Cornwall, the track was relaid from the Canadian National Railway main line to what was once Cornwall Junction in 1971 as the Wesco Spur.
In the United States, the track from Rooseveltown
Rooseveltown, New York
Rooseveltown, New York is a hamlet in the town of Massena, New York, United States located in St. Lawrence County, New York. It is near the eastern town line by the Raquette River....
to Helena
Helena, New York
Helena is a hamlet in the Town of Brasher in St. Lawrence County, New York, United States.It is also known as "Ohi'karónthne", a Mohawk name which translates to: "at the place of the thorn bush"....
has remained in use since 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...
years. It has managed to survive Penn Central Transportation
Penn Central Transportation
The Penn Central Transportation Company, commonly abbreviated to Penn Central, was an American railroad company that operated from 1968 until 1976. It was created by the merger on February 1, 1968, of the Pennsylvania Railroad and the New York Central Railroad...
, Conrail, and CSX ownership and is still in use as of this writing. The track in Tupper Lake was used until Penn Central abandoned it in 1972, but was put back in service by the Adirondack Railway
Adirondack Railway
The Adirondack Railway was a railroad that connected Saratoga Springs to North Creek, New York. Built by Dr. Thomas Clark Durant, vice-president of the Union Pacific Railroad, it was started in 1864 and completed in 1871 by the Adirondack Company. After Durant's death, it was taken over by his...
from 1979 to 1981. Today, the tracks remain on the right-of-way for future use by the Adirondack Scenic Railroad
Adirondack Scenic Railroad
The Adirondack Scenic Railroad is a tourist railway located in Adirondack Park that runs during the summer months from Utica to Thendara, and from Saranac Lake to Lake Placid...
.
Sources
All information above comes from the web page of the New York Central's Ottawa Division - a History, as well as research documents in possession of that webmaster (whom edited this entire entry in July 2006) and his partners. These documents were obtained through various collections (Canadian National Archive, many Historical Societies, original timetables and operating manuals) as well as published books like Railroads of the Adirondacks: a History by Michael KudishMichael Kudish
Michael Kudish is an author, railroad historian, forester, and retired professor. He received his Ph.D. in 1971 from the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry at Syracuse. His dissertation, on the history of Catskill forests, was the beginning of a lifelong...
, 1996.