Auburn and Syracuse Railroad

The Auburn and Syracuse Railroad was incorporated on May 1, 1834,[1] to provide easy access between Syracuse, New York, and the Erie Canal. Construction was begun in 1835, however, was delayed during the Panic of 1837. Although the economic downturn lingered until 1843, the railroad was completed by January 1838.[2]

Auburn and Syracuse Railroad
Overview
LocaleAuburn, New York to Syracuse, New York
Dates of operation1834–1850
SuccessorRochester and Syracuse Railroad
later part of New York Central Railroad
Technical
Track gauge4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge

In August 1850, the Auburn and Syracuse Railroad joined the Auburn and Rochester Railroad to form the Rochester and Syracuse Railroad, which later merged with the New York Central Railroad.

History
See also: Railroads in Syracuse, New York

Syracuse railroad "subscribers" contributed $31,000 to the $400,000 stock authorized in the incorporation articles received on May 1, 1834. Among the 20 investors was Vivus W. Smith, who later was one of the founders of the Syracuse Journal.[3]

Horse drawn

The work had been done "on the cheap", with low quality railbed preparation and wood rails. The Auburn and Syracuse Railroad was opened for business on January 8, 1838, with horse-drawn trains[4] and did not use steam locomotives until the introduction of its first, the Syracuse, on June 14, 1839.[2]

Steam locomotive

Only after the advent of the steam railroad did the train finally arrive in Syracuse. Originally a mill pond on the site of the State Armory, located at the present-day Armory Square on West Jefferson Street, blocked the right of way. Until a trestle was built across the pond, passengers were no longer "forced to find other means" of getting into the village of Syracuse from a temporary station at Geddes.[3]

Auburn road

Known as the Auburn Road (a nickname that later passed to the Rochester and Syracuse Railroad), the company erected a new depot between Salina and Clinton streets in late 1838.[4] Work on the trestle was completed in early 1839 as well as construction of a new railroad station in Downtown Syracuse.[3]

By late 1839, one of the trains achieved the 26 miles (42 km) run in 58 minutes. A year later, in 1840, the event was reported in the Western State Journal[3]

While passenger service constituted the bulk of the company's revenue operations, an arrangement under the existing canal protection laws allowed the Auburn and Syracuse Railroad (A&S) to carry freight as well. In this capacity, it served the Erie Canal rather than competing against it.[2]

Depot

The depot was replaced in 1839 when the depot of the Syracuse and Utica Railroad was ready for use. The depot of the original Auburn Road was not known for either beauty or finish, presenting a "striking contrast to its majestic neighbor across the street."[4]

Rochester and Syracuse railroad
See also: Rochester and Syracuse Railroad

On 1 August 1850, the Auburn and Syracuse Railroad joined the Auburn and Rochester Railroad to form the Rochester and Syracuse Railroad.

New York Central railroad

A weak link in the network of rail lines in New York State, the A&S achieved distinction only in becoming a constituent of one of the world's genuinely significant rail companies, the New York Central Railroad. It was one of eight independent small lines in upstate New York which Erastus Corning, of Albany, saw as the basis of a statewide consolidation.[5] In 1853, this company became part of the New York Central Railroad.

Into the 1940s the New York Central operated at least two passenger trains per day in each direction on the route, with an additional train between Geneva and Syracuse each day except Sundays.[6] The NYC operated one train a day on the route until 1958.[7][8]

Stations served on the route

The following were the stations served on the route in its last years of service:[9]

  • Syracuse (at Syracuse passengers could make connections to other New York Central trains to Boston, New York City and New York's North Country
  • Camillus (westbound only)
  • Martisco (westbound only)
  • Skaneateles Jct.
  • Auburn
  • Cayuga
  • Seneca Falls
  • Waterloo
  • Geneva
  • Oaks Corners (eastbound only)
  • Phelps
  • Clifton Springs
  • Shortsville
  • Chapin
  • Canandaigua
  • Victor
  • Pittsford
  • Rochester

References
  1. Beauchamp, Rev. William Martin (1908). Past and present of Syracuse and Onondaga county, New York. Vol. 1. New York: S.J. Clarke Publishing Co. p. 8. Retrieved January 14, 2012 – via Google Books.
  2. Dunn, Edward T. (2000). A History of Railroads in Western New York. Canisius College Press. p. 4.
  3. "Railroad Lines here in 1839 Merged into Central". Syracuse Journal. Syracuse, New York. March 20, 1939. p. 196 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. "Historical Papers: The Roads of the City". Syracuse Herald. Syracuse, New York. February 6, 1881.
  5. Dann, Mary Hamilton (2001). Rochester and Genesee Valley Rails. Railroad Research Publications. p. 17.
  6. New York Central April 25, 1948 timetable, Table 51 http://streamlinermemories.info/NYC/NYC48-4TT.pdf
  7. New York Central February 16, 1958 timetable, Table 38
  8. New York Central October 10, 1958 timetable
  9. New York Central February 16, 1958 timetable, Table 38
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