As the New York and Erie Railroad built its line across the Southern Tier on its way to Dunkirk the inhabitants of Livingston and Wyoming Counties became anxious for a railroad through their region to connect them to Buffalo and New York City. Likewise, the people of Buffalo were anxious to connect to the New York and Erie so they could ship goods to and from New York City as well.

History

The Attica and Hornellsville Railroad was chartered on May 14, 1845 to connect Hornellsville on the New York and Erie to the railroad line that ran east from Buffalo to Attica. Work was begun on the road in the fall of 1850 and on April 15, 1851 the name of the railroad was changed to the Buffalo and New York City Railroad.

On January 22, 1852 a 30-mile stretch of the line was opened from Hornellsville to Portage. At that point the railroad could only run one train per day because it owned but a single locomotive. This locomotive was the “Orange” the famous Erie Railway locomotive which pulled the first train across that line to Dunkirk. A second locomotive was received on March 22nd and the Orange was put to use hauling rail to build the rest of the line. The line was completed Attica on July 26, 1852.

The company was not financially successful and the railroad was sold under foreclosure on December 11, 1854 and again on January 1, 1857. Both times it was purchased by the President of the railroad, Aaron D. Patchin. In October 1857 the company purchased the Buffalo, Corning and New York Railroad and was renamed the Buffalo, New York and Erie Railroad. On February 27, 1863 the Buffalo, New York and Erie was leased to the Erie Railway for a period of 400 years.

Portage Bridge

In 1952 the Buffalo and New York City Railroad built the famous Portage Bridge over the Genesee River in Portage, NY, at the time the highest and longest bridge in the world.

Clippings

Timetables

References

• Mott, Edward Harold. Between the Ocean and the Lakes, The Story of Erie. 1899. New York: John S. Collins.