Hempfield Railroad

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Hempfield Railroad
Hempfield Railroad
Overview
Locale West Virginia and Pennsylvania
Dates of operation1857
Successor W&P Subdivision
Technical
Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in)

The Hempfield Railroad was chartered May 15, 1850 [1] and was a line that originally was to run from Wheeling, West Virginia to Greensburg, Pennsylvania for a distance of 76 miles. [2]

Contents

History

The railroad reached Washington, Pennsylvania in the year 1857. [1] It opened for business in 1857 under the heading of Wheeling, Pittsburgh and Baltimore Railroad. [3] The railroad was a Standard gauge railroad (4 ft 8 1/2 inches) and track was 60 pounds to the yard [2]

In the 1868–1869 years the railroad was operating from Wheeling W. Va. to Washington, PA for a distance of 32 miles. It had 3 locomotives, 6 passenger and freight cars including 11 coal cars for a total of 17 cars. [2] Offices were located Washington, Washington County, Pennsylvania.

Operations to October 31, 1867 were as follows; Gross: $52,198.00 Expenses: $53,357.00 For a loss of $1,159.00 [2]

Capital stock: $1,809,565 6 per cent bonds: $500,000 floating debt: $100,000 Cost to build the road: $1,657,799 All of the above reference [2]

The company was bought by the B&O Railroad on May 1, 1871. [1] The company was reorganized as the Wheeling, Pittsburg, and Baltimore on May 3, 1871 by the B&O. [4] It was originally to connect with the Pittsburg and Connellsville Railroad (another B&O company) at Newton, Pennsylvania after the reorganization.

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 3 Poor's Manual of the Railroads of the United States 1877-1878 page 316
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Poor's Manual of the Railroads of the United States 1868-1869 page 255
  3. Poor's Manual of the Railroads of The United States 1874-1875 page 87
  4. Poor's Manual of the Railroads of The United States 1877-1878 page 330