The low grade division of the allegheny valley railroad was completed from driftwood, cameron county, to the mouth of red bank creek in clarion county, in 1874. Oakmont, pa oakmont historical society 125th anniversary lecture series 2242014 the history of the allegheny valley railroad in oakmont, pa this lecture tr. The allegheny valley railroad was originally incorporated april 4, 1837 as the pittsburgh, kittanning and warren railroad. When titusvilles last railroad was about to be abandoned, the oil creek railway society formed and saved the. Which knot would work best to hold the railroad cars to the rope. History of the old colony railroad smithsonian libraries. Allegheny valley railroad company smithsonian libraries. Carload express washington pittsburgh area short line allegheny valley railroad will acquire 47. Smithsonian libraries locations remain temporarily closed. Indicates the railroad land grant and the coal and iron deposits in alabama.
Map of the allegheny valley rail road and connections accompanying report february 1854 description map shows railroad routes across michigan, ohio, pennsylvania, maryland, new jersey, and new york. Map of the allegheny valley rail road and connections. Chronology of western pennsylvania 18001859 paroots. Originally it was incorporated as the pittsburgh, kittanning, and warren railroad on april 4, 1837. Allegheny valley railway company bald eagle valley railroad company. The name was changed in 1852 to the allegheny valley railroad.
Under a series of mergers, it became part of the pennsylvania railroad by 1900. More than just a warehouse for books, journals, maps, and. The view of the frozen allegheny river at the level. On july 1, 1902, the maine railroad commission granted his request for incorporation to construct a line from presque isle to washburn and washburn junction, the latter offering a. Allegheny valley railroad opens transload terminal. Calabrese, cheryl zentgraf, and gary rogers, gagetta has compiled this stunning photographic history from the collections of the oakmont carnegie library and several generous residents. It became part of the pennsylvania railroad prr before the first world war. Railroad microfilm pennsylvania historical and museum commission. Long before the hulton bridge, hultons ferry carried locals across the allegheny river to the road to pittsburgh and the world beyond. Apr 17, 2016 the original allegheny valley railroad unrelated to the one operating today was a very early railroad in this region. The commission involved the creation of two products. Yet, in many respects, the allegheny valley was pittsburghs original valley of industry.
Its history is included in the book allegheny valley trolleys, which covers the. Construction on the line began in june of 1881 and was completed in 1883. Through vintage photographs, oil creek and titusville railroad relives the railroad history of a valley that has become a lovely wilderness served by an important railroad. To fill a transportation need, the oil creek railroad line was completed from corry to titusville in 1862. All aboard for an allegheny valley trolleys lesson. Giant steam locomotives, colorful streamliners, great passenger trains, passenger terminals, timeworn railroad cabooses, recollections of railroaders and trainwatchers. Following a brief look at the pennsylvania, new haven, new york central, lehigh valley, erielackawanna, and other roads that ultimately formed conrail, the book launches into chapters detailing the major aspects of conrail operations, including. Railroad maps, 1828 to 1900, available online, 1850.
Allegheny valley railroad avr interactive map carload. The allegheny valley railroad company organized february 12, 1852, completed a road from pittsburg to the mouth of the kiskiminetas in october, 1855, thus giving to the people of butler county, though in a very limited way, for the first time, the advantages of railroad connection with the outside world. The brilliant branch, also known as the brilliant cutoff, is a railway line in pittsburgh and aspinwall, pennsylvania. Allegheny valley railroad and oakmont by gary rogers. The trolley system served the valley from the late 1800s through 1937, and continues to be remembered through presentday activities at the ptmincluding the recentlycompleted. When titusvilles last railroad was about to be abandoned, the oil creek railway society formed and saved the line. By 1883, shenango and allegheny had extended north to greenville, pennsylvania, and south to butler, pennsylvania. Explore more than 250 years of africanamerican history in the senator john heinz history centers exhibition, from slavery to freedom, which highlights the history of the antislavery movement, the underground railroad and the impact of 19thcenturty activism on the quest for civil rights in pittsburgh.
Oakmont, pennsylvania images of america series by vince. Senator arthur gould, who owned a sawmill in presque isle and needed a railroad to transport logs to the facility. This one, brady bend, and kennerdell tunnels were built from 19151916 when the pennsylvania railroad worked to straighten out the line that ran from pittsburgh to buffalo. Minute books of prr board of directors partial 18471891, vols. Train, railroad, transportation books from karens books. Remembering the pennsylvania railroad classic trains magazine. Bradys bend overlook, armstrong trail, turntable, and.
In this lecture, we explore, the history of the railroad, through a photographic journey, noting the important strides made by the metals, oil, and manufacturing enterprises historically located in the allegheny valley during its era of growth. The railroad ceased operation in 1986, with salvage of rails and ties completed by 1990. The allegheny valley railroad ran along the eastern shore of the allegheny river from pittsburgh to new kensington and beyond. The view of the frozen allegheny river at the level of the trail. There are 10 engine houses, each at the top of an incline hill. All royalties from the sale of this book will benefit the library. Bradys bend overlook, armstrong trail, turntable, and tunnel. In later years, after becoming the pennsylvania railroad, it carried both people and goods between pittsburgh and buffalo and small towns in between. Allegheny valley logging railroads locomotives sawmills pine. Dennis mcilnay gives the passengers a voice in the wreck of the red arrow, his nonfiction book published last year. Times observer photo by dave ferry jim bacon points to a map of the tionesta valle y railroad inside the old depot station and office building. Oct 28, 2016 it was projected to be a greenway between downtown and highland park close to the allegheny river, with existing tracks and land belonging to allegheny valley railroad forming a spine that could provide commuter rail, a bike trail, greenspace, and redevelopment.
Map shows railroad routes across michigan, ohio, pennsylvania, maryland, new. Allegheny valley railroad train historic pittsburgh. Pennsylvania railroad and new york central railroad records. Shamokin valley and pottsville railroad acts of assembly relating to the shamokin valley and pottsville railroad, 1858. One of the books was on the history of the tionesta valle y railroad. A branch crossed the river to serve new kensington, parnassus, and arnold. Allegheny valley logging railroads locomotives sawmills pine timber warren forest venango crawford erie counties book no. Consolidated with the wills valley railroad, forming the alabama and chattanooga railroad. We are excited to offer this new service to pittsburgh and look forward to providing continued support for the steel industry and other manufacturing businesses for which the pittsburgh region is so wellknown, president mark rosner says. There are published histories of the prr and several subsidiaries in various boxes as well as.
Feb 17, 2021 allegheny valley railroad, a whollyowned subsidiary of carload express inc. Steele is one of a number of people working to chronicle thousands of years of history along the allegheny river and a trail that follows the path of a former allegheny valley railroad bed. In 1859, when oil was successfully drilled near titusville, the closest railroad was 27 miles away. This books looks back at the history of oakmonts first 100 years, 18891989.
Uncovering the allegheny portage railroad uncovering pa. This line ran parallel to the allegheny river northeast of pittsburgh, running from aspinwall to natrona. Genealogical and personal history of the allegheny valley. According to albert j churellas expansive book the pennsylvania railroad volume i. On the third day of the pittsburgh trip we gave our morning and early afternoon to the carload expressowned allegheny valley railroad. Allegheny valley railroad cripples allegheny riverfront green. Tredway trail placards to chronicle lives of native americans. Railroad maps, 1828 to 1900, available online, pennsylvania. Redbank valley rail trail railtrail history traillink. Bear creek railroad name changed to shenango and allegheny railroad co. On february 20, 1861, the pittsburgh post printed the allegheny valley railroad extracts from the eighth annual report, which is important for the light thrown on the transportation of oil. The allegheny valley railroad reporting mark avr is a class iii railroad that operates in western pennsylvania, and is owned by carload express, inc. Mar, 2004 the photography is sourced from a variety of collections and archivists around the country.
This is one of the three former allegheny valley railroad tunnels. Pennsylvania through truss bridge over allegheny river on allegheny valley railroad. Through the efforts of the allegheny valley trails association, this former railroad rightofway is being. According to albert j churellas expansive book the pennsylvania railroad. Avrs multiple interchange connections offer a wide variety of routing options for your shipments, allowing your industry to maximize transportation savings. This is a wrap paperback booklet on the allegheny old portage railroad. Marys, hallton, wilcox, portland mills, straight, johnsonburg logging railroad era of lumbering in pennsylvania by thomas townsend taber. The prr was the largest railroad in the us through the 20th century by traffic and revenue and was headquartered in philadelphia, pennsylvania. The ferry helped transform a sparsely populated outpost in the early 1800s into a thriving settlement a few decades later and thus earns recognition as the first bookmark in the history of oakmont.
The southern connections offered an interchange with the allegheny valley railroad prr at punxsutawney and nyc at dubois this town also became the location of a major locomotive and car repairmaintenance facility. A train of the allegheny valley railroad running along the tracks. Pittsburgh railways company records historic pittsburgh. Dating back to 1865, the allegheny valley railroad served as a vital connection to the iron, steel, salt and oil industries in the pittsburgh area. Researching the portage allegheny portage railroad. The collection, held by the archives service center asc at the university of pittsburgh, comprises 2,262 images taken between 1872 and 1974. Now down to the allegheny river trail to visit one of the three abandoned allegheny valley railroad tunnels, the rockland tunnel, just a half mile down the road from the waterfall and furnace. The allegheny valley railroad will purchase lines it is currently leasing from csx. Apr 24, 2017 the dunkirk, allegheny valley and pittsburgh railroad carried titusville passengers all the way to new york city as part of the new york central railroad during its 65year career. On february 5, 1862, the pittsburgh gazette and commercial journal published allegheny valley railroadannual meeting of stockholders.
The state completed this route in 1834 at a cost of more than twelve million dollars. This turntable was utilized on the old allegheny valley railroad until this section of rail was shut down in the 80s. Pittsburgharea short lines to acquire routes from csx. The first was this detailed fourvolume history of the prr system as it existed in 1946 for the use of management only. This led to construction of the stateoperated allegheny portage railroad in the 1830s. It was reorganized as the allegheny valley railway and eventually leased by the. Allegheny portage railroad journals, 18311835,18491852 ledger, marchaugust 1850. Freedom falls, rockland furnace, and rockland tunnel. The collection is organized into eleven series, one of which contains the snow report a detailed account of the numerous traction companies consolidated to create the pittsburgh railways company in 1902. The name of the railroad was changed to the allegheny valley railroad on february 12, 1852.
Map of the united states showing major relief by hachures, drainage, and the railroad network with named lines and emphasis on the main line. From the town of cass, elevation 2,438 feet, our train will ascend back allegheny mountain to its summit at 4,843foot bald knob, third highest peak in west. The surviving new york central records consist mostly of minute books. Rail news allegheny valley railroad to acquire portions. Pennsylvania railroad, but this history is seldom found in condensed references. The allegheny portage railroad uses stationary engines to move cables towing traincars up or down hills. Allegheny valley logging railroads pennsylvania lumber book.
Avr has filed a notice of exemption with the surface transportation board stb to acquire from csx 47. Aug 19, 2019 james bacon from warren ohio bought series of books on the history of pennsylvania railroads in the 1970s. Just after 3 am on february 18, 1947, a crack passenger train of the pennsylvania railroad pierced the fog and frigid air in the allegheny mountains of pennsylvania. Genealogical and personal history of the allegheny valley, pennsylvania, volume 2 john woolf jordan lewis historical publishing company, 19 allegheny river valley pa. The buffalo, trees, and mountain are for the nature parks. It connects the pittsburgh line to the conemaugh line and to allegheny valley railroads allegheny subdivision. History of the tionesta valley railroad lives on news. Allegheny valley avr started operations in 1995 and operates 77 miles of track in the greater pittsburgh area, with lines extending from pittsburgh to new kensington, washington, and allison park. Vince gagetta is the author of several books on the history of the pittsburgh area. Report on the surveys of the allegheny valley rail road. Recounting the development of public transit in pennsylvanias industrialized allegheny valley, this new book from the pennsylvania trolley museum is a great new addition to any northeast railfans library. History and major events of the pennsylvania railroad. History, information, and value of allegheny valley railroad token. Apr 09, 2019 classic trains magazine celebrates the golden years of railroading including the north american railroad scene from the late 1920s to the late 1970s.
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