Arcade and Attica Railroad

Last updated
Arcade and Attica Railroad
Aralogo.png
Arcade and Attica No. 110.jpg
The Arcade & Attica's GE 44-ton locomotive.
Overview
Headquarters Arcade, NY
Reporting mark ARA
Locale Wyoming County, New York, USA
Dates of operation1917present
Technical
Track gauge 4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Length14 miles (23 km)
Other
Website http://www.aarailroad.com/
Route map

Contents

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Attica
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Johnsonburg
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North Java
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Java Center
BSicon BHF.svg
Curriers
BSicon BHF.svg
Arcade
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BSicon ABZgl+l.svg
BSicon ENDEeq.svg
BSicon KRWg+l.svg
BSicon KRWr.svg
Buffalo and
Pittsburgh RR
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The Arcade and Attica Railroad( reporting mark ARA) is a shortline railroad that hauls freight between Arcade and North Java, New York. The railroad originally connected Arcade with Attica; however, the right of way from North Java north to Attica was abandoned in 1957 due to flooding on the Tonawanda Creek.

The ARA's main business is handling agricultural products (e.g. soybeans, corn, and fertilizer), lumber, dairy feed, and other commodities between Arcade and North Java.

As of 2024, ARA now uses its newly acquired 1952 RS3m #114 (Formerly WNYP #406) to handle freight runs from Arcade, NY to Reisdorf Brothers feed mill in North Java, NY.

The ARA also runs passenger excursion trains from May to October on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Passengers can ride the 14-mile (23 km) round trip from Arcade to Curriers Station on restored 1920s-era Boonton passenger coaches as well as a covered gondola pulled by one of the vintage Centercab Diesels (#113, built in 1959, and #112, built-in 1945).

However once the railroad's Alco steam locomotive Arcade & Attica 18 returns from a full rebuild, the Centercab diesels from General Electric will take a break from frequent service.

History

Arcade and Attica Railroad
Map of the Arcade and Attica Railroad, highlighting the companies that originally constructed the line

The Arcade and Attica Railroad was the latest in a long succession of railroads planned and built through the Tonawanda Valley in Wyoming County.

In 1836, the Attica and Sheldon Railroad was proposed, but no construction ever took place.

In 1852, the Attica and Alleghany Valley Railroad was incorporated to build a 3 ft (914 mm) narrow-gauge railway from Attica, through Arcade to the Pennsylvania state line. In 1853, the contract was let for construction and most of the road was graded between Attica and Arcade. Construction was discontinued in 1855, and the property was sold at foreclosure on February 2, 1856.

On February 28, 1870, the Attica and Arcade Railroad was organized and began purchasing the right of way with construction of the line scheduled for completion by October 1, 1876. The railroad went bankrupt in 1873, and construction remained uncompleted.

On April 5, 1880, the Tonawanda Valley Railroad was incorporated with major financial backing from the Erie Railroad. The company planned to build a 24 mi (39 km), narrow gauge line from Attica, through Curriers Corners, to Sardinia to connect with the Buffalo, New York, and Pennsylvania Railroad. On September 11, 1880, the first train ran on the line from Attica to Curriers Corners. In October 1880, the Tonawanda Valley Extension Railroad was organized to extend the line from Curriers to Sardinia. By that winter the company changed its decision and began building to Arcade, rather than Sardinia. By May 1, 1881, the line had reached Arcade. On July 14, 1881, the Tonawanda Valley and Cuba Railroad was formed to extend the line from Arcade to Cuba via Sandusky and Rushford. On August 27, 1881, the Tonawanda Valley Railroad, Tonawanda Valley Extension Railroad, and Tonawanda Valley and Cuba were merged into the new Tonawanda Valley and Cuba Railroad. By September 4, 1882, the line was complete between Attica and Cuba. The Company built facilities to transfer to the standard-gauge Erie Railroad in Attica and Cuba. In Cuba, the company made a connection with the Bradford, Eldred and Cuba, another narrow-gauge railroad controlled by the Erie. [1]

By September 1884, the company was defaulting on its bonds, and on November 29, the company was in receivership. The company's situation declined further when Bradford, Eldred, and Cuba went bankrupt. The company struggled until October 30, 1886, when it stopped its service from Cuba to Sandusky. On January 19, 1891, the section from Attica to Freedom was sold to bondholders and in May of that year, the Attica and Freedom Railroad was formed. The line went bankrupt and was sold in April 1894.

On October 13, 1894, the Buffalo, Attica and Arcade Railroad was formed to operate the line. The new management switched the line to standard gauge, and by January 1895, the Attica to Curriers section was operating again. By December of that year, the line was open and running from Attica to Arcade. By December 1897, the company had laid a 2 mi (3.2 km) segment to connect with the Pennsylvania Railroad near Arcade. By January 1902, the company had built a line from Arcade to Sandusky with the ultimate goal of reaching Crystal Lake. In August of that same year, a flood washed out much of the line between Arcade and Sandusky along with the connection to the Pennsylvania RR.

In 1904, the BA&A was sold to the Buffalo and Susquehanna Railroad which connected the BA&A in Arcade. The B&S operated the line until 1913 when it changed to being operated under lease from the Goodyear family by W. L. Kann of Pittsburgh. The railroad lost enough money in such a short time that Kann ended the agreement on his end. By 1916–1917, the foreclosure of the B&S and W&B forced the Buffalo, Attica, and Arcade into abandonment.

On May 23, 1917, the Arcade and Attica (A&A) Railroad was formed by local investors to operate the line. The line had its ups and downs but survived. It had the enviable distinction of not laying off a single employee during the Great Depression. In 1941, the company purchased a 44-ton diesel from General Electric. The diesel was more dependable and much less expensive to operate than the steam locomotives. Many people credit the diesel for preventing the A&A from going bankrupt in 1941. The Arcade and Attica operated a passenger service until 1951 when the Erie stopped providing a service on the Buffalo-Hornell line, including the connection with the A&A in Attica. In 1957, the line was abandoned between Attica and North Java because of severe washouts in the spring of that year.

During the 1960s, the Arcade & Attica struck its mark when Borden's debuted the non-dairy creamer 'Cremora'. The Arcade facility was the sole Cremora production plant in the United States until its closure in 1970. The Arcade & Attica Railroad brought in the raw supplies and shipped out the finished product across the US, its orange and white boxcars becoming iconic in the process.

On May 27, 2017, the railroad held a celebration marking the corporation's centenary. As part of the celebration, steam locomotive No. 18 was turned on the wye to face the railroad south for the first time in its history. Until that weekend, it had always faced north. Other events included speeches at the station, employee photographs, a ribbon-cutting ceremony, and a cake-cutting at the Curriers Depot.

Excursion line

The passenger cars of the Arcade & Attica. Arcade & Attica steam locomotive 1.jpg
The passenger cars of the Arcade & Attica.

Railroad freight traffic started to decline due to advances made by the automobile and trucking industries following World War II, and the Arcade & Attica was no exception. A solution was to purchase a light steam locomotive and a couple of passenger coaches for a tourist excursion service. After a few years of searching, A&A management purchased #18, a 2-8-0 from the Boyne City Railroad in Michigan, and two commuter coaches from the Delaware, Lackawanna, and Western Railroad. For 27 days, the A&A offered passenger excursions in 1962. The following year, #14, a 4-6-0 from the Escanaba and Lake Superior Railroad and more coaches were purchased. Now, the Arcade and Attica runs all six coaches per run with an open-air gondola used by the United States Air Force. In addition to regular seasonal excursion services, the A&A also hold various events that can be read about on their website, such as their annual Maple Run (Sponsored by Charlotte House) which takes riders all the way to the mill at North Java, Murder Mysteries,Train Robberies and World War 2 weekends, which offer unique and interactive experiences. They also offer alcohol themed evening runs on certain weekends (Adults only, obviously.)There has also been a train for the Winterfest town celebration, a low mileage 20-30 minute run with the coaches to the Arcade Junction and back to the Depot. In addition to this, the A&A is usually always able to accommodate special Charter runs, such as the 2023 'Centercab Charter' which functioned as a send-off to the Centercabs retiring from freight with the arrival of RS3m #406/#114.

In 1983, Marty Peters captured #14 crossing Catt. creek. Note the faded coach with the combo Redline/Large font livery. Arcade & Attica 14 1983.jpg
In 1983, Marty Peters captured #14 crossing Catt. creek. Note the faded coach with the combo Redline/Large font livery.

Over the years the A&A coaches have sported four distinct schemes- The iconic orange they wear today, a bare orange scheme with a red stripe near the roof in the 70's ("Redline"), a return to form in the 80's incorporating the large font with the "Redline" scheme, and an era where the coaches were painted a pseudo Pullman Green, due to A&A's involvement in a movie and public opinion.

Combine #301, used in tandem with 302 until passenger service abandonment. Arcade's original combine 1.jpg
Combine #301, used in tandem with 302 until passenger service abandonment.

In many ways, this can be viewed as either a throwback to Arcade's original two combine coaches: 301 and 302; which were kept green all the way from inception to passenger service abandonment, or their original heritage of being Pullman green on the DL&W.

A&A shoving the coaches down by Agway during the 2022 Winterfest train. Arcade and Attica Coaches Winterfest Shove 2022.jpg
A&A shoving the coaches down by Agway during the 2022 Winterfest train.

After the green started to fade from wear and tear, it was decided to go back to the orange that adorned the coaches in the 60's. The font however, is slightly different today.

The gondola has only had a handful of variations through the years but obtained a roof in the mid-2000s to shield folks from rain and/or soot on the return trip to Arcade. Prior to the 'roof era' it appeared with a USAF logo and lettering in its first few years, then a mix of bare wood and black paint; orange in the 70's with black metal ends, and back to bare/black. The railing trim has been both yellow and orange through the years.

Locomotive roster

Arcade and Attica No. 110 Arcade and Attica 110.jpg
Arcade and Attica No. 110
Arcade 111 2023.jpg
112 Taking the Lead Arcade and Attica 112 and 113.jpg
112 Taking the Lead
Arcade and Attica 113 80ton Arcade and Attica 113.jpg
Arcade and Attica 113 80ton
Arcade and Attica 114, Formerly WNYP 406 ARA114 MetalPumpkinLogo.png
Arcade and Attica 114, Formerly WNYP 406
Taken my James Murphy in the 90's, WNYRHS stored SB 77 in Arcade before it was moved to Hamburg South Buffalo 77 on Arcade Wye.jpg
Taken my James Murphy in the 90's, WNYRHS stored SB 77 in Arcade before it was moved to Hamburg

Rolling Stock

Coaches

The "Bar Car" of the 6 coaches, #305 is fitted with a snack bar for mid excursion snacking! Coach 305 "Bar Car" (2022).jpg
The "Bar Car" of the 6 coaches, #305 is fitted with a snack bar for mid excursion snacking!
Coach 306 (2022) Coach 306.jpg
Coach 306 (2022)
James Murphy photographed coach #307 with fresh green paint and lettering in 2008 ARA coach 307 2014.jpg
James Murphy photographed coach #307 with fresh green paint and lettering in 2008
Coach 309 (2023) Coach 309.jpg
Coach 309 (2023)
Older Coach lettering on Coach #310. Photo is credited to Greg Mcdonnell Photo credited to Greg Mcdonnell 2014.jpg
Older Coach lettering on Coach #310. Photo is credited to Greg Mcdonnell
Coach #311 (2023) Coach 311.jpg
Coach #311 (2023)

All of Arcade's tourist era cars are Ex Delaware, Lackawanna & Western "Boonton" style coaches.

Cabooses

Arcade & Attica #303 sports a fresh orange coat on 2023. Around 30 years since it was in orange! ARA 303 Blackdone2023.jpg
Arcade & Attica #303 sports a fresh orange coat on 2023. Around 30 years since it was in orange!

Freight Cars

A&ARR reefers 108, 106. The lettering varied car by car. A&A Reefers.jpg
A&ARR reefers 108, 106. The lettering varied car by car.

Some of these boxcars featured the additional text "Serving Arcade Industry", but not all. Likewise, some of these had full ladders and some were modernized, only having half ladders. #510 is now restored and on display at the Williamsville depot, and was also one of two #500 series involved in a fire at Drakes' Feed, where they were stored at the time. Luckily, only cosmetic damage occurred to both boxcars.

Visitors

James Murphy captured this shot of Viscose #6 doubleheading with A&A #18 passing over Catt. Creek 18 and 6.jpg
James Murphy captured this shot of Viscose #6 doubleheading with A&A #18 passing over Catt. Creek

Over the years, the Arcade & Attica has been a host to several railcars and locomotives of interest, some which barely any evidence still exist

Viscose #6 is seen here alongside Arcade Depot, green coaches behind. James Murphy captured this photo in 2008 Viscose 6.jpg
Viscose #6 is seen here alongside Arcade Depot, green coaches behind. James Murphy captured this photo in 2008
Taken my James Murphy in the 90's, WNYRHS stored SB 77 in Arcade before it was moved to Hamburg South Buffalo 77 on Arcade Wye.jpg
Taken my James Murphy in the 90's, WNYRHS stored SB 77 in Arcade before it was moved to Hamburg

*South Buffalo #77 - South Buffalo #77 was stored in Arcade by the WNYRHS in the 90's, though it was never activated and used. This locomotive steals the title of being the "First Alco Diesel in Arcade" from ARA #114.

James Murphy Photo- ERIE Caboose stored in Arcade, NY just in front of #14 ERIE Caboose.jpg
James Murphy Photo- ERIE Caboose stored in Arcade, NY just in front of #14

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References

  1. Arcade & Attica Railroad (2009) Kenneth C. Springirth Fonthill Media
  2. Picture of A&A 18
  3. "Work Update". Arcade Historical Society, Friends of Arcade & Attica RR. Retrieved November 8, 2021.
  4. Guss, Chris (June 11, 2023). "The end is near for short line's center-cab diesels". Trains. Retrieved 2023-06-14.

42°32′02″N78°25′26″W / 42.533772°N 78.423813°W / 42.533772; -78.423813