Electric Railway notes by Paul Renault

Below are notes made on index cards by Paul Renault. These notes were written around 1960 relating to a number of electric and former electric lines of the time. Typed by Evan Jennings. TMNY catalog number 1241, accession PR199001.

Alabama Power Co.

Local steam lines bought by Tuscaloosa Railway & Utilities Co. (later A. P. Co.) in 1914 and electrified. Operated local trolleys and belt line until Nov. 1941. Line to Holt & City; belt line freight only thereafter; operated by GM&O with diesels since 1945.

Aroostock Valley Railway

Passenger service ended after WW2. Freight dieselized by Canadian Pacific Ry, owner. Cars saved for Seashore Electric Ry of Kennebunkport Me.

Atlantic City & Shore RR

Ocean City Division

Lease of line between Atlantic City & Somers Point transferred to A. C. Transp. Co. 12-1-45; canceled 1-18-48. Passenger service by ACT Co. bus. Freight by Penna Rdg Seashore Lines steam engines.

Atlantic Shore Electric Ry

Sold its remaining electric rail lines to York Utilities Co.

Aurora Elgin & Fox River Elec. Co.

All electric properties have been sold; controlled by National City Lines.

Formally connected Aurora with Elgin, Ill. Most of line abandoned with motorization of Aurora & Elgin City Lines. Short section connecting Chicago Aurora & Elgin RR with Illinois State Hospital kept but de-electrified in 1948.

Baltimore & Annapolis Railroad

Includes portions of Washington Baltimore & Annapolis Electric Railway, Maryland Electric Railways.

B&O took over WB&A line between Ford Meade Jct. and Fort Meade, and operates by steam and diesel.

Bamberger Railroad

Main line, Salt Lake City to Ogden, Utah; also owns section of Salt Lake & Utah running south from Salt Lake City, and short stretch of Utah-Idaho Central within city of Ogden, running north from trolley terminal (now Greyhound depot) at 23rd St. to 19th St. Electric passenger service ended 9-5-52. Electric freight service ended 1953.

Car 400 now in Bay Area Electric collection.

Bush Terminal RR

Passenger service formally operated with a Birney now discontinued freight moved by diesel. Short section used by Bush Terminal RR electrified for B&QT trolleys.

Cambria & Indiana RR

Originally a steam road. Passenger service for coal miners provided by battery cars. Very hilly section of line which caused too heavy a drain on batteries was equipped with trolley wire for several miles. De-electrified in 1920s.

Cedar Rapids & Iowa City Railway

Ended high speed electric passenger service between these two cities 5-29-53 and two months later replaced electric freight service with diesels. Two cars, one built for Cincinnati & Lake Erie, the other bought at the start of World War II from Indiana Railroad, have been preserved (at Worthington Ohio and No. Chicago, Ill, respectively).

Central California Traction Co.

Passenger service on this 3rd rail powered interurban line from Sacramento to Stockton (with branch to Lodi) ended in 1930s. Freight service went diesel in 1940s. City passenger service in Sacro where trolley wire was used was sold to Sacramento City Lines and discontinued by them 1-4-47.

City Lines of West Virginia

Section of Morgantown Divn.

Most of Clarksburg-Fairmount Line

Both operated for frt by B&O which bought them after CLWVs motorization program in 1940s. The Morgantown Pike segment had already been isolated from the rest of the CLWV rail lines.

Clinton, Davenport & Muscatine Ry

Upon abandonment of interurban system, several miles were sold to Davenport Rock Island & Northwestern, a steam line.

Connecticut Company

Hartford Division

Former trolley work cars with generators on board, move carload freight on portions of V-Burnside and Z-Glastonbury line. Power lines on Rt. Z wrecked by 1938 hurricane; V a victim of division-wide motorization.

New Haven Division

A few blocks on Forbes Ave. used jointly by F-Branford, G-Lighthouse and H-Momaugrin now accommodate diesel trains of Manufacturers RR.

Cumberland Valley Ry

An early steam road electrification discontinued after Pennsylvania Railroad gained control.

Denver & Intermountain Railroad Co.

Portion of Golden Line between interchange in south end of Denver and Morningside Jct. and government-owned branch to Federal Center (from Morningside Jct.) formerly leased to D&IM now operated by the Associated Railroad of Colorado. Electric operation ended 1953 for freight, 1940s for passengers. One car preserved in Golden.

Denver & Interurban

Part of the Colorado & Southern Railway was electrified (by C&S) and operated under the name of Denver & Interurban. Power was collected by pantograph.

Des Moines & Central Iowa Railroad Co.

Between Des Moines, Iowa and Beaver Park: operated by diesel since 1949.

Des Moines Railway Company

Route 9  Urbandale remains in diesel freight service between Beaver Jct. near 22nd St. and Beaver Avenue, near 42nd Street. Regular electric passenger trolley service operated until March 1951.

Erie Railroad Co.

Branch from Mt. Morris on main line to Rochester electrified for suburban and commuter service with electrified steam coaches equipped with pantographs. Replaced by limited gas-electric service 1930s now terminated. Freight never was electric. See also International Ry Co.

Grafton & Upton Railroad

Formally part of Worchester Consolidated Street Railway system, which operated it as lessee. Owned by the Draper Corporation, manufacturers of textile machinery. Now freight only. De-electrified 1940s.

Great Northern

See Spokane & Inland Empire.

Gulfport & Mississippi Coast Traction

(blank card)

Hoboken Manufacturers RR

No passenger service operated. Gasoline powered engines replaced electrics 1940.

Houston-North Shore Ry

An interurban trolley line which became a subsidiary of Missouri Pacific Ry, lost its entry to downtown with abandonment of Houston Electric Co.s city lines; after experimenting with road-railers to provide thru service, the line arranged trackage to Union Depot over steam rds which would not allow overhead to be strung. A twin coach on flanged wheels took over. 1940s

Hudson River & Eastern Traction Co.

Although the corporate existence of this line was long since ceased, a few yards of its trackage adjacent to the Ossining NY station are still in use for New York Central freight cars.

Indiana Railroad

Formerly operated as lessee, the Interstate Public Service Co.s line from Indianapolis to Louisville, of which a portion remains as Southern Indiana Ry.

International Railway Co.

Lockport Division  Sold its local lines in Lockport and interurban to No. Tonawanda (freight only already) to Erie Railroad Co. which dieselized in 1951.

Interstate Public Service Co.

Line leased to Indiana Railroad. Lease cancelled 1941, most of line abandoned. Section from Watson Jct to Speeds saved, for frt only, sold to Southern Indiana Ry. which later installed generators in locomotives and removed overhead electrification.

Interurban Electric Railway

A few portions in Oakland area are still operated for freight service, with Southern Pacific diesels.

Passenger and electric operations ended 12-31-40 except on certain portions taken over by Key System, a few of which are still operated (7 St. Line to Havenscourt, Berkeley, Shattuck Av line to Thousand Oaks).

Joplin  Pittsburg Railway

Ex-Joplin-Pittsburg Public Service Co.

Lackawanna & Wyoming Valley Railway (Laurel Line)

Wilkes-Barre to Scranton, PA

Electric freight service on the L&WV came to an end 8-19-53 with a diesel leased from DL&W taking over. Passenger service, always electric, had ended 12-31-52.

Lewiston & Youngstown Frontier Ry

(blank card)

Linwood Street Railway Co.

Serves and is owned by Whitin Manufacturing of Whitinsville, Mass.

Manufacturers RR of New Haven

No passenger service ever operated. Diesels replaced electric switchers following motorization of New Haven Divn of the Connecticut Company, on whose tracks it operates for a few blocks.

Maryland Electric Railways Co.

See Baltimore & Annapolis RR.

Mason City& Clear Lake RR

De-electrified a few spurs and sidings in connection with new construction by still electric on main line.

Passenger service ended and city street trackage abandoned. [Management and staff reported to be extremely hostile to photography]

Michigan Railroad Co.

Portion purchased by New York Central Railroad when balance was abandoned.

Minneapolis, Anoka & Cuyuna Range Ry

Trackage rights into Minneapolis via Twin City Rapid Transit surrendered on termination of passenger service. Southern portion of line sold to Northern Pump Co. for transportation of its workers during war. Balance of line operated by diesel for freight only.

Monongahela-West Penn Public Serice

Bought the Fairmount & Clarksburg Ry, among others, and in 1943, sold its traction properties to City Lines of West Virginia.

New York Central System

West Shore Railroad; electrified with 3rd rail for use of N. Y. State Rys interurbans between Utica South and Syracuse South; used also until 12-31-30 West Shore Railroad from Frankfort Jct to Mohawk Jct was electrified for Utica-Little Falls cars of N.Y.S. Rys, from 1905 until 1913.

New York, New Haven & Hartford R R

Until forbidden by state law, the New Haven operated a number of branch lines by 3rd rail electric power. The lines did not form an integrated network.

Rockville-E. Hartford de-electrified in 1924.

Other lines used overhead trolley; in some cases, trackage rights were granted to New Haven's traction subsidiary The Connecticut Co. Also see Prov., Warren & Bristol.

New York State Railways

Ilion (West Shore Sta.) to Remington Arms plant in Ilion, de-electrified in 1933, operated by New York Central RR.

Norfolk Southern Ry

Bought an interurban trolley line from Norfolk to Virginia Beach which competed severely with NS own line. Lines joined to form a loop, with NS of line electrified to permit through operation. Both freight and passenger service operated electrically. De-electrified late 1930s in favor of streamlined gas-electric cars; now frt only.

North Carolina Public Service Co.

High Point Division

Passenger service replaced by busses. Freight service operated by High Point Thomasville & Denton RR on portion of former trolley system.

Northeast Oklahoma Railway

(blank card)

Old Colony Railroad

Leased to New Haven which electrified certain portions.

Oregon Electric Railway Co.

(blank card)

Petaluma & Santa Rosa

(blank card)

Philadelphia Suburban Work Cars

November, 1948

1  single truck rotary snowplow
3  single truck nose snowplow
3  double truck sweeper
4  double truck sweeper (express car type; not over painted)
5  double truck sweeper, probably from Syracuse Transit Corp.
05  double cab work car

Portland Eugene & Eastern

Sold to Southern Pacific.

Freight service only, now operated by steam.

Providence Warren & Bristol Ry

Came under control of New Haven RR which later replaced passenger service with New England Transportation Co. busses and operated freight service by steam. Providence to Fall River via Warren, with a branch to Bristol, 1-9-32.

Rhode Island Company

As a New Haven subsidiary, operated extensive city and interurban system; reorganized as United Electric Rys under New England Electric control.

Leased Narragansett Pier RR and electrified it between Narragansett and Wakefield. Electrification removed on cancellation of lease, 1920s.

Retained portion of Buttonwoods Divn, orig a steam rd, for frt after general motorization. Sold to T. P. Vaughn who organized the Warwick RR Co. to operate it. Freight moved by diesel, 1952.

St. François County Ry

A rural line serving Farmington, Mo. and vicinity. Irregular passenger and freight service where offered until late 1940s when dieselized. Passenger (actually combo) equipt retired at that time.

St. Louis & Belleville Electric Co.

Formally an important passenger line in East Saint Louis area before arrival of Natl City Lines. After loss of downtown entry, line ceased passenger service but continued moderate traffic of heavy freight. Dieselized after WWII.

Salt Lake & Utah Railroad

Two section of this line are still in use for diesel service, although operation by the SL&U with electric passenger cars ended March 1946.

Salt Lake city sector now served by the Bamberger Railroad. Magna branch sold to the Western Pacific.

Observation Car No. 702 now owned by Bay Area Electric Railway Assn in Oakland area.

Salt Lake, Garfield & Western (Saltaire Line)

Between westerly outskirts of Salt Lake City and Saltaire Beach on the lake.

Electric freight service ended 3-1-52. Passenger service in summer seasons only. Open cars, now diesel drawn, still run in Summer.

San Francisco & Napa Valley Railway

(blank card)

South Brooklyn Ry Co

Passenger service on Rt. 50  McDonald Ave. electric, operated for afc of SPR by NYCTS. Road freight on same line, Kensington to Coney Island diesel. Some electric freight operation Kensington to waterfront (39th St.).

Schenectady Railway

200-221 one man city cars, Brill
504, 522 one man city cars
561, 562 two man interurban cars ex-Albany Southern, built by Cincinnati
650-655 two man interurban cars
719-723 one man city, two man interurban, Wason?

Work

11-P, 12-P, 13-P, 14-P sweepers
15-P city plow
20-P intr plow
21-P rotary (Russel) > Montreal
36-S Sand
41-M motor flat
46-M crane
50-D, 51-D differential
95-O wire

Southern Indiana Railway Inc.

Ex Interstate Public Service Co.

Southern Pacific Company

Portland area: see Portland Eugene & eastern

Oakland area: see Interurban Electric Ry

Spokane Coeur dAlene & Palouse Ry

Ex Spokane & Inland Empire Railroad, now part of Great Northern System.

Tidewater Southern Railway

(blank card)

Toledo & Western Railroad

Now Pioneer & Fayette Railroad

Ohio & Morenci Railroad

Trenton-Princeton Traction Co.

Operated as a subsidiary of the Reading Company between Lawrenceville and the outskirts of Trenton for freight service only.

United Electric Railways of Providence RI

See Rhode Island Company.

United Railways

Portland, Oregon, to Wikesboro still in use for diesel freight. Stark & 12th, Portland, via 12th St., Pettygrove, 22nd St., Nicholas Ave, and private way.

Visalia Electric Railroad Co.

(blank card)

Walla Walla Valley Ry Co.

(blank card)

Warwick Railroad Co.

See Rhode Island Company.

Washington, Baltimore & Annapolis Electric Railway

See Baltimore & Annapolis RR

West Jersey & Seashore R. R.

Sold, among others, its electrified lines from Camden (Phila ferry) to Millville and Atlantic City to Penna Rdg Seashore Lines which de-electrified Atlantic City line and Millville line in 1949. Gas-electric passenger service on AC line to Jan. 1951. RDC passenger service on Millville line to present steam freight on both.

Winona Railroad

Passenger service discontinued. Connection from Warsaw, Ind. to Peru on Indiana RR and line no. of New Paris Jct., abandoned. Remainder recently reported purchased by junk interests. See Dec 52 R R mag.

Worcester Consolidated St. Ry

See Grafton & Upton RR

See also Directory of Private & Industrial RRs for portion still operated electricity by Ames Woolen Mills.

York Utilities Co.

Abandoned all its lines except River St (Sanford, Me. To Springvale) which became freight only. Sold to new company, Sanford & Eastern R. R. which dieselized it. Also bought Portland & Rochester Br. B&M RR which was never electric.

Youngstown & Southern Railway

Between Youngstown & Leeonia, Ohio

Diesels took over freight service 1952. Passenger service, always electric on the original Y & S, ended.