Pennsylvania and Rochester Railroad
| Company type | Railroad |
|---|---|
| Industry | Transportation (Railroad) |
| Predecessor | Genesee Valley Canal |
| Founded | 1880 |
| Fate | Merged to form Pennsylvania and Rochester Railroad in 1912 |
| Headquarters | Rochester, New York , United States |
Area served | Western New York |
| Parent | Leased by Buffalo, New York and Philadelphia Railway; later controlled by Western New York and Pennsylvania Railroad; leased by Pennsylvania Railroad starting 1900 |
The Genesee Valley Canal Railroad formed a component of the Pennsylvania Railroad network in western New York, constructed along the previous path of the Genesee Valley Canal.
Genesee Valley Canal: 1836-1878
Established by legislation in 1836, the Genesee Valley Canal extended from the Erie Canal at Rochester southwestward through the Genesee River valley, passing through locations such as Mount Morris, Portageville, Belfast, and continuing onward to the Allegheny River at Olean. A secondary branch diverged from Mount Morris heading toward Dansville.
By 1840, canal operations covered the stretch from Rochester to Mount Morris and reached Dansville by 1841, with the branch splitting at Sonyea. The entire route was completed up to Olean and Mill Grove by 1862. Nevertheless, interest in enhancing the canal waned following the completion of the Main Line of Public Works and development of the Pennsylvania Railroad. Instead, railroads such as the nearby Buffalo, Bradford and Pittsburgh Railroad near Carrollton played a role in shaping ongoing canal construction efforts.
The canal was officially authorized for abandonment in 1877 and subsequently sold in 1880 to a newly formed entity named the Genesee Valley Canal Railroad.
Genesee Valley Canal Railroad: 1880-1990s
Railroad construction commenced promptly after acquisition; by 1882, service began between Rochester and Hinsdale, where it connected with the Buffalo, New York and Philadelphia Railway (BNY&P). The southern portion of the canal route beyond Hinsdale was bypassed since it ran close to existing BNY&P tracks. Upon opening, the Genesee Valley Canal Railroad was leased to BNY&P.
The canal's branch leading to Dansville was not converted into rail service because that corridor was already served by established lines—the Erie and Genesee Valley Railroad and the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad's New York, Lackawanna and Western Railroad.
Nearby, the Rochester, Nunda and Pennsylvania Railroad operated a parallel track between Mount Morris and Nunda but had abandoned its northern section by 1881. This railroad merged into the Rochester, New York and Pennsylvania Railroad, which linked Nunda to the Genesee Valley Canal Railroad at Nunda Junction; this connection was leased by BNY&P in 1882.
Incorporated in 1882, the Genesee Valley Terminal Railroad established a branch line connecting southwestern Rochester with the New York Central Railroad at Lincoln Park by 1883.
In 1887, ownership of BNY&P—including control of the Genesee Valley Canal Railroad—transferred to the Western New York and Pennsylvania Railroad, which itself was leased by the Pennsylvania Railroad starting in 1900.
A short spur from Scottsville to Garbutt on Baltimore and Ohio's Rochester and State Line Railroad opened in 1907 but ceased operations by 1944.
In 1912, a merger between Genesee Valley Canal Railroad and Genesee Valley Terminal Railroad created the Pennsylvania and Rochester Railroad, which was absorbed into Western New York and Pennsylvania Railway in 1916—remaining under lease to Pennsylvania Railroad. Following subsequent corporate reorganizations—including PRR’s merger into Penn Central in 1968 and later Conrail formation in 1976—the entire line from Rochester to Hinsdale was abandoned by 1963 except for a brief spur located south of Rochester.
Genesee Valley Canal: 1991 to Present
The year 1991 marked the beginning of the Genesee Valley Greenway initiative, aimed at transforming the disused canal and railroad corridors into a recreational trail. This effort focused on adapting historic transportation routes to serve both local communities and visitors through outdoor recreational opportunities.