Arcade and Attica Railroad

Arcade and Attica Railroad steam locomotive number 18, an Alco 2-8-0 locomotive, rests at the station in Curriers, New York. Author’s photo.

The Arcade and Attica Railroad is a short-line railroad that carries freight between Arcade and North Java, NY. It is also a popular tourist railroad whose roster includes a steam locomotive, number 18, built in November 1920 by the American Locomotive Works (Alco).

History

The Arcade and Attica is the latest of a long line of planned and constructed railroads in the Tonawanda Valley of western New York State. The first of these was the Attica and Sheldon Railroad, which was organized on May 21, 1836 to build a railroad between the two villages. No work was done on the railroad.

In 1852, the Attica and Alleghany Valley Railroad was incorporated to build a narrow-gauge railway from Attica, through Arcade to Olean, distance of 74 miles. Construction began the following year 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.

Description of the Attica and Alleghany Valley Railroad from an 1860 book. Poor, Henry V. 1860. “History of the Railroads and Canals of the United States.” Found on Google Books.

On February 28, 1870, the Attica and Arcade Railroad was organized and purchased the right of way. The railroad went bankrupt in 1873, and construction remained uncompleted.

On April 5, 1880, the Tonawanda Valley Railroad was incorporated to build a 24 mile long narrow gauge line from Attica, through Curriers Corners, to Sardinia where it would connect with the Buffalo, New York, and Philadelphia 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 but the company changed its decision and began building to Arcade instead. By May 1, 1881, the line had reached Arcade. 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. The company struggled and went into receivership in 1884. Over the next ten years different sections of the line were abandoned or sold off.

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 the Attica to Curriers section reopened in January 1895. By December of that year, the line was open from Attica to Arcade and in 1902 the Arcade to Sandusky section was open.

In 1904, the Buffalo, Attica and Arcade was sold to the Buffalo and Susquehanna Railroad which connected the BA&A in Arcade. The Buffalo, Attica and Arcade was abandoned with the rest of the northern section of the Buffalo and Susquehanna in 1916.

On May 23, 1917, the Arcade and Attica Railroad was formed by local investors to operate the line. It operated passenger service until 1951 when the Erie stopped passenger service along the line that included Attica. In 1957, the company abandoned the line between Attica and North Java due to severe washouts of the track during Spring storms.

The company started passenger excursions as early as 1962 and today is a popular tourist train in the area.

Stations

Attica * Sierks * Earls * Varysburg * Johnsonburg * Perrys * North Java * Java Center * Curriers * Arcade Center * Arcade

Clippings

Locomotive Photos

Arcade and Attica Railroad locomotive 110. Photo posted by Karsen Baker Nunn in the Facebook “Fans of the Arcade & Attica” group.

Arcade and Attica Railroad steam locomotive number 18, an Alco 2-8-0 locomotive, rests at the station in Curriers, New York. Author’s photo.

Arcade and Attica Railroad locomotive number 18 at the company’s shops in Arcade, NY in August 1964. Emery Gulash photo found on eBay.

Freight and Passenger Car Photos

The private passenger car “Warwick” on display at the Arcade and Attica Railroad station in Arcade, NY. The car was built in 1886 and was used by President Grover Cleveland on his honeymoon. Postcard found on eBay.

Maps

Portion of a 1902 map of Wyoming County, NY showing the route of the Buffalo, Attica and Arcade Railroad between the two towns. The Pennsylvania Railroad Buffalo line is shown in the bottom-left corner and the Buffalo, Rochester and Pittsburgh Railway is in the bottom-right corner got through the town of Eagle. The routes of the Erie Railroad to Attica can be seen in the top of the map. Century Map Company. 1902. “Wyoming County 1902, County Map.” Historic Map Works.