New York and Erie Railroad

History

The New York and Erie Railroad is the first of the railroads that would generally be known as the Erie Railroad.  It was chartered in April 1832 from the banks of the Hudson River to the shores of Lake Erie with the restriction that it could not enter any other state or connect with railroads from other states. This line was completed in 1851 between Piermont and Dunkirk via Little Valley, Cattaraugus and Dayton.

The route of the line through Cattaraugus and Chautauqua counties was subject to much debate and lobbying and is an interesting story in its own right.

The company failed and in 1861 it changed its name to the Erie Railway.

Construction Timeline

Newburgh Branch

SegmentMileageDate
Chester – Newburgh18January 8, 1850

Hornellsville Division

SegmentMileage  Date
Hornellsville – Portageville30January 22, 1852
Attica – Hornellsville60May 3, 1852

Buffalo, New York and Erie

SegmentMileage  Date
Painted Post – Kennedyville (Kanona)22April 15, 1852
Kennedyville – Avoca3May 1, 1852
Avoca – Liberty7May 31, 1852
Liberty – Bloods4July 1, 1852
Bloods – Wayland6August 2, 1852
Wayland – Batavia54March 1, 1854
Avon – Rochester18October 2, 1854

The Buffalo, New York and Erie Railroad was controlled by the Erie, and was formerly the Buffalo, Corning and New York Railroad.

Clippings

Timetables