Little Schuylkill and Susquehanna Railroad
| Company type | Railroad |
|---|---|
| Industry | Rail transport |
| Predecessor | Catawissa, Williamsport and Erie Railroad |
| Founded | 1860 |
| Founder | Christian Brobst, Joseph Paxton |
| Defunct | 1953 |
| Fate | Merged into the Reading Company |
| Headquarters | Catawissa , United States |
Area served | Pennsylvania |
| Products | Rail transport services |
The Catawissa Railroad operated within Pennsylvania from 1860 until 1953. It was mainly leased by the Reading Company prior to its integration into the Reading network.
History
Initially chartered in 1831 as the Little Schuylkill and Susquehanna Railroad, the enterprise sought to establish a rail connection between Tamanend (near Tamaqua, Pennsylvania) and Milton, Pennsylvania. Among its founders were Christian Brobst and Joseph Paxton from Catawissa, Pennsylvania. Construction commenced around 1835 but was halted due to the financial downturn caused by the 1837 banking crisis, which severely restricted investment funds.
Following a reorganization in 1849, the company became known as the Catawissa, Williamsport and Erie Railroad (CW&E), resuming construction in the early 1850s. By 1854, the line reached Milton, linking with the Sunbury and Erie Railroad (which later became the Philadelphia and Erie). At Tamanend, it connected to the Little Schuylkill Navigation Railroad, granting access to Tamaqua and Port Clinton and further connections to the Reading Company. Passenger services between Catawissa and Tamaqua commenced in July 1854. A crucial bridge spanning the Susquehanna River to Rupert was completed in 1855. The route, approximately , traversed difficult terrain featuring tunnels and several bridges.
Starting May 7, 1855, express trains ran from Philadelphia to Buffalo, Niagara Falls, and Chicago using CW&E tracks alongside those of the Reading and Little Schuylkill railroads.
After declaring bankruptcy in 1859, the company reorganized as the Catawissa Railroad (CRR) in 1860. In 1865, leasing attempts by Western Central Railroad and Atlantic and Great Western Railroad were upheld by courts despite opposition from Philadelphia & Erie. However, following Atlantic and Great Western’s bankruptcy in 1867, CRR resumed independent operations. By 1868, CRR's assets included 21 locomotives and 269 freight cars.
In 1861, CRR constructed an engine house and machine shop on land donated by the town of Catawissa; additional facilities were added up through 1901. A dedicated passenger station was erected in 1878.
The primary line was extended from Milton to Williamsport in 1871. The Reading Company leased CRR’s lines in 1872 and merged them with its Shamokin Branch by 1893.
In 1953, CRR was officially merged into the Reading Company. Over subsequent decades, Reading gradually discontinued segments of the Catawissa Branch. When Conrail acquired Reading in 1976, remaining portions of this line were abandoned.
Bridges
One notable structure was the railroad bridge over Dark Run, which stood at a height of 546 ft and stretched 574 ft in length. The Mainville bridge—the sole bridge located within Columbia County—measured 115 ft tall and extended 727 ft long.