Buffalo and Jamestown Railroad
Encyclopedia
The Buffalo and Jamestown Railroad was a railroad that ran between the towns of Jamestown, NY and Buffalo, NY. It was a predecessor of the Erie Railroad
.
The line was built with the aid of one million dollars from the city of Buffalo and another million dollars donated by towns along the line. Work commenced rapidly and the road was completed from Buffalo to Gowanda
by October 20, 1874. At Dayton
the track passed under the tracks of the Erie main line from Salamanca
to Dunkirk and continued south to Jamestown. The road was opened in sections and was completed in July 1875.
The line was never financially successful, and the mortgage was foreclosed by an action brought in the Supreme Court for Erie County, wherein The Farmers Loan and Trust Company as trustee was plaintiff and The Buffalo and Jamestown Railroad Company et al. were defendants. A judgment of foreclosure
and sale was entered on February 3, 1877 and George S. Wardwell was appointed as the referee to sell the company. On September 11, 1877, all the property and franchises of The Buffalo and Jamestown Railroad Company were sold for $1,000,000 to Abraham Altman, Jewett M. Richmond, William H. H. Newman, John F. Moulton and Wilson X. Bissell, as a committee of bondholders. The referee's report of sale was dated November 26, 1877, and the order confirming referee's report of sale made at a special term of the Supreme Court held at Buffalo on November 26, 1877.
A deed dated December 12, 1877, from Jewett M. Richmond and wife, William H.. H. Newman and wife, John P. Moulton and wife, and Wilson S. Bissell, unmarried, as a committee of bondholders, etc., conveyed the railroad, property and franchises acquired as aforesaid through the above mentioned foreclosure and deed to the Buffalo and Southwestern Railroad
Company.
The Buffalo and Southwestern Railroad was leased by the New York, Lake Erie and Western (Erie Railroad) on August 1, 1880, for an annual rental of 35 percent of the gross earnings for the line. On November 19, 1895, the Erie officially merged the line by virtue of owning 100 percent of the B&SW stock.
operates the portion from Buffalo to the Erie County line at Gowanda, and the New York and Lake Erie Railroad operates the line south from Gowanda to South Dayton, including an excursion train that runs in the summer.
Erie Railroad
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...
.
History
The Buffalo and Jamestown Railroad company was incorporated on March 23, 1872. A mortgage was issued October 1, 1873, and given by company to The Farmers Loan and Trust Company as trustee to secure an issue of $2,500,000 of 6 per cent. bonds, payable October 1, 1893.The line was built with the aid of one million dollars from the city of Buffalo and another million dollars donated by towns along the line. Work commenced rapidly and the road was completed from Buffalo to Gowanda
Gowanda, New York
Gowanda is a village in New York in the United States and lies partly in Erie County and partly in Cattaraugus County. The population was 2,842 at the 2000 census. The name is a local native term meaning "almost surrounded by hills" or "beautiful place among the hills...
by October 20, 1874. At Dayton
Dayton, New York
Dayton is a town in Cattaraugus County, New York, United States. The population was 1,945 at the 2000 census.The Town of Dayton is on the western border of Cattaraugus County.- History :...
the track passed under the tracks of the Erie main line 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:...
to Dunkirk and continued south to Jamestown. The road was opened in sections and was completed in July 1875.
The line was never financially successful, and the mortgage was foreclosed by an action brought in the Supreme Court for Erie County, wherein The Farmers Loan and Trust Company as trustee was plaintiff and The Buffalo and Jamestown Railroad Company et al. were defendants. A judgment of foreclosure
Foreclosure
Foreclosure is the legal process by which a mortgage lender , or other lien holder, obtains a termination of a mortgage borrower 's equitable right of redemption, either by court order or by operation of law...
and sale was entered on February 3, 1877 and George S. Wardwell was appointed as the referee to sell the company. On September 11, 1877, all the property and franchises of The Buffalo and Jamestown Railroad Company were sold for $1,000,000 to Abraham Altman, Jewett M. Richmond, William H. H. Newman, John F. Moulton and Wilson X. Bissell, as a committee of bondholders. The referee's report of sale was dated November 26, 1877, and the order confirming referee's report of sale made at a special term of the Supreme Court held at Buffalo on November 26, 1877.
A deed dated December 12, 1877, from Jewett M. Richmond and wife, William H.. H. Newman and wife, John P. Moulton and wife, and Wilson S. Bissell, unmarried, as a committee of bondholders, etc., conveyed the railroad, property and franchises acquired as aforesaid through the above mentioned foreclosure and deed to the Buffalo and Southwestern Railroad
Buffalo and Southwestern Railroad
The Buffalo and South Western Railroad was a predecessor of the Erie Railroad that ran 89 miles between Jamestown, NY and Buffalo, NY.- History :...
Company.
The Buffalo and Southwestern Railroad was leased by the New York, Lake Erie and Western (Erie Railroad) on August 1, 1880, for an annual rental of 35 percent of the gross earnings for the line. On November 19, 1895, the Erie officially merged the line by virtue of owning 100 percent of the B&SW stock.
Current status
Much of the line originally built by the Buffalo and Jamestown Railroad still sees use. The Buffalo Southern RailroadBuffalo Southern Railroad
The Buffalo Southern Railroad is a class III railroad operating in western New York.The BSOR is locally owned and operates in the Buffalo area. It should not be confused with the South Buffalo Railway which is a separate railroad....
operates the portion from Buffalo to the Erie County line at Gowanda, and the New York and Lake Erie Railroad operates the line south from Gowanda to South Dayton, including an excursion train that runs in the summer.