- New York State Railways
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New York State Railways Locale Upstate New York Dates of operation 1909–1941 Successor New York Central Railroad Track gauge 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) (standard gauge) For the former streetcar company in Manhattan, see New York Railways.New York State Railways was a grouping of several large city streetcar and electric interurban systems in upstate New York. It included the city transit systems in Rochester, Syracuse, Utica, Oneida and Rome, plus various interurban lines connecting those cities.
The company was formed in 1909 when the New York Central Railroad (NYC) consolidated its previously purchased (in 1905) Rochester Railways, serving that city, with the Rochester and Eastern Rapid Railway and Rochester & Sodus Bay interurban companies. In 1912 it added the Rochester & Suburban Ry., the Syracuse Rapid Transit Railway, the Oneida Railway, and the Utica & Mohawk Valley Ry. In effect, the big steam railroad system (NYC) was able to monopolize local and intercity passenger business along its Mohawk Valley mainline.
Contents
History
New York State Railways - A cool ride in June 1923
In June 1920, the total value of the New York State Railway Corporation franchise in Syracuse as determined by the New York State Tax Commission was $2,320, down from $2,407,000 in 1919.[1]
Patronage on the streetcar and interurban lines declined in the 1920s, thanks to autos, buses, and paved roads — but the electric utilities owned by the company grew. As a result, in 1928 the New York Central sold its control of the New York State Railways system to what became the Associated Gas & Electric Co.
Receivership
Shortly after the transaction, the stock market crashed, and on December 30, 1929, the company was put into receivership. Afterward the interurban routes were abandoned along with many unprofitable city and suburban routes.
New York State Railways emerged from receivership in 1934, and gradually the remaining core city lines were sold as separate operations. The Rochester lines became Rochester Transit Co. in 1938, Syracuse Transit Corp. took over that system in 1939, and, finally, the Utica lines were reorganized in 1948. During this period all remaining streetcar lines were converted to bus. Rochester's last city streetcar ran March 31, 1941, and its unusual subway line ceased in 1956. Syracuse's streetcar service ended January 4, 1941, and Utica's on May 12, 1941.
Chronology
The story up to date with the present public agencies now operating in former N.Y.State Rys. territory.
Rochester
Rochester-Genesee Regional Transportation Authority (Rochester) Regionally owned since 1968
- 1868-1890 - Rochester City & Brighton Railroad
- 1890-1909 - Rochester Railway Co.
- 1904-1912 - Rochester & Eastern Rapid Railway[2]
- 1906-1930 - Rochester, Syracuse & Eastern Railroad[2]
- 1909-1928 - New York State Railways
- 1928-1935 - New York State Railways (Associated Gas & Electric Co.)
- 1935-1938 - New York State Railways
- 1923-1932 - operated trolleybuses
- 1938-1968 - Rochester Transit Co.
- 1941 - streetcars discontinued except for the Subway (Route 25)
- 1956 - passenger service ends on the Subway (Route 25)
Syracuse
CNY Centro, a subsidiary of the Central New York Regional Transportation Authority (Syracuse) Regionally owned since 1972
- 1859-1896 - several companies
- 1896-1905 - Syracuse Rapid Transit Co.
- 1905-1910 - Mohawk Valley Co.
- 1910-1928 - New York State Railways
- 1928-1935 - New York State Railways (Associated Gas & Electric Co.)
- 1935-1939 - New York State Railways
- 1939-1972 - Syracuse Transit Co.
- 1941 - streetcars discontinued
Oneida
Oneida County Rural Transit (Oneida) Regionally owned
- 1885-1909 - Oneida Railway
- 1909-1928 - New York State Railways
- 1928-1930 - New York State Railways (Associated Gas & Electric Co.)
1930 - streetcars discontinued - Period of no transit service
Rome
Centro of Oneida, a subsidiary of the Central New York Regional Transportation Authority (Utica-Rome) Regionally owned since 2005
- 1885-1907 - Rome City Street Railway
- 1907-1909 - Utica & Mohawk Valley Railway
- 1909-1928 - New York State Railways
- 1928-1933 - New York State Railways (Associated Gas & Electric Co.)
- 1933-1947 - Copper City Bus Line
- 1947-1959 - Rome City Bus Line
- 1965-2005 - VIP Transportation (city owned)
1933 - streetcars discontinued - Period of no transit service
Utica
Centro of Oneida, a subsidiary of the Central New York Regional Transportation Authority (Utica-Rome) Regionally owned since 2005
- 1864-1868 - Utica & Westerville Railroad Co.
- 1868-1886 - Utica Clinton & Binghamton Railway Co.
- 1886-1901 - Utica Belt Line Street Railroad
- 1901-1909 - Utica & Mohawk Valley Railway
- 1909-1928 - New York State Railways
- 1928-1935 - New York State Railways (Associated Gas & Electric Co.)
- 1935-1948 - New York State Railways
- 1948-1965 - Utica Transit Corp.
- 1965-1974 - Utica Transit Commission (city-owned)
- 1974-2005 - Utica Transit Authority (regional authority)
1941 - streetcars discontinued
References
- ^ "Few Changes Noted in Values of Franchises". Syracuse Herald (Syracuse, New York). June 18, 1920.
- ^ a b New York's Interurban Electric Trolley Cars
Categories:- Defunct New York railroads
- Interurban railways in New York
- Defunct railroads in Syracuse, New York
- Railway companies established in 1909
- Railway companies disestablished in 1941
- Streetcars in New York
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