Rome, Watertown and Ogdensburg Railroad
Encyclopedia
The Rome, Watertown and Ogdensburg Railroad, commonly known as The Hojack Line, operated along the south shore of Lake Ontario
, from Niagara Falls, New York
to Oswego, New York
. Different segments of the line were abandoned at different times. In various areas the defunct railroad's right-of-way
is in use by other railroads, such as the Somerset Railroad.
(LOSRR). The Rome, Watertown and Ogdensburg Railroad started out in 1842 as the Watertown and Rome Railroad. The Watertown and Rome was built to link Watertown
with Rome, New York
on the Syracuse and Utica Railroad
, one of the original roads to consolidate into the New York Central in 1853.
Around the time of the NYC consolidation another railroad came into being, the Potsdam and Watertown Railroad. This obviously was to link Watertown with Potsdam, New York
in St. Lawrence County
near Massena
. In 1861 these two railroads mergred into the Rome, Watertown and Ogdenburg.
A branch line from DeKalb Junction (near Canton, New York
) to Ogdensburg was laid. In 1864 the RW&O laid a line from Pulaski
to Oswego
and merged with the Syracuse and Northern Railroad. In 1858 the Lake Ontario Shore Rail Road was chartered from Oswego to Suspension Bridge, then an independent village in Niagara County, New York
named after the Niagara Falls Suspension Bridge
to Ontario
, but now part of the City of Niagara Falls, New York
.
In 1870 this company was only running from Oswego to a nearby community called Hannibal
. This was nearly considered a disaster in potential on-line communities. For example the township of Newfane
, in Niagara County, invested $
100,000 in bonds in the LOSRR. The Rome, Watertown and Ogdensburg ever-seeking expansion merged with the LOSRR and finished the line to Suspension Bridge by 1875.
Eventually existing towns like Sodus
in Wayne County
would prosper and towns like Barker, New York
, in eastern Niagara County would be born. But it had driven the RW&O to bankruptcy.
The RW&O earned the name, according to Spike System's Webville & Hypertext RR, "Rotten Wood & Old Rusty Rails". Interestingly in 1872 the RW&O took over the Black River and Utica Railroad. The Black River
flows from the Adirondack Mountains
through Watertown to Sackets Harbor, New York
. By 1878 the RW&O ended up in the hands of the management of the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad
(DL&W). The DL&W's management only cared about the DL&W and left the RW&O to die, so to speak.
By 1882 the RW&O was in good hands. The new owners built the Ontario Secondary (Beebee line) from Charlotte, New York
(where the Genesee River
flows into Lake Ontario
) to Rochester, New York
which the Hojack missed. But the new management wasn't enough to save the RW&O. In 1891 the RW&O became a subsidiary of the New York Central. On April 12, 1913 the RW&O was formally merged into the NYC.
, Syracuse
, Rome
, Utica
, Natural Bridge
, Massena
, Ogdensburg
, Clayton
, Cape Vincent
and Sacket's Harbor
. Today, former RW&O trackage is operated by CSX
(CSXT), Ontario Midland Railroad
(OMID), and the Mohawk, Adirondack and Northern Railroad (MHWA).
Railroad historian Richard Palmer attributes it to a slang term for a slow local passenger train or way freight. The Port Jervis Evening Gazette reported, "[w]hile the Hojack was backing down to the depot Wednesday afternoon a horse in a team attached to a wagon from the country got its foot fast between the rail and the bed of the track in a manner similar to that which a horse belonging to Thomas Cuddeback was ruined some time ago. It was with great difficulty that the horse Wednesday was saved from a similar fate. The foot was got out just in time to get out of the way of the train." The similarity of that story to the second folk etymology is striking, yet the train was already called the Hojack at that time.
A subsequent story in the same newspaper supports that explanation, saying "[t]he name Hojack, which the Gazette gave to the way train leaving here for the west at 1:30 in the afternoon, sticks closer than a brother, and the train is now generally known by that name."
. These include a 3.5 miles (5.6 km) trail in Webster, New York
, a 8.5 miles (13.7 km) trail in Cayuga County
, a 14 miles (22.5 km) trail in Hamlin, New York
, and a 2.3 miles (3.7 km) trail in Hilton, New York
. An additional stretch of the RW&O which in its early days carried passengers from the RW&O main line to downtown Rochester (that part within the City of Rochester) is being converted to a trail (called "El Camino") under a $2 million Federal grant to the City of Rochester. Construction is expected to be completed in fall 2011.
Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded on the north and southwest by the Canadian province of Ontario, and on the south by the American state of New York. Ontario, Canada's most populous province, was named for the lake. In the Wyandot language, ontarío means...
, from Niagara Falls, New York
Niagara Falls, New York
Niagara Falls is a city in Niagara County, New York, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 50,193, down from the 55,593 recorded in the 2000 census. It is across the Niagara River from Niagara Falls, Ontario , both named after the famed Niagara Falls which they...
to Oswego, New York
Oswego, New York
Oswego is a city in Oswego County, New York, United States. The population was 18,142 at the 2010 census. Oswego is located on Lake Ontario in north-central New York and promotes itself as "The Port City of Central New York"...
. Different segments of the line were abandoned at different times. In various areas the defunct railroad's right-of-way
Right-of-way (railroad)
A right-of-way is a strip of land that is granted, through an easement or other mechanism, for transportation purposes, such as for a trail, driveway, rail line or highway. A right-of-way is reserved for the purposes of maintenance or expansion of existing services with the right-of-way...
is in use by other railroads, such as the Somerset Railroad.
History
That part known as the Hojack was started by the Lake Ontario Shore RailroadLake Ontario Shore Railroad
The Lake Ontario Shore Railroad was a short-lived common carrier railroad in New York that was absorbed by the Rome, Watertown and Ogdensburg Railroad.- Construction :...
(LOSRR). The Rome, Watertown and Ogdensburg Railroad started out in 1842 as the Watertown and Rome Railroad. The Watertown and Rome was built to link Watertown
Watertown (city), New York
Watertown is a city in the state of New York and the county seat of Jefferson County. It is situated approximately south of the Thousand Islands. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 27,023, an increase of 1.2% since 2000. The U.S...
with Rome, New York
Rome, New York
Rome is a city in Oneida County, New York, United States. It is located in north-central or "upstate" New York. The population was 44,797 at the 2010 census. It is in New York's 24th congressional district. In 1758, British forces began construction of Fort Stanwix at this strategic location, but...
on the Syracuse and Utica Railroad
Syracuse and Utica Railroad
The Syracuse and Utica Railroad was chartered May 1, 1836, and had to pay the state for any freight displaced from the Erie Canal. The full line opened July 3, 1839, extending the line further to Syracuse, New York to Rome, New York...
, one of the original roads to consolidate into the New York Central in 1853.
Around the time of the NYC consolidation another railroad came into being, the Potsdam and Watertown Railroad. This obviously was to link Watertown with Potsdam, New York
Potsdam (town), New York
Potsdam is a town located in St. Lawrence County, New York, United States. The population was 15,957 at the 2000 census. The ZIP code is 13676. The town is named after the city of Potsdam in Germany...
in St. Lawrence County
St. Lawrence County, New York
St. Lawrence County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 111,944. The county seat is Canton. The county is named for the Saint Lawrence River, which in turn was named for the Catholic saint on whose Feast day the river was discovered by...
near Massena
Massena (village), New York
Massena is a village in St. Lawrence County, New York, United States. The population was 13,589 at the 2000 census. The village is named after Andre Massena, one of Napoleon's generals....
. In 1861 these two railroads mergred into the Rome, Watertown and Ogdenburg.
A branch line from DeKalb Junction (near Canton, New York
Canton (village), New York
Canton is a village in St. Lawrence County, New York, United States. The village is centrally located in both the town of Canton and the county of St. Lawrence. The population was 5,882 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of St. Lawrence County...
) to Ogdensburg was laid. In 1864 the RW&O laid a line from Pulaski
Pulaski, New York
Pulaski is a village in Oswego County, New York, United States. The population was 2,365 at the 2010 census.The Village of Pulaski is within the Town of Richland, and lies between the eastern shore of Lake Ontario and the Tug Hill region. The village is located on US Route 11 and is adjacent to...
to Oswego
Oswego, New York
Oswego is a city in Oswego County, New York, United States. The population was 18,142 at the 2010 census. Oswego is located on Lake Ontario in north-central New York and promotes itself as "The Port City of Central New York"...
and merged with the Syracuse and Northern Railroad. In 1858 the Lake Ontario Shore Rail Road was chartered from Oswego to Suspension Bridge, then an independent village in Niagara County, New York
Niagara County, New York
Niagara County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 216,469. The county seat is Lockport. The county name is from the Iroquois word Onguiaahra; meaning the strait or thunder of waters. It is the location of Niagara Falls and Fort Niagara, and...
named after the Niagara Falls Suspension Bridge
Niagara Falls Suspension Bridge
The Niagara Falls Suspension Bridge was the world's first working railway suspension bridge. It spanned and stood downstream of Niagara Falls from 1855 to 1897...
to Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, but now part of the City of Niagara Falls, New York
Niagara Falls, New York
Niagara Falls is a city in Niagara County, New York, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 50,193, down from the 55,593 recorded in the 2000 census. It is across the Niagara River from Niagara Falls, Ontario , both named after the famed Niagara Falls which they...
.
In 1870 this company was only running from Oswego to a nearby community called Hannibal
Hannibal (town), New York
Hannibal is a town in Oswego County, New York, USA. The population was 4,957 at the 2000 census. The name is derived from the hero of ancient Carthage, Hannibal....
. This was nearly considered a disaster in potential on-line communities. For example the township of Newfane
Newfane, New York
Newfane is a town in Niagara County, New York, USA. The population was 9,666 at the 2010 census. The name was suggested by an early settler.The Town of Newfane is in the north-central part of the county, north of the City of Lockport.- History :...
, in Niagara County, invested $
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
100,000 in bonds in the LOSRR. The Rome, Watertown and Ogdensburg ever-seeking expansion merged with the LOSRR and finished the line to Suspension Bridge by 1875.
Eventually existing towns like Sodus
Sodus, New York
Sodus, New York may refer to:*Sodus , New York in Wayne County*Sodus , New York in Wayne County...
in Wayne County
Wayne County, New York
Wayne County is a county located in the US state of New York. It is part of the Rochester, New York Metropolitan Statistical Area and lies on the south shore of Lake Ontario, forming part of the northern border of the United States with Canada. The name honors General Anthony Wayne, an American...
would prosper and towns like Barker, New York
Barker, New York
Barker, New York can refer to:*Barker, Broome County, New York, town*Barker, Niagara County, New York, village...
, in eastern Niagara County would be born. But it had driven the RW&O to bankruptcy.
The RW&O earned the name, according to Spike System's Webville & Hypertext RR, "Rotten Wood & Old Rusty Rails". Interestingly in 1872 the RW&O took over the Black River and Utica Railroad. The Black River
Black River (New York)
The Black River is a blackwater river that empties into the eastern end of Lake Ontario on the shore of Jefferson County, New York in the United States of America...
flows from the Adirondack Mountains
Adirondack Mountains
The Adirondack Mountains are a mountain range located in the northeastern part of New York, that runs through Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Hamilton, Herkimer, Lewis, Saint Lawrence, Saratoga, Warren, and Washington counties....
through Watertown to Sackets Harbor, New York
Sackets Harbor, New York
Sackets Harbor is a village in Jefferson County, New York, United States. The population was 1,386 at the 2000 census. The village was named after land developer and owner Augustus Sackett, who founded it in the early 19th century.The Village of Sackets Harbor is within the western part of the...
. By 1878 the RW&O ended up in the hands of the management of the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad
Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad
The Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad Company was a railroad connecting Pennsylvania's Lackawanna Valley, rich in anthracite coal, to Hoboken, New Jersey, , Buffalo and Oswego, New York...
(DL&W). The DL&W's management only cared about the DL&W and left the RW&O to die, so to speak.
By 1882 the RW&O was in good hands. The new owners built the Ontario Secondary (Beebee line) from Charlotte, New York
Charlotte, Rochester, New York
Charlotte is a neighborhood in Rochester, New York located at the mouth of the Genesee River along Lake Ontario. It is the home of the Port of Rochester and Charlotte High School.-Early Settlers:...
(where the Genesee River
Genesee River
The Genesee River is a North American river flowing northward through the Twin Tiers of Pennsylvania and New York. The river provided the original power for the Rochester area's 19th century mills and still provides hydroelectric power for downtown Rochester....
flows into Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded on the north and southwest by the Canadian province of Ontario, and on the south by the American state of New York. Ontario, Canada's most populous province, was named for the lake. In the Wyandot language, ontarío means...
) to Rochester, New York
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
which the Hojack missed. But the new management wasn't enough to save the RW&O. In 1891 the RW&O became a subsidiary of the New York Central. On April 12, 1913 the RW&O was formally merged into the NYC.
Infrastructure
The RW&O had terminals in Suspension Bridge, RochesterRochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
, Syracuse
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
, Rome
Rome, New York
Rome is a city in Oneida County, New York, United States. It is located in north-central or "upstate" New York. The population was 44,797 at the 2010 census. It is in New York's 24th congressional district. In 1758, British forces began construction of Fort Stanwix at this strategic location, but...
, Utica
Utica, New York
Utica is a city in and the county seat of Oneida County, New York, United States. The population was 62,235 at the 2010 census, an increase of 2.6% from the 2000 census....
, Natural Bridge
Natural Bridge, New York
Natural Bridge is a hamlet in Jefferson County, New York, United States. The population was 392 at the 2000 census...
, Massena
Massena (village), New York
Massena is a village in St. Lawrence County, New York, United States. The population was 13,589 at the 2000 census. The village is named after Andre Massena, one of Napoleon's generals....
, Ogdensburg
Ogdensburg, New York
Ogdensburg is a city in St. Lawrence County, New York, United States. The population was 11,128 at the 2010 census. In the late 18th century, European-American settlers named the community after American land owner and developer Samuel Ogden....
, Clayton
Clayton (town), New York
Clayton is a town in Jefferson County, New York, USA. The population was 5,153 at the 2010 census. The town is named after John M. Clayton, a federal political leader from Delaware.The Town of Clayton contains a village named Clayton...
, Cape Vincent
Cape Vincent (town), New York
Cape Vincent is a town in Jefferson County, New York, USA. The population was 2,777 at the 2010 census.The Town of Cape Vincent is located in the northwest part of the county. In the town is a village also called Cape Vincent. Both town and village are northwest of Watertown.- History :The town...
and Sacket's Harbor
Sackets Harbor, New York
Sackets Harbor is a village in Jefferson County, New York, United States. The population was 1,386 at the 2000 census. The village was named after land developer and owner Augustus Sackett, who founded it in the early 19th century.The Village of Sackets Harbor is within the western part of the...
. Today, former RW&O trackage is operated by CSX
CSX Transportation
CSX Transportation operates a Class I railroad in the United States known as the CSX Railroad. It is the main subsidiary of the CSX Corporation. The company is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, and owns approximately 21,000 route miles...
(CSXT), Ontario Midland Railroad
Ontario Midland Railroad
The Ontario Midland Railroad is an American railroad company operating in western New York.It was founded on 5 October 1979 and was created to save the entire Rome, Watertown and Ogdensburg Railroad line from Oswego's West Yard to Suspension Bridge in Niagara Falls. However, the railroad managed...
(OMID), and the Mohawk, Adirondack and Northern Railroad (MHWA).
Origin of the name Hojack
The name Hojack has multiple explanations. Two folk etymologies follow.- Hojack originated from the engineer of the first train, who was named Jack Welch (often called "Big Jack"). Welch used to be a farmer and was more familiar with horseHorseThe horse is one of two extant subspecies of Equus ferus, or the wild horse. It is a single-hooved mammal belonging to the taxonomic family Equidae. The horse has evolved over the past 45 to 55 million years from a small multi-toed creature into the large, single-toed animal of today...
s than steam locomotiveSteam locomotiveA steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine...
s. When he stopped the trains he would shout "Whoa Jack!". This became Hojack over time. - "Many people fondly called the R.W.& O. by its nickname, "Hojack." It seems that in the early days of the railroad, a farmer in his buckboard drawn by a bulky mule was caught on a crossing at train time. When the mule was halfway across the tracks, he simply stopped. The train was fast approaching and the farmer naturally got excited and began shouting, "Ho-Jack, Ho-Jack." Amused by the incident, the trainmen began calling their line the "Ho-Jack."
Railroad historian Richard Palmer attributes it to a slang term for a slow local passenger train or way freight. The Port Jervis Evening Gazette reported, "[w]hile the Hojack was backing down to the depot Wednesday afternoon a horse in a team attached to a wagon from the country got its foot fast between the rail and the bed of the track in a manner similar to that which a horse belonging to Thomas Cuddeback was ruined some time ago. It was with great difficulty that the horse Wednesday was saved from a similar fate. The foot was got out just in time to get out of the way of the train." The similarity of that story to the second folk etymology is striking, yet the train was already called the Hojack at that time.
A subsequent story in the same newspaper supports that explanation, saying "[t]he name Hojack, which the Gazette gave to the way train leaving here for the west at 1:30 in the afternoon, sticks closer than a brother, and the train is now generally known by that name."
Rails to trails
Today, several portions of the former Hojack line and adjacent land have been converted to multi-use recreational trailsRail trail
A rail trail is the conversion of a disused railway easement into a multi-use path, typically for walking, cycling and sometimes horse riding. The characteristics of former tracks—flat, long, frequently running through historical areas—are appealing for various development. The term sometimes also...
. These include a 3.5 miles (5.6 km) trail in Webster, New York
Webster Hojack Trail
The Webster Hojack Trail is one of two Hojack trails in Cayuga County, New York, the other being the Cayuga Hojack Trail. Both are built on remnants of the Hojack, a common name for the Rome, Watertown and Ogdensburg Railroad. The Friends of Webster Trails maintains this long trail, fully within...
, a 8.5 miles (13.7 km) trail in Cayuga County
Cayuga Hojack Trail
The Cayuga Hojack Trail is one of two Hojack trails in Cayuga County, New York, the other being the Webster Hojack Trail in Webster. Both are built on remnants of the Hojack, a common name for the Rome, Watertown and Ogdensburg Railroad. Cayuga County maintains the trail, which intersects the...
, a 14 miles (22.5 km) trail in Hamlin, New York
Hamlin, New York
Hamlin is a town in Monroe County, New York, United States. The population was 9,045 at the 2010 census.The Town of Hamlin is in the northwest part of the county and is the second largest town in area in the county.- History :...
, and a 2.3 miles (3.7 km) trail in Hilton, New York
Hilton, New York
Hilton is a village in Monroe County, New York, United States. The population was 5,856 at the 2000 census. The community was named for the Rev. Charles A. Hilton.The Village of Hilton is within the Town of Parma.-History:...
. An additional stretch of the RW&O which in its early days carried passengers from the RW&O main line to downtown Rochester (that part within the City of Rochester) is being converted to a trail (called "El Camino") under a $2 million Federal grant to the City of Rochester. Construction is expected to be completed in fall 2011.