Seventh Ward Railroad
| Seventh Ward Railroad | |
|---|---|
| Locale | Syracuse, New York, United States |
| Dates of operation | 1886–1890 |
| Successor | Syracuse Consolidated Street Railway |
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge |
| Headquarters | Syracuse, New York |
The Seventh Ward Railroad, a street trolley line in Syracuse, New York, was established in 1886 and[1] held the city railway franchise rights to East Fayette Street.[2] The total length of the road was 3 miles (4.8 km).[3] The route followed Fayette Street from Salina Street to Montgomery Street, Jefferson, Grape, Kennedy, Renwick Avenue with final destination Oakwood Cemetery.[4]
The road was established by the same entrepreneurs as the Eleventh Ward Railroad which was laid on the same line on Fayette Street to Montgomery Street three years later in 1889; however, from there it continued to Burt, Cortland Avenue, Midland Avenue, Colvin Street, Mulberry, Elizabeth, Baker Avenue and terminating on Kennedy street, forming a belt line with the Seventh Ward line. Both lines were also referred to as the Seventh and Eleventh Ward Railroad. These two lines were the first in the city to adopt regular schedule ten-minute time.[4]
The company merged with Syracuse Consolidated Street Railway in 1890, after an agreement was made that allowed the new company to lease the lines.[4]
History
The Seventh Ward Railroad was established in 1886 with $50,000 capital.[4]
Company management
At the time of establishment in 1886, Edward F. Rice was president; R. S. Sperry was vice-president; E. J. Rice was secretary and Frank Purnell was superintendent.[3]
Operations
The line employed both 45 and 47 pound rail and by 1890 had six cars and 26 horses.[3]
Syracuse consolidated lease agreement
The Syracuse Consolidated Street Railway was chartered in 1890 in Syracuse and by July 1, 1890, the new company leased, in perpetuity, several street railroads in the city including the Seventh Ward Railroad as well as the Third Ward Railway, Fourth Ward Railroad, Fifth Ward Railroad, Eleventh Ward Railroad, New Brighton and Onondaga Valley Railroad, Genesee and Water Street Railroad, Woodlawn and Butternut Street Railway and Syracuse and Geddes Railway. The rail ran a total distance of 24 miles (39 km) and had branches every 3 miles (4.8 km).[5] At that time, the Seventh Ward Railroad ceased to exist.[4]
Syracuse Consolidated Street Railway filed for bankruptcy in 1893 and merged with the Syracuse Rapid Transit Railway Company in May 1896.[6]
References
- ↑ "First Streetcars Operated Here in 1860". Syracuse Herald (Syracuse, New York). December 14, 1922.
- ↑ "Study for Bus Franchise Recalls Early Trolley Lines". Syracuse Herald-Journal (Syracuse, New York). May 23, 1940.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Whipple, Fred H. Whipple's Electric, Gas and Street Railway Financial Reference Directory. Electronic Library, 2011. Retrieved July 5, 2011.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Bruce, Dwight Hall. Memorial history of Syracuse, N.Y., from its settlement to the present time. Electronic Library, 2011. Retrieved July 5, 2011.
- ↑ Poor, Henry Varnum. Manual of the railroads of the United States, Volume 27. Poors, 1889 p. 85; 317. Retrieved February 18, 2011.
- ↑ American street railway investments. The Street Railway Publishing Company, 1899 p. 262. Retrieved February 18, 2011.