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Alive to any kind of means whereby the citizens of Tioga County, Pennsylvania could obtain a safe, reliable and effective mode of transportation for their products, the Tioga Navigation Co. caught the spirit of the hour and obtained from the legislature a supplement to its charter, allowing it to construct a railroad from Blossburg, Pennsylvania, to the state line at Lawrencevile, Pennsylvania, a distance of about twenty five miles, to run parallel with the Tioga River.
Bituminous coal had been discovered in great quantities at Blossburg and the surrounding country. Samples were conveyed to Albany, New York, and examined by the New York Legislature. Its usefulness for blacksmithing and steam generating had been demonstrated. This, in fact, was one of the great levers applied to the New York Legislature to influence it in the passage of the bill for the construction of the Chemung canal and now, when the people of Albany, New York, familiar with the use of coal, a company was formed, prominent among members of which were Erastus corning, to construct a railroad from the head of canal navigation near Painted Post, New York, to intersect the Blossburg Railroad at Lawrenceville. This step on the part of the capitalists of Albany was the initial one in the founding of the new enterprising city of Corning, New York.
The entire line from Corning to Blossburg was completed in 1840. In the year 1852, a railroad was completed from Blossburg to the coat mines at Morris Run, a distance of four miles. The Erie leased the Tioga R.R. in 1855.
Coal was being mined at 2,000 tons per day. The Blossburg Coal Co. was formed August 11, 1866 and almost immediately a contract was entered into by the company with Sherwood & McLean to build a railroad from Blossburg to the companys coal fields, on Johnson Creek, four miles southwest of Blossburg. The road was completed during the summer, a mining town founded and named Arnot.
A company was formed in 18811 named the Arnot and Pine Creek R. R. Co., which constructed a railroad from Arnot to Babbs Creek, fifteen miles distant. It was principally used for lumber, bark and freight. Babbs Creek was later named Hoytville and became the end of the Eries Tioga Division.
The people of Elmira, New York, had long wished for direct railroad communication with the valley of the Tioga and on the 23rd of April 1872, the enterprise took definite shape. The Elmira and State Line Railroad Co. was incorporated to build a railroad from Elmira, New York, to a point about three miles south of Lawrenceville, Pa., which later became Tioga Junction. Enthusiastic meetings were held and speeches made to show the advantages to be derived from the proposed road. Subscriptions were solicited and surveys made. The Tioga Railroad Co. guaranteed the bonds and work, in due time, was commenced. The road was finished in October 1876 and the officers invited a company to celebrate its opening by an excursion from Elmira to Arnot and return. Crowds cheered at all stations. The entire Tioga Railroad systems, together with the Arnot mine was eventually purchased by the Erie R.r. and it became the Eries Tioga Division.
Taken from the Erie Magazine of November 1927, page 20
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Joyce,
You might like to add this to the website on the Tioga
Division. One other historical note is that the line was changed from six
foot broad gauge
to standard four feet- eight and one half inches, in 1876. I also have
an article I am in the process of typing on the opening of the Elmira and
State
Line Railroad that ran from Lawrenceville to Elmira. Richard Palmer
Chenango Weekly Telegraph, Norwich, N.Y., Sat., July 14, 1877
THE COAL REGIONS
Tioga, Tioga Co., Pa., July 4.
Editors Telegraph: - Thinking that
a brief description of this country by a resident of Chenango county
might be of interest to the readers of the Telegraph, I take the liberty
of addressing this communication to you. This is a town of about eight
hundred inhabitants, and for a place the size has many public spirited
men. the greatest feature of the place is Bush's Park, fitted up by Mr.
A.C. Bush, formerly of Bainbridge, N.Y., and a brother of Hon. Joseph Bush
of that place.
Mr. Bush has erected many buildings in the park,
notably among which is a large dining hall and kitchen well stocked with
dishes, &c., for the accommodation of picnic parties from abroad, and
a dancing hall at least 30x100 feet. There is hardly a week passes but
what there are parties from abroad here to enjoy the pleasures of this
park.
There is a very large hotel called the Park House which
cost $40,000. built by a stock company, also many fine brick blocks.
The largest business interests of the place are the tanneries which are
located here and give employment to many workmen; they consume large quantities
of hemlock bark for which they pay five dollars per cord. There is a lively
newspaper published here with a circulation of 1,000 copies weekly, edited
and published by A.H. Bunnell, formerly of Bainbridge. There are many Chenango
county people settled here.
Last Saturday we visited the coal mines at
Arnot, twenty-two miles above here up the Tioga River, which we reached
by the Tioga Railroad. This is where is mined the celebrated Blossburg
coal, semi-bituminous it is called, such as our blacksmiths use. The Tioga
R.R. was the third railroad in the U.S., and was built by the Blossburg
Coal Company for transporting their coal, which at that time was found
at Blossburg; but these mines have been abandoned and mines are now worked
at Fall Brook, Morris Run and Arnot, the most extensively at the latter
place, where we inspected them.
Arnot is a place of about 3,000 inhabitants, built
on a hill or numerous knolls. There are 500 houses, all built by the company
and rented by them to the miners. There is also the company's store and
one other store, and we believe two or three churches. We understand the
minders are mostly Welshmen and Protestants. We entered the principal
mine which goes into the side of the hill, as the coal is in drifts or
mines, being carried in by a mule drawing numerous small cars through a
subterraneous passage about five or six feet high and about the same width
for one-fourth to one-half a mile, and from which there are many passages
leading to other mines or workings.
Arriving near the place where the men were at work,
and where the motive power was left, (the mule) we walked along or nearly
crawled through a small passage, and were surprised to find that the miners
were getting out coal where the space was not over three feet high, and
where they have to almost lay down to pick it down.
The coal is in thin layers or drifts of from 18 inches
to four feet deep. Four tons is an average day's work for a man working
10 hours, and the price paid for mining is 55 cents per ton. The temperature
of the atmosphere in the mines is about 45 degrees, and they are well ventilated,
as there are openings clear through the hill.
The coal is drawn outside the mines by the mules,
where the cars are taken by a small locomotive about a quarter of a mile
to the dump house\par where they are wheeled in by hand, weighed and dumped,
when part of the coal is passed through a sifter and the fine loaded into
cars for blacksmiths' use and the coarser for locomotive and other uses.
It is four miles from Arnot down to Blossburg and the grade
is about 85\par feet to the mile. We rode down in a coach without an engine
at a rapid rate. The regular passenger trains, of the Tioga
R.R., do not run farther than Blossburg, which is a town of about 1,500
inhabitants and as the company's shops are located here and the miners
from the mining towns come down here to trade there is considerable business
done.
Yours truly, K.E.B.
The Elmira State Line and Tioga R.R.
This important narrow and broad gauge road, connecting
Elmira city with the Blossburg coal fields of Tioga, Pa., was formally
opened on the 24th ult., and the event was duly celebrated in a very enthusiastic
manner by a large excursion party consisting of directors, officers, railroad
men, editors, capitalists and other invited guests, who were more than
pleased with the entertainment afforded, and, with the road and its equipments,
and lastly the visit to the extensive coal regions of Pennsylvania.
Too much credit cannot be awarded to Messrs. F.N. Drake, President and
L.H. Shattuck, Supt., and other officers, for the most thorough and
efficient manner in which the enterprise has been carried through to a
successful completion.
The total distance, by this new route, from Elmira
to the coal fields is about 50 miles, and, when we assert that the road
bed, iron bridges, structures, equipment and rolling stock are remarkably
excellent, we would also add we never saw better.
The traffic of this new road, banding the rich and populous
commercial, manufacturing and agricultural region, of Southern New York,
with the mountains of mineral fuel in pennsylvania, must assuredly be immense.
A glance at the map will lead the eye to the allied connection of
this important route, the Utica, Ithaca and Elmira R.R., whose central
position betokens a degree of prosperity, resulting from such connections
that will more than meet the sanguine expectations of the most hopeful.
This connection now being perfected, the long trains of black diamonds
brought to Elmira daily over the State Line, will make their passage
over the summit heights of the U., I.& E. thence to central, eastern
and northern N.Y., the Great Lakes and the New England states where
unequaled markets are for all time assured. Indeed the capacity of both
the State Line and the U., I.& E. must in future be taxed to the fullest
extent to accommodate the developed and growing wants which they
will be required to meet.
If railroad success can be achieved in America, we know
of no more inviting field upon which to base a prediction of success than
the region of country with its varied resources, traversed by the Elmira
& State Line and Tioga, and U., I. & E. Railroads.
For coal traffic they cannot be excelled, and we
firmly believe our prophecy will be fully verified.
Monday, Aug. 10, 1942
Erie Closing Tioga Line Tonight
The last train to serve residents of Pine City, Seeley Creek,
Millerton, Trowbridge and Jackson Summit along the Tioga Division, Erie
Railroad will leave the Erie freight station, Elmira, at 11:30 p.m. today.
The Interstate Commerce Commission a few weeks ago directed that the line
between Elmira and Tioga Junction be discontinued, effective today.
No special observance of the last trip had been planned, it was stated
at the office of the Division Superintendent in Hornell. The rolling stock
will be continued in service, operating between Corning, over the New York
Central Railroad, to Lawrenceville and Tioga Junction, then over Erie right
of way to Tioga, Mansfield, Blossburg, Morris Run and Hoytville.
C. C. Mosher has been the agent at the Seeley Creek and Jackson
Summit stations for several years, commuting by auto. Only two freight
trains-one in each direction-have served patrons of the road several years.
Agent Mosher will be given employment by the company elsewhere, it was
said today.
Removal of the rails, bridges and trestles at Alder Run and
Trowbridge will be started within a few days. The metal will be sold for
scrap. The division once had excellent patronage. That was
back in the horse and buggy days. The coming of the automobile and improved
roads cut passenger patronage until this service was discontinued.
The crews operating the two freight trains will be transferred.
Some of the men may return to the Susquehanna Division.
Freight from Elmira bond for Tioga Junction and other points
south on the Tioga Division will be shipped to Corning, then south via
Lawrenceville to
its destination.
The application to discontinue the line between Hoytville and
Blossburg was not allowed by the ICC.
Now that the last train has run over the Erie Railroad between Elmira and Tioga Junction and the line has been discontinued the following which is taken from an early history may be of interest to Gazette readers.
The people of Elmira had long wished for direct railroad communication with the valley of the Tioga and on the 23rd day of April 1872 the enterprise took a definite shape. At that date the Elmira and State Line Railroad Company was incorporated to build a railroad from Elmira to a point at or near Lawrenceville. Enthusiastic meetings were held in the courthouse in Elmira, speeches were made by General A.S. Diven and others. A committee was appointed to solicit subscriptions, made a survey, etc. The citizens of Elmira responded with alacrity. All necessary steps were finally taken and in due time the work commenced.
The road was finished in October 1876 and the officers invited a company to celebrate its opening by an excursion from Elmira to Arnot and back. The train provided for the accommodation of the excursionists consisted of seven cars.
The road proved to be substantially built well ballast at every point and the cars ran as smoothly over it as on an old road. It is about 19 miles in length. From Elmira it rises by a grade of about 70 feet to the mile to the summit and the descent of 6 miles to Tioga Junction is about 100 feet to the mile. There are two notable iron trestles on the road, one at Alder Run, 732 feet long and 70 feet high and the Stony Fork trestle which is 480 feet long and 50 feet high.
At the various stations along the road there were large assemblages of people and additions to the party. At Arnot coal mines the southwest terminus of the road the whole population turned out to welcome the train, the Arnot Cornet band playing Hail Columbia and other national airs. After spending a short time in examining the coalmines and appliances the excursionists prepared to return.
At Bushs Park in Tioga the party of 400 left the train to partake of the hospitalities which had been provided by A.C. Bush in the park. This park is on the hillside overlooking the beautiful village and the view of the winding waters of the Tioga and the level and fertile lands of the valley was in the soft Autumn sunlight Very beautiful tables were spread in the large dining hall and theatre hall. After dinner the company assembled in a meeting. Hon. A.S. Diven presided and made a short speech. Resolutions were passed complimentary to Mr. Bush who modestly acknowledged the honor. Then followed congratulatory speeches by Fred E. Smith of Tioga, F.N. Drake, president of the Tioga Railroad, Judge Williams of Wellsboro and W.H. Bogart of Aurora, N.Y. The company then adjourned to the cars and were safely returned to their several localities well pleased with the excursion and with the prospects of benefits to be served from the new road by the people of Chemung county, N.Y. and Tioga county, Pa.
The length of the road from State Line Junction, N.Y. to Arnot, Pa.,
is about 50 miles aggregate length of main line branches leased roads sidings
and other track 68 ½ miles. Could the members of the old Tioga Navigation
Company from which the railroad company derived its origin arise and see
the great coal lumber and passenger trains that daily pass over this road
they would be as much astonished as poor Rip Van Winkle after his long
sleep.
______________________
The days of heavy traffic over this road are past and part of the line
abandoned.
But if the members of the old Tioga Navigation Company could arise now
they would find paved highways in place of the old dusty or muddy roads.
They would see many automobiles and trucks of every description passing
by. Large trucks hauling 20 tons over our mountain roads. How astonished
they would be - as much so as if they could have seen the long passenger
and freight trains of 50 years ago.
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