Juniata and Southern Railway
Encyclopedia
The Juniata and Southern Railroad was a short-lived coal and logging railroad in Central Pennsylvania.
It originated as a private lumbering railroad owned by William Caprio and Anthony Grieco, contractors in Lock Haven
. It was built from Marklesburg
about five miles towards timberland near Paradise Furnace, following Great Trough Creek
, in 1910.
In 1912, Caprio & Grieco reached an agreement with Roy W. Jacobs, then engaged in a dispute with the East Broad Top Railroad
over service to the Broad Top Coal and Mineral Company's mines along Rocky Ridge. A charter was obtained for the Juniata and Southern Railroad on May 1, 1913, which took over Caprio & Grieco's logging line. The new railroad was surveyed as far as Jacobs
and the coal mine there, 14.9 miles (24 km) from Marklesburg, and was projected south towards Hancock, Maryland
.
However, the bankruptcy of Jacobs' Broad Top Coal company in 1914 slowed construction, and the railroad did not reach the mines at Jacobs until summer 1915, when a new tipple was built to serve them. It followed Great Trough Creek to the gap between Shirley Knob and Rocky Ridge, running high along the ridge to reach the tipple. Traffic was never heavy on the line, consisting of coal, mine props, and a little local freight and lumber. Picnic excursions from Marklesburg to Paradise Furnace were also popular with local residents. Never profitable, it was abandoned in 1917, and the East Broad Top built its own siding to the new tipple. Elevated prices for scrap iron during World War I
may have contributed to the decision to abandon it.
The western part of the railroad was submerged by the formation of Raystown Lake
, but part of the roadbed was used for Trough Creek Drive and part of the Terrace Mountain Trail in Trough Creek State Park
.
It originated as a private lumbering railroad owned by William Caprio and Anthony Grieco, contractors in Lock Haven
Lock Haven, Pennsylvania
The city of Lock Haven is the county seat of Clinton County, in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. Located near the confluence of the West Branch Susquehanna River and Bald Eagle Creek, it is the principal city of the Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, micropolitan statistical area, itself part of the...
. It was built from Marklesburg
Marklesburg, Pennsylvania
Marklesburg is a borough in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 216 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Marklesburg is located at ....
about five miles towards timberland near Paradise Furnace, following Great Trough Creek
Great Trough Creek
Great Trough Creek is a tributary of the Raystown Branch Juniata River in Bedford, Fulton and Huntingdon counties in Pennsylvania in the United States. The creek is long, flows northeast for half its length then northwest, and its watershed is in area....
, in 1910.
In 1912, Caprio & Grieco reached an agreement with Roy W. Jacobs, then engaged in a dispute with the East Broad Top Railroad
East Broad Top Railroad
The East Broad Top Railroad and Coal Company is a for-profit heritage railroad headquartered in Rockhill Furnace, Pennsylvania, north of Interstate 76 and south of U.S. Route 22, the William Penn Highway. The railroad operates excursion trains on a seasonal schedule.-History:The East Broad Top...
over service to the Broad Top Coal and Mineral Company's mines along Rocky Ridge. A charter was obtained for the Juniata and Southern Railroad on May 1, 1913, which took over Caprio & Grieco's logging line. The new railroad was surveyed as far as Jacobs
Mount Union, Pennsylvania
Mount Union is a borough in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, 45 miles southeast of Altoona, on the Juniata River. In the vicinity are found bituminous coal, ganister rock, fire clay, and some timber. A major Easter grass factory is located in the northern quadrant of the borough limits; until May...
and the coal mine there, 14.9 miles (24 km) from Marklesburg, and was projected south towards Hancock, Maryland
Hancock, Maryland
Hancock is a town in Washington County, Maryland, United States. The population was 1,725 at the 2000 census. The Western Maryland community is notable for being located at the narrowest part of the state...
.
However, the bankruptcy of Jacobs' Broad Top Coal company in 1914 slowed construction, and the railroad did not reach the mines at Jacobs until summer 1915, when a new tipple was built to serve them. It followed Great Trough Creek to the gap between Shirley Knob and Rocky Ridge, running high along the ridge to reach the tipple. Traffic was never heavy on the line, consisting of coal, mine props, and a little local freight and lumber. Picnic excursions from Marklesburg to Paradise Furnace were also popular with local residents. Never profitable, it was abandoned in 1917, and the East Broad Top built its own siding to the new tipple. Elevated prices for scrap iron during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
may have contributed to the decision to abandon it.
The western part of the railroad was submerged by the formation of Raystown Lake
Raystown Lake
Raystown Lake is a reservoir in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania. The largest lake that is entirely within Pennsylvania, it was created by the United States Army Corps of Engineers around 1913 by the damming of the Raystown Branch Juniata River which created a shallow lake in the river valley. ...
, but part of the roadbed was used for Trough Creek Drive and part of the Terrace Mountain Trail in Trough Creek State Park
Trough Creek State Park
Trough Creek State Park is a Pennsylvania state park in Cass, Penn and Todd Townships, Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania in the United States. The majority of the park is in Todd Township along Pennsylvania Route 994, east of the unincorporated village of Entriken. Huntingdon is the nearest...
.