Syracuse Rapid Transit Railway
 |
|
| Locale | Syracuse, New York |
|---|---|
| Dates of operation | 1896–1912 |
| Successor | New York State Railways |
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge |
| Headquarters | Syracuse, New York |
The Syracuse Rapid Transit Railway, an interurban rail, was chartered on May 21, 1896. The company was a consolidation of the Syracuse Street Railroad Company, the Syracuse Consolidated Street Railway Company and the People's Railroad Company which was formerly leased to the Syracuse Street Railroad Company.
The company was consolidated with the New York State Railways, affiliated with New York Central Railroad in 1912.
After the consolidation was complete on September 1, 1896, the work of building the railroad for larger Syracuse was begun. The common center was completed October 4, 1896, and put into use nine days later. On April 1, 1897, the transfer system went into operation, while the fender was adopted on April 15, 1898. William Kimball took control of the road on April 7, 1898.
Rails weighing from 91 to 140 pounds to the yard replaced lighter rails weighing 30 to 45 pounds. The large double-track cars were replaced with small single-track cars with from 100 to 200 percent greater seating space in each car. Approximately 26 miles (42 km) of new tracks were laid bringing the total to 71.3 miles (114.7 km).
During 1897, the company leased the Syracuse and East Side Railway for 22 years and guaranteed five percent interest on the bonds and five percent dividends on the preferred stock of the Syracuse and East Side Railway Company. By 1899, the properties had been thoroughly rebuilt and new equipment and apparatus was added.
The company ran into many labor problems in 1898. On August 5, 1898, a strike of conductors and motormen was ordered and the cars were "peaceably run to the barn and all the roads tied up." After two days, the strike was settled after the State Board of Arbitration was called to Syracuse and accessions were made to the employees. Once again, on November 19 and December 4 of 1898, there was still dissatisfaction among the men and another strike was ordered; however, only 20 men responded to the call. This prompted the company for the organization of a "mutal benefit association" among the employees and as a result club rooms were built above the company offices in the Gridley Building.
New transfer rules went into effect on February 28, 1899, and on March 14 that year, William P. Gannon was named as president of the company. The day following the election of company officers, Syracuse Mayor James Kennedy McGuire demanded the abolition of transfer rules. This led to "exciting discussions" about people's rights and railroad rights.
...
Wikipedia