TROY, Pa. - Some of the last passengers to ride the Pennsylvania Railroad have fond memories of days when the world was younger and railroading was in its prime. One such is Henry B. Van Dyne, business executive and lifelong resident of Troy.
Local lands had the same feeling of awe toward the dining cars as boys of Mark Twain's day had for the river packets. He recalls staring at the romantic passengers, the snowy linen, heavy silver service and white-jacketed waiters and dreaming of the day when he too might enjoy such luxury. He has.
In those days, Trojans often went shipping in "the city: even as they do today. But they went up on the "9 o'clock" and returned on the '5 o'clock." Theater parties were another institution of that day. Trojans took the "4 o'clock" north. In Elmira, they attended road company shows at the old Lyceum, then returned on the "midnight."
Mt. Pisgah's Heyday
All trains were met at the Troy Depot by the hotel carriage. Mt. Pisgah was a celebrated resort and refuge for asthma sufferers and boasted a hotel and observation tower. An even more imposing resort was Minnequa, near Canton. The sulphur waters of the spring there drew visitors from all parts of the east.
There was a freight as well as passenger station in Troy then. The depot, a true nerve center of the community, was open 24 hours a day. During the Troy Fair, special station facilities were set up on the fairgrounds and all trains stopped there.
Northern Central trains played a part in many a local drama. One was the murder of Ed Fenner, night watchman. It was said the shot which felled him was heard but was mistaken for a signal torpedo exploding on the tracks. The body was not discovered until the next morning, and the murderer went undetected.
Civil War Incident
Van Dyne's father often told an early boyhood memory involving the railroad. He was watching a load of Confederate prisoners go by, bound for the Elmira Prison camp - when one of them jumped free and ran through the then open field by the tracks. Guards followed. There were shots, and the Southerner was recaptured unhurt.
Comedy was served also. Van Dyne tells of a local chap returning from Philadelphia
a bit worse for wear. He awoke in his berth just as the train was starting down
Troy hill.
Dressing in frantic haste, the poor fellow leaped off at the last minute, holding
in his arms such clothes as he hadn't time to put on. Before a crowd of the
platform onlookers, he was embarrassed to discover that he was holding not his
own but a pair of women's shoes!
Frantic telegraph work to Elmira appeased the lady in the next berth whose shoes he'd inadvertently snatched - and who also left the train barefoot.
MERRY MOURNERS - Part of the crowd of 45 from Troy and Canton who made the last trip on the Pennsylvania Railroad early Saturday are shown in festive mood after the train left troy. They picked up passengers at Canton, and got off at Roaring Branch for a breakfast party. The Rotary Club and Lion's Club were prime movers for the event.
Last Run of No. 595 - When train service ceased early yesterday along the
PRR from the state line to Williamsport, it ended 102-year chapter of transportation
history. The one car train was made up nightly in Southport Yards and made the
lonely trip to Williamsport and back.