New York & Pennsylvania Railroad
The New York & Pennsylvania Railroad (NYP) was a single track, shortline railroad running on a route described as east—west in the company's timetables,[1]:between 6 and 7 but closer to an arc: almost due south along Bennett's Creek from Canisteo through the hamlets of Greenwood, Rexville, and Whitesville, New York, southwest through Genesee, Pennsylvania to Oswayo, Pennsylvania, then northwest through Shinglehouse, Pennsylvania to Ceres, New York.[1]:between 6 and 7 In Canisteo trains made "a close connection" with "electric cars for Hornellsville". Trains connected in Canisteo with the Erie Railroad, with service to Buffalo and New York City; in Genesee with the Buffalo and Susquehanna Railroad, with service to Wellsville, New York, and in Ceres with the Pittsburg [sic], Shawmutt, and Northern Railroad, with service to Olean, New York, and points west.[1]: While the railroad did not serve Hornell, occasionally it did run special trains, using the Erie tracks. Its route was primarily in southwestern Steuben County, New York, and northern Potter County, Pennsylvania, with small portions in Allegany County, New York, and McKean County, Pennsylvania. Total track was 56.13 miles (90.33 km) main line and 7.69 miles (12.38 km) of sidings.[1]:9
| New York & Pennsylvania Railroad | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 | |||
| Overview | |||
| Status | Defunct | ||
| Termini | Canisteo (village), New York Ceres, New York | ||
| Stations | 5 (Canisteo, Greenwood, Genesee, Oswayo, Shinglehouse) Possibly Rexville, McGraws, Whitesville, Ellisburg, and others. | ||
| Services | 1 | ||
| Operation | |||
| Commenced | 1892 | ||
| Opened | 1894 | ||
| Completed | 1903 | ||
| Closed | 1935 | ||
| Owner | Theodore Cobb and Sons | ||
| Character | Passenger and freight, 1894–1917; freight only, 1917–1935 | ||
| Depot(s) | Canisteo, New York | ||
| Rolling stock | 6 locomotives, 2 passenger coaches, 30 flat cars, 2 cabooses | ||
| Events | |||
| 1916–1920 | Suspension of service in New York state because of flood damage. | ||
| 1935 | Damage from flood of 1935 direct cause of shutdown. | ||
| Technical | |||
| Line length | 90.33 km (56.13 mi) | ||
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge | ||
| Operating speed | 30 mph (48 km/h) | ||
| |||
References
- Robinson, Winfield W. (1936). "New York and Pennsylvania Railway". Railway and Locomotive Historical Society Bulletin (41). pp. 6–14. JSTOR 43519766.
- "New York & Pennsylvania Timetable No. 19". Potter Enterprise (Coudersport, Pennsylvania). April 2, 1903. p. 11.
- "For a Direct Line into Pennsylvania : Opening of a New Country by a Railroad. : It Is Rich with Timber : Southern New York and Northern Pennsylvania Reached by the New York and Pennsylvania Railroad". Democrat and Chronicle (Rochester, New York). December 6, 1896. p. 12.
- "New York & Pennsylvania's Plan for Getting Into Hornellsville". Buffalo Courier. January 6, 1896. p. 7.
- "A Bird's Eye View". Star-Gazette (Elmira, New York). January 9, 1896. p. 6.
- Mackenzie, Ian G. (2014). Railroads remembered : the history of railroads in western New York and western Pennsylvania. The author. p. 57. ISBN 978-0-692-03004-2.
- "Canisteo Schools" (PDF). Kanestio Historical Society Times. Spring 2017. pp. 2–3.
- "Say N. Y. & Pa. Railroad Is to be Sold as Junk". Potter Enterprise (Coudersport, Pennsylvania). July 13, 1915. p. 4.
- "To Discontinue Operation". Cattaraugus Times (Cattaraugus, New York). September 22, 1916. p. 5.
- "Old Railroad Will Run Soon". Allegany County Reporter (Wellsville, New York). September 19, 1919. p. 5.
- "Fate of Railroad is Pending". Olean Times Herald (Olean, New York). August 10, 1935. p. 4.
Further reading
- Bryant, Phyllis Roberts (1946). The New York and Pennsylvania Railroad. M.A. thesis, Cornell University.
- Wilcox, S.D. (April 1926). "How a Community Saved a Railroad". American Business. Citation. Main figures are Harry L. Somers, pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Canisteo, and Guy M. Beasor, General Manager of the New York and Pennsylvania Railroad. Both described as "Canisteo men". United States Chamber of Commerce.