Susquehanna and New York Railroad
Encyclopedia
The Susquehanna and New York Railroad was a short-line railroad connecting the Lehigh Valley Railroad
at Towanda, Pennsylvania
with the Pennsylvania Railroad
at Marsh Hill Junction. The railroad carried freight and passengers between Williamsport and Towanda by rail rather than using the Susquehanna River
or the Pennsylvania Canal
.
The railroad, 45 miles in length (72.4 km), in Northeastern Pennsylvania
was originally built to carry timber and coal out of the Barclay Mountain (also called the South Mountain range of the Alleghenies) the Towanda where these products could then be shipped by river or rail.
of London, England came to own 21,000 acres (85 km²) in the region. Little development occurred until coal was discovered on the land. Professor Johnson or Richard Taylor (or possibly both) surveyed the land for a railroad about 1835, but no road was cut and access to the coal was still limited.
The "Towanda and Franklin Railroad Company" was formed in 1853 to create a railroad to the coal mines but no rails were laid. In 1854 the Barclay Railroad and Coal Company formed, and work on the road began. The Barclay Railroad was authorized to hold 2,000 acres (8 km²) of coal lands as well as lands for track, depots, and stations, etc.
In 1856 the Pennsylvania Canal (North Branch Division)
was built, improving access into the area and leading to renewed interest. The "North Branch Canal" – another name for the Pennsylvania Canal (North Branch Division) – opened in Spring 1856 and the Barclay Railroad began hauling coal in July of that year. The new railroad delivered over 7,000 tons of coal to the canal boats in the first year. The coal was brought the 16 miles to Towanda where canal boats moved it to markets. James Macfarland, the railroad's first general manager, organized the Towanda Coal company, which leased and operated the railroad for 20 years.
The Bradford Reporter, a local newspaper, said the railroad was 16 and 3/4 miles long on November 6, 1856. The newspaper also reported that the train could pull 25 five ton cars at a time and make three trips per day between the coal mines and the canal boats.
In 1857 the railroad had two locomotives, the "Towanda" and "Philadelphia".
In 1867 the Pennsylvania & New York Railroad and Canal Company (later the "Wyoming Division" of the Lehigh Valley Railroad) connected Towanda to Waverly, New York
. Waverly connected to Erie, Pennsylvania
and easier transportation to more markets. The Erie Railroad obtained trackage rights directly into the Barclay coal fields.
Significant damage occurred during the flood of 1900 (destroyed bridges, undermined roadbed, etc.). The lumber industry, however, was just beginning to expand so there was a financial driver to make repairs. The Binghamton, Towanda & Western Railroad company bought the Barclay Railroad and rebuilt the road.
. The Gray's Run Branch, however, was abandoned later when the timber industry ran its course.
In 1906 increased demand for timber resulted in improvements that reduced grades and eased curves. "Bigger rail" was laid, steel bridges replaced wooden ones, and a terminal was built at West Williamsport. The early days were called "harrowing" in one account.
1906 also saw the railroad carry 78,000 passengers and 381,878 tons of freight for a total of $337,352 in revenues. From that, the railroad paid out $48,000 in dividends.
During the Pennsylvania lumber boom one of the largest saw mills, owned by C. W. Sones, was located at Masten. Sones also built a short line railroad called the Susquehanna & Eaglesmere Railroad to feed the S&NY.
The boom town of Laquin
with 20,000 acres (80 km²) of timber, contained 2,000 people and a payroll second only to Sayre
, which had the Lehigh Valley Shops to maintain trains and broad bottom land making travel easier.
During the early years of the 20th century, the S&NY had two round trip passenger services per day. The S&NY also had regular "Sunday School picnics and wildflower excursions" that required extra cars to carry the passengers. The S&NY was a valuable connection between the Lehigh Valley and Pennsylvania railroads.
It is unclear how the Great Railroad Strike of 1922
affected the S&NY, which was basically a connection between larger railroads. From 1927 onward, the S&NY was in decline. The Great Depression
during the 1930s did not present any growth opportunities. By this time the primary resources of the Barclay Mountain region – coal and timber – were either mined out or not needed, possibly due to other cheaper sources. In 1939, the railroad had a deficit of $18,005.
The Laquin Lumber Company, which had started a large mill in 1902 and drove much of the S&NY business, was shut down about 1920. A chemical mill remained in business for a while longer but it closed in 1926, further cutting into the S&NY business.
From Marsh Hill Junction, the S&NY had trackage rights for 20 miles into West Williamsport for connections to the Reading and New York Central railroads.
At Williamsport
, passengers and freight could connect to the Pennsylvania Railroad
, Reading Railroad or New York Central Railroad
.
(a) Uncertain about this number
(b) Dickson later merged with American
Lehigh Valley Railroad
The Lehigh Valley Railroad was one of a number of railroads built in the northeastern United States primarily to haul anthracite coal.It was authorized April 21, 1846 in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and incorporated September 20, 1847 as the Delaware, Lehigh, Schuylkill and Susquehanna Railroad...
at Towanda, Pennsylvania
Towanda, Pennsylvania
Towanda is a borough in and the county seat of Bradford County, Pennsylvania, United States, northwest of Wilkes Barre, on the Susquehanna River. The name means "burial ground" in the Algonquian language...
with 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....
at Marsh Hill Junction. The railroad carried freight and passengers between Williamsport and Towanda by rail rather than using the Susquehanna River
Susquehanna River
The Susquehanna River is a river located in the northeastern United States. At long, it is the longest river on the American east coast that drains into the Atlantic Ocean, and with its watershed it is the 16th largest river in the United States, and the longest river in the continental United...
or the Pennsylvania Canal
Pennsylvania Canal (North Branch Division)
The North Branch Division of the Pennsylvania Canal was an historic waterway that ran along the North Branch Susquehanna River between southern New York and north-central Pennsylvania in the United States...
.
The railroad, 45 miles in length (72.4 km), in Northeastern 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...
was originally built to carry timber and coal out of the Barclay Mountain (also called the South Mountain range of the Alleghenies) the Towanda where these products could then be shipped by river or rail.
Formation
As with many railroads, the S&NY formed from an earlier company, absorbed companies during its heyday, and was later itself absorbed before being torn up to help with the war effort during World War II. The story of the S&NY starts in 1794 when Robert BarclayRobert Barclay
Robert Barclay was a Scottish Quaker, one of the most eminent writers belonging to the Religious Society of Friends and a member of the Clan Barclay. He was also governor of the East Jersey colony in North America through most of the 1680s, although he himself never resided in the...
of London, England came to own 21,000 acres (85 km²) in the region. Little development occurred until coal was discovered on the land. Professor Johnson or Richard Taylor (or possibly both) surveyed the land for a railroad about 1835, but no road was cut and access to the coal was still limited.
The "Towanda and Franklin Railroad Company" was formed in 1853 to create a railroad to the coal mines but no rails were laid. In 1854 the Barclay Railroad and Coal Company formed, and work on the road began. The Barclay Railroad was authorized to hold 2,000 acres (8 km²) of coal lands as well as lands for track, depots, and stations, etc.
In 1856 the Pennsylvania Canal (North Branch Division)
Pennsylvania Canal (North Branch Division)
The North Branch Division of the Pennsylvania Canal was an historic waterway that ran along the North Branch Susquehanna River between southern New York and north-central Pennsylvania in the United States...
was built, improving access into the area and leading to renewed interest. The "North Branch Canal" – another name for the Pennsylvania Canal (North Branch Division) – opened in Spring 1856 and the Barclay Railroad began hauling coal in July of that year. The new railroad delivered over 7,000 tons of coal to the canal boats in the first year. The coal was brought the 16 miles to Towanda where canal boats moved it to markets. James Macfarland, the railroad's first general manager, organized the Towanda Coal company, which leased and operated the railroad for 20 years.
The Bradford Reporter, a local newspaper, said the railroad was 16 and 3/4 miles long on November 6, 1856. The newspaper also reported that the train could pull 25 five ton cars at a time and make three trips per day between the coal mines and the canal boats.
In 1857 the railroad had two locomotives, the "Towanda" and "Philadelphia".
In 1867 the Pennsylvania & New York Railroad and Canal Company (later the "Wyoming Division" of the Lehigh Valley Railroad) connected Towanda to Waverly, New York
Waverly, New York
Waverly is the name of some places in the U.S. state of New York:*Waverly, Tioga County, New York, a village in New York's Southern Tier*Waverly, Franklin County, New York, a town in Northern New York...
. Waverly connected to Erie, Pennsylvania
Erie, Pennsylvania
Erie is a city located in northwestern Pennsylvania in the United States. Named for the lake and the Native American tribe that resided along its southern shore, Erie is the state's fourth-largest city , with a population of 102,000...
and easier transportation to more markets. The Erie Railroad obtained trackage rights directly into the Barclay coal fields.
Significant damage occurred during the flood of 1900 (destroyed bridges, undermined roadbed, etc.). The lumber industry, however, was just beginning to expand so there was a financial driver to make repairs. The Binghamton, Towanda & Western Railroad company bought the Barclay Railroad and rebuilt the road.
Operations begin (for S&NY)
In 1902, the Binghamton, Towanda & Western Railroad was absorbed by the Susquehanna & New York Railroad company. A year later the S&NY bought the Gray's Run Railroad (renamed the "Gray's Run Branch") and added new track into Marsh Hill Junction, located in Lycoming County, PennsylvaniaLycoming County, Pennsylvania
-Appalachian Mountains and Allegheny Plateau:Lycoming County is divided between the Appalachian Mountains in the south, the dissected Allegheny Plateau in the north and east, and the valley of the West Branch Susquehanna River between these.-West Branch Susquehanna River:The West Branch of the...
. The Gray's Run Branch, however, was abandoned later when the timber industry ran its course.
| From | Departure | To | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|
| Towanda | 7:15 am | Ralston | 9:15 am |
| Ralston | 8:00 am | Towanda | 10:00 am |
| Towanda | 1:15 pm | Ralston | 3:20 pm |
| Ralston | 9:30 am | Towanda | 11:30 am |
| Towanda | 3:45 pm | Ralston | 5:50 pm |
| Ralston | 3:35 pm | Towanda | 6:00 pm |
In 1906 increased demand for timber resulted in improvements that reduced grades and eased curves. "Bigger rail" was laid, steel bridges replaced wooden ones, and a terminal was built at West Williamsport. The early days were called "harrowing" in one account.
1906 also saw the railroad carry 78,000 passengers and 381,878 tons of freight for a total of $337,352 in revenues. From that, the railroad paid out $48,000 in dividends.
During the Pennsylvania lumber boom one of the largest saw mills, owned by C. W. Sones, was located at Masten. Sones also built a short line railroad called the Susquehanna & Eaglesmere Railroad to feed the S&NY.
The boom town of Laquin
Laquin, Pennsylvania
Laquin, in Franklin Township, Bradford County, Pennsylvania, was founded about 1902 as a lumber town, . The death of the town was from economics. When the forests played out and the mills could no longer be fed, the industry left and the people soon followed...
with 20,000 acres (80 km²) of timber, contained 2,000 people and a payroll second only to Sayre
Sayre, Pennsylvania
Sayre is the largest borough in Bradford County, Pennsylvania, northwest of Scranton. In the past, various iron products were made there. In 1900, 5,243 people lived there; in 1910, 6,426 people lived there, and in 1940, 7,569 persons made their homes in Sayre. The population was 5,813 at the 2000...
, which had the Lehigh Valley Shops to maintain trains and broad bottom land making travel easier.
During the early years of the 20th century, the S&NY had two round trip passenger services per day. The S&NY also had regular "Sunday School picnics and wildflower excursions" that required extra cars to carry the passengers. The S&NY was a valuable connection between the Lehigh Valley and Pennsylvania railroads.
Wartime service
When the United States entered World War I (WWI) the federal government took control of the nation's railroads in the interest of national defense. The S&NY was placed under control of the Lehigh Valley Railroad during the war. Government service resulted in improved roadbeds and bridges (paid for by the government). By the time the war ended, business – mainly timber – had bottomed out.It is unclear how the Great Railroad Strike of 1922
Great Railroad Strike of 1922
The Great Railroad Strike of 1922 was a nationwide railroad shop workers strike in the United States. The action began on July 1 and was the largest railroad work stoppage since 1894.-History:...
affected the S&NY, which was basically a connection between larger railroads. From 1927 onward, the S&NY was in decline. The Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
during the 1930s did not present any growth opportunities. By this time the primary resources of the Barclay Mountain region – coal and timber – were either mined out or not needed, possibly due to other cheaper sources. In 1939, the railroad had a deficit of $18,005.
The Laquin Lumber Company, which had started a large mill in 1902 and drove much of the S&NY business, was shut down about 1920. A chemical mill remained in business for a while longer but it closed in 1926, further cutting into the S&NY business.
Dismantled
On May 23, 1942 the S&NY made its last scheduled run. The rails between Monroeton and Ralston were taken up shortly afterward to run tracks throughout a large munitions plant at White Deer (near Williamsport). That is, the rails were used within the plant to move materials through the manufacturing process. So the S&NY ended its life to support World War II (WWII). The rails between Towanda and Monroeton were bought by the Lehigh Valley Railroad.Communities or stations
North to south:- TowandaTowanda, PennsylvaniaTowanda is a borough in and the county seat of Bradford County, Pennsylvania, United States, northwest of Wilkes Barre, on the Susquehanna River. The name means "burial ground" in the Algonquian language...
– connected to Lehigh Valley Railroad with destinations to Buffalo or New York City - MonroetonMonroe, PennsylvaniaMonroe is a borough in Bradford County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 514 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Monroe is located at ....
– connected to Lehigh Valley branch south to Dushore - Powell
- Weston
- Lamoka
- Long Valley
- Barclay StationBarclay, PennsylvaniaThe ghost town of Barclay, in Franklin Township, Bradford County, Pennsylvania, was a coal mining town. Coal was transported down the mountain by an incline plane rail system. The original location of the town was later obliterated by strip mining operations...
- East Laquin
- LaquinLaquin, PennsylvaniaLaquin, in Franklin Township, Bradford County, Pennsylvania, was founded about 1902 as a lumber town, . The death of the town was from economics. When the forests played out and the mills could no longer be fed, the industry left and the people soon followed...
- Whalen
- Cold Spring, (Bradford County, PennsylvaniaBradford County, Pennsylvania-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 62,761 people, 24,453 households, and 17,312 families residing in the county. The population density was 54 people per square mile . There were 28,664 housing units at an average density of 25 per square mile...
) - Wheelerville (Sullivan County, PennsylvaniaSullivan County, PennsylvaniaSullivan County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of 2010, the population is 6,428. Sullivan County was created on March 15, 1847, from part of Lycoming County and named for Charles Sullivan, leader of the Pennsylvania Senate...
) - Ellenton—highest point on the road at 2,100 feet above sea level (Lycoming County, PennsylvaniaLycoming County, Pennsylvania-Appalachian Mountains and Allegheny Plateau:Lycoming County is divided between the Appalachian Mountains in the south, the dissected Allegheny Plateau in the north and east, and the valley of the West Branch Susquehanna River between these.-West Branch Susquehanna River:The West Branch of the...
) - Hillsgrove Junction
- Masten
- Short Run
- Crandellton (or Crandeltown)
- Pleasant Stream
- RalstonMcIntyre Township, PennsylvaniaMcIntyre Township is a township in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The population was 539 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Williamsport, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
(coal spur) – connected to 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....
leading north toward Elmira, NY - Heylman
- Bodines
- Williamson
- Pennsdale
- Gray's Run
- Yoder Run
- Wilkinson
- McCrackens Summit
- Frozen Run
- Marsh Hill Junction – connected to Pennsylvania Railroad leading south to West Williamsport
From Marsh Hill Junction, the S&NY had trackage rights for 20 miles into West Williamsport for connections to the Reading and New York Central railroads.
At Williamsport
Williamsport, Pennsylvania
Williamsport is a city in and the county seat of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania in the United States. In 2009, the population was estimated at 29,304...
, passengers and freight could connect to 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....
, Reading Railroad or 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...
.
Engines
Some additional information can be found in the Story of the Susquehanna and New York (p. 21). Several of these engines are referred to by number (2, 5, 6, 11, 24, 109) by Jeremiah Shay in his 1914 diary.| No. | Type | Builder | Date | History |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 | Shay Shay locomotive The Shay locomotive was the most widely used geared steam locomotive. The locomotives were built to the patents of Ephraim Shay, who has been credited with the popularization of the concept of a geared steam locomotive... |
Lima Lima Locomotive Works Lima Locomotive Works was an American firm that manufactured railroad locomotives from the 1870s through the 1950s. The company took the most distinctive part of its name from its main shops location in Lima, Ohio. The shops were located between the Baltimore & Ohio's Cincinnati-Toledo main line... |
? | ? |
| 101 | Shay | Lima | ? | ? |
| 102 | 0-4-OT | Baldwin Baldwin Locomotive Works The Baldwin Locomotive Works was an American builder of railroad locomotives. It was located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, originally, and later in nearby Eddystone, Pennsylvania. Although the company was very successful as a producer of steam locomotives, its transition to the production of... |
1879 | Bought from NYC elevated railway |
| 103 | 2-8-0 | ? | ? | Bought from PRR 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.... ; scraped in 1912 |
| 104 | 2-8-0 | ? | ? | Bought from PRR; 103 & 104 were alike |
| 105 | 4-4-0 | ? | 1880 | Bought from PRR; 105 & 106 were alike |
| 106 | 4-4-0 | ? | 1880 | Bought from PRR in 1903; class A1; scrapped 1922 |
| 107 | 2-6-0 | Dickson Dickson Manufacturing Company Dickson Manufacturing Company was a manufacturer of boilers and steam engines used in various industries but most known in railway steam locomotives... (b) |
1882 | Bought from E. H. Wilson in 1903; scrapped in 1922 |
| 108 | 2-6-0 | Dickson(b) | 1904 | Sold to Tionesta Valley in 1926; scrapped in 1935 |
| 109 | 2-6-0 | American | 1902 | Bought from NYC El; was unsatisfactory; sold |
| 109(a) | Shay | Lima | ? | Gray's Run number may not have been official |
| 110 | Shay | Lima | 1904? | Sold to C.P.L. in 1913 |
| 111 | 2-8-0 | Baldwin | 1906 | Sold to C.P.L. in 1913; 111 and 112 were alike |
| 112 | 2-8-0 | Baldwin | 1906 | Sold to C.P.L. in 1919 |
| 113 | 4-4-0 | Baldwin | 1907 | Scrapped 1934 |
| 114 | 2-8-0 | Baldwin | 1907 | Rebuilt by Baldwin |
| 115 | 2-8-0 | Baldwin | 1913 | Rebuilt in LVRR Sayre Shops; still in service as of 1941 |
| 116 | 2-8-0 | Baldwin | 1916 | First S&NY engine to have an electric light |
| 117 | 2-6-0 | American American Locomotive Company The American Locomotive Company, often shortened to ALCO or Alco , was a builder of railroad locomotives in the United States.-Early history:... |
1900 | Bought from NYCRR 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... 1926 (NYC #1748) |
| 118 | 2-8-0 | American | 1908 | Bought from NYCRR 1926 (NYC #2699) |
| 119 | 4-6-0 | Baldwin | 1921 | Bought from H. & B. T. 1934 (#35) |
(a) Uncertain about this number
(b) Dickson later merged with American
History
- 1794 – Robert Barclay of London, England came into possession of the land now called Barclay Mountain.
- 1835 – Professor Johnson, Richard Taylor or both surveyed the area for a railroad to the coal mines.
- 1853 – Towanda and Franklin Railroad Company organized but nothing came of it.
- 1854 – Barclay Railroad and Towanda Coal Company organized by Edward Overton, Sr.
- 1854 – 16 miles of track from Towanda to the coal mines finally opens the region.
- 1856 – North Branch Canal company builds canal on the Susquehanna River to move goods, including the Barclay coal, to market.
- 1868 – Pennsylvania & New York Railroad and Canal Company opens a line between Towanda, PA and Waverly, NY, which connects to their main line.
- 1900 – Flood severely damages the roadbed and bridges.
- 1902 – Susquehanna and New York Railroad formed; absorbs the Barclay Railroad and Gray's Run Railroad.
- 1917 – United States Railroad AdministrationUnited States Railroad AdministrationThe United States Railroad Administration was the name of the nationalized railroad system of the United States between 1917 and 1920. It was possibly the largest American experiment with nationalization, and was undertaken against a background of war emergency.- Background :On April 6, 1917, the...
established to run U.S. railroads during World War I. - 1917 – S&NY placed under Lehigh Valley Railroad (LV) management.
- 1920 – With the war over, railroads returned to private ownership.
- 1939 – S&NY operating in the red.
- 1942 – S&NY track removed to a munitions plant near Williamsport to support the World War II war effort.
Officers (in 1941)
The Story of the Susquehanna and New York lists officers and employees as of August 1941 shortly before the railroad was dismantled to support the war (WWII) effort.- L. C. Warren, President
- John Orr, Vice-President
- R. H. Zinn, Comptroller
- W. C. Zeigler, Treasurer
- H. J. Welsh, General Freight and Passenger Agent
- W. H. Hough, Secretary
- W. B. Strunk, Assistant General Manager
- J. J. Coleman, Trainmaster and Supervisor of Track
- H. M. Miller, Master Mechanic
- H. F. Thompson, Chief Engineer
- L. G. Schultz, Purchasing Agent
See also
- Susquehanna & New York Railroad Towanda-Williamsport discussion on RAILROAD.NET [found: 2010-03-06]
- Railway Control Act (March 21, 1918)
- Records of the United States Railroad Administration (USRA)
- 1914 Work Journal for S&NY Worker
Other notes
The following notes may be related to this subject but need to be qualified further.- Triumph VII,p. 95–100 (minor reference, diagrams of Westernport yards)