The Middlesex Valley Railroad was one of the predecessors of the Lehigh Valley
History
In 1871 the Geneva and Southwestern Railroad was incorporated to build a line from Geneva to Naples, approximately 30 miles to the southwest. The line was graded, but construction was halted due to the financial panic of 1873.
In 1892 the Middlesex Valley Railroad was incorporated in 1892 to construct a railroad along the same route. The company utilized the graded right-of-way of the Geneva and Southwestern Railroad and completed the line in 1894. The Lehigh Valley Railroad acquired the Middlesex Valley the following year by buying up the entire capital stock of the railroad. The company existed until 1903, when it became the Naples Branch of The Lehigh Valley.
Passenger service on the line was discontinued in 1938. The Rushville to Naples section at the end of the branch was abandoned in 1970 and the Geneva to Rushville section was placed out of service in 1972 and was dismantled in 1978.
Stations
| Station | Mile |
| Geneva Pre-emption Reeds Stanley Gorham West Gorham Granger Rushville Valley View Middlesex West River Naples | 0 1.4 3.2 7.5 9.6 9.9 12.5 15.5 17.6 20.5 24.7 29.4 |
The Naples Branch connected to the Lehigh Valley Main Line at Geneva.
Learn More
- Smith, Bud. 1987. Railroads and Trolley Lines of Geneva. http://fglk.railfan.net/history.html