History
The Tonawanda Valley and Cuba Railroad was one of the predecessors to the Arcade and Attica Railroad and was part of a long succession of railroads planned and built through the Tonawanda Valley in Wyoming County.
On April 5, 1880 the Tonawanda Valley Railroad was incorporated with major financial backing from the Erie Railroad. The company planned to build a 24-mile, narrow-gauge line from Attica through Curriers Corners to Sardinia to connect with the Buffalo, New York and Pennsylvania Railroad. On September 11, 1880 the first train ran on the line from Attica to Curriers Corners. In October 1880 the Tonawanda Valley Extension Railroad was organized to extend the line from Curriers to Sardinia. By that winter the company changed its mind and began building to Arcade, rather than Sardinia. By May 1, 1881 the line had reached Arcade.
On July 14, 1881 the Tonawanda Valley and Cuba Railroad was formed to extend the line from Arcade to Cuba via Sandusky and Rushford. On August 27, 1881 the Tonawanda Valley Railroad, Tonawanda Valley Extension Railroad, and Tonawanda Valley and Cuba were merged into the new Tonawanda Valley and Cuba Railroad. By September 4, 1882 the line was complete between Attica and Cuba.
Newspaper Articles
The following newspaper articles on the Tonawanda Valley and Cuba were provided by railroad historian Richard Palmer and are taken from a variety of newspapers in the region.
- Articles About the Tonawanda Valley Railroad, 1881-1894
- December 10, 1891 - Brief History of this portion of the Tonawanda Valley
- December 10, 1891 - In Memorium
Timetables
- May 1883 Timetable on USGenNet.org
References
- Arcade and Attica. Corporate Web Site, http://www.anarr.com/corporate.html. Referenced 12/11/2004.
- Lewis, Edward A. and Douglass, Harry S. Arcade & Attica R. R. The Clymer Independent: Clymer, NY. 1966
- Palmer, Richard. Newspaper articles and 1890 photo.