Cooperstown and Charlotte Valley Railroad
Encyclopedia
The Cooperstown and Charlotte Valley Railroad Company is a heritage railroad
in New York
operated by the Leatherstocking Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society
(NRHS) since 1996.
On June 6, 1880 the enginehouse of the C&SVRR burned, damaging the road's two engines and destroying a baggage car. The names of the engines were "The Otsego" and "Middlefield".
Two extensions of the C&SVRR were authorized by the State. The first was in 1869 from Cooperstown to Richfield Springs. The second was in 1885 for an extension from its "southern terminus ... to or near the 'Hemlocks' on the Charlotte creek in the town of Davenport".
In 1888 Articles of Association were filed for the Cooperstown and Charlotte Valley R.R. Co. (C&CVRR) The C&CVRR was likewise authorized to build from the "Hemlocks", but only as far as the lands of Matthew Ward in the town of Davenport.
In February of 1891 the West Davenport R. R. was chartered. It was authorized to build from the West Davenport depot of the C&CVRR to the lands of "the McLaury sisters a short distance east of the Kort Right Brook". On April 13, 1891, the C&CVRR and the West Davenport R.R. were consolidated. Two days later the C&CVRR leased the C&SVRR.
The line was formed by "men in Cooperstown" in 1888 because Thomas Cornell was "procrastinating" in extending the Ulster & Delaware west from Bloomville to Oneonta. The plan was to extend the existing line from Cooperstown to Cooperstown Junction east. The intended route was "along the Charlotte Valley through Davenport Center, Harpersfield, thence to Cooksburg, onetime terminal of the Canajorie & Catskill, and down Catskill Creek to a connection with the West Shore Railroad".
Work on this railroad started after the blizzard of 1888. By 1889, "the track of the new C&CV progressed eastward for only 6 miles to West Davenport, though graders built culverts, fills and rock cuttings up the valley of Charlotte Creek beyond Davenport, well into Harpersfield Township, before the winter of 1889-90 set in."
"Early in February 1890, the C&CV tracklayers reached Davenport Center, while the graders resumed work east of Harpersfield."
Cornell died March 30, 1890, and his nephew Edwin Young became his executor. The Young family's "influence in Cooperstown was undoubtedly what stopped and all further work on the C&CV. The track of the latter ended at Davenport Center and there it remained for many a year."
For several years there was a "Tally Ho" stage between Bloomville and Davenport Center for those who wished to travel from Kingston to Cooperstown.
In March 1899, the U&D began work west of Bloomville. When they reached Davenport Center, "no connection with the C&CV tracks was made, the new line traversing Charlotte Creek on a steel bridge, then following the north bank of the creek to West Davenport where a connection was made with the C&CV, the two roads using a joint station".
Passenger service from Cooperstown Junction ceased in 1903.
Under Delaware and Hudson Company ownership, the C&CV became known as the "Cooperstown Branch" and was used "for freight only until 1930 when the rails were pulled up". The D&H built an ornate stone station in Cooperstown shortly after the takeover. Along with a branch to Cherry Valley, New York
, the former C&CV line became a rural feeder into the D&H mainline. The D&H constructed a turntable and small locomotive maintenance facility in Cooperstown which were removed in the 1950s. The C&CV was merged into the D&H effective March 1, 1957.
On September 10 and 11, 1949, the New York Freedom train visited Cooperstown, drawing over 4,000 visitors.
The line carried on a quiet existence, using S unit type Alco switchers and even an RS-11 made an appearance in the 1960s. Through the 1960s the former C&CV line experienced declining traffic under D&H ownership.
. The sale took place after Delaware Otsego was forced to sell an ex-New York Central Railroad
line, following the construction of Interstate 88
between Binghamton
and Albany
.
Delaware Otsego resurrected the C&CV name which was last used in 1903 when the company was merged into the D&H.
The CACV built new locomotive maintenance facilities at Milford
and the headquarters for Delaware Otsego Corporation were located in the former Cooperstown station; the stone passenger station that the D&H built shortly after the 1903 takeover of the C&CV having been sold during D&H ownership.
The CACV operated a heritage railroad
during the 1970s using an ex-Virginia Blue Ridge Railroad 0-6-0
steam locomotive until 1974 and diesel locomotives for the remainder of the decade. Excursions trains continued with diesel locomotives on weekends until the mid-1980s.
Freight traffic on the CACV declined by the early 1980s to several cars per week, typically loads of lumber in Portlandville, animal feed at Agway
in Milford, and several customers in Cooperstown.
The CACV was used during the 1980s to store large numbers of idle St. Lawrence Railroad boxcars.
The last CACV freight train operated in December 1987, followed by infrequent equipment moves until being purchased by the Leatherstocking Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society
in 1996.
) purchased the line from Delaware Otsego Corporation in 1996.
Volunteers performed vegetation removal and trackbed rehabilitation before the line was reopened for seasonal passenger excursion trains between Cooperstown and Milford in 1999, retaining the CACV name.
The southern half of the line provides a connection to the Canadian Pacific Railway
, the current owner of the D&H.
Initially, the CACV leased a former New York, Ontario and Western Railway
locomotive as well as two locomotives from the Green Mountain Railroad
. It currently owns and operates a pair of ex-Canadian National Railway
MLW
switchers (Alco S-4 and Alco S-7 designs) which were acquired from Atlas Steel in Welland, Ontario
. These locomotives continue the numbering scheme used by the D&H for its S series switchers (CACV #3051 and #3052). As of later 2008 both units have been painted into a D&H scheme, with CACV lettering.
CACV also owns or has constructed Maintenance of Way equipment.
Heritage railway
thumb|right|the Historical [[Khyber train safari|Khyber Railway]] goes through the [[Khyber Pass]], [[Pakistan]]A heritage railway , preserved railway , tourist railway , or tourist railroad is a railway that is run as a tourist attraction, in some cases by volunteers, and...
in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
operated by the Leatherstocking Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society
National Railway Historical Society
The National Railway Historical Society is a non-profit organization established in 1935 in the United States to promote interest in, and appreciation for, the historical development of railroads. It is headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and organized into 16 regions and...
(NRHS) since 1996.
History
In 1865 the Articles of Association for the Cooperstown and Susquehanna Valley R.R. Company (C&SVRR) were filed. The stated purpose was to construct a railroad "from a point at or near the Village of Cooperstown to a point at or near Colliersville forming a junction with the Albany and Susquehanna Rail Road" In February of 1868 work was started on the line. However, the first train was not run until July 14, 1869. The road was broad gauge (6 feet) to be compatible with the Albany & Susquehanna. On May 28, 1876 the entire 16 miles was "narrowed up" "the work being completed by 4 p.m."On June 6, 1880 the enginehouse of the C&SVRR burned, damaging the road's two engines and destroying a baggage car. The names of the engines were "The Otsego" and "Middlefield".
Two extensions of the C&SVRR were authorized by the State. The first was in 1869 from Cooperstown to Richfield Springs. The second was in 1885 for an extension from its "southern terminus ... to or near the 'Hemlocks' on the Charlotte creek in the town of Davenport".
In 1888 Articles of Association were filed for the Cooperstown and Charlotte Valley R.R. Co. (C&CVRR) The C&CVRR was likewise authorized to build from the "Hemlocks", but only as far as the lands of Matthew Ward in the town of Davenport.
In February of 1891 the West Davenport R. R. was chartered. It was authorized to build from the West Davenport depot of the C&CVRR to the lands of "the McLaury sisters a short distance east of the Kort Right Brook". On April 13, 1891, the C&CVRR and the West Davenport R.R. were consolidated. Two days later the C&CVRR leased the C&SVRR.
The line was formed by "men in Cooperstown" in 1888 because Thomas Cornell was "procrastinating" in extending the Ulster & Delaware west from Bloomville to Oneonta. The plan was to extend the existing line from Cooperstown to Cooperstown Junction east. The intended route was "along the Charlotte Valley through Davenport Center, Harpersfield, thence to Cooksburg, onetime terminal of the Canajorie & Catskill, and down Catskill Creek to a connection with the West Shore Railroad".
Work on this railroad started after the blizzard of 1888. By 1889, "the track of the new C&CV progressed eastward for only 6 miles to West Davenport, though graders built culverts, fills and rock cuttings up the valley of Charlotte Creek beyond Davenport, well into Harpersfield Township, before the winter of 1889-90 set in."
"Early in February 1890, the C&CV tracklayers reached Davenport Center, while the graders resumed work east of Harpersfield."
Cornell died March 30, 1890, and his nephew Edwin Young became his executor. The Young family's "influence in Cooperstown was undoubtedly what stopped and all further work on the C&CV. The track of the latter ended at Davenport Center and there it remained for many a year."
For several years there was a "Tally Ho" stage between Bloomville and Davenport Center for those who wished to travel from Kingston to Cooperstown.
In March 1899, the U&D began work west of Bloomville. When they reached Davenport Center, "no connection with the C&CV tracks was made, the new line traversing Charlotte Creek on a steel bridge, then following the north bank of the creek to West Davenport where a connection was made with the C&CV, the two roads using a joint station".
Passenger service from Cooperstown Junction ceased in 1903.
Delaware and Hudson ownership
In 1934, the New York State Public Service Commission permitted the discontinuance of passenger service on the C&CV. The last scheduled passenger train left Cooperstown on June 24.Under Delaware and Hudson Company ownership, the C&CV became known as the "Cooperstown Branch" and was used "for freight only until 1930 when the rails were pulled up". The D&H built an ornate stone station in Cooperstown shortly after the takeover. Along with a branch to Cherry Valley, New York
Cherry Valley, New York
Cherry Valley, New York is the name of two locations in Otsego County, New York:*Cherry Valley , New York*Cherry Valley , New York...
, the former C&CV line became a rural feeder into the D&H mainline. The D&H constructed a turntable and small locomotive maintenance facility in Cooperstown which were removed in the 1950s. The C&CV was merged into the D&H effective March 1, 1957.
On September 10 and 11, 1949, the New York Freedom train visited Cooperstown, drawing over 4,000 visitors.
The line carried on a quiet existence, using S unit type Alco switchers and even an RS-11 made an appearance in the 1960s. Through the 1960s the former C&CV line experienced declining traffic under D&H ownership.
Delaware Otsego ownership
The remaining segment of the C&CV line from Cooperstown Junction to Cooperstown was sold by the D&H in 1970 to Delaware Otsego CorporationDelaware Otsego Corporation
The Delaware Otsego Corporation is an American railway holding company which owns the subsidiary New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway as well as other, smaller branch line railroads, collectively known as the DO System...
. The sale took place after Delaware Otsego was forced to sell an ex-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...
line, following the construction of Interstate 88
Interstate 88 (east)
Interstate 88 is an intrastate Interstate Highway entirely within the U.S. state of New York. Its western end is at Interstate 81 in Binghamton and its eastern end is at Interstate 90 in Schenectady. It serves as an important connector route from Albany to Binghamton, Elmira , and...
between Binghamton
Binghamton, New York
Binghamton is a city in the Southern Tier of New York in the United States. It is near the Pennsylvania border, in a bowl-shaped valley at the confluence of the Susquehanna and Chenango Rivers...
and 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...
.
Delaware Otsego resurrected the C&CV name which was last used in 1903 when the company was merged into the D&H.
The CACV built new locomotive maintenance facilities at Milford
Milford, New York
Milford may refer to two municipalities in Otsego County, New York in the United States:*Milford , New York*Milford , New York, located entirely within the town...
and the headquarters for Delaware Otsego Corporation were located in the former Cooperstown station; the stone passenger station that the D&H built shortly after the 1903 takeover of the C&CV having been sold during D&H ownership.
The CACV operated a heritage railroad
Heritage railway
thumb|right|the Historical [[Khyber train safari|Khyber Railway]] goes through the [[Khyber Pass]], [[Pakistan]]A heritage railway , preserved railway , tourist railway , or tourist railroad is a railway that is run as a tourist attraction, in some cases by volunteers, and...
during the 1970s using an ex-Virginia Blue Ridge Railroad 0-6-0
0-6-0
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 0-6-0 represents the wheel arrangement of no leading wheels, six powered and coupled driving wheels on three axles, and no trailing wheels...
steam locomotive until 1974 and diesel locomotives for the remainder of the decade. Excursions trains continued with diesel locomotives on weekends until the mid-1980s.
Freight traffic on the CACV declined by the early 1980s to several cars per week, typically loads of lumber in Portlandville, animal feed at Agway
Agway
Agway of Dewitt, New York is an agricultural business that offers feed for livestock and poultry, as well as seed, fertilizers, and herbicides.-History:...
in Milford, and several customers in Cooperstown.
The CACV was used during the 1980s to store large numbers of idle St. Lawrence Railroad boxcars.
The last CACV freight train operated in December 1987, followed by infrequent equipment moves until being purchased by the Leatherstocking Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society
National Railway Historical Society
The National Railway Historical Society is a non-profit organization established in 1935 in the United States to promote interest in, and appreciation for, the historical development of railroads. It is headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and organized into 16 regions and...
in 1996.
Leatherstocking Chapter, NRHS ownership
The Leatherstocking Railway Historical Society (Leatherstocking Chapter NRHSNational Railway Historical Society
The National Railway Historical Society is a non-profit organization established in 1935 in the United States to promote interest in, and appreciation for, the historical development of railroads. It is headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and organized into 16 regions and...
) purchased the line from Delaware Otsego Corporation in 1996.
Volunteers performed vegetation removal and trackbed rehabilitation before the line was reopened for seasonal passenger excursion trains between Cooperstown and Milford in 1999, retaining the CACV name.
The southern half of the line provides a connection to the Canadian Pacific Railway
Canadian Pacific Railway
The Canadian Pacific Railway , formerly also known as CP Rail between 1968 and 1996, is a historic Canadian Class I railway founded in 1881 and now operated by Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, which began operations as legal owner in a corporate restructuring in 2001...
, the current owner of the D&H.
Initially, the CACV leased a former New York, Ontario and Western Railway
New York, Ontario and Western Railway
The New York, Ontario and Western Railway, more commonly known as the O&W or NYO&W, was a regional railroad with origins in 1868, lasting until March 29, 1957 when it was ordered liquidated by a US bankruptcy judge. The O&W holds the distinction of being the first major U.S...
locomotive as well as two locomotives from the Green Mountain Railroad
Green Mountain Railroad
The Green Mountain Railroad is a class III railroad operating in Vermont.GMRC operates on tracks that had been owned by the Rutland Railroad and Boston and Maine Railroad. The railroad operates on a rail line between North Walpole, New Hampshire and Rutland, Vermont. Corporate colors are green...
. It currently owns and operates a pair of ex-Canadian National Railway
Canadian National Railway
The Canadian National Railway Company is a Canadian Class I railway headquartered in Montreal, Quebec. CN's slogan is "North America's Railroad"....
MLW
Montreal Locomotive Works
Montreal Locomotive Works was a Canadian railway locomotive manufacturer which existed under several names from 1883–1985, producing both steam and diesel locomotives. For a number of years it was a subsidiary of the American Locomotive Company...
switchers (Alco S-4 and Alco S-7 designs) which were acquired from Atlas Steel in Welland, Ontario
Welland, Ontario
Welland is a city in the Regional Municipality of Niagara in Southern Ontario, Canada.The city has been traditionally known as the place where rails and water meet, referring to the railways from Buffalo to Toronto and Southwestern Ontario, and the waterways of Welland Canal and Welland River,...
. These locomotives continue the numbering scheme used by the D&H for its S series switchers (CACV #3051 and #3052). As of later 2008 both units have been painted into a D&H scheme, with CACV lettering.
CACV also owns or has constructed Maintenance of Way equipment.