Cambria and Indiana Railroad
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Rail transport |
| Founded | 1904 |
| Founder | Vinton Lumber Company |
| Fate | Mostly sold off by 1995 |
| Headquarters | Indiana County, Pennsylvania , United States |
Area served | Cambria and Indiana counties, Pennsylvania |
| Products | Coal transportation, formerly lumber transportation |
The Cambria and Indiana Railroad (C&I) is a rail transport company located in the southeastern region of Indiana County, Pennsylvania, United States. Established in 1904 and constructed in 1910 primarily for lumber transportation, the discovery of coal in the area soon redirected its operations, closely tying C&I’s activities to the coal mining sector.
In the 1930s and 1940s, C&I gained recognition as the "wealthiest railroad nationwide," achieving the highest income per mile of track. Nevertheless, the growing adoption of electric heating considerably reduced coal demand, resulting in a downturn for C&I’s business. By 1995, most of its assets had been sold off.
Brief history
Initially incorporated as the Blacklick and Yellow Creek Railroad (B&YC), this line was created in 1904 by Vinton Lumber Company as a subsidiary focused on lumber hauling. Following the local discovery of coal, John Heisley Weaver and B. Dawson Coleman acquired the railroad for $100,000 in 1910 to facilitate coal transportation throughout Cambria and Indiana counties.
At the time of purchase, the B&YC covered just ten miles but was rapidly extended to meet expanding coal demands. Construction started in February 1911, and on April 20, 1911, the company adopted the name Cambria and Indiana Railroad to better represent its regional coverage. By 1919, C&I was servicing 23 coal mines. Passenger operations ran from 1914 until December 1931, with intermittent service continuing into the late 1930s.
The railroad’s first engine was Baldwin Steam Locomotive #3, which was sold in January 1930. Throughout the mid-20th century, C&I sustained its reputation as a high-earning railroad but experienced decline as coal heating usage diminished. By 1962, only four mines remained active along its route.
In 1950, majority ownership transferred to Bethlehem Steel. Business conditions improved when BethEnergy opened Mine 33 near Ebensburg in 1963 and Barnes & Tucker initiated a large-scale mine at Stiles in 1965, allowing C&I to operate for an additional thirty years. However, Bethlehem’s closure of Mine 33 in 1994 marked the beginning of C&I’s operational cessation. In 1995, much of the track was either dismantled or donated for conversion into part of the Ghost Town Trail recreational path. Remaining rail segments were either sold or kept by Conrail; a private individual repurchased 9.6 miles in 1998.
Bethlehem Steel was itself acquired by ISG in 2003. The following year, ISG announced intentions to restart Mine 33 for coke production and electricity generation by 2006; however, these plans were abandoned due to unfavorable economic circumstances.