Auburn and Syracuse Railroad
| Locale | Auburn, New York to Syracuse, New York |
|---|---|
| Dates of operation | 1834–1850 |
| Successor |
Rochester and Syracuse Railroad later part of New York Central Railroad |
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge |
The Auburn and Syracuse Railroad was incorporated on May 1, 1834, to provide easy access between Syracuse, New York and the Erie Canal. Construction was begun in 1835, however, was delayed during the Panic of 1837. Although the lingered until 1843, the railroad was completed by January 1838.
In August 1850, the Auburn and Syracuse Railroad joined the Auburn and Rochester Railroad to form the Rochester and Syracuse Railroad, which later merged with the New York Central Railroad.
Syracuse railroad "subscribers" contributed $31,000 to the $400,000 stock authorized in the incorporation articles received on May 1, 1834. Among the 20 investors was Vivus W. Smith, who later was one of the founders of the Syracuse Journal.
The work had been done "on the cheap", with low quality railbed preparation and wood rails. The Auburn and Syracuse Railroad was opened for business on January 8, 1838, with horse-drawn trains and did not use steam locomotives until the introduction of its first, the Syracuse, on June 14, 1839.
Only after the advent of the steam railroad did the train finally arrive in Syracuse. Originally a mill pond on the site of the State Armory, located at the present-day Armory Square on West Jefferson Street, blocked the right of way. Until a trestle was built across the pond, passengers were no longer "forced to find other means" of getting into the village of Syracuse from a temporary station at Geddes.
Known as the Auburn Road (a nickname that later passed to the Rochester and Syracuse Railroad), the company erected a new depot between Salina and Clinton streets in late 1838. Work on the trestle was completed in early 1839 as well as construction of a new railroad station in Downtown Syracuse.
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Wikipedia