Pittsburg, Shawmut and Northern Railroad
Encyclopedia
The Pittsburg, Shawmut and Northern Railroad also known as the Shawmut Line, was a Class I railroad
company operating passenger and freight service on standard gauge track in central Pennsylvania
and western New York. The line was financially troubled for its entire life span and declared bankruptcy after just six years of operation. It would spend the remaining 42 year of its existence in receivership
, one of the longest bankruptcy proceedings in American railroading history.
The Pittsburg, Shawmut and Northern Railroad is often confused with the similarly named Pittsburg and Shawmut Railroad
which was a spinoff company from the PS&N. Further adding to the confusion is the fact that both were nicknamed the Shawmut Line, both operated in roughly the same geographic area, and both used nearly identical logos during their history. In fact the two were completely separate companies after their 1916 split.
The main line consisted of approximately 190 miles (306 km) of track extending from Brockway, Pennsylvania
to Wayland, New York
with several spurs, particularly Olean, New York
and Hornell, New York
. Principal shops were divided between Angelica, New York
(car shop, paint shop, maintenance of way) and St. Marys, Pennsylvania
(motive power shop). Both shops burned during their existence and subsequently replaced.
The Pittsburg, Shawmut and Northern Railroad began life on August 2, 1899 as the merger of five small railroads in New York and Pennsylvania. 60 miles (96.6 km) of what ultimately became the PS&N were originally 36 inches (914.4 mm) narrow gauge lines, though by the time of the PS&N's incorporation only 18 miles (29 km) remained as narrow gauge. At the time of its incorporation the PS&N operated four physically disconnected divisions. The expense of connecting the divisions and upgrading the physical plant to handle through coal trains coupled with the failure of the PS&N's principal bond underwriter forced the company to declare bankruptcy in 1905. The company would continue to operate in receivership until 1947.
The more lucrative Brockway to Freeport route was constructed beginning in 1903 as the Brookville & Mahoning. Confusion with the Boston & Maine caused the name to be changed to the Pittsburg & Shawmut Railroad. The P&S was leased (but never owned) by the PS&N from 1906 until 1916. After 1916, the lease was terminated and the two companies operated separately. During the time of the lease, the bigger "200 class" 2-8-2s of the P&S operated over the combined systems.
Coal was the principle commodity for the line during its entire existence though passenger trains and, after the late 1920s, self-propelled gas-powered passenger cars (known as the PS&N as "Hoodlebugs") also ran on the route until they were discontinued in 1935.
The spelling of Pittsburgh as Pittsburg in the company name derives from the company’s original 1899 charter. At the time, the official spelling of the name of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
was without the “h”. The spelling of the city name was changed to Pittsburg in 1891 due to an effort by the United States government to standardize the spelling of place names in the United States. Bowing to civic protest, the spelling was changed back to Pittsburgh in 1911.
Class I railroad
A Class I railroad in the United States and Mexico, or a Class I rail carrier in Canada, is a large freight railroad company, as classified based on operating revenue.Smaller railroads are classified as Class II and Class III...
company operating passenger and freight service on standard gauge track in central Pennsylvania
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...
and western New York. The line was financially troubled for its entire life span and declared bankruptcy after just six years of operation. It would spend the remaining 42 year of its existence in receivership
Receivership
In law, receivership is the situation in which an institution or enterprise is being held by a receiver, a person "placed in the custodial responsibility for the property of others, including tangible and intangible assets and rights." The receivership remedy is an equitable remedy that emerged in...
, one of the longest bankruptcy proceedings in American railroading history.
The Pittsburg, Shawmut and Northern Railroad is often confused with the similarly named Pittsburg and Shawmut Railroad
Pittsburg and Shawmut Railroad
The Pittsburg and Shawmut Railroad , also known as the Shawmut Line, was a short line railroad company operating passenger and freight service on standard gauge track in central and southwestern Pennsylvania...
which was a spinoff company from the PS&N. Further adding to the confusion is the fact that both were nicknamed the Shawmut Line, both operated in roughly the same geographic area, and both used nearly identical logos during their history. In fact the two were completely separate companies after their 1916 split.
The main line consisted of approximately 190 miles (306 km) of track extending from Brockway, Pennsylvania
Brockway, Pennsylvania
Brockway is a borough in Jefferson County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,182 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Brockway is located at ....
to Wayland, New York
Wayland, New York
Wayland may refer to two municipalities in Steuben County, New York in the United States:*Wayland , New York*Wayland , New York, located entirely within the town...
with several spurs, particularly Olean, New York
Olean, New York
Olean is a city in Cattaraugus County, New York, United States. Olean is the largest city in Cattaraugus County, and serves as the financial, business, transportation and entertainment center of the county. It is one of the principal cities of the Southern Tier region of New York.The city is...
and Hornell, New York
Hornell, New York
Hornell is a city in Steuben County, New York, United States. The population was 9,019 at the 2000 census. The city is named after the Hornell family, early settlers. Its current population has not yet been released by the new census....
. Principal shops were divided between Angelica, New York
Angelica, New York
Angelica, New York may refer to:*Angelica , New York *Angelica , New York...
(car shop, paint shop, maintenance of way) and St. Marys, Pennsylvania
St. Marys, Pennsylvania
St. Marys is a city in Elk County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 14,502 at the 2000 census. Originally a small, Bavarian Catholic town, St. Marys was founded December 8, 1842. It is home to Straub Brewery and the first Benedictine convent in the United States. In 1992, the...
(motive power shop). Both shops burned during their existence and subsequently replaced.
The Pittsburg, Shawmut and Northern Railroad began life on August 2, 1899 as the merger of five small railroads in New York and Pennsylvania. 60 miles (96.6 km) of what ultimately became the PS&N were originally 36 inches (914.4 mm) narrow gauge lines, though by the time of the PS&N's incorporation only 18 miles (29 km) remained as narrow gauge. At the time of its incorporation the PS&N operated four physically disconnected divisions. The expense of connecting the divisions and upgrading the physical plant to handle through coal trains coupled with the failure of the PS&N's principal bond underwriter forced the company to declare bankruptcy in 1905. The company would continue to operate in receivership until 1947.
The more lucrative Brockway to Freeport route was constructed beginning in 1903 as the Brookville & Mahoning. Confusion with the Boston & Maine caused the name to be changed to the Pittsburg & Shawmut Railroad. The P&S was leased (but never owned) by the PS&N from 1906 until 1916. After 1916, the lease was terminated and the two companies operated separately. During the time of the lease, the bigger "200 class" 2-8-2s of the P&S operated over the combined systems.
Coal was the principle commodity for the line during its entire existence though passenger trains and, after the late 1920s, self-propelled gas-powered passenger cars (known as the PS&N as "Hoodlebugs") also ran on the route until they were discontinued in 1935.
The spelling of Pittsburgh as Pittsburg in the company name derives from the company’s original 1899 charter. At the time, the official spelling of the name of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, 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...
was without the “h”. The spelling of the city name was changed to Pittsburg in 1891 due to an effort by the United States government to standardize the spelling of place names in the United States. Bowing to civic protest, the spelling was changed back to Pittsburgh in 1911.
External links
- Pittsburg, Shawmut & Northern Railroad Historical Society
- Pittsburg, Shawmut & Northern Railroad
- Restored PS&N Caboose #186 on the Bucksgahuda and Western Railroad, St. Marys, PA
- Restored PS&N Caboose #175 and Private Car #99 (The Clara), Angelica, NY
- PS&N Hoodlebug #91 at Angelica
- The famous Big Loop, Clermont, PA
