Oneida Railway
Encyclopedia
The Oneida Railway, an interurban
rail, was established in 1907 when the New York Central Railroad
electrified 49 miles (78.9 km) of the West Shore Railroad
between Syracuse, New York
and Utica, New York
.
The interurban railroad used nontraditional third-rail pickup for power instead of the typical overhead catenary
. In 1909 the system merged with the New York State Railways system which remained in business until 1930.
The track was constructed in 1885 as part of the West Shore Railroad
and eventually connected Oneida, New York
with Syracuse, New York
.
, but limiteds, which were faster and traveled longer distances, ran by the town to the south.
All trains entered Syracuse, New York
and Utica, New York
on the street, using overhead trolley. A limited and local were run every hour until the late 1920s when the service scaled back and ran a single car each hour, except during the morning and evening rush periods.
The company had contracted with the Hudson River Electric Power Company for the delivery of three-phase current at a potential of 60,000 volts at the Clark Mills substation, about 7 miles (11.3 km) west of Utica
. The power was generated from an auxiliary steam plant in that same city. Upon completion of the transmission lines, "current later will undoubtedly be taken from hydro-electric plants" owned by the company in eastern New York State.
was installed by the Oneida Railway Company of Oneida, New York
, a corporation organized "under the earlier railroad laws and having a more liberal charter than could be obtained were a new corporation to be organized at this time. At that time, the terms under which the Oneida Railway Company would use the West Shore
had not yet been agreed upon, but a contract had been made under which, after one year of operation, the companies in interest agree to execute an operating agreement.
C. Loomis Allen was general manager of the construction project and W. J. Harvie was electrical engineer. Both worked for Utica and Mohawk Valley Railway Company of Utica
and the Oneida Railway Company.
, Vernon
, Canastota
and Manlius Center. They were identical in construction and each was equipped with two 300-kilowatt rotary converters and the necessary equipment for transforming 60,000-volt three-phase current to direct current for distribution to the rail at 600 volts.
The towers were built by the Archbold-Brady Company of Syracuse
. In September 1906, there were 391 with "normal spacing" of 480 feet (146.3 m) in the planning stages. Most of the towers were 39 feet (11.9 m) high, however some were as tall as 63 feet (19.2 m).
The company ordered 15 closed cars from the J. G. Brill Company. There were 49 feet (14.9 m) over the bumpers, 48 feet (14.6 m) over the crown pieces and 40 feet (12.2 m) over the body sheathing. The width of the cars was 8.5 feet (2.6 m). The body of the cars were divided into two compartments, the main compartment was 28.25 feet (8.6 m) long, with 19 double seats. The smoking compartment had 7 double seats. The cars were mounted on Brill 27E 2 trucks 5.5 feet (1.7 m) wheelbase spaced 29.5 feet (9 m) between truck centers, making a total wheelbase of 36 feet (11 m). The motor equipment consisted of four G.E. 73 motors per car. The control was the Sprague-General Electric multiple-unit type.
Most of the cars used by the railway were multiple-unit interurbans until 1912 when the company bought a pair of steel cars fitted with parabolic ends.
by June 1912. Travelers changed routes at Oneida Castle
to New York, Ontario and Western Railroad "beach trains" which were the fastest and most direct route to the beach. Through tickets were sold at all stations for the "direct route."
. Streetcar service on the line remained in operation until December 31, 1930, when it was abandoned in favor of buses and the track was reverted to freight service only.
Interurban
An interurban, also called a radial railway in parts of Canada, is a type of electric passenger railroad; in short a hybrid between tram and train. Interurbans enjoyed widespread popularity in the first three decades of the twentieth century in North America. Until the early 1920s, most roads were...
rail, was established in 1907 when 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...
electrified 49 miles (78.9 km) of the West Shore Railroad
West Shore Railroad
The West Shore Railroad was the final name of a railroad from Weehawken, New Jersey, across the Hudson River from New York City, north along the west shore of the river to Albany, New York and then west to Buffalo...
between Syracuse, New York
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
and Utica, New York
Utica, New York
Utica is a city in and the county seat of Oneida County, New York, United States. The population was 62,235 at the 2010 census, an increase of 2.6% from the 2000 census....
.
The interurban railroad used nontraditional third-rail pickup for power instead of the typical overhead catenary
Catenary
In physics and geometry, the catenary is the curve that an idealised hanging chain or cable assumes when supported at its ends and acted on only by its own weight. The curve is the graph of the hyperbolic cosine function, and has a U-like shape, superficially similar in appearance to a parabola...
. In 1909 the system merged with the New York State Railways system which remained in business until 1930.
The track was constructed in 1885 as part of the West Shore Railroad
West Shore Railroad
The West Shore Railroad was the final name of a railroad from Weehawken, New Jersey, across the Hudson River from New York City, north along the west shore of the river to Albany, New York and then west to Buffalo...
and eventually connected Oneida, New York
Oneida, New York
Oneida is a city in Madison County located west of Oneida Castle and east of Canastota, New York, United States. The population was 10,987 at the 2000 census. The city, like both Oneida County and the nearby silver and china maker, takes its name from the Oneida tribe...
with Syracuse, New York
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
.
History
Local trains ran on the streets in OneidaOneida, New York
Oneida is a city in Madison County located west of Oneida Castle and east of Canastota, New York, United States. The population was 10,987 at the 2000 census. The city, like both Oneida County and the nearby silver and china maker, takes its name from the Oneida tribe...
, but limiteds, which were faster and traveled longer distances, ran by the town to the south.
All trains entered Syracuse, New York
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
and Utica, New York
Utica, New York
Utica is a city in and the county seat of Oneida County, New York, United States. The population was 62,235 at the 2010 census, an increase of 2.6% from the 2000 census....
on the street, using overhead trolley. A limited and local were run every hour until the late 1920s when the service scaled back and ran a single car each hour, except during the morning and evening rush periods.
Electric rail
The company compared the merits of alternating current overhead equipment versus third-rail and the decision was made to install third-rail, direct-current system, due to the greater flexibility offered should it ever become necessary to make lateral extensions, install additional side tracks, switches, etc.The company had contracted with the Hudson River Electric Power Company for the delivery of three-phase current at a potential of 60,000 volts at the Clark Mills substation, about 7 miles (11.3 km) west of Utica
Utica, New York
Utica is a city in and the county seat of Oneida County, New York, United States. The population was 62,235 at the 2010 census, an increase of 2.6% from the 2000 census....
. The power was generated from an auxiliary steam plant in that same city. Upon completion of the transmission lines, "current later will undoubtedly be taken from hydro-electric plants" owned by the company in eastern New York State.
Construction
Work was started on May 15, 1906. The electrical equipment of the West Shore RailroadWest Shore Railroad
The West Shore Railroad was the final name of a railroad from Weehawken, New Jersey, across the Hudson River from New York City, north along the west shore of the river to Albany, New York and then west to Buffalo...
was installed by the Oneida Railway Company of Oneida, New York
Oneida, New York
Oneida is a city in Madison County located west of Oneida Castle and east of Canastota, New York, United States. The population was 10,987 at the 2000 census. The city, like both Oneida County and the nearby silver and china maker, takes its name from the Oneida tribe...
, a corporation organized "under the earlier railroad laws and having a more liberal charter than could be obtained were a new corporation to be organized at this time. At that time, the terms under which the Oneida Railway Company would use the West Shore
West Shore Railroad
The West Shore Railroad was the final name of a railroad from Weehawken, New Jersey, across the Hudson River from New York City, north along the west shore of the river to Albany, New York and then west to Buffalo...
had not yet been agreed upon, but a contract had been made under which, after one year of operation, the companies in interest agree to execute an operating agreement.
C. Loomis Allen was general manager of the construction project and W. J. Harvie was electrical engineer. Both worked for Utica and Mohawk Valley Railway Company of Utica
Utica, New York
Utica is a city in and the county seat of Oneida County, New York, United States. The population was 62,235 at the 2010 census, an increase of 2.6% from the 2000 census....
and the Oneida Railway Company.
Sub-divisions
For the purpose of construction, the line was split into four sub-divisions:- Genesee Street in Utica, New YorkUtica, New YorkUtica is a city in and the county seat of Oneida County, New York, United States. The population was 62,235 at the 2010 census, an increase of 2.6% from the 2000 census....
to Vernon (town), New YorkVernon (town), New YorkVernon is a town in Oneida County, New York, United States. The population was 5,335 at the 2000 census.The Town of Vernon is on the western border of the county...
grade - 11.3 miles (18.2 km) - Vernon (town), New YorkVernon (town), New YorkVernon is a town in Oneida County, New York, United States. The population was 5,335 at the 2000 census.The Town of Vernon is on the western border of the county...
to Lenox Avenue in Oneida, New YorkOneida, New YorkOneida is a city in Madison County located west of Oneida Castle and east of Canastota, New York, United States. The population was 10,987 at the 2000 census. The city, like both Oneida County and the nearby silver and china maker, takes its name from the Oneida tribe...
- 10 miles (16.1 km) - Lenox Avenue in Oneida, New YorkOneida, New YorkOneida is a city in Madison County located west of Oneida Castle and east of Canastota, New York, United States. The population was 10,987 at the 2000 census. The city, like both Oneida County and the nearby silver and china maker, takes its name from the Oneida tribe...
to Chittenango, New YorkChittenango, New YorkChittenango is a village located in Madison County, New York, in the United States. The village is in the south part of the Town of Sullivan. The population was 5,081 at the 2010 census.- History :...
- 10.3 miles (16.6 km) - Chittenango, New YorkChittenango, New YorkChittenango is a village located in Madison County, New York, in the United States. The village is in the south part of the Town of Sullivan. The population was 5,081 at the 2010 census.- History :...
to Syracuse, New YorkSyracuse, New YorkSyracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
city limits - 12.5 miles (20.1 km)
Equipment and plants
The company built four substations in 1907 located 10.5 miles (16.9 km) apart in Clark MillsClark Mills, New York
Clark Mills is a hamlet in Oneida County, New York, United States. The population was 1,424 at the 2000 census.The community is located at the northeastern corner of the Town of Kirkland, west of the City of Utica.- History :...
, Vernon
Vernon, New York
Vernon, New York may refer to:*Vernon , New York, located in Oneida County*Vernon , New York, located within the Town of Vernon...
, Canastota
Canastota, New York
Canastota is a village located inside the Town of Lenox in Madison County, New York, United States. The population was 4,425 at the 2000 census.The Village of Canastota is in the south part of the Town of Lenox.- History :...
and Manlius Center. They were identical in construction and each was equipped with two 300-kilowatt rotary converters and the necessary equipment for transforming 60,000-volt three-phase current to direct current for distribution to the rail at 600 volts.
The towers were built by the Archbold-Brady Company of Syracuse
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
. In September 1906, there were 391 with "normal spacing" of 480 feet (146.3 m) in the planning stages. Most of the towers were 39 feet (11.9 m) high, however some were as tall as 63 feet (19.2 m).
The company ordered 15 closed cars from the J. G. Brill Company. There were 49 feet (14.9 m) over the bumpers, 48 feet (14.6 m) over the crown pieces and 40 feet (12.2 m) over the body sheathing. The width of the cars was 8.5 feet (2.6 m). The body of the cars were divided into two compartments, the main compartment was 28.25 feet (8.6 m) long, with 19 double seats. The smoking compartment had 7 double seats. The cars were mounted on Brill 27E 2 trucks 5.5 feet (1.7 m) wheelbase spaced 29.5 feet (9 m) between truck centers, making a total wheelbase of 36 feet (11 m). The motor equipment consisted of four G.E. 73 motors per car. The control was the Sprague-General Electric multiple-unit type.
Most of the cars used by the railway were multiple-unit interurbans until 1912 when the company bought a pair of steel cars fitted with parabolic ends.
Vacation excursions
The road offered excursions to Sylvan Beach on Oneida LakeOneida Lake
Oneida Lake is the largest lake entirely within New York State . The lake is located northeast of Syracuse and near the Great Lakes. It serves as one of the links in the Erie Canal. It empties into the Oneida River which flows into the Oswego River which in turn flows into Lake Ontario...
by June 1912. Travelers changed routes at Oneida Castle
Oneida Castle, New York
Oneida Castle is a village in Oneida County, New York, United States. The population was 627 at the 2000 census.The Village of Oneida Castle is in the northwest corner of the Town of Vernon...
to New York, Ontario and Western Railroad "beach trains" which were the fastest and most direct route to the beach. Through tickets were sold at all stations for the "direct route."
New York State railways
In 1909 the road merged with the New York State Railways system, which was formed from the merger of several interurban railways in Upstate New YorkUpstate New York
Upstate New York is the region of the U.S. state of New York that is located north of the core of the New York metropolitan area.-Definition:There is no clear or official boundary between Upstate New York and Downstate New York...
. Streetcar service on the line remained in operation until December 31, 1930, when it was abandoned in favor of buses and the track was reverted to freight service only.