New York Railroad Archive

Western New York and Pennsylvania Railroad / Railway

1900 map of the Western New York and Pennsylvania Railway. Wikipedia.

History

The Western New York and Pennsylvania Railroad was formed in 1887 and lasted until the 1895 formation of the Western New York and Pennsylvania Railway. This company lasted until July 31, 1900 when it was leased to the Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR).

Western New York and Pennsylvania Railroad

The Western New York and Pennsylvania Railroad was formed in November 1887 and was the successor to the Buffalo, New York and Philadelphia Railroad, which was sold at foreclosure in September 1887.

The railroad did not lay any new track or expand its operations. It was sold at foreclosure on February 5, 1895 and was reorganized as the Western New York and Pennsylvania Railway (note the change from “Railroad” to “Railway”).

Western New York and Pennsylvania Railway

The Western New York and Pennsylvania Railway was formed in March 1895 from the merger of the

  • Western New York and Pennsylvania Railroad
  • Rochester, New York and Pennsylvania Railroad
  • Pennsylvania and Rochester Railroad
  • Olean, Bradford and Warren Rail Road
  • Union Railroad Company of the City of Buffalo

in New York State and the McKean and Buffalo Railroad, and Kinzua Railroad in Pennsylvania.

Technically, the Western New York and Pennsylvania Railroad was sold on February 5, 1895 and was broken into two companies – the Western New York Railway Company and the Northwestern Pennsylvania Railway Company. That was purely an administrative/legal action as the two companies merged on March 1, 1895 to form the Western New York and Pennsylvania Railway.

The Western New York and Pennsylvania Railway was leased to the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1900.

Lines Operated

The Western New York and Pennsylvania operated five lines in New York State:

  • The Hinsdale – Rochester Line in Cattaraugus, Allegany, Wyoming, Livingston, and Monroe Counties. This was the railroad’s “Rochester Division.”
  • The Buffalo – Emporium, PA Line in Cattaraugus, Wyoming, and Erie Counties. This was the railroad’s “Buffalo Division.”
  • The Buffalo – Corry, PA Line in Chautauqua and Erie Counties. This was the railroad’s “Pittsburgh Division.”
  • The Olean and Salamanca Line in Cattaraugus County. This was the railroad’s “River Division.”
  • The Narrow-Gauge Railroads in Cattaraugus and Allegany Counties. This was the railroad’s “Narrow-Gauge Division.”

See each of these lines for a list of stations, connections, and other information.

Clippings

Digital Artifacts

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