Great Excitement
The first regular passenger train over the Utica, Chenango and Susquehanna Valley Railroad, arrived in Norwich at 9 P.M. yesterday. The residents of that place turned out en masse to do honor to the occasion, and with a fine band, and cheers and smiles, welcomed the visitors on the train.
Three rousing cheers were given for President Lawrence, three more for the railroad, and three more for Conductor Baker and thus Norwich rejoiced over its connection with Utica. –Utica Herald
A special train consisting of twelve cars of the Utica, Chenango & Susquehanna Valley Railroad went over the Midland branch to Norwich on Friday, the last day of the fair; conveying over one thousand passengers. President Lawrence, Vice President Goodwin, Director Comstock and others, whose names we have not been able to learn, attended the train, and were active in providing for the comfort of the passengers.
Two or three thousand persons were assembled on the arrival of the train at Norwich. Well! We are not disposed to laugh at our Norwich friends for their enthusiasm; we have been troubled with the same weakness ourselves; and now that we have got nearly over being “tickled,” we can look upon their exhibitions of delight with complacency.
About 100 additional passengers came up from Norwich on the return, to go back on the regular evening train.
On the return trip of the excursion train to Norwich, the last day of the fair, some delay occurred at the junction on account of the high grade and the immense number on board. In the emergency, one well meaning individual got off as he said, “to east the train,” but, as he was left behind, he declared he’d “be gol-darned if he’d ever help the Railroad in that way again.” The last seen of him, he was pulling his “stove-pipe” over his eyes and taking the “accidental express” on foot, towards East Hamilton.
[Note: The Utica, Chenango and Susquehanna Valley Railroad was formed in 1866 and became part of the Utica Branch of the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad in 1870.]
Source: Sherburne News. October 14, 1869. Provided by Richard Palmer.