7 replies to this topic

[command_prompt]

While searching for maps of the aforementioned (see the topic of the post) I came across this: http://russnelson.co...y-region-6.html . Copied/pasted the E/C info below.I've decided to splurge on both "The Street Railway Operations of the Elmira Water, Light and Railroad Co., Its Predecessors and Successors, 1871-1939. [cover title: Elmira Trolleys]" and "Elmira and Chemung Valley trolleys in the Southern Tier". Will let you guys know if the books contain any interesting maps. Field trip, anyone?Elmira, Corning and Waverly Termini: South Corning - Elmira - Waverly Location Map Code: 6-13 A. Approximate length 32 miles. B. Approximate width 33 ft. C. General Condition The Elmira, Corning and Waverly Railroad Company ran an electric trolley line that ran from Corning to Waverly and from Elmira to Horseheads Village. Its last operation was in 1929 and it was sold to the Erie Land and Improvement Corporation in 1930, and recorded in Liber 259, Page 133. This land holding company then resold most of this land to the abutting owners and removed all trolley structures and signal facilities. The following is a description of the route as it ran from Corning through Elmira to Horseheads Village: SOUTH CORNING THRU BIG FLATS a. Length: 4 miles. b. Width: 33± ft. (estimate) c. Condition: Seems to have been obliterated between these termini. d. Structures: No existing structures are evident. e. Indication of ownership: Ownership indicia appears to be private. f. Nature of terrain: Generally flat and level. g. General land use: Land use of abutting properties in general is rural farm and residential. h. Recreational possibilities: Recreational possibilities are questionable since this land seems to be incorporated into adjacent land usage, and the use for other than present use would probably have an adverse effect to adjacent private properties. i. Existing transportation facilities: Generally seems to run along the southerly side of State Rt. 17E. BIG FLATS TO THE CITY OF ELMIRA LINE a. Length: 8 miles. b. Width: 33± ft. (estimate). c. Condition: Roadbed is obliterated for a length of approximately 2.6 miles south of Big Flats, but roadbed is evident where it crosses Rt. 17. One bridge structure is evident at this point. Then for a 1,000 ft. distance, it seems to run along a creek and then becomes obliterated again for a distance of 2± miles, At this point it is evident that the line crosses Rt. l7E where Old Arch Bridge can be seen above the highway. For 3± miles from this point to nearly the Elmira City limits, this line is again evident with the roadbed used to service residences as an access road. There is at least one other arch bridge structure in usable condition along this last stretch of the railway line. d. Structures: There is no evidence of any railroad tracks or ties along this stretch of railway. e. Indication of ownership: Ownership indicia appears to be private. f. Nature of terrain: The nature of terrain runs from level out of Big Flats to high and hilly toward Elmira. g. General land use: Principal land use of abutting properties is general rural farm and residential with some occasional small commercial. h. Recreational possibilities: Spots could be suitable to hiking. i. Existing transportation facilities: Located in vicinity of Rt. l7E. ELMIRA THRU ELMIRA HEIGHTS Inside Elmira the Electric Railroad line went from West Water Street branching off and running north along Main Street with side branches about as far as Eldridge Park. Then at the crossing on Main Street and West 2nd Street this line moved to Lake Street, going northerly out of the Elmira City limits. This line is believed to have run thru the center of streets in the City of Elmira. These streets are all still in existence as public thoroughfares. a. Length: 3± miles. b. Width: Limited to center of streets. c. Condition: Roadbed is city streets. Railway is no longer evident. d. Structures: No existing railway structures are evident. e. Indication of ownership: Ownership indicia are the City of Elmira and Village of Elmira Heights. f. Nature of terrain: Terrain is generally level. g. General land use: Land use of abutting properties is commercial, industrial and residential. h. Recreational possibilities: Not likely since the line appears to have run in presently existing streets. i. Existing transportation facilities: Located within existing street beds. ELMIRA HEIGHTS THRU HORSEHEADS VILLAGE This electric line is said to have followed Lake Street along the easterly side of the street pavement all the way into Horseheads where it ran thru the center of Main Street to the outskirts of Horseheads Village. a. Length: 2 miles. b. Width: Within street right of way. c. Condition: Roadbed appears to have run along the edge of Lake Street pavement until it entered the center of Horseheads Village where it ran along the center of the street thru the village. d. Structures: No existing railway structures are evident. e. Indication of ownership: Ownership indices are the Village of Elmira Heights and the Village of Horseheads. f. Nature of terrain: Terrain is level. g. General land use: Land use of abutting properties is commercial, industrial and residential. h. Recreational possibilities: Recreational possibilities are not likely since the line appears to have run in presently existing street limits. i. Existing transportation facilities: Located within existing street beds. WAVERLY - ELMIRA CITY SECTION The Waverly - Elmira section began at a point at the corner of Broad and Elmira Streets in Waverly and proceeded west along the northern side of the current Erie Railroad alignment to Elmira. The bed is visible at most points along this route and is cleared of tracks and ties throughout. It lies directly adjacent to the Erie tracks and varies from 25' to 45' in width. The area through which it runs is mostly rural farmland, but becomes more populated near the villages. The roadbed itself is 5±' above the grade of existing Erie-Lackawanna tracks and is fairly straight in alignment. It follows along the base of several foothills and the Chemung River. The roadbed is in fair condition in most places, being overgrown with grass and brush. One item that should be noted is that the bridges or trestles across road underpasses and streams have been taken out and removed; only the concrete abutments remain. a. Length: 19.5± miles. b. Width: 33±' c. Condition: Roadbed is generally in good condition though somewhat overgrown with brush and grass. At road crossings, the trestles have been removed. d. Structures: Ties, tracks, signals, bridges and all other facilities have been removed. e. Indication of ownership: Entirety bought by Erie Land & Improvement Corp, in 1930, recorded in Liber 259, Page 133. The Erie Land & Improvement Corp. in turn sold many segments back to current adjoining land owners. f. Nature of terrain: Terrain is generally hillside from Waverly to the Village of Chemung. Thereafter it is somewhat flat farm land. g. General land use: Abutting land is either unused hillside or agricultural. There is also some residential and commercial, though very little. h. Recreational possibilities: Could possibly be used for hiking. i. Existing transportation facilities: This roadbed runs along and adjacent to the existing Erie-Lackawanna Railroad tracks from Waverly to Elmira.

[tony]

Excellent find!!! Thank you. I know I would be up for a field trip.The link above needs to have the period at the end removed: http://russnelson.co...y-region-6.html

[command_prompt]

Two pictures from a railroad aficionado:http://www.flickr.com/photos/russnelson/5628562568http://www.flickr.com/photos/russnelson/5628558694http://www.flickr.com/photos/russnelson/5633960212 The second one is located almost directly across from Papa Dale's (Harris Hill Manor).

[Big Ed]

Thanks command_prompt! Like the name, since I've used Ed C:\> since the eighties...

[tony]

The tree on the left in the second picture is scarred from where a friend of mine lost his life.

[command_prompt]

I'm really sorry, Tony. As horrible as it sounds, I hope he didn't suffer too long. The curve on the road and everything around it can cause anyone to be way too distracted.

[command_prompt]

First book has arrived today. No maps. Plenty of text to digest and redundand trolley images to skip. Will keep you all posted.

[command_prompt]

Well, call me an addicted one. Not many valuable maps in the second book either, but there's enough stimuli in the Elmira and Chemung Valley Trolleys to get one fascinated about the ROW/trolley web we used to have. Maybe the library has a hard copy for those who won't be able to access everything online as they'd like to do.