The Western Railroad was chartered February 15, 1833 and incorporated March 15, 1833 to connect the B&W to the Hudson and Berkshire Railroad at the New York state line. Construction began in 1837, and the Eastern Division to the Connecticut River in Springfield opened on October 1, 1839. The Western Division, through the Berkshire Hills, opened in sections from both ends - from the state line to Pittsfield May 4, 1841, West Springfield to Chester May 24, 1841, Springfield to West Springfield (across the Connecticut River) July 4, 1841, Pittsfield to "Summit" August 9, 1841, and Chester to Summit September 13, 1841. On October 4, 1841 the first train ran along the full route.(wikipedia)
In 1854 the State of North Carolina was completing the construction of her great work, the North Carolina railroad, and emboldened by this success and having in view a connection of her then existing system of railroads with the proposed Blue Ridge railroad, and so with the Great West, there was passed an act entitled: 'An Act to incorporate the Western North Carolina Railroad Company,' ratified February 15, 1855 (Laws of North Carolina 1854-55, ch. 228, p.257), which, after reciting the purpose of constructing a railroad to effect a communication between the North Carolina railroad and the Valley of the Mississippi,' provided for the organization of a corporation under the style of Western North Carolina Railroad Company, with power 'to construct a railroad, with one or more tracks, from the town of Salisbury on the North Carolina railroad, passing by or as near as practicable to Statesville, in the county of Iredell, to some point on the French Broad river, beyond the Blue Ridge, and if the legislature shall hereafter determine, to such point as it shall designate, at a future session.(wikipedia)
The Northern Pacific Railway has a very rich historical beginning. Josiah Perham, along with Asa Whitney, Isaac Stevens and Edward Johnson were the first to put in motion a railroad across the route that was traversed by Lewis & Clark on their expedition to the northwest, spanning May 1804 to September 1806. President Abraham Lincoln signed the Federal Charter for Perham's railroad in December of 1864.
Perham's efforts lasted almost two years. Then on July 2, 1866, with a construction deadline looming, heavily in debt and his health failing, another organization stepped in, paid Perham's debts of $102,000. This group did not meet with any better success. Headed by J. Gregory Smith, their initial fundraising efforts were thwarted. But Smith and his group did manage to get the construction deadline (for starting operation) extended to July 4, 1870, with final completion by July 4, 1877.
Enter the infamous firm of Jay Cooke & Company in 1869. He is credited with being very influential in getting the finances flowing. The summer of 1869 saw two survey parties in the field. With the necessary money and land grants, it appeared the railroad was beginning to move. On February 15, 1870, near Duluth, Minnesota, ground breaking ceremonies for the Northern Pacific Railway took place. Construction began July 1870. The Western Terminus had yet to be chosen, but 25 miles of track had been laid in the Cowlitz Valley between Kalama and Puget Sound. All of which was required under the initial Charter. (PSMRE)
The Horseshoe Curve:
The Curve has great historical significance that begins long before it officially opened for rail traffic on February 15, 1854.
This brief history outlines its story from a site viewpoint.
| 1879 - The park is beautified for public use. 1932 - A macadam road opens to the park. 1940 - Construction of a guest house begins (which later became a gift shop). 1957 - A retired steam PRR locomotive #1361 is put on display in the park. PRR transfers park operations to the City of Altoona. 1966 - National Historic Landmark status is granted. 1989 - A cooperative agreement is signed with the National Park Service to develop the site. 1990-1991 - Museum manages construction of a new $5.8 million facility. 1992 - Grand opening of the new Horseshoe Curve National Historic Landmark on April 25th .(Altoona Railroaders Memorial Museum) |
DALLAS AND GREENVILLE RAILWAY. The Dallas and Greenville Railway Company was chartered on February 15, 1886, to build a railroad and telegraph line from Greenville to Dallas. The initial capital was $800,000, and the business office was in Dallas. Members of the first board of directors included H. M. Hoxie, D. S. H. Smith, and George C. Smith, all of St. Louis; A. W. Hunter, Joseph Herrin, and G. J. Gooch, all of Palestine; and James A. Baker[SUP]qv[/SUP] of Houston. The road had its beginnings when the Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railroad Company, owned by Jay Gould, decided to renew its program of construction in Texas. The Katy already served Dallas and Greenville, but these cities were not connected, and the "black belt" country between them was productive. Fifty-two miles of track connecting Dallas and Greenville were completed by December 2, 1886. On that date the line was sold to the Missouri, Kansas and Texas, and subsequently deeded to the Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railway Company of Texas on November 18, 1891.(Texas State Historical Society)
The Joliet and Chicago Railroad was chartered February 15, 1855 and opened in 1856, continuing north and northeast from Joliet to downtown Chicago. It was leased by the Chicago & Mississippi, providing a continuous railroad from Alton to Chicago. In 1857 the C&M was reorganized as the St. Louis, Alton and Chicago Railroad, and another reorganization on October 10, 1862, produced the Chicago and Alton Railroad. The C&A chartered the Alton and St. Louis Railroad to extend the line to East St. Louis, opened in 1864, giving it a line from Chicago to East St. Louis.(wikipedia)
The Chicago and North Western Railway was chartered on June 7, 1859. It had purchased the assets of the bankrupt Chicago, St. Paul and Fond du Lac Railroad five days earlier. On February 15, 1865, it officially merged with the Galena and Chicago Union Railroad, which had been chartered on January 16, 1836. Since the Galena & Chicago Union started operating in December 1848, and the Fond du Lac railroad started in March, 1855, the Galena and Chicago Union Railroad is considered to be the origin of the North Western railroad system. (wikipedia)
Forgive me please for the cut'n'paste blog post today, I had a long, long night!
Make your own Trainz history today! Thanks for reading.
