Overview | |
---|---|
Headquarters | Syracuse, New York |
Locale | Syracuse, New York, U.S. |
Dates of operation | 1863–1890 |
Successor | Syracuse Consolidated Street Railway |
Technical | |
Track gauge | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge |
The Syracuse and Geddes Railway, a horse-drawn street trolley in Syracuse, New York, was chartered on July 10, 1863. The line ran from Syracuse to Geddes, a suburb. [1] The route ran from Salina Street and Fayette Street to Hemlock, Bridge and Furnace Street (now Wilbur Avenue). [2]
The company merged with Syracuse Consolidated Street Railway in 1890, after an agreement was made that allowed the new company to lease the lines. [2]
In early 1863, Alfred Hovey, Edward B. Wicks, William D. Stewart, John V. Barker, D. P. Wood, A. C. Powell, D. Bookstaver, and G. P. Kenyon were authorized by the city of Syracuse to lay tracks for a street railway from Salina Street and Fayette Street in Downtown Syracuse to Hemlock, Bridge and Furnace Street (now Wilbur Avenue) but at that time part of Geddes. [2]
The company was organized on May 4, 1863, [2] with funded debt of $25,000 and construction and equipment bonds due on December 1, 1898. [3] Total capital stock was $50,000. Construction began at once. [2]
In 1875, the route commenced at the corner of South Salina Street and Fayette Street and terminated in the village of Geddes. The business office was located at 2 New Savings Bank Building in Downtown Syracuse. [1]
The business offices were initially in Geddes [4] but by 1879, the company offices were relocated to No. 1 Onondaga County Savings Bank Building. [5]
By 1890, the company employed both 30 and 47 pound rail and had 13 rail cars and 35 horses. [6]
Officers of the company in 1875 included; R. N Gere, president; Charles Tallman, vice-president; R. A. Bonta, secretary and treasurer; and William J. Hart, superintendent. [1]
By 1894, the directors of the company were Daniel P. Wood, Peter Burns, Charles Andrews, George A. Kennedy, Charles T. Redfield, Jonathan G. Wynkoop, George C. Gere, Isaac R. Pharis, Charles E. Hubbell, T. W. Meachem, all of Syracuse. R. N. Gere was president and R. A. Bonta was secretary and treasurer of the company. William J. Hart was the superintendent. [3]
Annual meetings were held on the second Monday in January. [1]
The Syracuse Consolidated Street Railway was chartered in 1890 in Syracuse and by July 1, 1890, the new company leased, in perpetuity, several street railroads in the city including the Syracuse and Geddes Railway as well as the Third Ward Railway, Fourth Ward Railroad, Fifth Ward Railroad, Seventh Ward Railroad, Eleventh Ward Railroad, Genesee and Water Street Railroad, Woodlawn and Butternut Street Railway and New Brighton and Onondaga Valley Railroad. The rail ran a total distance of 24 miles (39 km) and had branches every 3 miles (4.8 km). [7] At that time, the Syracuse and Geddes Railway ceased to exist. [2]
Syracuse Consolidated Street Railway filed for bankruptcy in 1893 and merged with the Syracuse Rapid Transit Railway Company in May 1896. [8]
Geddes is a town in Onondaga County, New York, United States. The population was 17,118 at the 2010 census.
The Oswego and Syracuse Railroad was formed April 29, 1839, and the route was surveyed during the summer of that year. The Company was fully organized March 25, 1847. The road was opened on May 14, 1848, and ran a total distance of 35.5 miles (57.1 km) from Syracuse, New York to Oswego, New York. In 1872 it passed under the management of the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad.
The Syracuse, Ontario and New York Railway was founded in 1883 and had a line that ran between Syracuse, New York and Earlville, New York, a distance of 45.5 miles (73.2 km). The company formed from the Syracuse, Chenango and New York Railroad Company. Beginning on July 1, 1890 it operated as the Chenango County, New York branch of the West Shore Railroad. On April 2, 1891, the railroad and property of the Syracuse Ontario and New York Railway Company were formally leased, for the term of its corporate existence, to the West Shore Railroad Company on June 30, 1891. Later, ownership was transferred to the New York Central Railroad (NYCRR).
The story of the city of Syracuse began with the land which was covered with swamps and bogs, and with a large forest surrounding a clear, freshwater lake located in the northeast corner of the Finger Lakes Region. The land around the present day city was originally the home of the Haudensaunee, or the Onondaga Nation. They were members of the Iroquois Confederacy, which spanned most of Upstate New York.
The Railroad industry in Syracuse, New York got its start in October 1831 when a convention held in the city marked one of the earliest moves to stimulate the era of railroad building which ultimately brought steam railroad service to New York State.
The Syracuse and Binghamton Railroad was established on August 18, 1851, and opened for business on October 18, 1854. The road merged in 1856 into Syracuse and Southern Railroad which was renamed to Syracuse, Binghamton and New York Railroad when the company reorganized after foreclosure in 1857.
The Syracuse Northern Railroad, incorporated in 1868 and opened on November 9, 1871, drew trade from Liverpool to Syracuse, New York. The line had routes to Watertown, New York, and in 1875, the road was extended to Pulaski and Lacona.
The Syracuse, Geneva and Corning Railway was established in 1875 and opened their road on December 10, 1877. The company was leased to and operated by the Fall Brook Coal Company for 20 years beginning in 1881.
The Syracuse and Chenango Valley Railroad was incorporated April 16, 1868, and had routes through the Chenango Valley from the city of Syracuse in Onondaga County to the village of Earlville in Madison County, a distance of 45.49 miles (73.21 km). It was renamed to Syracuse and Chenango Railroad in 1873 and into Syracuse, Chenango and New York Railroad in 1877.
The Syracuse, Phoenix and Oswego Railroad was chartered on November 29, 1871, and had a route from Woodard, located north of Syracuse, New York, to Fulton, New York, a distance of 17.11 miles (27.54 km). They merged with the Syracuse Northwestern Railroad on June 10, 1875, and incorporated as Syracuse, Phoenix and Oswego Railway on February 16, 1885.
The Syracuse Northwestern Railroad was established in 1874 to construct a railroad from Woodard to Haymarket Square in Syracuse, New York. The company was consolidated under the Syracuse, Phoenix and Oswego Railroad in 1875 and was sold under a judgement in 1885 under the name Syracuse, Phoenix and Oswego Railway.
The Syracuse Consolidated Street Railway, chartered on May 22, 1890, in Syracuse, New York. On July 1, 1890, the company leased, in perpetuity, several street railroads in the city including Third Ward Railway, Fourth Ward Railroad, Fifth Ward Railroad, Seventh Ward Railroad, Eleventh Ward Railroad, Genesee and Water Street Railroad, Woodlawn and Butternut Street Railway, Syracuse and Geddes Railway and New Brighton and Onondaga Valley Railroad. The rail ran a total distance of 24 miles (39 km) and had branches every 3 miles (4.8 km).
The People's Railroad was a street railway chartered in 1887 and opened for business in 1889 in Syracuse, New York. The total length of the line was 10.88 miles (17.51 km) with branches each 1 mile (1.6 km). In 1896, the company merged into Syracuse Rapid Transit Railway.
The Central City Railway was chartered on April 19, 1859, and was the first street railway company in Syracuse, New York. It began operations in August 1860, as a horse-drawn rail. The road was discussed for many years before it was actually constructed as a link between the First Ward and Erie Canal at Salina Street. The train line commenced at South Salina Street opposite the Syracuse House and terminated in the First Ward.
The Genesee and Water Street Railroad, a horse-drawn street trolley in Syracuse, New York, was established in 1865. The company was one of three different railways that were awarded operation franchise rights to run cars in James Street. The firm also secured the franchise to operate cars in Westcott Street, to South Beech Street, Euclid Avenue, College Place, University Place, Walnut Avenue and Madison Street.
The Fifth Ward Railroad was a horse-drawn street trolley line in Syracuse, New York, and was originally approved for construction by New York State in 1850; however, the rail was not chartered until 1867 and finally opened for business in 1868. The company merged with Syracuse Consolidated Street Railway in 1890, after an agreement was made that allowed the new company to lease the lines.
The Syracuse and Onondaga Railway, a horse-drawn city railway, was chartered on April 29, 1863, and opened on July 25, 1864, in Syracuse, New York. The line commenced in Downtown Syracuse at Washington Street and terminated at Oakwood Cemetery at Brighton Avenue where it connected with the Onondaga Valley Railroad. By 1890, the total length of the road was 2 miles (3.2 km).
The New Brighton and Onondaga Valley Railroad, a horse-drawn street trolley line, was chartered on May 5, 1869, in Syracuse, New York. The road was also known as the New Brighton and Onondaga Railroad.
The Seventh Ward Railroad, a street trolley line in Syracuse, New York, was established in 1886 and held the city railway franchise rights to East Fayette Street. The total length of the road was 3 miles (4.8 km). The route followed Fayette Street from Salina Street to Montgomery Street, Jefferson, Grape, Kennedy, Renwick Avenue with final destination Oakwood Cemetery.
Syracuse Consolidated Street Railway.