Early Railroad Routes

Historical Facts Concerning Western New York Roads.

Mr. David E. E. MIX of Batavia has compiled from records in the County Clerk’s office, some valuable and interesting information in regard to early railroads in Western New York. Mr. MIX read a brief paper before the Pioneer Association at Silver Lake from which the following facts are taken:

The Tonawanda railroad company, which was one of the early roads from which sprung the great New York Central Corporation, was incorporated April 24th, 1832, and was the second railroad built in this State, the first being the Mohawk and Hudson railroad, incorporated April 17th, 1827, and extending from Albany to Schenectady. The Tonawanda railroad was intended to run from Rochester to Buffalo, via of Batavia. In 1836 the road was completed to South Byron, about eight miles Northeast of Batavia, and cars were run as far as that point, horses furnishing the motive power. A year later the road reached Batavia which was then the terminus.

The Company then purchased of James BRISBANE, a wealthy merchant and extensive land owner in the village, six acres of land on which to locate their depot. The road as originally mapped out was to run North of Main street in Batavia and the depot was to be located near the present site of Mr. George BRISBANE’s residence. It was then the intention to cross the Tonawanda Creek where the Alleghany road bridge now is, and taking the line now followed by the new Buffalo road go direct to Buffalo, but through the influence of men owning the property on the South side of the street, the engineer was induced to change the route and locate it where their property would be more likely to appreciate in value. The Company built their first depot at the corner of Big Tree street (now Ellicott street) and South street, (now Jackson street) in the village of Batavia.

The first ticket agent of the Central road at Batavia was Erastus SEYMOUR, who kept a book and registered the name of every passenger who purchased a ticket. This book came into the possession of Mr. MIX several years ago and was later given to Ellis N. OSBORNE, then the Central’s station agent at Batavia. After Mr. OSBORNE’s death his son presented the book to the Buffalo Historical Society, which now has it among many interesting and valuable relics of the pioneer days of Western New York.

The first depot was built with the track running through the same and having large doors at each end in which the cars were locked up every night. A track was laid from the depot along Ellicott street to a point near the present site of the Court House, at which point was located the turn-table and water tank. The opening of the road from Rochester to Batavia was celebrated May 8th, 1837, with a grand demonstration, great crowds coming from the surrounding country to see the first locomotive. April 13th, 1840, the Legislature granted an extension of three years time for the completion of the road from Batavia to Attica, and May 1st of that year the State of New York loaned the Tonawanda railroad $100,000 with which to go on with the construction.

At Attica the road connected with the Attica & Buffalo railroad, which had been chartered by the Legislature May 13th, 1836. These roads were completed, and opening of a through line from Rochester to Buffalo via Batavia and Attica was celebrated January 5th, 1843. April 9th, 1850, the Tonawanda railroad and the Attica & Buffalo railroad companies were authorized to consolidate and change the name of the corporations to the Rochester & Buffalo railroad [Note: Actually the Buffalo and Rochester Railroad], and also to shorten the distance between Rochester and Buffalo by the construction of a branch or second line running direct to Buffalo from Batavia. This is the line now occupied by the four tracks of the New York Central.

The Albion & Tonawanda railroad company was chartered April 17th, 1832. The line was to run from Albion, Orleans county, to Batavia, but the road was never begun. In 1853 a survey was made from Batavia to Oak Orchard Harbor by Mr. MIX, and a few years ago the plan of building a road from Batavia, through Albion, to Oak Orchard Harbor was revived and considerable interest awakened in the project. The route was surveyed, and though the scheme now lies dormant, the probably is that some time such a road will be built.

The Medina & Darien railroad was chartered May 5th, 1834. It was to run from Medina, Orleans county, to Darien, Genesee county. The company began work and built the road as far as Richville, in the town of Pembroke, Genesee county, and in 1836 had that much in running order. The tracks were of wood and the cars necessarily light. The business did not warrant the continuance of the project and the road was soon given up. Some evidences of it still remain.

The Warsaw & Le Roy railroad company was chartered May 5th, 1834. The name indicates its purpose to connect the two villages. The project was given up at the time, but the Rochester & Pittsburg railroad now occupies the field which at that early day those interested in the growth and prosperity of the two villages saw would ultimately be trod by the Iron Horse of Modern Civilization.

Source: The Daily News. Batavia, NY. August 28, 1888. Found on a posting on the RootsWeb forum for Western New York.