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 New York Interurbans and Streetcar Railroads
The information below includes short paragraph descriptions of most New York interurbans and streetcar railroads. Albany & Southern Railroad: The Albany & Southern Railroad served the City of Albany and surrounding area. Perhaps most unique about the A&S was that it used third-rail for electric power instead of the more traditional overhead catenary. The line lasted until the 1920s when it was abandoned. United Traction Company: The United Traction Company served the City of Albany and operated through the mid-1940s before finally discontinuing streetcar service. Auburn & Syracuse Railway: The Auburn & Syracuse Railway connected Auburn and Skaneatles operating a 27-mile system between the two cities. Streetcar service lasted until 1930 when the final segment of the route was abandoned. International Railway: The International Railway began operations in 1895 originally connecting Buffalo and Niagara Falls. A few years later it built extensions serving both Lockport and Olcott. The last remnants of streetcar service remained until 1939 when it was entirely replaced by buses, notably Central Greyhound Lines and Lockport Bus Lines. In 1950 the interurban railroad became known as the Niagara Frontier Transit System, Inc. predecessor to today's Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority. Buffalo, Lockport & Rochester Railway: The Buffalo, Lockport & Rochester Railway began operations in 1908 eventually connecting Lockport and Rochester. It operated streetcars until 1931 when the service was discontinued in favor of buses. Elmira Street Railway: The Elmira Street Railway served the City of Elmira operating until March of 1939 when the service was discontinued. Geneva, Seneca Falls & Auburn Railroad: The Geneva, Seneca Falls & Auburn was incorporated in 1895. The interurban railroad was only able to connect Geneva and Seneca Falls, never reaching Auburn. It operated until 1928 when streetcars were replaced by buses. Geneva, Waterloo, Seneca Falls & Cayuga Lake Traction: The Geneva, Waterloo, Seneca Falls & Cayuga Lake Traction Company was the merged name of two former systems, the Geneva & Waterloo Railway and Geneva Surface Railway beginnign operatins in 1895. The inteurban railroad would go on to connect its namesake towns (Geneva, Waterloo, Seneca Falls and Cayuga Lake) operating about 18 miles of trackage in total. In 1909 the line fell into bankruptcy and was renamed the Geneva & Auburn Railway. This railroad also fell into bankruptcy and was reorganized in 1913 as the Geneva, Seneca Falls & Auburn Railroad. The system was never very successful and finally called it quits in 1925. Hudson Valley Railway: The Hudson Valley Railway connected Mechanicville and Stillwater and operated until 1928 when the service was abandoned due to increased competition from automobiles and highways. Fonda, Johnstown & Gloversville Railroad: The Fonda, Johnstown & Gloversville Railroad was more of a traditional railroad than an interurban but it did operate some electrified lines. The FJ&G began operations in 1867 and at its peak reached a maximum length of 130 miles. Its interurban operations lasted only until the latter 1930s but freight operations remained through 1974 when it was taken over by the Delaware Otsego System. For more information about this line please click here. Hornell Traction Company: The Hornell Traction Company operated a short interurban railroad operation between Hornell and Canisteo. The service remained until August of 1926 when it was abandoned. Ithaca Traction Corporation: The Ithaca Traction Corporation connected Ithaca and Remington but primarily served Cornell University and movie studios located at Renwick Park. It remained in service until 1935 when it was abandoned in favor of buses. Chautauqua Traction Company: The Chautauqua Traction Company served the Chautauqua Lake area connecting Jamestown, Mayville, Westfield and Barcelona. It began operations in 1903 and would eventually gain connections to two large Class Is including the Pennsylvania Railroad and Nickel Plate Road. Service lasted until 1925 when it was abandoned. For more information about this interurban railroad please click here. Jamestown Street Railway: The Jamestown Street Railway served the City of Jamestown and was incorporated in 1883, originally being horse-powered. It began operations a year later in the summer of 1884 and by 1891 replaced its horses with electrified streetcars. During this time the interurban built extensions to Lakewood, Celoron Park and Ashville. The railroad lasted until January of 1938 when its last segment still operating in Jamestown was abandoned. For more information about this line please click here. Jamestown, Westfield & Northwestern Railroad: The Jamestown, Westfield & Northwestern Railroad began operations in June of 1881 originally connecting Mayville with the Chautauqua area (including Lake Chautauqua). At its peak the JW&NW connected Jamestown and Westfield. When the line upgraded to electrified operations in 1913 it used a 650-volt DC system. Interestingly, the interurban lasted until 1950 when the final segment of the route was finally abandoned. For more information about this interurban please click here. Niagara Gorge Railroad, "The Great Gorge Route": The Niagara Gorge Railroad operated between Niagara Falls and Lewiston through the Niagara Gorge, as its name implied. It was incorporated in 1895 and remained in operation until a massive rock slide shutdown the interurban railroad for good in 1935. Niagara Junction Railway: The Niagara Junction Railway was more of a traditional freight railroad than an interurban. Still, it was an entirely electrified operation serving 11 miles of trackage throughout the City of Niagara. For much of its life the Niagara Junction was controlled by Erie Railroad but became part of Conrail upon its startup in the spring of 1976 (at which point its electrified operations were swiftly scrapped). The Niagara Junction Railway is perhaps most famous for its General Electric-built "Juice Jacks", which it began acquiring in the early 1950s (they resembled traditional GE diesel switchers like the 44-tonner). Western New York & Pennsylvania Traction Company: The Western New York & Pennsylvania Traction Company began operations in 1894 originally connecting Olean and Alleghany. At its peak the system also connected Bolivar, Shingle House, Salamanca, Little Valley and Bradford and Lewis Run, Pennsylvania. In 1921 it was reorganized as the Olean Bradford & Salamanca Traction Company and by 1927 all streetcar operations had been replaced by buses. Oneida Railway: The Oneida Railway began operations in 1885 and would eventually connect Syracuse and Oneida. The interurban railroad was unique in that it used nontraditional third-rail pickup for power instead the typical overhead catenary. In 1909 the system became part of the massive New York State Railways system, which was formed through by the merger of several upstate interurbans. Streetcar service on the line remained until 1930 when it was abandoned in favor of buses.
Peekskill Lighting & Railroad Company: The Peekskill Lighting & Railroad Company operated between Peekskill, Verplanck and Mohegan Falls. Service lasted until early 1926 when the line was abandoned. Port Jervis Electric Street Railway: The Port Jervis Electric Street Railway served the City of Port Jervis and was never a very profitable/successful system. It began operations in 1899 and the original company lasted only until 1901 when it became known as the Port Jervis Electric, Light, Power, Gas & Railroad. The railroad lasted until 1910 when it again changed names as the Port Jervis Traction Company which was abandoned that same year. Poughkeepsie & Wappingers Falls Railway: The Poughkeepsie & Wappingers Falls Railway served the City of Poughkeepsie and was most famous for connecting the Vassar College. The interurban railroad lasted until November 25, 1935 when service was abandoned in favor of buses. Rochester Subway: The Rochester Subway was a unique operation that employed the old Erie Canal as its right-of-way. It never really operated underground only in a "ditch" so to speak. The interurban connected the downtown Rochester area with a nearby General Motors plant. Interestingly the railroad lasted until June of 1956 before discontinuing services. Rochester & Eastern Rapid Railway: The Rochester & Eastern Rapid Railway connected Rochester and Geneva. It was incorporated in 1901 and opened for business in 1903. The route remained in service until 1930 when it was replaced by buses. Rochester & Sodus Bay Railway: The Rochester & Sodus Bay Railway served the Rochester area and was part of the original New York State Railways system, which was born in 1909 (a New York Central subsidiary). Rochester & Suburban Railway: The Rochester & Suburban Railway served the Rochester area and was part of the original New York State Railways system, which was born in 1909 (a New York Central subsidiary). Rochester, Syracuse & Eastern Rapid Railroad: The Rochester, Syracuse & Eastern Rapid Railroad had big dreams but actually earned few profits. The interurban railroad began operations in 1906 and would eventually link Rochester with the nearby towns of Newark, Egypt, Fairport and Palmyra. At its peak the railroad was 87 miles in length and employed third-rail for power instead of the more traditional overhead catenary. Financial issues in 1913 forced it to merge with two nearby interurbans the Auburn & Northern Electric Railroad and Syracuse, Lake Shore & Northern Railroad forming the Empire United Railways. Never successful itself this system was broken up in 1916 with the RS&E becoming the Rochester & Syracuse Railroad. It remained in operation until 1931 when it was abandoned. Schenectady Railway: The Schenectady Railway primarily served Schenectady and Albany but would also have branches serving Albany, Troy, Saratoga Springs and Ballston Spa operating a system of over 30 miles. The interurban railroad began operations in 1902 and lasted until 1946 when it was abandoned in favor of bus service. Syracuse, Lake Shore & Northern Railroad: The Syracuse, Lake Shore & Northern Railroad served the Oswego area. It began operations in 1909 taking over from the Lake Ontario & Riverside Railway, which dated back to 1896 on a system originally built by the Oswego Street Railway. It lasted until 1917 when it became known as the Empire State Railroad Corporation. Streetcar service on the route lasted until 1931 when it was abandoned in favor of buses. Troy & New England Railway: The Troy & New England Railway served the area of Troy and began operations in 1895. Service on the route lasted until March of 1925 when it was abandoned. Troy City Railway: The Troy City Railway took over operations in 1891 from the Troy & Albia Horse Railroad, which dated back to 1866. The little line lasted only until 1899 when it became part of the United Traction Company. Interestingly, streetcar service on the line lasted as late as 1972 before being abandoned. Utica & Mohawk Valley Railway: The Utica & Mohawk Valley Railway began operations in 1901 taking over from the Utica Belt Line Street Railroad, which dated back to 1886 (the line was originally built by the Utica & Westerville Railroad of 1864). It lasted only eight years before becoming part of the New York State Railways in 1909. Streetcar service on the route was abandoned by 1941. Black River Traction Company: The Black River Traction Company served the City of Watertown and began operations in 1896 taking over from the Watertown Street Railway. The interurban railroad remained in operation until 1937 when it was abandoned in favor of bus service. Other notable New York interurbans and streetcar railroads: Albany & Hudson Fast Line Auburn Interurban Electric Railway Batavia Traction Company Buffalo & Erie Traction Company Elmira Light & Railroad Company Empire State Railways Ogdensburgh Street Railway (Served the City of Ogdensburgh.) Paul Smith's Electric Railway (Served the Saranac Lake area.) Rochester & Brighton Street Railway Syracuse & Suburban Railway Syracuse Northern Traction Syracuse Rapid Transit Railway Wallkill Traction Company (Served the area of Middletown.) For a small gallery of photographs highlighting New York interurbans and streetcar railroads please click here.
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