New York Railroad Archive

New York Central Railroad “Hojack Line”

The “Hojack Line” was the nickname of the New York Central Railroad line between Oswego and Niagara Falls, NY. The line was closely associate with the Rome, Watertown and Ogdensburg (RW&O) Railroad, which operated it from 1875 to 1891.

History

In 1858 the Lake Ontario Shore Rail Road was chartered from Oswego to Niagara Falls, but very little track was built or operated by the company. It wasn’t until 1875 when the Lake Ontario Shore Rail Road was merged into the Rome, Watertown and Ogdensburg (RW&O) Railroad that the line to Niagara Falls was completed.

In 1878 the RW&O ended up in the hands of the management of the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad (DL&W). The DL&W’s management only cared about the DL&W and left the RW&O to die, so to speak. By 1882 the RW&O had been purchased again and the new owners built the Ontario Secondary (Beebee line) from Charlotte on the shores of Lake Ontario to Rochester. New management wasn’t enough to save the RW&O and the company was leased to the New York Central and Hudson River Railroad on March 14, 1891. The RWO was officially absorbed into the New York Central and Hudson River Railroad Company on April 16, 1913.

Stations in Western/Central NY

The RW&O seems to have been very relaxed in their names of stations and opening/closing stations. Below is a consolidated list of stations from various timetables.

Niagara Falls to Windsor Beach

Niagara Falls * Suspension Bridge * River View * Lewiston Heights * Haywards * Model City * Ransomville * Elberta * Wilson * Beebe Road * Newfane / Burt * Hess Road / Appleton * West Somerset * Somerset / Barker * Millers / County Line * Lyndonville * Carlyon / Ashwood * Waterport * Carlton * East Carlton / Kent * West Kendall * Kendall * East Kendall / Morton * Hamlin * East Hamlin * Parma / Hilton * Greece * Charlotte * Windsor Beach

Windsor Beach to Oswego

Windsor Beach * Seabreeze * Forest Lawn * Webster * Union Hill * Lakeside * Ontario * Williamson * East Williamson * Sodus * Wallington * Alton * North Rose * Wolcott * Red Creek * Sterling Station * Sterling * Hannibal * Wheelers * Furniss * Shops * Oswego

Bebe Line

Charlotte * Barnard * Rochester (Jay Street)

Clippings

Maps

Timetables

Learn More

Listed below are some other good sources of information about the railroad.