News items about the Allegany Central Railroad. Submitted by Richard Palmer, with our thanks.
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Cuba Evening Review
November 12, 1881
The Allegany Central railroad between Angelica and Friendship is nearly graded. The graders are now at work about one mile beyond Friendship.
Cuba Evening Review
Wednesday, November 23, 1881
People begin to think that it would not be out of place to take out a $20,000,000 policy on their lives before attempting a journey on the famous Allegany Central railroad. The cars used have the most novel manner of getting sick of the journey and turning around sideways or taking to the public road or canal or rolling down some steep embankment. Monday morning as train 5 approached Portville the baggage car trotted off the track and continued its journey on the canal tow-path. No one was injured.
Cuba Evening Review
Thursday, November 24, 1881
Last Monday afternoon as two ladies were driving along near Richburg their horse became frightened (and why wouldn’t it) at a train of cars which was running on the Allegany Central railroad. The horse backed the carriage off an embankment, overturning it and piling the occupants in a miscellaneous heap beneath. The train was moving at its usual slow gait and several gallant gentlemen alighted and rescued the endangered females. It is a good thing that they don’t run fast on that road.
Cuba Evening Review
Saturday, December 3, 1881
Workmen commenced laying the rails of the Allegany Central railroad, at this point, toward Angelica, on Tuesday afternoon. Soon the iron horse will be whirling into that pleasant village, and beyond, as the track is now graded into the town of Birdsall and will soon be completed to Swains.
Cuba Evening Review
Saturday, December 31, 1881
The rails on the railroad to Angelica were laid into that township last Monday They were laid below the transit where the railroad crosses the Genesee river yesterday morning. It is expected that on Monday next the rails will be laid into the village of Angelica.
Cuba Evening Review
January 2, 1882
Coaches on the Allegany Central railroad still continue to jump the track. No serious accidents have happened, however.
A new timetable goes into effect on the Allegany Central railroad today. The track is completed to Angelica and hereafter trains will run through regularly to the latter place. The recent heavy rains made sad havoc with railroads in some parts of the country. On the Allegany Central a gang of men were kept constantly repairing.
Cuba Evening Review
Wednesday, January 11, 1882
Angelica’s New Railroad
The first train on the extension of the Allegany Central railroad between Angelica and Friendship went over the line Monday afternoon. It reached Angelica about two o’clock in the afternoon and was greeted with enthusiasm by the natives.
Every window was full of wondering individuals. Children and grandparents climbed up on stumps to get a better view of the wonderful machine, while a few of the braver class approached the smoking engine and gave it a thorough examination. The old cannon was brought out and after being loaded to the muzzle was let lose, the noise carrying glad tidings to the natives of the hitherto isolated hamlet.
The church bells were rung, dispatches sent to the leading towns of the State, and a day of general rejoicing was celebrated by all Angelicans. The train, which consisted of two passenger cars and two flat cars, was loaded down long before it was ready to return to Friendship, and hundreds were left behind, not being able to get aboard.
The people of Angelica are now perfectly hoot, We extend to the resurrected village our warm congratulations, and many she “live long and prosper.”
Hornellsville Tribune
January 13, 1882
An old farmer named Perry Wilbur becoming angry at the Allegany Central railroad company because it refused to grant some demand he had made, Tuesday afternoon. He and his son, Milton, tore up several rails near his farm between Ceres and Little Genesee. Charlie Wagner’s freight train was approaching the place of danger, when a trackman who had observed the state of affairs was seen by the engineer gesticulating for him to stop. The train was brought to a stand-still in time to prevent a disastrous wreck. The farmer has been arrested.
Hornellsville Weekly Tribune
January 27, 1882
The Wilburs, who tore up a part of the track on the Allegany Central railroad, claim they acted upon the advice of the counsel, and after duly notifying the company, did their work legally,
Hornellsville Weekly Tribune
February 3, 1882
The point at Belvidere whee the Alegany Central is to erect its depot is about half a mile from the Erie depot. As the Erie road is not passionately fond of the Central the transportation of freight from the Central to the Erie will necessarily be attached with many disadvantages.
The Allegany Central Railroad is completed Angelica, N.Y., nine miles beyond Friendship, the recent terminus making it about thirty miles long from Olean.
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Allegany Republican, Angelica, N.Y.
Friday, February 17, 1882
OUR RAILROAD MATTERS
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THE GRADING FINISHED AND ALL
THE IRON BOUGHT.
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A GRIST OF INTERESTING ITEMS
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For the pleasure of our readers we have been to the pains to glean the following items of information regarding the Allegany Central railroad. First in order we will give the names of the officials of the Company:
President - Frank S. Smith, Angelica.
Vice Pres. - Archer N. Martin, New York City.
Sec. and Treas. C. E. Kimball, N.Y.
Gen. Manager - Geo. D. Chapman, Angelica
Auditor - M. S. Blair, Angelica; assistants, H. H. Abbott, late of the Sciota Valley R.R. at Columbus, Ohio; and John Hancock.
Time Keeper - Thos. Lampson; at the Auditor’s office.
Chief Engineer - J. S. Peter, Jr., of Avon; office at Angelica.
Draughtsman - E. Greude, Bradford; in Engineer’s office.
Supt. of Construction - E. A. Drake, of Bradford; headquarters Angelica.
Superintendent of Trains - W. O. Chapman, late of the Sciota Valley R.R., Columbus, Ohio; office at Friendship.
Gen. Pass. Agt. - Phil. W. Coyle, late of the Erie R.R. at Belvidere; office at Friendship.
Road Master - A. M. Hutchinson, at Olean.
Train Dispatcher - L. C. Siggins, Bolivar.
Station Agents - Olean, E. M. Ketchum; White House, E. Z. Peckham; Junction, R. P. Howe; Ceres, W. R. Chase; Little Genesee, G. F. McCarn; Bolivar, J. M. Homer; Riochburg, E. Woolcott; Friendship, R. V. Scot; Belvidere, A. E. Williams; Wigwam, T. J. Clark; Angelica, F. H. Farquharson.
Conductors - H. Corwin, C. G. Kingen, Jas. King, Dan. Wing, Sam’l Dennison, Chas. Warner
Engineers - George E. Brown, Frank Steele, Pat Sullivan, Charley Evans, Geo. Marshall, Frank Manson.
NOTES.
We have noticed certain communications and editorial flings in county papers, tending to create a feeling of jealousy and ill-will in Friendship against Angelica. Among other things it has been said that Angelica has furnished most of the employees on the line of this road. Grave and startling information. But to begin with we rise to inquire - Whose business is it if she has? And what do you propose to do about it, anyway? And what town has a better right to be represented?
But as a matter of fact, there is not so much as one solitary Angelica man employed on any train or at any depot, or in any capacity whatever along the entire completed line of the Allegany Central Railroad.
That pretty effectually covers this alarming change, that Angelica has spread herself out, as it were, along the line of this new railway, and now garrisons the several townships on the route preparatory to a political coup d’etat.
The fact is, Angelica has not furnished men to run her own depot - a man is sent up from Friendship even to wipe off the engines and care for them here at night; and another man is sent here to take care of the depot, (both good fellows, and welcome;) and lastly, a Depot Master is sent to Angelica way from Smethport, Pa. And yet we have heard no grumbling in Angelica. It is true that any months ago, at the inception of this revived enterprise, a certain gentleman in this community who was entitled to recognition, made application for said position - but he was quite ignored and a stranger preferred. This is the way Angelicans are being called to the front. But we do not hear any growling or complaint. Our citizens have got a railroad, and are happy as clams.
Pay day for this month is not yet given.
Our box cars cary 6 tons; standard 12.
Our cars seat 45 passengers; standard car 60.
The little trains are all running very near on time.
Most of the train-men are old employees from the Erie.
The engine house built here will hold only two engines.
The Company has been fortunate in the choice of officials.
All are glad that Phil Coyle accepted a position on our road.
The locomotives cost about $9,000 apiece; coaches, $3.500.
The Company now owns 4 locomotives, and 9 passenger coaches.
Barbed wire fence is being built along the line quite extensively,
With of narrow gauge, 3 feet; standard gauge, 4 feet, 9 1/2inches.
The past two weeks of Court has made brisk business for the road.
The ground has been dug out for a locomotive and turn-table at Angelica.
Chas. Thomas is in the employ of then Express Companies at Richburg.
Our locomotives weight about 20 tons each; standard, from 30 to 35 tons.
Hand-car No. 1 has arrived at Angelical and will be used on this section.
Several miles of the Olean end of the road has been re-laid with steel rails.
The locomotive whistles continue to be most pleasing echoes in this region.
The new timetable which went into effect this week gives two Sunday trains.
The trestle work over the Erie near Friendship will all be filled in with dirt bye-and-bye.
The work of ballasting up the track and improving the road-bed is continually going on.
One rail weighs 35 lbs. to the yard, and to the mile there is a weight of 123,200 pounds, or about 62 tons.
One of our engines will comfortably pull four loaded box cars or three loaded coaches, over the grades.
Last month Auditor Blair disbursed over $35,000; upwards of $18,000 was on the construction account.
The Railway Office in Angelica is the busiest place in Angelica.
Several car-load of hard and soft coal have been deposited in Angelica, and a regular coal yard will be provides as soon as possible.
There has been some all in the papers about the machine shops being located at Angelica. We have never heard anything about this matter mentioned by the officials. We do not imagine any very extensive repair shops, if any whatever, will be needed by this little road.
Both the United States and American Express Companies are doing business over this road.
The construction gangs have been at work the past few days in widening the deep cut made down by Charles’s.
Tickets good for 500 miles of travel for sale at 15 - averaging 3 cents per mile; good in any direction anywhere on the road till used up.
As will be seen by notice elsewhere, those in Angelica who subscribed for the Road are notified that the certificates for stock will soon be ready for them. The coming season some of the kinks or abrupt curves in the road will probably be improved and to some extent the road straightened, which can be done to advantage at limited expense.
At present there are 10 depot buildings on the line. Box-car only a Wigwam, but it is expected this will become quite an important station, being the natural shipping point for the river region; and it will be he junction of Father Cole’s Pine Creek and Buffalo system when completed.
An independent telegraph line has been run along the entire completed line of the road from Olean to Angelica, for the use of the Company, and is connected by a wire and instrument with the headquarters office of the Company - the entire second floor of the Thomas brick block - thus placing the Officers and their Agents along the line in direct communication.
Of course it was not expected that the road would be over-crowded with business right from the start; but it has realized expectations and the business of the road, in passenger and freight traffic is increasing from month to month, and will be noticeably increased, we judge, when the road is completed so as to give through connection with Rochester.
A. J. Hibbard, Esq., of Angelica, has been selected by Mr. Chapman to do whatever legal work the Company may require, of a local nature, President Smith’s duties having so largely increased that he finds it impossible to attend to many matters of a local nature, such as contesting rights of way, etc. We congratulate Mr. Hibbard on his selection for this, and we doubt not he will prove efficient.
Brown & Lockhart, our popular wholesale manilla paper manufacturers, find the railroad a very great convenience to them . The first day the switch was put in at Joney they received a car-load of rope of 16 tons, which was unloaded and stored by their mill, the same day. It would have been a five days’ job to have hauled the same from Belvidere. They have tis far received and shipped over 200 tons of freight over the road, including 100 tons of soft coal, which they are now burning as a sample.
Regular fare between Angelica and Olean is $1.10, Angelica and Belvidere, 25 cents, Angelica and Richburg 90 cents. And it will be $2.10 from Olean to Swains. The Stations from Angelica Northward will be six, as follows: Baker’s, West Almond, Thompson’s, Birdsall, Garwood’s, Swain’s. And the fare will be, to Baker’s, 10 cents; to West almond 20 cents; Thompson’s, 40 cents; Birdsall, 50 cents; Garwood’s, 70 cents; Swain’s 85 cents. It is 61 miles from Olean to Swains; it is 46 miles from Angelica to Olean, and 15 miles from Angelica to Swains, by our railroad survey. Children not over 5 years old, free; over 5 years old, free; over 5 and under 12, half fare.
NOW ON TO BIRDSALL, SWAINS AND ROCHESTER
The rails are at present laid about one mile beyond the depot, where quite an extensive trestle has been built across and along by the side of the creek. This work has been done in a most substantial manner, strong enough to sustain the heaviest standard gauge trains. The Iron has been bought for the entire road and now lays in piles at Friendship and Olean. The work of track-laying was again commenced on Thursday and will be vigorously pushed Northward still Swains is reached.
Mail via Our Railroad
A recent order from postal headquarters has established a new mail role to be known as route No., 6059 which is to run between Olean and Angelica, vis Weston’s Mills, Portville, Ceres, Little Genesee, Bolivar, Richburg, Wirt, Nile, Friendship and Belvidere. This new order goes into effect on the 23rd inst. we understand.
Get Ready to Pay Your R. R. Subscriptions
The Allegany Central Railroad has become a thing certain and the Company are desirous of receiving as soon as possible, the amount of subscriptions pledge for the construction of the Road. Certificates of stock, as per agreement will e ready for delivery to the several subscriptions on and after Feb. 25, 1882. Any persons desiring any information relative to the matter, and any persons wishing to pay they subscriptions can receive such information from and pay such subscription to A. J. Hibbard, Att’y. at his office in Angelica. ALLEGANY CENTRAL R. R. Co
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Evening Gazette, Port Jervis
Friday, March 10, 1882
A freight engineer on the Allegany Central railroad, while running between Genesee and Bolivar, the other day, left his train behind him, not seeing his mistake until he ran the whole distance. He then backed his engine to the starting point and among the cheers of the spectators coupled with his train. That is about the way they do business on that road.
Hornellsville Weekly Tribune July 7, 1882
The Allegany Central Railroad has been completed to Swains on the Buffalo Division of the Erie, and trains are running regularly. Arrangements have been made for a close connection with Erie trains, No. 7 in the morning going west and No. 12 in the afternoon going east are to stop at swains.
Waverly Advocate
Friday, July 14, 1882
The burglars who blew open the safe in the Allegany Central railroad depot at Friendship Thursday night secured but forty-five dollars for their trouble. The agent had removed $440 from the safe the evening before the burglary.
Cuba Evening Review
Tuesday, July 18, 1882
Twenty carloads of cheese passed over the alleging Central railroad last Friday, from Angelica and Friendship, bound for Olean.
An excursion to Portage bridge is to be furnished by the Allegany Central Railroad next Sunday. The train starts from Olean at 5 a.m., and will leave Bolivar at 6 a.m. The excursion will reach Portage at 9 a.m., giving the passengers six hours to view the wonders of nature in that locality. Tickets for the round trip will be sold at two dollars each.
Hornellsville Weekly Tribune
November 3, 1882
The new oil refinery now in course of erection near the Allegany Central railroad yards at Friendship will employ seventy-five men.
Steuben Advocate, Bath
February 7, 1883
Angelica. N.Y., Feb. 5 - One of the Allegany Central railroad bridges near here, and one just out of Olean have been swept away by the floods. The running of trains has been discontinued temporarily.
Cuba Patriot
Friday, February 23, 1883
The Lackawanna Road in Allegany County
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It was last week announced as finally settled that the Lackawanna management had succeeded in perfecting arrangements with the Allegany Central, by which a portion of the latter line was to be made over into a standard gauge and become part of the Lackawanna & Pittsburg line. Particulars of the move have been given.
The Lackawanna & Pittsburg is the name of the company acting in this matter. The project is to build some ten or twelve miles of new road from the present line of the Lackawanna road at Perkinsville, near Dansville, to Swains. From there to Angelica the Allegany Central will be reconstructed into the broader gauge.
From Angelica a new road will be built to a junction with the Genesee Valley Canal road at Rockville, nine miles north of Cuba, and there miles south of Belfast. When that point is reached, a Pittsburg connection is provided over the different consolidated lines of the B., N.Y. & P.
While there may be some failure to finally carry out this project, the prospects now are that nearly or exactly what is indicated will be done. Surveys have been made in advance over both portions of the route to be covered by the new road, and there os probability of work early in the season. The plan involves considerable of advantage to portions of Allegany county.
While Angelica will be specially rejoiced at being put into connection with the rest of the world by an iron highway of standard advantages, she is not the only village to be benefited. It introduces into the county the great Lackawanna system, which has not become one of the trunk lines of the east, with all the benefits which come from such competition.
None can find no fault at the prospect as regards her convenience and interest. It will largely improve the value of the outlet afforded by the Canal route, providing for the village a new line to the east, and will make it in time a station upon the line one of the great coal producing and distributing companies of the country.
Steuben Advocate, Bath
April 25, 1883
The Allegany Central Railroad claims to have doubled its business within a month.
Cuba Patriot
Friday, May 18, 1883
The Lackawanna road commenced running passenger trains from New York to Buffalo on Monday. The length of their route between these two cities is 409 miles. thirteen miles shorter than the Erie and thirty-one miles shorter than the New York Central.
Rochester Democrat & Chronicle
May 29, 1883
Work is progressing rapidly on the Lackawanna & Pittsburg railroad between Angelica and Belfast. The Allegany Central Railroad track from Swains to Angelica will be taken up and replaced by standard gauge track. The Allegany Central railroad will only run from Olean to Angelica after the Lackawanna and Pittsburg is completed.
Canaseraga Times
Friday, June 8, 1883
There are usually no Sunday trains over the Canal road, but a special was run last Sunday for the benefit of several distinguished foreigners - Italian noblemen in the disguise of railroad laborers. The train was composed of one hand car, which was stolen by the travelers from the station in Cuba and run to the end of the section. There was a better one found and a trade made. The trip was continued to Belfast, where a short cut was made across country to the Lackawanna & Pittsburg. Both cars were found tumbled down the embankment.
Havana Journal
Saturday, August 18, 1883
Messrs. Black Brothers, contractors on the Lackawanna & Pittsburg railroad, at Dansville, are carrying over the abyss at Stony Brook Glen, 195 feet above the water, on wire cables, stone weighing from one to three tons, saving to themselves some thousands of dollars in transportation alone.
Canaseraga Times
Friday, September 7, 1883
Several buildings in this village on the proposed line of the Lackawanna & Pittsburg Railroad have been moved this week, as grading operations are going on very near here and the work is moving this way. Some of the iron for the new bridge across the Canaseraga at this point, is already on the ground.
The work of removing the huge stone from the Bennett quarries goes on with vigor, most of them being taken to the great bridge at Stony Brook Glen.
Canaseraga Times
Friday, October 19, 1883
The Bennett House in this village lately purchased by the Lackawanna & Pittsburg Railroad company is to be moved across the street where it will do duty as a depot.
Canaseraga Times
Friday, October 15, 1883
The Bennett house at Canaseraga has been bought by the Lackawanna and Pittsburg Railroad and will be turned into a passenger depot.
Nunda News
Saturday, October 27, 1883
An Elegant Special Railway Train
On Tuesday there was an elegant special train run over the Canal road which attracted much attention along the line. The party consisted of President Jones of the B., N.Y. & P. railroad, Messrs. Seligman, Martin and others of the syndicate, the directors of the company, assistant to the President, Oliver Watson, and general officers of the road.
The Post-Express says: At 2 o’clock, after the lunch at Teall’s, on invitation of President F. S. Smith, of the Allegany Central railroad, they took their special train, composed of a Pullman sleeper, dining-room, baggage and President Jones’ private car, for Portage, where they remained over night. The object of the trip was to make a minute inspection of the several divisions of the B., N.Y,. & P. road. They were accompanied by Supt. Patterson, of this division and Train Master Randall. It was the most elegantly equipped special train that ever left this city on any railroad.
Canaseraga Times
Friday, June 6, 1884
Stony Brook Glen is six miles from Canaseraga. The Lackawanna and Pittsburg Railroad Company has a gang of men busily engaged building stairways &c. into the glen at the upper end, near the bridge.
Abner Rowe has the frame up for his hotel at Stony Brook Glen station.
The glen will be visited by a large number of excursionists this summer.
Canaseraga Times
Friday, November 14, 1884
J.W. Coray, the new station agent for the Lackawanna and Pittsburg railroad company, has moved into the house recently occupied by Mr. Farquarson.
Alfred Sun, Alfred Centre
Thursday, Oct. 22, 1885
Orders have been issued by the receiver of the Lackawanna and Pittsburg Railroad to resume business and commence running trains on Monday last. No trains have been run on the road since the employees struck for six months’ back pay some weeks ago. The men have not been paid, and it was thought trouble would arise, as they would attempt to prevent the running of trains. The suspension of traffic on the road has been a great detriment and has inconvenienced many people.
Cuba Patriot
Thursday, January 14, 1886
Marathon Independent
Wednesday, March 3, 1886
The engine of a way freight on the Lackawanna and Pittsburg Railroad was derailed near Wirt Station, N.Y., on the 25th, and rolled down the embankment fifty feet high. Fireman Charles H. Graham, of Angelica, was crushed under the tender and instantly killed. The engineer jumped from the cab and was not hurt.
Buffalo Evening News
Thursday, July 29, 1886
A Good Appointment
Mr. William Bader, conductor on the Lackawanna, has been appointed general manager of the Lackawanna & Pittsburg Railroad, which intersects the Lackawanna at Wayland. Mr. Badger knows all about railroading, having served in all capacities. As a locomotive engineer he had no superior during the many years he operated that end of the train, while the satisfaction he gave as conductor on the Lackawanna induced Gen. Supt. Halstead to recommend him for the new position, the duties on which he will assume on Aug. 1. Gen. O’Brien, the present manager, retiring on that date.
Elmira Telegram
Sunday, June 17, 1888
Silas Brownson’s Achievement
Wayland, N.Y., June 16 - Silas Wright Brownson, on Sunday last, walked, without a balancing pole,
the narrow hand railing on top of the Lackawanna and Pittsburg Railroad bridge over Stony Brook glen, near Dansville. This bridge is the highest one in the state, being 245 feet above the water. Wright intends to repeat the feat every Sunday.
Cuba Patriot
Thursday, June 28, 1888
Mrs. Ellen Graham of Angelica was awarded las week the sum of $3,833.33 against the Lackawanna and Pittsburg railroad company for the death of her husband, who was killed in a smash up on that road. He was a fireman on the road.
Cuba Patriot
Thursday, May 23, 1889
It is rumored that the Lackawanna and Pittsburg Railroad is making arrangements to run into the Western New York and Pennsylvania depot at Belfast, which will be a great advantage to the traveling public.
Rochester Democrat & Chronicle
January 10, 1893
Trains will soon be running on the old Lackawanna & Southwester railroad from Angelica to Swains. Several new locomotives have been purchased and the road is to be change from narrow to standard gauge. Engineers are now being engaged in the re-surveying the line from Angelica to Olean.
Rochester Democrat & Chronicle
September 2, 1895
A force of men are engaged in tearing up the track of the old Lackawanna & Pittsburg railroad, between Angelica and Belfast. The rails are to be shipped to Olean and White House and are to be used on the narrow gauge division of the Central New York & Western railroad.
Bolivar Breeze
Friday, September 20, 1895
The news comes from Angelica that a force of men is engaged in tearing up the track of the old Lackawanna and Pittsburg Railroad between Angelica and Belfast. The rails are to be shipped to Olean and White House and are to be used on the narrow gauge division of the C.N.Y. & W.
Nunda News
September 18, 1897
Mr. George D. Chapman, formerly a resident of Angelica, who was the originator and builder of the Allegany Central railroad, from Angelica to Olean, its now in Florence, Italy, running a hotel for his mother who resides there.