The Rochester and State Line Railroad was one of the predecessors of the Buffalo, Rochester and Pittsburgh Railway (BR&P) in Western New York state. It constructed what would become the BR&P’s Rochester Line from Rochester to the Pennsylvania state line south of Salamanca.
History
On October 6, 1869 New York State granted a charter to the Rochester and State Line Railroad to build a line from Rochester south through Scottsville, Caledonia, Perry, Castile, Portageville, Belfast, Belmont and Wellsville on its way to the Pennsylvania state line. Shortly after it was chartered, vast coal deposits were discovered near Ridgeway, Pennsylvania and in 1872 the railroad changed its charter to make Salamanca its southern terminus.
Construction of the Line
The company had laid out its route by mid-1872 and the ceremonial first shove of dirt was turned on August 21, 1872 in Mumford, NY.
Actual construction work began in 1873 and by the summer of 1873 the roadbed was ready to start laying rails. Construction went quickly and the road was opened between Rochester and LeRoy by 1874. Due to a financial panic, work mostly stopped from 1874 to 1876. After work resumed the line reached Pearl Creek by the end of 1876 and Warsaw by June 1887. The road was completed to Salamanca in early 1878 and regular service began along the entire 108 mile long route on May 16, 1878.
On January 20, 1881 the Rochester and State Line Railroad was sold to a New York syndicate which included it in the Rochester and Pittsburgh Railroad which was incorporated on January 29, 1881.
Stations
Charlotte * Rochester * Lincoln Park * Brooks Avenue * Maplewood * Brookdale * Scottsville * Garbuttsville * Wheatland * Mumford * P & L Junction * Limerock * North Street, LeRoy * LeRoy * DL&W Crossing * Pavilion Center * Pavilion * Pearl Creek * Wyoming * Saltville * Warsaw * Rock Glen * Silver Lake Junction * Gainesville * Pike * Bliss * Eagle * Freedom * Farmers Valley * Elton * Machias * Bird * Devereux * Ashford * Ellicottville * Great Valley * East Salamanca * Salamanca * Killbuck * Carollton * Limestone
Clippings
Locomotives
Other Interesting Things
Learn More
- Wikipedia “Rochester and State Line Railroad“