Catawissa Railroad
Encyclopedia
The Catawissa Railroad was a railroad that operated in Pennsylvania
between 1860 and 1953. For most of its lifespan it was leased by the Reading Railroad, and was subsequently merged into the Reading.
) and Milton
. The principals in the company included Christian Brobst and Joseph Paxton of Catawissa
. Construction began c. 1835, but the banking panic of 1837
restricted investments needed to continue work on the railroad.
It 1849 the company reorganized to attract new investors, and became the Catawissa, Williamsport and Erie Railroad (CW&E). In the early 1850s construction resumed, and in 1854 the railroad reached Milton, where it connected with the Sunbury and Erie Railroad (renamed the Philadelphia and Erie in 1861). At Tamanend the railroad connected with the Little Schuylkill Navigation Railroad
, which ran along the Little Schuylkill River to Tamaqua and Port Clinton, where it connected to the Reading Railroad. CW&E passenger train operations between Catawissa and Tamaqua began in July 1854. A bridge across the Susquehanna River
to Rupert
was completed in 1855. The 65 miles (104.6 km) route traversed some difficult terrain, and included three tunnels, and eight bridges and trestles.
The CW&E went bankrupt in 1859, and reorganized as the Catawissa Railroad (CRR) in 1860. In 1865 the Western Central Railroad and the Atlantic and Great Western Railroad
attempted to lease the Catawissa RR. The leases were challenged by the Philadelphia & Erie in litigation, and eventually they were upheld by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. However, the A&GW declared bankruptcy in 1867, and the CRR then proceeded to operate the line by itself.
The company built an engine house and machine shop in Catawissa, on land donated by the town, in 1861. Other support buildings were added to the 12 acre site through 1901. A passenger station
was erected in 1878.
The Reading Railroad leased the Catawissa lines in 1872. The CRR was formally merged with the Reading in 1953.
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
between 1860 and 1953. For most of its lifespan it was leased by the Reading Railroad, and was subsequently merged into the Reading.
History
The original company was chartered as the Little Schuylkill and Susquehanna Railroad in 1831. It planned to built a rail line between Tamanend (also called Little Schuylkill Junction; west of Tamaqua, PennsylvaniaTamaqua, Pennsylvania
Tamaqua is a borough in eastern Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The borough, located in Northeastern Pennsylvania's Coal Region, had a population of 7,107 as of the 2010 U.S...
) and Milton
Milton, Pennsylvania
Milton is a borough in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, on the Susquehanna River, north of Harrisburg. Settled in 1770, it was incorporated in 1817, and is governed by a charter that was revised in 1890...
. The principals in the company included Christian Brobst and Joseph Paxton of Catawissa
Catawissa, Pennsylvania
Catawissa is a borough in Columbia County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,589 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Bloomsburg–Berwick Micropolitan Statistical Area....
. Construction began c. 1835, but the banking 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 ,...
restricted investments needed to continue work on the railroad.
It 1849 the company reorganized to attract new investors, and became the Catawissa, Williamsport and Erie Railroad (CW&E). In the early 1850s construction resumed, and in 1854 the railroad reached Milton, where it connected with the Sunbury and Erie Railroad (renamed the Philadelphia and Erie in 1861). At Tamanend the railroad connected with the Little Schuylkill Navigation Railroad
Little Schuylkill Navigation, Railroad and Coal Company
The Little Schuylkill Navigation, Railroad and Coal Company was a railway company in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania in the 19th century. The main line ran from Port Clinton to Tamanend, for a total of .-History:...
, which ran along the Little Schuylkill River to Tamaqua and Port Clinton, where it connected to the Reading Railroad. CW&E passenger train operations between Catawissa and Tamaqua began in July 1854. A bridge across the Susquehanna River
Susquehanna River
The Susquehanna River is a river located in the northeastern United States. At long, it is the longest river on the American east coast that drains into the Atlantic Ocean, and with its watershed it is the 16th largest river in the United States, and the longest river in the continental United...
to Rupert
Rupert, Pennsylvania
Rupert is a census-designated place in Columbia County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 174 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Bloomsburg–Berwick Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
was completed in 1855. The 65 miles (104.6 km) route traversed some difficult terrain, and included three tunnels, and eight bridges and trestles.
The CW&E went bankrupt in 1859, and reorganized as the Catawissa Railroad (CRR) in 1860. In 1865 the Western Central Railroad and the Atlantic and Great Western Railroad
Atlantic and Great Western Railroad
The Atlantic and Great Western Railroad began as three separate railroads: the Erie and New York City Railroad based in Jamestown, New York; the Meadville Railroad based in Meadville, Pennsylvania ; and the Franklin and Warren Railroad based in Franklin Mills, Ohio...
attempted to lease the Catawissa RR. The leases were challenged by the Philadelphia & Erie in litigation, and eventually they were upheld by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. However, the A&GW declared bankruptcy in 1867, and the CRR then proceeded to operate the line by itself.
The company built an engine house and machine shop in Catawissa, on land donated by the town, in 1861. Other support buildings were added to the 12 acre site through 1901. A passenger station
Train station
A train station, also called a railroad station or railway station and often shortened to just station,"Station" is commonly understood to mean "train station" unless otherwise qualified. This is evident from dictionary entries e.g...
was erected in 1878.
The Reading Railroad leased the Catawissa lines in 1872. The CRR was formally merged with the Reading in 1953.