Tonawanda Railroad
| Company type | Railroad company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Rail transport |
| Founded | 1832 |
| Fate | Merged with Attica and Buffalo Railroad to form Buffalo and Rochester Railroad in 1850 |
| Headquarters | Rochester, New York , United States |
| Products | Rail transport services |
The Tonawanda Railroad was founded in 1832 in Rochester, New York, operating a route between Rochester and Attica, New York. In 1850, it combined with the Attica and Buffalo Railroad to create the Buffalo and Rochester Railroad, which played a significant role as a forerunner of the original New York Central Railroad.
Background
As communities such as Batavia grew, there emerged a need for dependable commercial transport options. Although the Erie Canal served much of upstate New York, it bypassed Batavia due to natural obstacles like Eighteen Mile Creek and the Niagara Escarpment. Five years after receiving its charter, the Tonawanda Railroad introduced two wood-fueled locomotives that were transported by canal boat.
Origin
The Tonawanda Railroad received its charter on April 24, 1832, with plans to link Rochester to Attica and ultimately to Buffalo. Its initial route included stops at Scottsville, Mumford, Caledonia, and Le Roy. Later on, a more direct alignment through Batavia was adopted. The towns along the original path were later served by the Scottsville & LeRoy Railroad.
Being the second railroad established in New York State after the Mohawk and Hudson, the Tonawanda took its name from Tonawanda Creek, which flows through Batavia. However, historian Edward Dunn points out that the section following Tonawanda Creek to Attica was not added until 1841, several years post chartering and naming. The founders initially intended only to connect with the Attica and Buffalo Railroad. After the completion of the more direct Buffalo and Rochester Railroad in 1853, the Attica and Buffalo line was sold to the Erie Railroad.
Construction
By 1836, the line had reached South Byron, where horse-drawn car service commenced shortly thereafter. The primary segment from Rochester southwestward to Batavia began operation on May 5, 1837. The railroad extended through the valley of Tonawanda Creek reaching Attica by 1842, officially opening on January 8, 1843. The chief engineer overseeing construction was Elisha Johnson.
Operation
An 1888 newspaper from Batavia described the early history of the railroad:
"The Tonawanda Railroad was originally planned to run from Rochester to Buffalo via Batavia. By 1836, it had reached South Byron—eight miles northeast of Batavia—with horse-drawn cars in service. A year later, the line extended to Batavia, establishing it as the terminus. The company acquired six acres from merchant James BRISBANE for their depot site. Initially intended for a location north of Main Street near what is now George BRISBANE’s residence, property owners influenced a reroute that increased land values on the south side.
The first depot was constructed at Big Tree (currently Ellicott) and South (now Jackson) streets in Batavia. Tracks ran through this building which featured large doors used to secure cars overnight. A track extended along Ellicott Street toward what is now the Courthouse area where a turntable and water tank were installed. The opening ceremony for the Rochester-to-Batavia segment on May 8, 1837, was marked by a grand celebration.
In 1840, New York State granted an additional three-year extension along with a $100,000 loan to complete construction between Batavia and Attica. At Attica, this line connected with the Attica & Buffalo Railroad, which had been chartered in 1836. The continuous route from Rochester to Buffalo via Batavia and Attica officially began operation on January 5, 1843.
In 1850, consolidation occurred between the Tonawanda Railroad and Attica & Buffalo Railroad forming the Rochester and Buffalo Railroad. This merger authorized a branch running directly from Batavia to Buffalo—this segment is now incorporated into the four-track system of the New York Central Railroad."
Terminal
The railroad industry experienced swift growth as new routes were developed. On December 7, 1850, the Tonawanda Railroad combined with the Attica and Buffalo Railroad to establish the Buffalo and Rochester Railroad. This entity was one of ten railroads that unified on May 17, 1853, resulting in the formation of the New York Central Railroad.
It is important to distinguish this Tonawanda Railroad from the similarly named Tonawanda Valley Railroad, Tonawanda Valley Extension Railroad, and Tonawanda Valley and Cuba Railroad. These three companies merged in 1881 to create the restructured Tonawanda Valley and Cuba Railroad. However, this latter company declared bankruptcy three years later after attempting to build portions of its line over unstable quicksand terrain.