Chartiers Branch (Pennsylvania Railroad)
Encyclopedia
The Chartiers branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad
followed Chartiers Creek
from Carnegie
to Washington
, passing Bridgeville
, present day Southpointe
, and Canonsburg
. It is 23.6 miles (38 km) long and construction was completed in 1867 and is still in use today, after passing through at least seven different owners.
and Washington
. Chartiers Creek was determined to be the easiest route, but enough financial support was not gathered. The same happened in 1837.
On February 7, 1853, the Chartiers Valley Railroad was formed to fulfill the failed task of the Washington & Pittsburg Railroad. Work was started, but when almost a third done in 1856, funds ran out. The road foreclosed in 1861, and the Right of Way was sold to William Howard a solicitor for the Pennsylvania Railroad
(PRR).
In 1867, the Chartiers Railway Company was founded, and with PRR backing finished the line. On December 19, 1870, regular service began between Carnegie and Canonsburg. May 18, 1871, saw the beginning of service to Washington.
The line was leased to the Pittsburg, Cincinnati and St. Louis Railway (PC&StL) on December 8, 1871. The Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad
(PCC&StL) gained the lease when it was formed and acquired the road on November 20, 1907. The PCC&StL formed part of the PRR system.
Although initially poor, coal fields found in the 1880s proved prosperous. The branch provided revenue even through World War II
. However, around this time the coal supply declined and highway access increased. This led to the closing of the B&M branch in 1942. Passenger service to Washington halted on July 20, 1952. The double track changed to a single and stations decreased. The Westland and Palanka branches was abandoned in 1955. On August 4, 1959, the connection with the main line at Carnegie was abandoned for a short run over the Pittsburgh, Chartiers & Youghiogheny Railway trackage rights
. Signals were also abandoned and removed at this time.
The Penn Central, like it did for much of its main and secondary track, let the branch fall into disrepair. Conrail took the line over in 1976 and stopped service west of Tylerdale. It was renamed Canonsburg Industrial Track and was put up for sale in 1994.
In 1996, RailTex bought the line and started the Pittsburgh Industrial Railroad
(PIR). The PIR lasted for 4 years before being sold to the Ohio Central Railroad System, who formed the Pittsburgh and Ohio Central Railroad
(POHC). The POHC is the current owner of the line.
and McDonald
branch left from Bridgeville at MP 4 and went to Venice to serve the Bishop Coal Mine. It was abandoned in 1942.
Pennsylvania Railroad
The Pennsylvania Railroad was an American Class I railroad, founded in 1846. Commonly referred to as the "Pennsy", the PRR was headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
followed Chartiers Creek
Chartiers Creek
Chartiers Creek is a tributary of the Ohio River in Western Pennsylvania in the United States. The creek was named after Pierre Chartiers, a trapper of French and Native American parentage who established a trading post at the mouth of the creek in 1743....
from Carnegie
Carnegie, Pennsylvania
Carnegie is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States and is part of the Pittsburgh Metro Area. The population was 7,972 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Carnegie is located at . It is approximately southwest of Pittsburgh...
to Washington
Washington, Pennsylvania
Washington is a city in and the county seat of Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States, within the Pittsburgh Metro Area in the southwestern part of the state...
, passing Bridgeville
Bridgeville, Pennsylvania
Bridgeville is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 5,148 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Bridgeville is located along Chartiers Creek, about southwest of downtown Pittsburgh at ....
, present day Southpointe
Southpointe (Cecil, Pennsylvania)
Southpointe is a suburban business park located in Cecil Township near Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, south of Pittsburgh. It is home to many corporations, including Fortune 500 members CONSOL Energy and Mylan....
, and Canonsburg
Canonsburg, Pennsylvania
Canonsburg is a borough in Washington County, Pennsylvania, southwest of Pittsburgh. Canonsburg was laid out by Colonel John Canon in 1789 and incorporated in 1802....
. It is 23.6 miles (38 km) long and construction was completed in 1867 and is still in use today, after passing through at least seven different owners.
History
In 1831 the Washington & Pittsburg Railroad was chartered to build a rail link between PittsburghPittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
and Washington
Washington, Pennsylvania
Washington is a city in and the county seat of Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States, within the Pittsburgh Metro Area in the southwestern part of the state...
. Chartiers Creek was determined to be the easiest route, but enough financial support was not gathered. The same happened in 1837.
On February 7, 1853, the Chartiers Valley Railroad was formed to fulfill the failed task of the Washington & Pittsburg Railroad. Work was started, but when almost a third done in 1856, funds ran out. The road foreclosed in 1861, and the Right of Way was sold to William Howard a solicitor for the Pennsylvania Railroad
Pennsylvania Railroad
The Pennsylvania Railroad was an American Class I railroad, founded in 1846. Commonly referred to as the "Pennsy", the PRR was headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
(PRR).
In 1867, the Chartiers Railway Company was founded, and with PRR backing finished the line. On December 19, 1870, regular service began between Carnegie and Canonsburg. May 18, 1871, saw the beginning of service to Washington.
The line was leased to the Pittsburg, Cincinnati and St. Louis Railway (PC&StL) on December 8, 1871. The Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad
Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad
The Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad, commonly called the Pan Handle Route , was a railroad forming part of the Pennsylvania Railroad system. Its common name came from its main line west from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania across the Northern Panhandle of West Virginia...
(PCC&StL) gained the lease when it was formed and acquired the road on November 20, 1907. The PCC&StL formed part of the PRR system.
Although initially poor, coal fields found in the 1880s proved prosperous. The branch provided revenue even through World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. However, around this time the coal supply declined and highway access increased. This led to the closing of the B&M branch in 1942. Passenger service to Washington halted on July 20, 1952. The double track changed to a single and stations decreased. The Westland and Palanka branches was abandoned in 1955. On August 4, 1959, the connection with the main line at Carnegie was abandoned for a short run over the Pittsburgh, Chartiers & Youghiogheny Railway 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....
. Signals were also abandoned and removed at this time.
The Penn Central, like it did for much of its main and secondary track, let the branch fall into disrepair. Conrail took the line over in 1976 and stopped service west of Tylerdale. It was renamed Canonsburg Industrial Track and was put up for sale in 1994.
In 1996, RailTex bought the line and started the Pittsburgh Industrial Railroad
Pittsburgh Industrial Railroad
The Pittsburgh Industrial Railroad was a Class III short-line railroad operating about 42 miles of track over the Chartiers Branch in southwest Pennsylvania. It was owned by RailTex, which bought the line from Conrail in 1996...
(PIR). The PIR lasted for 4 years before being sold to the Ohio Central Railroad System, who formed the Pittsburgh and Ohio Central Railroad
Pittsburgh and Ohio Central Railroad
The Pittsburgh and Ohio Central Railroad is a short-line railroad operating 35 miles of track over the Chartiers Branch in southwest Pennsylvania...
(POHC). The POHC is the current owner of the line.
Bridgeville and McDonald Branch
The BridgevilleBridgeville, Pennsylvania
Bridgeville is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 5,148 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Bridgeville is located along Chartiers Creek, about southwest of downtown Pittsburgh at ....
and McDonald
McDonald, Pennsylvania
McDonald is a borough in Allegheny and Washington counties in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, 18 miles southwest of Pittsburgh. In the past, manufactories of bottles, oil-well drilling tools, flour-mill products, etc., existed here. Oil and coal were and still are procured in the area...
branch left from Bridgeville at MP 4 and went to Venice to serve the Bishop Coal Mine. It was abandoned in 1942.
Westland Branch
The Westland Branch left Houston at MP 15.3 and went to Westland coal mine (Midland #3). It was abandoned in 1955.Connections
- Waynesburg and Washington RailroadWaynesburg and Washington RailroadThe Waynesburg and Washington was a narrow gauge line between Washington and Waynesburg, Pennsylvania. It was converted to standard gauge in 1944 and renamed the Waynesburg Secondary. It had steep grades and sharp curves. It had few online industries and was used as an interurban passenger...
at the end of the line - Montour RailroadMontour RailroadMontour Railroad is a former short line railroad company operating passenger and freight service on standard gauge track in southwestern Pennsylvania...
at Hills (MP 8.6) - Pittsburgh and West Virginia Railroad had a mile west of Bridgeville (off the B&W)
- Pittsburgh, Chartiers and Youghiogheny Railway