History

As with many railroad routes, the Northern Central Railway began as a collection of smaller railroads which merged and consolidated over time.  The history of the portion of the line in New York State revolves around four segments: the route from Sodus Point to Stanley, the route from Canandaigua to Watkins (via Stanley), the segment from Watkins to Elmira, and the route from Elmira to Williamsport, PA.

Sodus to Stanley

The Sodus Bay and Southern Railroad was built in 1873 to connect Sodus Point on Lake Ontario to the Elmira, Jefferson and Canandaigua Railway at Stanley, NY.  The line was sold at foreclosure on September 21, 1875 and reorganized in November 1875 as the Ontario Southern Railroad Company.  The Ontario Southern merged with the Geneva, Hornellsville and Pine Creek Railway Company (a "paper railroad" that operated no track) on December 17, 1879 to form the Lake Ontario Southern Railway Company.  This company was sold at foreclosure on September 4, 1882, and reorganized on November 5th of the same year as the Sodus Bay and Southern Railroad Company.

Canandaigua to Watkins

The Canandaigua and Corning Railroad was chartered on May 14, 1845 and by September 1851 had built a 47-mile line from Canandaigua to Watkins (then known as "Jefferson").  In September 1852 the company changed its name to the Canandaigua and Elmira Rail Road.  It was sold at foreclosure on April 23, 1857 and reorganized on May 2 of that year as the Elmira, Canandaigua & Niagara Falls Rail Road. This company was also sold at foreclosure and on February 18, 1859 was reorganized as the Elmira, Jefferson and Canandaigua Rail Road.

Watkins to Elmira

The Chemung Railroad was chartered on May 14, 1845 and by approximately 1850 had constructed a 17-mile line from Elmira north to Jefferson (now known as Watkins). 

Elmira to Williamsport, Pennsylvania

The Williamsport and Elmira Railroad extended 78 miles north from Williamsport, PA to just south of Elmira, New York.  On April 15, 1863 the company was leased to the Northern Central Railway.

Consolidation

The Northern Central Railway was formed by the consolidation of many smaller railroads extending from Baltimore north to Elmira, New York.  By 1861 the company was controlled by the Pennsylvania Railroad, but was operated as a separate company.

On May 9, 1872 the Northern Central purchased the entire stock of the Elmira, Jefferson and Canandaigua Rail Road and the Chemung Railroad.  The company also reached an agreement to operate over four miles of the Erie Railroad to connect the Chemung Railroad with the northern end of the Williamsport and Elmira Railroad.  On July 1, 1884 the Northern Central purchased all the stock of the Sodus Bay and Southern Railroad, completing a line from Baltimore north to Sodus Bay.

On December 31, 1886 the Sodus Bay and Southern Railroad, the Elmira, Jefferson and Canandaigua Rail Road, and the Chemung Railroad were consolidated as the Elmira and Lake Ontario Railroad. 

On July 21, 1887 the Canandaigua Lake Railroad Company was incorporated to build a one and a half mile line from downtown Canandaigua to a pier on Canandaigua Lake.  The company was merged into the Elmira and Lake Ontario Railroad on December 27, 1888.

The Elmira and Lake Ontario retained its corporate identity until July 31, 1956 when it was formally merged into the Northern Central railroad.  The Northern Central was fully controlled by the Pennsylvania Railroad, but retained its corporate independence until the PRR collapsed in 1968.

Lines and Stations

The following were the stations on the main line of the New York section of the line.

Station  
Sodus Point
Wallington
Sodus Center
Calciana
Zurich
Fairville
Newark Station
Newark
Outlet
Phelps Junction
Orleans
Seneca Castle
Flint
Stanley
Hall
Bellona
Benton
Penn Yan
Milo
Himrod Junction
Starkey
Lakemont
Glenora
Rock Stream
Watkins
Montour Falls
Millport
Pine Valley
Horseheads
Elmira Heights
Elmira
Southport Junction
Southport
State Line
 		  

References