Chartiers Branch
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The Chartiers branch of the
History
On February 7, 1853, the Chartiers Valley Railroad was formed to fulfill the failed task of the Washington & Pittsburg Railroad. Work was started, but when almost a third done in 1856, funds ran out. The road foreclosed in 1861, and the Right of Way was sold to William Howard a solicitor for the Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR).
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/83/Chartiers_RW_1878.jpg/220px-Chartiers_RW_1878.jpg)
In 1867, the Chartiers Railway Company was founded, and with PRR backing finished the line. On December 19, 1870, regular service began between Carnegie and Canonsburg. May 18, 1871, saw the beginning of service to Washington.
The line was leased to the
Although initially poor, coal fields found in the 1880s proved prosperous. The branch provided revenue even through
The
In 1996, RailTex bought the line and started the Pittsburgh Industrial Railroad (PIR). The PIR lasted for 4 years before being sold to the Ohio Central Railroad System, who formed the Pittsburgh and Ohio Central Railroad (POHC). The POHC is the current owner of the line.
Branches
Bridgeville and McDonald Branch
The
Westland Branch
The Westland Branch left Houston at MP 15.3 and went to Westland coal mine (Midland #3). It was abandoned in 1955.
Palanka Branches
Two branches left the Westland branch to serve the Palanka mines.
Connections
- Waynesburg and Washington Railroad at the end of the line
- Montour Railroad at Hills (MP 8.6)
- Pittsburgh and West Virginia Railroadhad a mile west of Bridgeville (off the B&W)
- Pittsburgh, Chartiers and Youghiogheny Railway
References
- "Hobo's Guide to the Pennsy: Chartiers Branch". Keystone Crossings. Archived from the original on 2007-12-20.
- ^ Hanna, Charles Augustus (1911). The Wilderness Trail: Or, The Ventures and Adventures of the Pennsylvania Traders on the Allegheny Path, Volume 1 The Wilderness Trail: Or, The Ventures and Adventures of the Pennsylvania Traders on the Allegheny Path. Putnam's sons – via Google Books.