Williamsport, PA to Elmira, NY

The former PRR station in Troy, PA, on the branch to Elmira, NY. Rails are still in place from this early 1970s abandonment by Penn Central. Photo by Matt Gibbons.

This major branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad left the mainline on the West Branch of the Susquehanna River at Elmira Branch Junction (Williamsport, PA) and went north to Elmira, NY, and then ultimately to Sodus Point on Lake Ontario, deep inside enemy (New York Central) territory. The section between Williamsport and Elmira was abandoned by Penn Central in the 1972 time frame, most probably after Hurricane Agnes in June 1972. (Hurricane Agnes caused the death of many railroad lines by washing out bridges and track -- it was not economical to replace and repair many of these lines and they were subsequently abandoned.)

From Williamsport, the line went to Cogan, Trout Run, Bodines, Marsh Hill, Ralston, Grover, Cedar Lodge, Canton, Granville Summit, Troy, Columbia Cross Roads, then into New York to State Line Junction, Southport and into Elmira. Interestingly, PRR shared its ROW with the Susquehanna & New York Railroad from Williamsport to Marsh Hill. The S&NY had a line intersected the PRR at Marsh Hill, and went between Buttonwood to the west through Marsh Hill and to Monroeton to the east, and connected with the Lehigh Valley at South Towanda. The PRR also shared trackage with the Erie from State Line Junction, NY into Elmira -- the Erie line went to the southwest into Pennsylvania and connected with the New York Central at Lawrenceville, PA. The PRR shared trackage for a short segmet north of Elmira with the LV -- this line is still active from Elmira to Elmira Heights.

Thanks to Matt Gibbons for contributing information about this route.

The Elmira Branch left the mainline at "NB" Junction, not "Elmira Branch Junction" as was stated in the article.

I.P. Freely
PA
12/20/2009

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the Elmira Branch was part of teh old North Central tath ran from Baltimore Md to Sodus Point NY with branch to Canandaigua NY. Line is active from Watkins Glen to Pen Yen NY and is in service from Nework to NY 104 where it connects with the ex NYC Hojack line. They may have pulled the traks from 104 to Sodus Point. I followed the grade from Elmira south to WilliamPort. Memories!

Jerry.Misik
Palmyra, NY
3/29/2010

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My son is with Boy Scout Troop 28 - the Golden Dragons, Red Lion, PA. Our troop is working with KTA (which I am a supporting member) and PA DCNR on assuming trail maintenance between the western loop of the Old Loggers Path to Masten, following the S&NY roadbed along Pleasant Stream. In 2009, I located this trail in what appeared to be abandoned condition (the hiking trail, that is) and our troop queried KTA and DCNR about assuming maintenance of this trail (at least art of it) as a community services project. I have several books regarding the S&NY as well as Masten, and find this part of our history fascinating! In June, look for our new signs proudly listing our troop as the new caretakers of this trail!

Dave DalPezzo
Glen Rock, PA
4/6/2010

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My older brother and sister both went to Penn State in the 1960s-70s. I remember this line being active right up until Agnes washed out big sections of the line. Traffic was quite fast in the mid 60's on the line -- there's a story about pacing a train in the car (50-60mph) and then getting a surprise when the road suddenly veered across the track!

Matt McKrell
Cary, NC
12/2/2010

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I grew up in Powys along the tracks.I was just 4 when the Agnes flood destroyed my family's home and most of the rail road. I can remember the very last trains to run up the valley before the flood. My father also grew up here and remembers when steam trains ran this valley.In 1976 we moved to Gray's Run and live directly across from the old Gray's Run RR line making the bend around the end of Shriver Ridge out of Grays Run and heading North following Rt 14 to just North of Marsh Hill where it crossed from the West side of the valley to the East side and proceeded to Ralston and Maston. This was later part of the S&NY. I have hiked many miles of the old GR RR and have found RR related artifacts. I have also had the privilege to tour the Grays Run Hunting Club which took control of land formerly owned by Thomas Proctor who built the Grays Run saw mill and the Grays run RR .The RR was removed around 1910.

What a rich and industrious history we have in this area.

J.Patchen
Trout Run, PA
1/19/2011

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A 1941 PRR system map of the Williamsport Division suggests that PRR had trackage rights with the Erie RR from State Line Jct. (south of Elmira) north to Chemung Jct. (north of Elmira Heights). LV did not have direct access to Elmira (but may have had trackage rights with either the Erie or DL&W, both of which had LV connections in the Sayre, Waverly area).

The former PRR line (nee North Central RR) north of Chemung Jct. terminates just north of Horseheads, where it serves a distribution facility. Portions of the line north to Sodus are still in use.

Robert Hanley
Greenville, SC
9/8/2011

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The tracks from the diamond at 104 north to Sodus Point have been pulled. At least in theory it's now a rail-trail, but it's one of the more primitive rail-trails I've ever seen! You can still see the short rail sections where the diamond was removed from the former Hojack line.

Russ Nelson
Potsdam, NY
11/28/2011

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I just saw your write up about the Pennsylvania Railroad's Elmira Branch.Very good,the only correction I would make is that North of Elmira,N.Y. the PRR used the Erie-Lackawanna Railroad to Horseheads,N.Y.

Then the PRR branched off onto its own tracks to Watkins Glen,N.Y. and North to Sodus Point. At Stanley,N.Y.,the PRR branched off to Sodus Point and continued West to Canandaigua,N.Y.

Gaylord Ewing
Breesport,, NY
12/3/2011

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I also wanted to add that the Lehigh Valley Railroad had its own tracks,from Elmira to Horseheads,N.Y.This section of LV railroad was waht was left of the "Elmira and Cortland Branch".From Sayre,Pa. the Lehigh Valley Railroad had trackage-rights on the Erie-Lackawanna Railroad to Elmira.Then from Elmira to Horseheads it returned to its own tracks. About 1975 the LV-tracks from Elmira to Horseheads,N.Y. were torn up.I understand there is very little left of the "Elmira and Cortland Branch".

Gaylord Ewing
Breesport, NY
12/3/2011

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This line is described in great detail (at least as far as the PA/NY border) in the book "Set Up Running: The Life of a Pennsylvania Railroad Engineman, 1904-1949" (http://www.amazon.com/Set-Running-Pennsylvania-Engineman-1904-1949/dp/027102741X)

It's a great read BTW.

Scott
PA
1/3/2012

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My Uncle worked at the Station in Granville Summit, and used to pass the mail via a "Y" stick to a RR employee sticking his arm out of the caboose. The train did not stop, just picked up mail at 40 miles per hour. Put down your penny, watch the mail pickup, grab your flattened penny afterwards. For a kid in Granville Summit that is real excitement :-}

Tom Brasington
Troy, PA
1/12/2012

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Also remember that when the train arrived at state line crossing into NY, the train had to stop to board a fireman. Evidently the Union or state rules in NY required the train to have a fireman (even on non-steam) so the train blocked the road. Of course the fireman was stuck in traffic trying to get to the train, and the train prevented the fireman's arrival. Sure anyone driving RTE 6 remembers those delays.

Tom Brasington
Troy, PA
1/12/2012

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