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Timeline of the New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway

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This is a timeline of the New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway and its direct predecessors. It also contains important events which impacted the railroad such as panics and other nearby railroads' major events.

Railroad name abbreviations

[edit]
NYSW = New York, Susquehanna and Western USRA = United States Railroad Administration
NJH&D = New Jersey, Hudson and Delaware ERIE = Erie Railroad
NYOM = New York and Oswego Midland Railroad L&NE = Lehigh and New England Railroad
NJW = New Jersey Western EL = Erie Lackawanna
SVRR = Sussex Valley Railroad CNJ = Central Railroad of New Jersey
NJM = New Jersey Midland Railway LASB = Lackawaxen and Stourbridge Railroad
NYOW = New York, Ontario and Western Railway DO = Delaware Otsego
DL&W = Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad MCC = Morris County Central
PRR = Pennsylvania Railroad NS = Norfolk Southern
SCRR = Susquehanna Connecting Railroad D&H = Delaware and Hudson Railway
WB&E = Wilkes Barre and Eastern Railroad SIRY = Staten Island Railway
MUWGRR = Middletown, Unionville and Water Gap Railroad L&HR = Lehigh and Hudson River Railway

Timeline

[edit]
  • 1832
    • March 8: The state of New Jersey charters a railroad, its fifth, based on Sullivan's 1828 survey route across the state: The New Jersey, Hudson, and Delaware[3][5][6]
  • 1857
    • Panic of 1857; NJH&D can't get together enough money and sells its charter to the Pennsylvania Coal Company.[3][10]
  • 1868
    • NYOM begins work eastward in New York state; it has no charter to build in New Jersey[14][15]
  • 1869
    • April 1: Hudson Connecting Railroad chartered[11]
    • NJW begins building both east and west from a junction with the Erie Railroad in the Spring from Hawthorne, just across the Passaic River from Paterson. Cornelius Wortendyke is in charge.[3][16][17][18]
  • 1870
    • The New Jersey Western Railway becomes the New Jersey Midland Railway. This consolidates NJH&D, NJW, SVRR, Hoboken Ridgefield & Paterson, Hudson Connecting Railway.[3][19][18]
    • December 20: the first locomotive runs on the NJM: 'Passaic' built by Rogers in Paterson[20]
  • 1871
    • NJM completes west to Butler, first train April 27[21][3]
    • July 1: NJM begins 99-year lease of Middletown, Unionville & Water Gap Railroad, to connect with NYOM[22]
  • 1880
    • New Jersey Midland Railway reorganized out of receivership as the New Jersey Midland Railroad. Wortendyke and Littlejohn are out, Garrett Hobart is in as president.[32][33]
    • The New York and Oswego Midland Railroad is reorganized out of bankruptcy as the New York, Ontario and Western Railway[34]
  • 1881
    • Each new extension of the railroad is another company: Paterson Extension Railroad, Midland Connecting Railway, New York and Scranton Construction Company in New Jersey, Pennsylvania Midland Railway in Pennsylvania[35][36]
    • June 10 - July 1: NJM, Paterson Extension Railroad, Midland Connecting Railway, North Jersey Railroad, Water Gap Railroad, Pennsylvania Midland Railway all reorganize together as the first corporate incarnation of the New York, Susquehanna and Western Railroad.[37][38]
    • Sussex Railroad taken over by the DL&W[39]
    • NYSW builds at least from Beaver Lake to Branchville Junction/Warbasse/Hyper Humus[40]
    • Frederic A. Potts is the first NYSW president[41][42]
  • 1883
    • Blairstown Railway bought; the companies reorganize as second corporate incarnation of the New York, Susquehanna and Western Railroad[49][44]
  • 1885
    • July 13: Passaic and New York Railroad (The Passaic branch) chartered; begins operating in 1886[50][51] and would last until 2020[52]
  • 1890
    • Simon Borg replaces Charles Mercer Heald as NYSW President[53]
  • 1891
    • The shops at Wortendyke are destroyed by fire; they are rebuilt in 1892[54][55]
  • 1893
    • The Panic of 1893: NYSW reorganizes its subsidiaries into the parent company, keeping the NYSW Railroad name; the third corporate incarnation of the railroad.[60][61]
  • 1894
    • The western end of the NYSW is cut back from Gravel Place to Stroudsburg[62]
  • 1895
    • Amos Lawrence Hopkins replaces Simon Borg as NYSW President[53]
  • 1897
    • November 25: The Susquehanna Connecting Railroad is completed[63]
  • 1898
    • In January, J.P. Morgan's co. begins buying NYSW stock for the Erie Railroad. In February, Erie Leases the NYSW. In July it begins control until 1940.[65][32][66]
    • Eben B. Thomas replaces Amos Lawrence Hopkins as NYSW president[67]
  • 1902
    • A fire in NYSW main office destroys corporate records[69]
  • 1913
    • Lease of MUWGRR given up[22]
  • 1923
    • Recovering from USRA WWI operations, NYSW posts $5.5M gross earnings, the most it had ever done, but expenses pile up[72][32]
  • 1926
    • John J. Bernet replaces Frederick Underwood as NYSW president[68][73]
    • September 2: Kingston, Pennsylvania, western terminal of WB&E; terminal building sold due to lack of traffic[72]
  • 1929
    • May 27: Charles E. Denney replaces John J. Bernet as NYSW president[74]
    • October: The great stock market crash begins The Great Depression
  • 1936
  • 1939
    • March 25: the last Wilkes Barre & Eastern train runs. The line is abandoned that year.[74][76][66]
  • 1940
    • March: Erie control of NYSW ends[66][76]
    • NYSW opens a joint office with NYOM in Manhattan[76]
    • Walter Kidde buys the ACF Streamliners for the NYSW, and service between Paterson and New York City begins[76]
  • 1941
    • The western end of the NYSW is cut back again; to Hainesburg from Stroudsburg[76]
    • NYSW gets its first diesels, an order of ALCO RS-1s and ALCO S2s[76]
  • 1943
    • Walter Kidde dies, Henry K. Norton is installed to replace him as the new trustee[76]
  • 1947
    • Last steam locomotive operations on NYSW[77]
  • 1951
    • NYSW buys stainless passenger coaches[76]
  • 1953
    • The courts declare the NYSW reorganized, now-former-trustee Henry K. Norton becomes railroad president[76][78]
  • 1958
    • NYSW financial difficulties; Stainless coaches bought just a few years before are sold off and fewer trains run overall[76]
    • NYS&W abandons the Hanford Branch[76]
  • 1959
    • June 21: the last Sunday passenger train runs[86]
  • 1960
    • The Paterson City branch is sold to the City of Paterson[84]
    • Passenger service eastern terminus moves from Jersey City to Susquehanna Transfer after the EL merger[87]
    • June: Interchange partner L&NE files for abandonment[88]
  • 1961
    • October 31: The last Lehigh and New England freight train over the NYSW; L&NE is shortly abandoned and NYSW loses its westernmost connection.[66][76][88]
  • 1962
    • Real estate developer Irving W. Maidman buys control of NYS&W and replaces Ralph E. Sease as railroad president[76]
    • Three EMD GP18s are ordered with a government loan; NYSW takes delivery in August. They have a new "yellowjacket" paint scheme which the railroad would use from then on for its freight operations[66][76][89]
    • August 30: the last train runs west of Sparta Junction; operations now confined between Butler and Little Ferry[90][91]
  • 1963
    • February: A 9-to-0 US Supreme Court ruling keeps passenger service going on the NYSW[92][93]
  • 1966
    • June 30: The last NYSW commuter train runs with one day's notice to customers. Railroad president Irving Maidman previously offered passengers $1000 each to stop riding. 95 years of passenger service ends.[95][76][96]
    • Irving Maidman petitions to have NYSW included in the Penn Central merger[97]
  • 1970
    • June 21: Penn Central files for bankruptcy[101]
  • 1971
    • Tropical Storm Doria hits New Jersey exceptionally hard, causing a washout near the Smoke Rise entrance grade crossing. This severs the NYSW interchange with CNJ at Green Pond Junction, which the CNJ subsequently abandons[76]
  • 1974
    • May: Poughkeepsie Bridge burns, changing how trains would be routed in the area[104]
    • The Morris County Central (MCC) railroad begins running tourist trains over the 1971-washout-isolated section of NYSW track, basing operations at Newfoundland[105]
  • 1980
    • September 2: Delaware Otsego Corporation takes over NYSW for $5 Million after the State of New Jersey asks them to bid on the railroad. With Walter Rich as president, the New York, Susquehanna and Western Railroad becomes NYS&W Railway Corporation, the fourth corporate incarnation of the railroad.[91][66]
    • October 31: A "Rededication Train" runs, with the mayor of Hawthorne even rechristening the railroad[108]
    • NYSW has 70 shippers and DO-run NYSW runs 8000 carloads in their first year of operations[109]
    • MCC ends its tourist operations on the NYSW[105]
  • 1982
    • DO buys 157 miles of track in NY State, former DL&W; the new Northern Division.[110] Closing on the properties is April 16, with the first train running the next day.[111]
    • DO buys 200 miles of trackage rights over former Erie from Conrail[112]
    • DO acquires the Pompton Branch and 13 miles of Conrail-half-embargoed L&HR from Sparta, New Jersey, to Franklin[104][109]
    • Three used ALCOs 2000, 2002, 104 bought for locomotive power on the new Northern Division. GP18 1804 sent north as well[113]
    • Passenger excursions begin on the Northern Division; they would run for two years[114]
    • NYSW buys five ALCO C430s from Conrail - 3000-3008 (evens) - ex New York Central[115]
  • 1983
    • A year-long project begins to bring Utica line up to 40 MPH standards[114]
  • 1984
    • Sea-Land signs a 20-year lease on 22 acres in Little Ferry, selects C&O, D&H, NYSW to run trains[116]
  • 1985
    • DO buys the Staten Island Railway[117]
    • DO buys just over 9 mi of Conrail-abandoned L&HR[118]
    • March: NYSW operations begin along Sparta Junction to Warwick section after DO reopens abandoned track from Franklin to Warwick[118]
    • August 4: First NYSW Sea-Land intermodal train from Binghamton to Little Ferry[119]
  • 1986
    • NYSW begins to reopen the original main line in the Spring[120][108]
    • Conrail signals its intent to raise haulage rates, DO rehabs the NYSW main instead of paying more to them [121]
    • A new connection is built at Sparta Junction between the NYSW and former L&HR. A new simpler connection at Maybrook is planned to simplify movements there[121]
    • The first of several used EMD SD45s are bought for container train service[119]
    • October 15: The first train using the new rehabbed main runs.[122]
  • 1987
    • Conrail rehabs the former L&HR line from Warwick north[121]
  • 1988
    • The GE Dash 8-40Bs begin to arrive, numbers starting 4002. Leased with CSX-backed financing, they are the first new locomotives since 1962's GP18s. The railroad will eventually have twenty-four of them at peak to assist with the new container traffic.[123]
  • 1999
    • June 1: Conrail is officially broken up between NS and CSX[124]
  • 2007
    • Walter Rich dies and is succeeded as railroad president by Nathan Fenno[125]
  • 2020
    • NYSW formally files for abandonment of the Lodi and Passaic branches[126]
  • 2024
    • Nathan Fenno is succeeded by James Bonner as railroad president[127]




Bibliography

[edit]
  • Lucas, Walter Arndt (1980) [1939]. The History of the New York, Susquehanna and Western Railroad (second ed.). Railroadians of America. LCCN 82163920.
  • Schmitt, James C. (2009). Historic Rails of the New York, Susquehanna & Western Railroad. West Milford, New Jersey: Tinfoil Rose Design, LLC. ISBN 9780615313849.
  • Krause, John; Crist, Ed (1991). Susquehanna: New York, Susquehanna & Western RR. Newton, New Jersey: Carstens Publications. ISBN 9780911868807.
  • Mohowski, Robert E. (2003). The New York, Susquehanna & Western Railroad. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 9780801872228.
  • Karlewicz, Ken; Hartley, Scott (1987). Susquehanna: From Shortlines to Stackpacks. Piscataway, New Jersey: Railpace Company, Inc. LCCN 87020698.
  • Rutan, Dave; Mohowski, Robert E. (2013). Remember the Sussex Branch of the Lackawanna Railroad. Franklin, New Jersey: Dave Rutan. ISBN 9781304169310.
  • Zullig, Walter E., Jr.; Holtz, Albert T. (2009). Susquehanna Trackside 1954-1968. Scotch Plains, New Jersey: Morning Sun Books, Inc. ISBN 9781582484105.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  • Kaminski, Edward S. (2010). New York, Susquehanna & Western Railroad in New Jersey (Images of Rail). Charleston, South Carolina: Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 9780738573670.
  • Drury, George H. (1994). The Historical Guide to North American Railroads: Histories, Figures, and Features of more than 160 Railroads Abandoned or Merged since 1930. Waukesha, Wisconsin: Kalmbach Media. ISBN 9780890240724.
  • Franz, Jon (August 1989). "On The Cover: Morris County Central 2-8-0 #385". Block Line: Tri-State Chapter Newsmagazine. Vol. 16, no. 9. National Railway Historical Society, Tri-State Chapter. Archived from the original on 7 July 2015. Retrieved 26 March 2025.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Lucas (1980), p. 9.
  2. ^ Mohowski (2003), pp. 2, 4.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Krause & Crist (1991), p. 5.
  4. ^ Mohowski (2003), p. 1.
  5. ^ Lucas (1980), pp. 6, 9.
  6. ^ Mohowski (2003), p. 2.
  7. ^ Lucas (1980), p. 10.
  8. ^ Mohowski (2003), p. 4.
  9. ^ Rutan & Mohowski (2013), pp. Introduction, 1.
  10. ^ Mohowski (2003), p. 5.
  11. ^ a b c d Mohowski (2003), p. 6.
  12. ^ Lucas (1980), p. 13.
  13. ^ Lucas (1980), p. 14.
  14. ^ Lucas (1980), p. 19.
  15. ^ Mohowski (2003), p. 10.
  16. ^ a b Schmitt (2009), p. 4.
  17. ^ Lucas (1980), pp. 16, 19.
  18. ^ a b Mohowski (2003), p. 11.
  19. ^ Lucas (1980), pp. 23–24.
  20. ^ Lucas (1980), p. 28.
  21. ^ Lucas (1980), p. 29.
  22. ^ a b Lucas (1980), p. 31.
  23. ^ Lucas (1980), pp. 20, 46.
  24. ^ a b Mohowski (2003), p. 17.
  25. ^ Lucas (1980), p. 48.
  26. ^ Lucas (1980), pp. 47, 49.
  27. ^ Mohowski (2003), p. 18.
  28. ^ Lucas (1980), p. 49.
  29. ^ Lucas (1980), p. 50.
  30. ^ Lucas (1980), p. 58.
  31. ^ Mohowski (2003), p. 21.
  32. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Krause & Crist (1991), p. 6.
  33. ^ Mohowski (2003), p. 23.
  34. ^ Mohowski (2003), p. 20.
  35. ^ Lucas (1980), pp. 68–70.
  36. ^ Mohowski (2003), pp. 23, 26.
  37. ^ Lucas (1980), pp. 70–72.
  38. ^ Mohowski (2003), pp. 27–28.
  39. ^ Rutan & Mohowski (2013), p. Introduction.
  40. ^ Rutan & Mohowski (2013), p. 63.
  41. ^ Lucas (1980), pp. 72, 178.
  42. ^ Mohowski (2003), pp. 20, 25.
  43. ^ Lucas (1980), p. 85.
  44. ^ a b Mohowski (2003), p. 30.
  45. ^ Lucas (1980), p. 73.
  46. ^ Lucas (1980), p. 84.
  47. ^ Mohowski (2003), p. 36.
  48. ^ 85 FR 86974
  49. ^ Lucas (1980), pp. 85–86.
  50. ^ Lucas (1980), p. 86.
  51. ^ a b Mohowski (2003), p. 38.
  52. ^ 85 FR 86974
  53. ^ a b c Lucas (1980), p. 178.
  54. ^ Lucas (1980), pp. 90–91.
  55. ^ Mohowski (2003), p. 40.
  56. ^ a b Mohowski (2003), p. 47.
  57. ^ Lucas (1980), p. 91.
  58. ^ Lucas (1980), pp. 91, 100.
  59. ^ Mohowski (2003), pp. 42, 44.
  60. ^ Lucas (1980), p. 93.
  61. ^ Mohowski (2003), pp. 29, 47.
  62. ^ Mohowski (2003), p. 43.
  63. ^ a b c d Lucas (1980), p. 101.
  64. ^ Mohowski (2003), p. 46.
  65. ^ Lucas (1980), pp. 8, 101.
  66. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Karlewicz & Hartley (1987), p. 21.
  67. ^ Lucas (1980), pp. 109, 178.
  68. ^ a b Lucas (1980), pp. 113, 178.
  69. ^ Lucas (1980), p. 8.
  70. ^ Mohowski (2003), p. 59.
  71. ^ Mohowski (2003), pp. 113–114.
  72. ^ a b Lucas (1980), p. 113.
  73. ^ Krause & Crist (1991), p. 8.
  74. ^ a b c d Lucas (1980), p. 114.
  75. ^ Lucas (1980), pp. 114, 115.
  76. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t Krause & Crist (1991), p. 7.
  77. ^ Krause & Crist (1991), p. 11.
  78. ^ Zullig & Holtz (2009), p. 8.
  79. ^ Mohowski (2003), p. 165.
  80. ^ Zullig & Holtz (2009), p. 16.
  81. ^ Lucas (1980), p. 157.
  82. ^ Zullig & Holtz (2009), p. 4.
  83. ^ Zullig & Holtz (2009), p. 24.
  84. ^ a b Lucas (1980), p. 153.
  85. ^ Drury (1994), p. 215.
  86. ^ Zullig & Holtz (2009), p. 39.
  87. ^ Lucas (1980), pp. 167, 183.
  88. ^ a b Mohowski (2003), p. 170.
  89. ^ Zullig & Holtz (2009), p. 90.
  90. ^ Mohowski (2003), p. 171.
  91. ^ a b c d Lucas (1980), p. 158.
  92. ^ Zullig & Holtz (2009), p. 59.
  93. ^ NEW JERSEY v. NEW YORK, S. & W. R. CO., 372 U.S. 1 (1963)
  94. ^ Hartley, Scott (January 1988). "Regionals In Review - The Delaware Otsego Story". Trains. Vol. 48, no. 3. Kalmbach Publishing. pp. 28–41. Retrieved October 8, 2024.
  95. ^ Lucas (1980), p. 156.
  96. ^ Zullig & Holtz (2009), p. 12.
  97. ^ "Suskie to Be Key Link In Railroad Merger". The Jersey Journal. Vol. 99, no. 305. April 29, 1966. p. 20. Retrieved October 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  98. ^ Drury (1994), p. 248.
  99. ^ "Susquehanna Withdraws Demand For Merger With Penn Central". The News. Vol. 73. March 17, 1969. p. 4. Retrieved October 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  100. ^ Kaminski (2010), p. 115.
  101. ^ Charlton, Linda (June 22, 1970). "PENN CENTRAL IS GRANTED AUTHORITY TO REORGANIZE UNDER BANKRUPTCY LAWS". New York Times.
  102. ^ "ERIE-LACKAWANNA RAILROAD". Encyclopedia of Cleveland History. Case Western Reserve University. Retrieved 30 January 2025.
  103. ^ "ERIE-LACKAWANNA, INC". Encyclopedia of Cleveland History. Case Western Reserve University. Retrieved 30 January 2025.
  104. ^ a b Karlewicz & Hartley (1987), p. 60.
  105. ^ a b Kaminski (2010), p. 108.
  106. ^ Karlewicz & Hartley (1987), p. 18.
  107. ^ a b Franz (1989), p. 3.
  108. ^ a b Zullig & Holtz (2009), p. 121.
  109. ^ a b Karlewicz & Hartley (1987), p. 24.
  110. ^ Karlewicz & Hartley (1987), pp. 25, 60.
  111. ^ Karlewicz & Hartley (1987), p. 28.
  112. ^ Karlewicz & Hartley (1987), p. 25.
  113. ^ Karlewicz & Hartley (1987), p. 29.
  114. ^ a b Karlewicz & Hartley (1987), p. 32.
  115. ^ Karlewicz & Hartley (1987), p. 36.
  116. ^ Karlewicz & Hartley (1987), p. 64.
  117. ^ Karlewicz & Hartley (1987), p. 54.
  118. ^ a b Karlewicz & Hartley (1987), pp. 60–61.
  119. ^ a b Karlewicz & Hartley (1987), p. 65.
  120. ^ Karlewicz & Hartley (1987), p. 61.
  121. ^ a b c Karlewicz & Hartley (1987), p. 68.
  122. ^ Karlewicz & Hartley (1987), p. 73.
  123. ^ "No Odd Dash 8-40Bs for New York, Susquehanna & Western". Model Railroad News. Bucklin, Missouri: Whiteriver Productions. 7 May 2021. Retrieved 31 January 2025.
  124. ^ "Conrail Chugs Off Into the Sunset; CSX and Norfolk Southern Take Over". The New York Times. 1 June 1999.
  125. ^ "New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway Corporate Directory". New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway, Inc. Cooperstown, NY: Inrail. 2007. Archived from the original on 17 December 2007. Retrieved 25 February 2025.
  126. ^ 85 FR 86974
  127. ^ Stephens, Bill (14 May 2024). "NYS&W names short line exec James Bonner as its next president". Trains Magazine. Waukesha, Wisconsin: Firecrown Media. Retrieved 25 February 2025.
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