History

The Chautauqua Lake Railway was the first of a succession of companies operating along the eastern side of Chautauqua Lake between Jamestown and Mayville. It was built by Willard White of Boston who owned a large resort on the lake at Long Point.

Construction of the line began in October 1885 at Bemus Point, Griffiths, and Fluvanna.  B. T. Johnson and Company of Vandalia, Illinois were the contractors responsible for grading and blasting the route and laying the track.  They employed between 1,200 and 1,500 men organized as 300 teams to accomplish the work.  Work was suspended near Point Chautauqua due to a lawsuit by the Point Chautauqua Association.  The association opposed construction of the railroad along the lakeshore arguing that it would decrease the value of their properties.  A special commission was appointed to determine the best course of action.  In March 1886 the commission sided with the railroad giving it permission for the right-of-way, but did not specify how much the railroad should pay for it.  In September 1886 the commission awarded $9,500 to the association to cover the cost of the right-of-way through the area.

The first spike was driven in the railroad on May 2, 1887 and work began soon after on laying the rail.  The construction locomotive purchased from Danforth & Coon of Urbana, Ohio was delivered on May 27th, joining 25 flat cars already on hand. In June the railroad purchased a small switch engine from the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railroad.  The railroad reached Dewittville by July 1st and Point Chautauqua by the 20th of the month.  The first train ran the length of the line from Jamestown to Mayville on July 22nd and regular service began on July 25, 1887.

In May 1887 the railroad purchased the steamers of the Chautauqua Steamboat Company (also known as the Red Stack Line) and a three mile section of track between Mayville and the Chautauqua Institution from the Buffalo, New York, and Philadelphia Railroad.  This deal also gave the Chautauqua Lake Railroad trackage rights over the BNY&P from their connection at Mayville Junction to the village of Mayville itself.  The Chautauqua Lake Railroad gained the right to operate trains over the BNY&P from Mayville Junction to Brocton where it interchanged cars with the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern.

The Chautauqua Lake Railway lasted until October 17, 1894 when the company was reorganized as the Jamestown and Lake Erie Railway. The company reorganized again on January 1, 1899 and emerged as the Jamestown and Chautauqua Railway. The Jamestown, Chautauqua and Lake Erie Railway opened a line from Mayville to Westfield on July 1, 1902 and leased the Jamestown & Chautauqua Railway. The Buffalo & Lake Erie Traction Company, an interurban line, bought up all the stock in February 1907. The line went into receivership and was purchased by the Broadhead interests, owners of the Jamestown Street Railway and Chautauqua Traction Company.

On December 8, 1913 the Jamestown, Westfield & Northwestern Railroad took over the line and began electrifying the main line. Passenger operations ended November 30, 1947 following the death leading members of the Broadhead family. The line began diesel powered freight service which continued until January 21, 1950.

Not much is known about the motive power and equipment of the company. According to an 1897 report of the Board of Railroad Commissioners, the Jamestown and Lake Erie Railway Company owned five 4-driver locomotives purchased at an average of $4,000 each. The company also owned 11 first class passenger cars, one second class passenger car and two baggage, mail and express cars. The only other equipment listed for the line were one construction car and one flat car.

One of the companies which provided passenger cars to the Chautauqua Lake Railway was the Jackson & Sharp Car Company which built a variety of passenger cars for the railroad.

Major WNY Facilities

Maps

Adapted from the "Official Railway & Steamboat Guide Chautauqua Lake Tourists Guide, 1889-90", F. M. Lewis & H. B. Stranahan Publishers, Cleveland, Ohio.

Timetables

Newspaper Articles

References