New York Railroad Archive

Olean, Bradford and Warren Railroad

An Olean, Bradford and Warren Railroad train on a trestle near Bradford, PA. Photo from the collection of the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania.

The Olean, Bradford and Warren Railroad was a narrow-gauge, three feet between the rails, railroad that ran about 10 miles from Olean to the New York/Pennsylvania state line. At the state line it connected with its Pennsylvania sister railroad, the “Olean, Bradford and Warren Railway” which ran to Bradford, PA. The railroad was operated in connection with the Kendall and Eldred Railroad in Pennsylvania.

History

The Olean, Bradford and Warren Railroad was chartered on October 15, 1877 to build a railroad from the depot of the Buffalo, New York and Philadelphia Railway in Olean ten miles southwest through the towns of Olean and Allegany to the state line between New York and Pennsylvania.

The company was leased to the Buffalo, New York and Philadelphia Railway on December 8, 1881 but continued to operate under its own name for a number of years.

A newspaper article reported that on February 20, 1887 a fire in Olean destroyed the roundhouse and six engines of the Olean, Bradford and Warren Railroad with an estimated loss of $30,000.

11.23 miles of the railroad were abandoned in August 1896 and the line sold to the Olean, Rock City and Bradford Electric Railroad in 1897. The remaining 1.11 miles, between Olean and the Empire Tanning Company’s Plant were converted to standard gauge and operated until 1937.

Stations

Olean * Two Mile * Four Mile * Rock City * Knapp’s Creek * State Line * Bell’s Camp * Red Rock * Gillmor * Derrick City * Babcock’s Mill * Foster Brook* Tarport * Bradford

Clippings

Other Photographs

Maps

A map showing the route of the New York State portion of the Olean, Bradford and Warren Railroad (in blue). The routes of the Pennsylvania Railroad (red) and Erie Railroad (green) are shown as they pass through Olean, NY. Author’s illustration based on topographic maps.

Rolling Stock and Equipment

An 1881 report of the New York State Engineer and Surveyor reported that the company had three locomotives, 2 first-class passenger cars, two second-class passenger cars, two baggage, mail and express cars and 79 freight cars.

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