Columbus and Xenia Railroad
Encyclopedia
The Columbus and Xenia Railroad was the first railroad to operate in Columbus, Ohio
. By merging with the Little Miami Railroad
it created the first through rail route from the important manufacturing city of Cincinnati
to the state capital, Columbus
.
The Columbus and Xenia Railroad was chartered on March 12, 1844. Among its early leaders was William Dennison
, the future Governor of Ohio.
. It took 34 hours and five minutes to traverse the 54 mile distance. On February 27, regular train service began, utilizing a shed in Franklinton on the west side of the Scioto River
as a station. It took until December 14 to complete a railroad bridge across the Scioto so that the station at North High Street and Naughten Streets could be used. On March 2, 1850, both Houses of the Ohio General Assembly
took a free ride from Columbus to Xenia at a speed of 25 mph.
entered into a contract to operate as one line. In 1868 the railroad was leased to the Little Miami Railroad, and in 1869 both properties were leased to the Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad
, which eventually became a part of the Pennsylvania Railroad
.
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
. By merging with the Little Miami Railroad
Little Miami Railroad
The Little Miami Railroad, now defunct, was a railway of southwestern Ohio, running from the eastern side of Cincinnati to Springfield, Ohio. By merging with the Columbus and Xenia Railroad it created the first through rail route from the important manufacturing city of Cincinnati to the state...
it created the first through rail route from the important manufacturing city of Cincinnati
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
to the state capital, Columbus
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
.
History
William Dennison (Ohio governor)
William Dennison, Jr. was a Whig and Republican politician from Ohio. He served as the 24th Governor of Ohio and as U.S...
, the future Governor of Ohio.
Construction
Construction was begun in 1848 and the first passenger train ran on February 20, 1850, from Columbus to XeniaXenia, Ohio
Xenia is a city in and the county seat of Greene County, Ohio, United States. The municipality is located in southwestern Ohio 21 miles from Dayton and is part of the Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area...
. It took 34 hours and five minutes to traverse the 54 mile distance. On February 27, regular train service began, utilizing a shed in Franklinton on the west side of the Scioto River
Scioto River
The Scioto River is a river in central and southern Ohio more than 231 miles in length. It rises in Auglaize County in west central Ohio, flows through Columbus, Ohio, where it collects its largest tributary, the Olentangy River, and meets the Ohio River at Portsmouth...
as a station. It took until December 14 to complete a railroad bridge across the Scioto so that the station at North High Street and Naughten Streets could be used. On March 2, 1850, both Houses of the Ohio General Assembly
Ohio General Assembly
The Ohio General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Ohio. It consists of the 99-member Ohio House of Representatives and the 33-member Ohio Senate...
took a free ride from Columbus to Xenia at a speed of 25 mph.
Expansion and merger
In 1853 the Columbus and Xenia Railroad and the Little Miami RailroadLittle Miami Railroad
The Little Miami Railroad, now defunct, was a railway of southwestern Ohio, running from the eastern side of Cincinnati to Springfield, Ohio. By merging with the Columbus and Xenia Railroad it created the first through rail route from the important manufacturing city of Cincinnati to the state...
entered into a contract to operate as one line. In 1868 the railroad was leased to the Little Miami Railroad, and in 1869 both properties were leased to 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...
, which eventually became a part of 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....
.
See also
- Columbus Union Station
- Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati RailroadCleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati RailroadThe Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati Railroad was the second railroad to enter Columbus, Ohio. It eventually became a part of the New York Central Railroad.- History :...
- Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railway
- Pennsylvania RailroadPennsylvania RailroadThe Pennsylvania Railroad was an American Class I railroad, founded in 1846. Commonly referred to as the "Pennsy", the PRR was headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
- Columbus, Ohio railroad history