Auburn and Syracuse Railroad
Encyclopedia
The Auburn and Syracuse Railroad was incorporated on May 1, 1834 to provide easy access to and from Syracuse, New York
and the Erie Canal
. Construction was begun in 1835, however, was delayed during the Panic of 1837
. Although the economic downturn
lingered until 1843, the railroad was completed by January 1838.
In August 1850, the Auburn and Syracuse Railroad joined the Auburn and Rochester Railroad
to form the Rochester and Syracuse Railroad
which later merged with the New York Central Railroad
.
railroad "subscribers" contributed $31,000 to the $400,000 stock authorized in the incorporation articles received on May 1, 1834. Among the 20 investors was Vivus W. Smith, who later was one of the founders of the Syracuse Journal.
until the introduction of its first locomotive
, the Syracuse, on June 14, 1839.
. Originally, a mill pond on the site of the State Armory, located at the present day Armory Square
, in West Jefferson Street, blocked the right of way. It was not until a trestle was built across the pond, that passengers were no longer "forced to find other means" of getting into the village of Syracuse
from a temporary station at Geddes
.
), the company erected a new depot between Salina and Clinton streets in late 1838. Work on the trestle was completed in early 1839 as well as construction of a new railroad station in Downtown Syracuse
.
By late 1839, one of the trains achieved the 26 miles (41.8 km) run in 58 minutes. A year later, in 1840, the event was reported in the Western State Journal
While passenger service constituted the bulk of the company's revenue operations, an arrangement under the existing canal protection laws allowed the Auburn and Syracuse Railroad (A & S) to carry freight as well. In this capacity, it served rather than competed against the Erie Canal
.
was ready for use. The depot of the original Auburn Road was not known for either beauty or finish, presenting a "striking contrast to its majestic neighbor across the street."
to form the Rochester and Syracuse Railroad
.
. It was one of eight independent small lines in upstate New York which Erastus Corning, of Albany
, saw as the basis of a statewide consolidation. In 1853, this company became part of the New York Central Railroad
.
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 the Erie Canal
Erie Canal
The Erie Canal is a waterway in New York that runs about from Albany, New York, on the Hudson River to Buffalo, New York, at Lake Erie, completing a navigable water route from the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes. The canal contains 36 locks and encompasses a total elevation differential of...
. Construction was begun in 1835, however, was delayed during the Panic of 1837
Panic of 1837
The Panic of 1837 was a financial crisis or market correction in the United States built on a speculative fever. The end of the Second Bank of the United States had produced a period of runaway inflation, but on May 10, 1837 in New York City, every bank began to accept payment only in specie ,...
. Although the economic downturn
Stock market crash
A stock market crash is a sudden dramatic decline of stock prices across a significant cross-section of a stock market, resulting in a significant loss of paper wealth. Crashes are driven by panic as much as by underlying economic factors...
lingered until 1843, the railroad was completed by January 1838.
In August 1850, the Auburn and Syracuse Railroad joined the Auburn and Rochester Railroad
Auburn and Rochester Railroad
-Introduction:The Auburn and Rochester Railroad Company was built to bring Canandaigua access to regional and national markets and sources. Extending southeast from Rochester to Geneva and Canandaigua with a trackage length of 78½ miles, its right-of-way exceeded that of the contemporaneous and...
to form the Rochester and Syracuse Railroad
Rochester and Syracuse Railroad
The Rochester and Syracuse Railroad was incorporated on August 1, 1850 authorizing the consolidation of the Auburn and Rochester Railroad Company and the Auburn and Syracuse Railroad Company...
which later merged with 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...
.
History
SyracuseSyracuse, 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...
railroad "subscribers" contributed $31,000 to the $400,000 stock authorized in the incorporation articles received on May 1, 1834. Among the 20 investors was Vivus W. Smith, who later was one of the founders of the Syracuse Journal.
Horse drawn
The work had been done "on the cheap," with low quality railbed preparation and wood rails. The Auburn and Syracuse Railroad was opened for business on January 8, 1838 with horse-drawn trains and did not utilize steam tractionSteam locomotive
A steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine...
until the introduction of its first locomotive
Locomotive
A locomotive is a railway vehicle that provides the motive power for a train. The word originates from the Latin loco – "from a place", ablative of locus, "place" + Medieval Latin motivus, "causing motion", and is a shortened form of the term locomotive engine, first used in the early 19th...
, the Syracuse, on June 14, 1839.
Steam locomotive
Only after the advent of the steam railroad did the train finally arrive in SyracuseSyracuse, 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...
. Originally, a mill pond on the site of the State Armory, located at the present day Armory Square
Armory Square
Armory Square is a small neighborhood on the west side of Downtown Syracuse, New York. It began life as a busy commercial and industrial area just to the west of the central city. After World War II, Syracuse's central city became less and less populated as more housing and business facilities...
, in West Jefferson Street, blocked the right of way. It was not until a trestle was built across the pond, that passengers were no longer "forced to find other means" of getting into the village 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...
from a temporary station at Geddes
Geddes, New York
Geddes is a town in Onondaga County, New York, United States. The population was 17,740 at the 2000 census.The Town of Geddes is west of the neighborhood of Far Westside of Syracuse. The town is a western suburb of Syracuse.- History :...
.
Auburn road
Known as the Auburn Road (which later passed to the Rochester and Syracuse RailroadRochester and Syracuse Railroad
The Rochester and Syracuse Railroad was incorporated on August 1, 1850 authorizing the consolidation of the Auburn and Rochester Railroad Company and the Auburn and Syracuse Railroad Company...
), the company erected a new depot between Salina and Clinton streets in late 1838. Work on the trestle was completed in early 1839 as well as construction of a new railroad station in Downtown Syracuse
Downtown Syracuse
Downtown Syracuse is the economic center of Syracuse, New York, and Central New York, employing over 30,000 people, and housing over 2,000. It is also one of the 26 officially recognized neighborhoods of Syracuse.- History :...
.
By late 1839, one of the trains achieved the 26 miles (41.8 km) run in 58 minutes. A year later, in 1840, the event was reported in the Western State Journal
While passenger service constituted the bulk of the company's revenue operations, an arrangement under the existing canal protection laws allowed the Auburn and Syracuse Railroad (A & S) to carry freight as well. In this capacity, it served rather than competed against the Erie Canal
Erie Canal
The Erie Canal is a waterway in New York that runs about from Albany, New York, on the Hudson River to Buffalo, New York, at Lake Erie, completing a navigable water route from the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes. The canal contains 36 locks and encompasses a total elevation differential of...
.
Depot
The depot was replaced that next summer in 1839 when the depot of the Syracuse and Utica RailroadSyracuse and Utica Railroad
The Syracuse and Utica Railroad was chartered May 1, 1836, and had to pay the state for any freight displaced from the Erie Canal. The full line opened July 3, 1839, extending the line further to Syracuse, New York to Rome, New York...
was ready for use. The depot of the original Auburn Road was not known for either beauty or finish, presenting a "striking contrast to its majestic neighbor across the street."
Rochester and Syracuse railroad
On 1 August 1850, the Auburn and Syracuse Railroad joined the Auburn and Rochester RailroadAuburn and Rochester Railroad
-Introduction:The Auburn and Rochester Railroad Company was built to bring Canandaigua access to regional and national markets and sources. Extending southeast from Rochester to Geneva and Canandaigua with a trackage length of 78½ miles, its right-of-way exceeded that of the contemporaneous and...
to form the Rochester and Syracuse Railroad
Rochester and Syracuse Railroad
The Rochester and Syracuse Railroad was incorporated on August 1, 1850 authorizing the consolidation of the Auburn and Rochester Railroad Company and the Auburn and Syracuse Railroad Company...
.
New York Central railroad
A weak link in the network of rail lines in New York State, the A & S achieved distinction only in becoming a constituent of one of the world's genuinely significant rail companies, the New York Central RailroadNew 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...
. It was one of eight independent small lines in upstate New York which Erastus Corning, of Albany
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
, saw as the basis of a statewide consolidation. In 1853, this company became 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...
.