Cambria and Indiana Railroad
The Cambria and Indiana Railroad (C & I) was a railway company in Pennsylvania (United States). The company's history is closely linked to coal mining in this region of Pennsylvania. The company established in 1911, lasted until 1994.
History
In the 1890s, the wood mining companies Vinton Lumber Company of Rexis started out to build along the Blacklick Creek a forest path to the vicinity of Stiles. When it was announced that in the area of coal is found, the railway was converted into a public railway. It was hoped thereby to benefit from transport. In addition to timber removal and people have now been promoted to Burns. On working days, drove a train pair of Rexis to Burns and two other just drove to White Mill
On 15 June 1904, the Black Lick and Yellow Creek Railroad Company (B & YC) was founded. At the same time, investors John Heisley Weaver and B. Dawson Coleman coal mining rights began to acquire in this area and to create coal mines. 1910, wood decomposition subside. Thus arose the railway company to sell for $ 100,000 to the mine owners for Vinton Lumber possible. At once began with the extension of the line north to maneuver. There was a coal mine, the owner, was also following the Cherry Tree and Dixonville Railroad. In addition, a branch to the east was built to a mine, which was given the name Colver Heights. On April 20, 1911, the B & YC was restructured as Cambria and Indiana Railroad Company. In October 1911, the line was completed after Colver. In Colver also the vehicle workshop was set up. In order to prevent the Pennsylvania Railroad to build a new railway company in "their " territory becomes suspicious, was always announced that it constitutes ports of coal mines.
Between the mine and the mining camp Colver Colver Heights two hairpins had to be built to overcome the slope. Passenger traffic began on June 16. 1912. Three runs were performed daily in each direction. Between Colver and maneuver now also reversed a pair of trains on weekdays.
1912 started the Cambria and Indiana Railroad to build a line to Nanty Glo. To secure the building rights was they were first built without regard to gradients. After an improved topographic survey in 1913, the line was finally established in 1916. An extension of this line east to the mine Revloc took place in 1917 and was opened in 1918. From 1914 drove passenger trains also of Nanty Glo Rexis after.
The fleet of the company was now risen to eight steam locomotives and two battery railcars for passenger traffic. These railcars were purchased in 1914 and 1916 by JG Brill and Company. They possessed also has a pantograph. This was necessary to overcome the 5% slope of Colver Colver Heights mine according to the charging station at the end of a day. For an overhead line was built on this section. In 1922 the battery railcars were replaced by two petrol railcars. Daily ran between Colver and Rexis a mixed train. Also, in 1500 50 -ton steel trolley for transporting coal were available.
In 1919 a total of 23 coal mines operated along the routes. At the same time, there were plans the power to Johnstown as well as to a point south of Ebensburg. The latter project was in 1926 have made great strides but was eventually realized by an underground train from Revloc from.
1922 ended Coleman and Weaver their partnership. Coleman sold his 40 % stake in the railway company to the " Bituminous Coal Company ," a subsidiary of the New York Central Railroad. The transport volume increased further, so that more locomotives and cars were purchased. It was not until the economic crisis of the Great Depression led to cuts. Since some mines closed, leaving after the transports. To keep the society economically, older locomotives were sold and finally adjusted the passenger on December 1, 1931. However, demand in the U.S. Navy for the good coal from Nanty Glo continued to provide a good business. In the years 1931-1935 the highest dividends on the company's history were paid temporarily. During the Second World War, the transport volume rose again. Thus, the company was obliged 1939-1944 to acquire six second-hand locomotives.
In May 1950, the steel giant Bethlehem Steel received by the ICC authorizing the acquisition of the company in 1934 died Weaver. Since Bethlehem Steel had changed in their existing railroads early diesel locomotives, traction change was also at the Cambria and Indiana not long in coming. 1951, the first two locomotives were delivered, which in 1952 six more followed. At the same time the existing steam locomotives were scrapped.
In 1962 there were only four mines along the route in operation ( Colver, Nanty Glo, Revloc and Cardiff ). 1963 Bethlehem Steel began with a new mine south of Ebensburg. In the plants of this mine the raw coal of the other mines should be worked up. For this reason, the extended distance of Revloc up to the designated as No. 33 refill. This one took over a length of 3.5 kilometers, the route of the Pennsylvania Railroad. At the same time they acquired more diesel locomotives to cope with the transport volume. In 1965, 14 locomotives in stock. In the same year the Barnes and Tucker Coal Company opened a mine in style. By 1968, the fleet grew to 18. Were carried out mainly driving with tightly coupled trains between the mines and the nearby treatment plants or power plants. The transport of Revloc mine 33 was abandoned after a connection is made underground.
The car park was the late 1960s, in addition to the locomotives from 950 coal cars, six Cabooses, a diesel-electric locomotive crane and other cars for the track entertainment.
In connection with the sale of the rail business of the bankrupt Penn Central Bethlehem Steel acquired in 1975 and the remaining 40 % of the company. The decline of the steel industry in the 70s also led to a slowdown in demand for coal. In 1977, the distance between Rexis and Elkdale Junction was destroyed by a landslide additionally. This section has been abandoned then. Mid-1980s was only operated Mine 33. The remaining north-south route between Glory and Adele Junction was sold to a power plant company. In the early 1990s the workshops and offices were relocated to Revloc. This one saved the trips to Colver over the largely unused and no longer maintained track.
1994, the mine was closed 33. As a result, the Cambria and Indiana Railroad was decommissioned on 11 November 1994. As a result, the tracks were dismantled and the land is the Cambria County. On the former railway embankments to be built bike and hiking trails. Remained intact only the branch of the PRR (later Conrail ) route to the mine 33 The remaining locomotives and cars were converted to other railway companies of Bethlehem Steel.
2003 acquired the Lehigh Valley Rail Management of the Bethlehem Steel successor to International Steel Group several railway companies including the Cambria and Indiana Railroad.